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The Magic of Rocks and Stones

Tree Agate

Written and compiled by - Patricia Jean Martin

There are many different types of Agate, but I chose Tree Agate for Lammas ~ the First Harvest.  Not only is there a connection with the symbolism of the Green Man, but the properties of this particular form of Agate are strongly connected to the growth and well-being of plant life and agriculture - something which was extremely important to the survival of our ancestors.  Known as the "Stone of Plentitude", Tree Agate brings prosperity and abundance, especially in the form of bountiful crops and generous yields...and that is very much what Lammas is all about.

Tree Agate, also known as Dendritic Agate or Moss Agate, is an opaque cryptocrystalline variety of Chalcedony Quartz.  As its alternate name Dendritic Agate suggests, this unique stone's Chlorite, Manganese or Hornblende inclusions make it appear to have distinctive mossy or tree-like markings.  These markings are called dendrites, a name derived from "dendron", the Greek word for "tree".  Agate gets its name from the river Achates in Sicily where it was first discovered.  

Today, the dealers of ornamental stone have segregated Tree Agates into several categories and have given each a different name to designate their slight differences.  Whereas Tree Agate is usually an opaque and mostly white stone with its characteristic green mossy inclusions, Moss Agate is differentiated as the mostly green translucent type.  Dendritic Agate is often marketed as either variety.

Agate is formed from silica rich deposits in veins or within cavities of basaltic rock and occurs mainly in nodular massive forms.  Being a form of Quartz, it's hardness is 7 on the Mohs Scale (Talc being 1 and Diamond 10), and it's streak is white.  The Tree Agate variety is found primarily in western U.S., Scotland, Brazil, India, Russia and China.

Myth & Lore

Wearing Tree Agate is said to bring favor of the gods.  The ancient Greeks noted Tree Agate as a stone of abundance and would sow some into their fields to ensure a good and plentiful harvest.  Placing Tree Agate in your own garden is said to help increase the fertility of your plants and produce healthy vibrant flowers and foliage.  Small agates were hung in fruit trees to bring about a more prolific yield.  And often used as a talisman by shamans, Tree Agate was also used to predict weather, guard against natural disasters, and for locating food and water.  It was used to divine the degree of strength or weakness of their sick.  Afterward, it would be used as an elixir to dispel the sickness.   

This sturdy stone encourages communication with the deities of the plant kingdom and can deepen your knowledge of their realm.  It will also prompt you to renew and revitalize your own personal connection to the Earth and her life-giving powers.  As the other two Harvest Festivals approach (and especially Samhain), Tree Agate can be used to connect us with our ancestors...our roots...providing for an uncanny openness to communication with the spirit world.

Agate is said to have been one of the stones used in the breastplate of the Judaic High Priest.  Early Egyptians fashions drinking vessels out of this versatile stone.  Tree Agate was a favorite stone used in jewelry in the Victorian era.  And more currently, children's marbles were once made of Agate and subsequently called "aggies".

Metaphysical Properties:

Tree Agate brings strength and stability, the power to persevere, and the ability to meet a challenge of working one's harvest with greater stamina.  As these qualities become rooted in your being, you will find yourself much more open to receive the prosperity and abundance that is likely to manifest all around you through the influence of this stone - a stone which helps you bring your 'harvest home'.

Tree Agate will also bring the intricacies of life into better focus, encouraging you to be able to better see the connectivity of the branches within life's web, and will then help you keep from getting too caught up in all its details.  Tree Agate tells you not to miss the forest for the trees.  It pushes you to enjoy the busyness of any season of harvest without getting overwhelmed by it, by asking you to remember just what truly is important.

Use Tree Agate to enrich your life, to bring expansion yet stability to your surroundings, to enhance your own growth and feelings of self-worth, and to branch out and discover the unique treasures of family and friends.

*For health, Tree Agate has been used to help heal disorders of the nervous system, and relieves exhaustion.  It aids in bone structure problems in the skeletal system, and vein and capillary degeneration within the circulatory system.  It is useful for relief from general pain, but has also been used to squelch hypochondria, as the stone carries a strong calm and centering influence.

*NOTE:  Stone therapy should NOT take the place of medical evaluation and procedures, and should be used merely to enhance one's health and well-being.

Magickally, you can use Tree Agate in growth and expansion workings.  This stone excels at attracting abundance, prosperity, and fruitful "crops" of all kinds.  Its powers are in vitality, strength, family and tradition.  Tree Agates are often used in empowerment rituals and in health and protection spells.  It excels as a talisman, and can bestow ancient forest wisdom.  This stone's primary Element is Earth, and it is associated with the astrological signs of Taurus and Capricorn.  To charge and cleanse these fruitful beauties, place them back into the earth's soil for a day and a night, then rinse in a stream of free-flowing water.

***

May your walk through the garden of life, and what seeds you've planted there come to fruition in a most beautifully abundant way!  Blessed Be.

