The Druidic College

Some questions are down right near impossible to answer! What is your favourite colour? Is not each colour for a different use? Would a green Sun and an Orange ocean be more appealing? And you favourite food? Porridge for dinner, kippers for breakfast? Why not?

So defining a “favourite” tree can be a bit befuddling. Each tree has great worth. Each proffers us diverse offerings: the hazel, wisdom; the willow, emotion; the hawthorn, protection.

But now the oak, the mighty oak, he offers us strength and wisdom, and while all of the other’s are indeed desirable what good would they be without the strength and wisdom to use them to effect.

The oak has long been lauded as the king of the forests, that once covered all of Britain, and perhaps rightly so. He grows taller, wider and lives longer than most others. He protects and nourishes all who live in or under him. His wood is hard as steel and yet beautiful to behold. It builds the sturdiest houses and the mightiest ships; Hearts of Oak, the brave old oak, green-robed senators of mighty woods, O' you Grand Oak Tree Our very name, ‘Druid’, is said to derive from “knower of the oak.” How proud are we, how proud the tree!

So it is the oak for me, a place to take refuge from the stuff and nonsense of daily life. Where one can shelter from the sun or rain, or just lay and gaze at rolling verdant pastures, or an open blue sky where white pillows of cloud race like children at play. A place also to take solace from troubles or ponder a hard decision.

I thank all the trees for their many and precious gifts, but it is the oak that I must thank most of all, for gifts past, present and future.