Unique healing and magical properties of Oak.
Look at him: he is important and calm
Among its lifeless plains.
Who says that in the field he is not a warrior?
He is a warrior in the field, even alone.
Nikolay Zabolotsky
Oak is one of the most energetically powerful trees in central Russia. Oak in Rus' has always been considered a holy tree associated with masculine energy and power. No wonder the man was compared to an oak tree. Oak conducts the energy of the planet Jupiter into our world and is directly related to the zodiac sign of Sagittarius. The energy of this tree has the power to “raise the dead.” These energies also determine world processes, the destinies of people and nations, and allow people who have fully mastered them to control their own destinies and the destinies of others. Therefore, oaks are considered sacred trees not only in Russia, but also in all countries where they grow. If a person manages to establish contact with an oak tree, this tree will be able to give him such powers that will not only prolong his life, but will also have a beneficial effect on the fate of his children and grandchildren, up to the fifth generation.
Oak is a clear night owl. He wakes up in the morning, slowly, by noon he unfurls leaves and branches to recharge himself with energy, and clearly does not want to part with it. Having had lunch and breakfast at the same time, he falls asleep, probably remembering that “after a hearty lunch you are supposed to sleep.” And sleeps from about 15 to 17 hours. In the evening, having had enough and rest, he begins to become interested in the world around him. Oak willingly communicates with those who listen to him from 18 o'clock, fueling the energy of creativity and giving inspiration to those around him. But a real surge of strength comes to him after nine in the evening, when he willingly heals and helps people change their fate. Having generously distributed his strength to the world, after 3 am he falls asleep soundly, only to wake up again around noon.
We have a huge number of traditions and legends associated with this tree, ranging from the parable of the death of Koshcheeva, kept in a casket on a treasured oak tree, to the legend about the horses of the king of the underworld, hidden under the roots of a three-trunked oak tree.
Temples and sanctuaries always stood in oak groves, and people were treated there.
Remember the somewhat rude expression about the dead, so common among us: “He gave oak.” Do you know where it came from? From an old legend that the souls of the dead climb upward along the trunk of an oak tree, like a heavenly staircase, to the bright kingdom of the immortals. In Rus' there have always been many magical practices that made it possible, using the energy of this tree, to turn to the dead for help and gain additional strength and good luck.
But even without using any special magical or extrasensory methods, anyone can receive a piece of its strength and health from an oak tree. For this:
a) you need to walk in oak groves more often;
b) if possible, use objects made of oak in your everyday life (especially great power is transmitted to a person through oak floors or through the walls of a house built from oak logs);
You should never break or chop oak for fun!!!
Oak is one of the few trees capable of transmitting information over vast distances. And if you cripple an oak tree in Moscow and decide to feed on the power of a tree growing, for example, in Novgorod, you will not get anything good. For he already knows about what happened and looks at you as a barbarian who must be punished for his outrage.Unlike most trees, which are closely related to other trees in the area where they grow, oaks are single growers. They have energetic connections only with trees of their own species, regardless of the distance between them. This allows them, like pine, to grow calmly in solitude, without losing any of their strength.
Oak is a strong and powerful tree. Loves ambitious and energetic people. Can't stand people who whine all the time. His masculine energy is strong and tough, domineering and hot. It is not very suitable for women, since with constant communication it can give them fullness and excessive self-sufficiency, which will interfere with meetings with the opposite sex. It is useful for women born under the sign of Sagittarius to stand under an oak tree at least once a year - before their birthday or on this day itself - and mentally communicate with it, discussing their life plans. Such a meeting can help you quickly realize what you want in life.
Oak loves men more than women. It helps those born or living in an oak grove to find happiness in work, achieve fame and public recognition, provided that the person does not change his place of residence. Oak increases a person's strength and energy. Contributes to the growth of his authority, provides protection during magical and religious ceremonies, helps to understand the deep meaning of current events, develops the innate ability for synthesis, and often fuels inspiration in creative individuals.
An ordinary oak board, processed on Thursday at sunrise, on which the motto is carved: “God bless you!”, nailed to the home altar, can protect the family from many troubles.