Sources:

"Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic" by Scott Cunningham

"The Illustrated Directory of Healing Crystals" by Cassandra Eason

http://www.davesdowntoearthrockshop.com/agate.htm

http://www.mineralminers.com/html/agaminfo.htm

Tree Agate itself

Photo by Patricia J. Martin

© Patricia J. Martin, July 10, 2008

Best wishes and Blessed Be

 

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Traditions Part 2 Gardnerian Wicca /  Georgian Tradition /  Henge of Keltria /  Hereditary Witchcraft /  Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (H.O.G.D.) /  Kitchen Witch (Hedge Witch) /  Minoan Brotherhood and Minoan Sisterhood Tradition /  Nordic Paganism /  Pagan Federation /  Pectic-Wita /  Seax-Wica /  Shamanism /  Solitary /  Strega /  Sylvan Tradition /  Vodoun or Voodoo /  Witches League of Public Awareness (WLPA) /

 

Other things of interest:

 

Gods and Goddesses (Greek Mythology) /  Esbats & Full Moons Links to Personal Friends & Resources Wicca/Witchcraft Resources What's a spell? Circle Casting and Sacred Space  Pentagram - Pentacle Marks of a Witch The Witches Power The Witches Hat An esoteric guide to visiting London SatanismPow-wowThe Unitarian Universalist Association /  Numerology:  Part 1  Part 2  /  Part 3A history of the Malleus Maleficarum:  includes:  Pope Innocent VIII  /  The papal Bull  /   The Malleus Maleficarum  /  An extract from the Malleus Maleficarum  /  The letter of approbation  /  Johann Nider’s Formicarius  /  Jacob Sprenger  /  Heinrich Kramer  /  Stefano Infessura  /  Montague Summers  /  The Waldenses  /  The Albigenses  /  The Hussites /  The Native American Sun DanceShielding (Occult and Psychic Protection)  The History of ThanksgivingAuras  - Part 1 and Part 2 Doreen Valiente Witch” (A Book Review) /   

 

Sabbats and Festivals:

 

The Sabbats in History and Mythology /  Samhain (October 31st)  /  Yule (December 21st)  /  Imbolc (February 2nd)  /  Ostara (March 21st)  /  Beltane (April 30th)  /  Litha (June 21st)  /  Lammas/Lughnasadh (August 1st)  /  Mabon (September 21st)

 

Rituals contributed by Crone:

 

Samhain / Yule Imbolc Ostara /  Beltane Litha Lammas Mabon

 

Tools:

 

Tools of a Witch  /  The Besom (Broom) /  Poppets and DollsPendulums / Cauldron Magick Mirror Gazing

 

Animals:

 

Animals in Witchcraft (The Witches Familiar and Totem Animals) /  AntelopeBatsCrow Fox Frog and Toads Goat / HoneybeeKangarooLion OwlPhoenix Rabbits and HaresRaven Robin RedbreastSheep Spider SquirrelSwansUnicornWild Boar Wolf /  Serpent /  Pig /  Stag /  Horse /  Mouse /  Cat /  Rats /  Unicorn

 

Trees:

 

In Worship of Trees - Myths, Lore and the Celtic Tree Calendar.  For descriptions and correspondences of the thirteen sacred trees of Wicca/Witchcraft see the following:  Birch /  Rowan / Ash /  Alder /  Willow Hawthorn /  Oak /  Holly /  Hazel /  Vine /  Ivy /  Reed /  Elder

 

Sacred Sites:

 

Mystical Sacred Sites  -  Stonehenge /  Glastonbury Tor /  Malta - The Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni /  Avebury /  Cerne Abbas - The Chalk Giant /  Ireland - Newgrange /

 

Rocks and Stones:

 

Stones - History, Myths and Lore

 

Articles contributed by Patricia Jean Martin:

 

Apophyllite  / Amber Amethyst Aquamarine Aragonite Aventurine Black Tourmaline Bloodstone Calcite Carnelian Celestite Citrine Chrysanthemum StoneDiamond  /  Emerald / Fluorite Garnet /  Hematite Herkimer Diamond Labradorite Lapis Lazuli Malachite Moonstone Obsidian Opal Pyrite Quartz (Rock Crystal) Rose Quartz Ruby Selenite Seraphinite  /  Silver and GoldSmoky QuartzSodalite Sunstone ThundereggTree AgateZebra Marble

 

Wisdom and Inspiration:

 

Knowledge vs Wisdom by Ardriana Cahill I Talk to the TreesAwakening The Witch in YouA Tale of the Woods I have a Dream by Martin Luther King /

 

Articles and Stories about Witchcraft:

 

Murdered by Witchcraft The Fairy Witch of Clonmel A Battleship, U-boat, and a Witch The Troll-Tear (A story for Children) /  Goody Hawkins - The Wise Goodwife /  The Story of Jack-O-Lantern The Murder of the Hammersmith Ghost Josephine Gray (The Infamous Black Widow) /  The Two Brothers - Light and Dark

 

Old Masters of Academia:

 

Pliny the ElderHesiodPythagoras

 

 

Biographies

 