Oak stabilizes the energies of the human body, opens and cleanses the subtle bodies and upper chakras, fills us with powerful and even fiery force. These properties are used in medicine.
In practical magic, more is used of its ability to open a person’s path to Space and information from near-Earth space. Therefore, in Rus', where there is little sun and a strong lack of energy, they loved to use oak wood for buildings, thus compensating for the lack of warm fiery energy for the human body. Moreover, bog oak has always been the most popular. Bog oak wood is slightly reddish, not greyish; like natural oak. This enhances the warmth of the wood and slightly lifts the mood. Ordinary oak undoubtedly calms the nervous system and fills the body with strength, but it does not contribute to fun. In a completely oak, unpainted house you feel like you are in a church - pleasant, good, light in your soul, but the stormy fun seems somehow indecent.
Usually in the old days the walls of a wooden house were made of oak, and the floors and flooring were oak. This arrangement of wood contributed to the best protection of a person from the influence of negative energy from the outside and made it possible to restore wasted strength in the shortest possible time, since oak easily transfers its energy to a person through direct contact, and its strength allows us to balance the work of our entire body. No wonder people said: “Strong as an oak!”
And in a modern city house it would not be out of place to have oak floors and oak chairs, which would allow you to quickly restore the energy spent during the day!
It was a pleasure to plant oak trees in Rus' near the house - they helped to maintain health and strength for many years.
Oak wood is little susceptible to rotting, as it stores huge reserves of light energy, which it gives off for centuries. Buildings and furniture made of oak can warm the soul and raise the strength and health of more than one generation.
If you want to have this living tree as a constant companion in your life, use bonsai! Of course, oak is a very demanding tree and it is very difficult to grow and care for it.
It is better to place the bonsai oak in a study or in a place for meditation, near the altar - there its energy will bring maximum benefit!
Oak takes a long time to get used to people. Sometimes six months or a year pass before he really begins to consider you his. But if he accepts you into his heart, he will not let you go and will never forget you! A piece of its power will be with you wherever you are, because we have already said that oak has the ability to transmit its energy over vast distances. If he has accepted you, his leaves will imperceptibly reach out to you when you come, and his young branches will cling to your clothes, not wanting to let you go. If a double acorn falls into your hand from your favorite tree, save it! In itself, it is a talisman of good luck in business, but in this case its power will be greater, since it is supported by the wishes of the oak itself. A simple fallen acorn speaks of changes awaiting you in your career, which may be somewhat unexpected and confusing, but which will always lead to the better. A fallen dry branch speaks of this. that it's time for you to change jobs. A fallen dry leaf means unpleasant news awaits you. Fallen green leaf - interesting business conversations and news. A fallen green branch with green foliage - moving and perhaps business trips.
Oak is one of the few trees capable of transmitting information over vast distances. And if you cripple an oak tree in Moscow, you will not receive support from other oak trees anywhere. Oaks are single growers; they have energetic connections only with trees of their own species, regardless of the distance between them. This allows them to grow quietly in solitude without losing their strength. Oak loves energetic people. His masculine energy is not very useful for women, as it can give him fullness and excessive self-sufficiency, which will interfere with meeting the opposite sex. For women born in the sign of Sagittarius, it is useful to stand under an oak tree on their birthday and mentally discuss their life plans with it. Such a meeting can help quickly implement the plan.
Period of activity of the oak: in the morning it is little active, mainly serves its own needs, sleeps from 15 to 17 hours, willingly begins to communicate from 18 hours, but the real surge of strength comes after 21 hours. He falls asleep at 3 am and sleeps until noon. Oak stabilizes the energies of the human body, cleanses the biofield (especially the upper chakras), and fills it with powerful, even, fiery power. The power of oak is akin to the energy of the liver. It helps increase activity and eliminates congestion. The energy of oak has a particularly beneficial effect on the liver itself, on the cardiovascular system and urinary tract, and increases the activity of germ cells (sperm and eggs). Promotes the birth of healthy and strong children. Oak energy treatment on a living tree is carried out in nature and involves staying under the tree for 20-30 minutes, the first 5 minutes. Face the tree to establish contact, the remaining time - back to the oak.
Usually in the old days the walls of a wooden house were made of oak, and the floors and flooring were oak. This contributed to the best protection of a person from the influences of negative energy from the outside and made it possible to restore wasted energy in the shortest possible time, since oak easily transfers energy to a person upon contact with it. Oak wood is less susceptible to rotting, because... stores huge reserves of light energy, which it releases for centuries.
Bark
Oak bark and young branches (contain 10-20% tannins, 1.6% gallic and ellagic acids, 14% pentosans, 6% pectins, flavone compounds; starch, mucus, protein substances, sugars, phlobaphene and other substances), harvested them in the spring, during the period of sap flow. Dried under a canopy, the shelf life of the product is 5 years. Used as a strong astringent and strengthens blood vessels. As the age of the tree increases, the content of tannins in its bark decreases. Decoctions of oak bark (pour 1 tablespoon of raw material into 1 glass of water, boil for 1 minute, strain) are used for excessive sweating (can be used instead of an antiperspirant, a weaker decoction of oak bark is used for wiping under the arms: at the rate of 10 g of bark per 200 ml of water ), for the treatment of burns, for the treatment of purulent wounds, for frostbite, for washing bleeding hemorrhoids, for strengthening gums and eliminating bad breath, helps with inflammatory processes on the oral mucosa, strengthens loose bleeding gums.
Lotions made from a decoction of oak bark, St. John's wort and mint (take the components in equal proportions, pour 2 tablespoons of the mixture with half a glass of boiling water, heat in a water bath for 30 minutes, cool, strain) soothe itching and relieve swelling caused by insect bites.
Baths made of oak bark (1 kg per bath) have an antipyretic effect, promote healing of wounds, they treat skin damaged by frost, varicose veins and infantile scrofula.
When used internally (dilute the decoction 1:10), it helps with poisoning with mushrooms and heavy metal salts (as an antidote), with rickets, diarrhea, scurvy, and internal bleeding.
Decoction and infusion of oak bark in large quantities causes vomiting. Do not administer internally to children!!!
Oak leaves.
Quercetin, tannins and pentosans were found in the leaves. Leaves collected before May 15 are used for medicinal purposes. Young branches with leaves are dried under a canopy, suspended in small bundles. Leaves are stored for about 1 year. When used externally, they promote rapid scarring of ulcers, wounds, and cuts. An infusion of leaves (1 teaspoon of raw material, pour 2 tablespoons of boiling water, leave for 2 hours in a warm place, take no more than a glass at a time) is drunk for bedwetting.
Fruit.
Acorns contain 40% starch, 5-8% tannins, 5% fatty oil, sugar and protein substances. Acorns are the favorite food of many forest inhabitants: wild boars, deer, bears. Pigeons and pheasants carry acorns over long distances. They are especially loved by jays and field mice.
Acorns ripen in the year of flowering or the following year. They are collected while ripening under the tree. Dry in attics or under a canopy with good ventilation, spreading it in one layer on paper and stirring occasionally. They are usually dried in ovens. Then the shell and seed coat are removed. Archaeologists believe that the first bread was baked from oak acorns, and not from cereals. Acorns are considered the most nutritious of all seeds, so they could easily be compared with cereals. They contain quercetin, a toxic substance that is completely harmless to animals. When soaked or fried, the quercetin is washed out or destroyed, and the acorns become edible for humans. The acorns are fried until slightly reddened (do not burn until they turn black!!!), pounded, brewed like coffee, and milk and sugar (preferably honey) are added if desired. To this day, confectionery products are made from acorn flour.
It is interesting that for some tribes of the Indians of North America, the common acorn served as a staple food. To get rid of the 7% tannin that makes acorns bitter, they boiled the acorns in boiling water. From dried acorns they prepared flour, from which they baked their main food throughout the year - acorn cakes. The indigenous inhabitants of California were called the “acorn Indians.”