A "Who's Who" of Witches, Pagans and other associated People

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Remembered at Samhain

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Pagan Pioneers:  Founders, Elders, Leaders and Others

 

Abramelin the Mage /  Agrippa Aidan A KellyAlbertus Magnus - “Albert the Great” Aleister Crowley - “The Great Beast” /  Alex Sanders - “King of the Witches” /  Alison Harlow /   Allan Bennett - the Ven. Ananda MetteyyaAllan Kardec (Spiritism) /  Alphonsus de SpinaAmber KAnn Moura /  Anna FranklinAnodea JudithAnton Szandor LaVey /  Arnold CrowtherArthur Edward Waite /  Austin Osman SpareBalthasar Bekker /  Biddy EarlyBarbara Vickers /  Bridget Cleary - The Fairy Witch of Clonmel /  Carl " Llewellyn" Weschcke Cecil Hugh WilliamsonCharles Godfrey Leland /   Charles WaltonChristopher PenczakChristina Oakley Harrington Cornelius Loos /  Damh the Bard - "Dave Smith" /  Dion Fortune /  Dolores Aschroft-NowickiDonald Michael Kraig Doreen ValienteDorothy MorrisonDr. John Dee & Edward Kelly /  Dr. Leo Louis Martello /  Edain McCoy /  Edward FitchEleanor Ray Bone - “Matriarch of British Witchcraft” Eliphas Levi /  Ernest Thompson Seton /  Ernest Westlake /  Fiona Horne /   Frederick McLaren Adams - Feraferia Friedrich von Spee /  Francis Barrett /  Gavin and Yvonne Frost and the School and Church of Wicca /  Gerald B. Gardner - The father of contemporary Witchcraft /  Gwydion Pendderwen Hans HolzerHelen Duncan /   Herman Slater - Horrible Herman /  Heinrich KramerIsaac Bonewits Israel RegardieIvo Domínguez Jr. /  Jack Whiteside Parsons - Rocket Science and Magick /  James "Cunning" Murrell - The Master of Witches /  Janet Farrar and Gavin BoneJean Bodin Jessie Wicker Bell - “Lady Sheba” / Johann Weyer  / Johannes Junius - "The Burgomaster of Bamberg" /   Johann Georg Fuchs von Dornheim  -  the “Hexenbrenner” (witch burner) /  John Belham-Payne John George Hohman - "Pow-wow" /  John Gerard /  John Gordon Hargrave and the Kibbo Kith Kindred /  John Michael Greer /  John Score /  Joseph “Bearwalker” Wilson /  Joseph John Campbell /  Karl von Eckartshausen Lady Gwen Thompson - and "The Rede of the Wiccae" /   Laurie Cabot  - "the Official Witch of Salem" /  Lewis SpenceLodovico Maria Sinistrari Ludwig LavaterMadeline Montalban and the Order of the Morning Star /  Margaret Alice MurrayMargot AdlerMichael Howard and the UK "Cauldron Magazine" /  Margaret St. Clair - the “Sign of the Labrys” /  Marie Laveau - " the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans" /  Marion WeinsteinMartin Antoine Del Rio Matthew Hopkins - “The Witch-Finder General” /   Max Ehrmann and the "Desiderata" /  Michael A. Aquino - and The Temple of Set /  Monique WilsonMontague Summers /  Nicholas CulpeperNicholas RemyM. R. SellarsMrs. Maud Grieve - "A Modern Herbal" /  Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Morning GloryOld Dorothy Clutterbuck /  Old George PickingillOlivia Durdin-Robertson - co-founder of the Fellowship of Isis /  Paddy SladePamela Colman-SmithParacelsus /  Patricia CrowtherPatricia Monaghan /  Patricia “Trish” TelescoPaul Foster Case and the “Builders of the Adytum” mystery school /  Peter Binsfeld /  Philip HeseltonRaven GrimassiRaymond Buckland /  Reginald Scot /  Richard BaxterRobert CochraneRobert ‘von Ranke’ Graves and the "The White Goddess" /  Rosaleen Norton - “The Witch of Kings Cross” /  Rossell Hope Robbins /   Ross Nichols and the " Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids" (OBOD) /  Rudolf SteinerSabrina Underwood - "The Ink Witch" /  Scott CunninghamSelena Fox - founder of "Circle Sanctuary" /  Silver RavenwolfSir Francis Dashwood /  Sir James George Frazer and the " The Golden Bough"S.L. MacGregor Mathers and the “Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn” /  Starhawk /  Stewart Farrar /  Sybil LeekTed Andrews The Mather Family - (includes:  Richard Mather, Increase Mather and Cotton Mather ) /   Thomas AdyT. Thorn CoyleVera ChapmanVictor & Cora Anderson and the " Feri Tradition" /  Vivianne CrowleyWalter Brown GibsonWalter Ernest ButlerWilliam Butler YeatsZsuzsanna Budapest /  

 

 

Many of the above biographies are briefs and far from complete.  If you know about any of these individuals and can help with additional information, please contact me privately at my email address below.  Many thanks for reading  :-)

 

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