Medicinal properties of acorns.
- have astringent, enveloping, bactericidal, antitumor properties
- Helps with gum disease and toothache
- stop bleeding, including stopping heavy periods
- help with hemoptysis and ulcers of the lungs and chest
- strengthens and cleanses the stomach
- eliminate weakness of the bladder, as well as leakage of urine drop by drop
- enhance sexual potency
- useful for various poisonings
- used as a cosmetic product for hair coloring
Digest slowly. Raw acorns are harmful to the bladder. !!!
Oak leaf galls.
At the end of summer, spherical growths called galls sometimes appear on oak leaves caused by insects (gnarworms). Nutworms lay eggs in leaf tissue, and their larvae develop in pathologically overgrown leaf tissue, forming a gall (“nut”) specific to each species. Oak leaves usually have rounded green galls attached to the underside of the leaf, resembling hazelnuts (“ink nuts”). They are collected, brewed and drunk as tea as a snack with lump sugar or honey. Externally used as a decoction lotion (brew 1 cup of raw material per 1 liter of water with boiling water, boil for 5 minutes, leave, strain). The most useful are green and unripe galls.
Medicinal properties of oak leaf galls:
- have astringent properties - when mixed with vinegar they help with toothache and ear pain
- promote hair growth (drinking and bathing)
- help with cracked lips (drinking and bathing)
- good remedy against pulmonary tuberculosis
- promote the healing of scalded and burned areas of the body
- heal eye ulcers (drinking and bathing)
- strengthens abdominal organs, stops diarrhea and bleeding
- dry the discharge from the uterus
- treat various skin diseases: lichen, erysipelas (infusion in vinegar), eczema, cracks in the hands and feet, wet ulcers (decoction)
- help with various bleeding: from the uterus, stomach, wounds
- treat prolapse of the anus (drinking a decoction)
Galls are harmful to the bladder, a single dose - no more than 3 g!!!
Oak broom for a bath:
Oak, in turn, is famous for its anti-inflammatory and tanning effect, cleanses pores and is suitable for people with oily skin. It makes the skin matte and elastic, and has a strong anti-inflammatory effect. The aroma of oak prevents excessive increases in blood pressure in the steam room. Therefore, this broom is recommended for athletes and people prone to hypertension. In addition, it calms the nervous system and relieves stress. Oak leaves contain a large amount of tannins. Oak decoction is used as a remedy for some skin diseases, as well as for sweaty feet.
In many Indo-European traditions, there was a cult of the oak, which was considered a sacred tree, the home of the gods, the heavenly gate through which a deity could appear before people. Like all trees, the oak acts as a world tree: it symbolizes the world axis, connecting the upper and lower worlds, living beings and deceased ancestors, marking the center of the Universe. Oak meant strength, courage, endurance, longevity, fertility, nobility, and loyalty. This tree was dedicated to the supreme thunder gods: in Greece - Zeus, in Ancient Rome - Jupiter, in Germany - Donar, among the Lithuanians - Perkunas, among the Slavs - Perun.
Oak is symbolically associated with fire and lightning. According to J. Fraser, the ancients believed that “the great god of the sky, the object of their cult, whose terrible voice reached them in the peals of thunder, loved the oak above other forest trees and often descended on it from a thundercloud in the form of lightning, leaving in memory of his visit, a split, charred trunk and burnt foliage. Such trees were surrounded by a halo of glory, since their destruction was seen as the hand of the great Thunderer.” The place where lightning struck became sacred.
Oak groves were a place for rituals, the most important rituals (sacrifices, trials, oaths), and holidays were held in them. The oak club as a weapon of the thunderer or the sun god symbolized the firmness of power and severity. A wreath of oak leaves expressed the idea of strength, power, and dignity.
In Ancient Greece, the center of the sanctuary of Zeus in Dodona was an old oak tree, under which there was a spring. Based on the rustling of the leaves of this oak tree, the priests of the oracle at the temple made predictions. A special winged oak tree was also dedicated to Zeus, over which a blanket with images of the earth, ocean and stars was thrown. The gods Philemon and Baucis were posthumously transformed into oak and linden; here the oak acts as a symbol of marital happiness. The “oak” nymphs were dryads. In Athens, a boy who pronounced the marriage formula during the Eleusinian Mysteries was crowned with oak leaves and thorns. According to legend, Hercules had an oak club. According to some versions, the mast of the Argonauts' ship was made of oak.
In Rome, oak symbolizes strength and longevity. Every year, the wedding of Jupiter and Juno was celebrated in the oak grove; the participants in the ceremony wore wreaths of oak leaves. Oak branches were carried in marriage processions as a symbol of fertility. An oak log was also considered sacred; it was used to maintain the eternal flame in the Temple of Vesta.
Oak played a significant role in the sacred beliefs of the Celts. In particular, Merlin works his magic under the oak tree. Celtic priests, Druids, turned oak groves into real sanctuaries and religious centers, and used oak branches in various ritual rites. The word “druid” itself comes, according to researchers, from the ancient name of oak. In Druid beliefs, the oak symbolized the axis of the world and was associated with strength and wisdom. According to the Celts, everything that grows on this sacred tree is a gift from heaven. A special role is played by the image of an oak tree entwined with the “golden branch” of mistletoe, with the oak symbolizing the male principle, and the mistletoe symbolizing the female principle. During the era of Christianization of the Celts, many churches and monasteries in Ireland were often built near oak forests or individual oak trees.
In the old days, the Slavs had a widespread belief that the souls of dead ancestors lived in oak trees. This idea is confirmed by the real fact of ancient burials in forests, in particular oak ones, on trees and under trees. In the legends and fairy tales of the ancient Slavs, the oak is often a sacred place with which the fate of a person is connected and near which events decisive for the heroes take place. The oak was also revered as a tree of fertility; The custom of planting an oak tree at the birth of a child has been preserved.
In the biblical tradition, oak is a symbol of pride and arrogance; Azimelach becomes king at the oak tree, Saul sits under the oak tree, Jacob buries foreign gods under the oak tree, Absalom meets his end at the oak tree. For Christians, the oak is the emblem of Christ as strength, manifested in trouble, firmness in faith and virtue. According to some versions of Christian tradition, the crucifixion cross was made of oak.
Aura: warm
Planet: Sun
Element: fire
Deities: Dionysus, Jupiter, Zeus, Thor, Hercules, Janus, Rhea, Cybele
Magic properties: fertility, protection from evil forces, longevity
Magical uses:
Oak is perhaps the most majestic tree with magical powers.
Magic rituals are usually performed in oak groves. Under the oak tree grows white mistletoe, which has the strongest properties.
Burn oak leaves to purify the air.
Oak wood can be used to make an excellent magic wand for a wide variety of magical rituals.
The acorn increases the ability to bear children, is very good for infertility, helps to conceive a child if you carry it with you, and also helps to establish intimate relationships.
The acorn is also worn on one’s person or with oneself to preserve youth and prevent diseases.
Hang an acorn in the window and you will protect your home from evil forces.
Several centuries ago, witches wore necklaces made of acorns, which symbolized the awakening of the forces of nature. This was especially popular during the winter months, when this confirmation of the arrival of spring brought calm amid the winter snowdrifts.
Men wear acorn to enhance their sex appeal and prowess or to cure impotence.
If you collect leaves, acorns or oak branches, be sure to pour wine over the roots of the tree. Acorns are usually collected during the day, leaves and wood at night. Cut oak only when the moon is waning.
Oak is a symbol of power and stability. Things made of oak strengthen the position of their owner. The oak-trimmed interior is in some mysterious way connected with the growing authority of the institution located in it.
Jewelry made from oak wood adds weight to the words of the woman wearing it. Oak protects the house as such from various financial and business shocks and crises, and promotes professional growth. If you want to properly receive a significant person, it is good to decorate the room with oak branches.
Acorns chosen “for good luck” help you get support from your superiors and stimulate career advancement. Especially good for Sagittarius and Pisces.
Bestows wealth (abundance), fertility, protection, awakens psychic abilities.
Oak is completely incompatible with spruce. Never place a Christmas tree on an oak table, and do not mix these two plants in one composition. Even oak and spruce boards in the same house will have a bad effect on the moral atmosphere, stimulating intrigue and conspiracies.
Oak is a mighty tree, a symbol of enormous vitality, longevity, revered by all northern Europeans as the sacred tree of the thunder god (Thor, Perun).
The Celts, on the contrary, tend to revere the oak as the tree of the supreme deity, the tree of wisdom and spiritual strength. By the way, the term “druid” itself comes from the Celtic stem, which has two meanings - “oak” and “wisdom” (the same stem dru/drw sounds in the Russian word “tree”). Throughout the North-West, the oak tree (as well as the thunderbird) is associated with a certain day of the week - Thursday, which in northern languages is called Thursday, "Thor's Day". Esoteric teaching connects as many as six runes of the Elder Futhark with oak - Thurisaz, Evaz, Raido, Teyvaz, Yaro and Dagaz. Due to the physical properties of oak, such as the reliability and strength of its wood, the size and longevity of the trunk, as well as its connection with the supreme deities in the magical practice of the North, oak was generally used in spells aimed at protection, increasing physical strength, and achieving stable success.
Oak is an energy donor. With direct contact with it, a person receives the maximum possible amount of vital energy.
However, we should not forget that this is a strong but harsh tree. His aura is very powerful; it only responds well to healthy people. It is better for a person who is seriously ill or suffering from chronic diseases not to communicate with this tree.
Communication with oak charges a person with activating energy and calms the soul. It has long been noted that walking through an oak forest normalizes blood pressure and has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart and nervous system.
Oak always gives preference to warriors, fighters, strong and healthy people. He heals wounds received in battle, heals the souls of warriors, and shares a piece of his longevity. Veterans, former soldiers, and elderly people benefit greatly from contact with him.
Means strength, protection, durability, courage, loyalty, man, human body. The oak tree is often associated with the thunder gods and thunder and is considered an emblem of the gods of Heaven and fertility, so it can also symbolize lightning and fire.
Among the American Indians it is dedicated to Mother Earth.
In China, it is masculine strength, as well as the “weakness of strength” that resists and is therefore broken by the hurricane, as opposed to the “strength of weakness” of the willow, which bows to the storm and therefore survives.
In Christianity, it is a symbol of Christ as strength, manifested in trouble, firmness in faith and virtue. According to various sources, the cross was made of oak, holly and aspen.
Among the Druids, the oak is a sacred tree and symbolizes the masculine principle, while the feminine is symbolized by mistletoe.
In the Greco-Roman tradition it is dedicated to Zeus (Jupiter). Every year the wedding of Jupiter and Juno was celebrated in the oak grove, and the participants in the ceremony wore wreaths of oak leaves. A wreath of oak leaves was awarded for saving a human life and for winning the Pythian Games.
The oak is the emblem of Cybele and Silvanus, and in Greece - Philemon, as a symbol of commitment to marriage and marital happiness. Dryads were oak nymphs.
In Jewish tradition, oak is the tree of the Covenant and divine presence.
The Scandinavians and ancient Germans considered the oak tree to be the Trade Tree of Life and dedicated it to Donar. Oak groves were a place for rituals.
Acorn: Scandinavian and Celtic symbol of life, fertility and immortality. Dedicated to Thor. Androgynene
oak moss
Moss growing on the bark of some trees. Particularly interesting for magical purposes is the moss growing on oak bark. Clairvoyance, predictions, magic. Money growth, abundance, peace of mind, starting new things.
Oak- a symbol of power and glory. Corresponds to the zodiac sign Leo (Leo is the symbol of the southern countries). Symbolizes fortitude. It is a sign of longevity and even immortality. Oaks are an attribute of monarchical power. Royal oaks grew in the palace parks of a number of European monarchs right up to the bourgeois Jewish revolutions. The rebellious masses cut down the “royal oak”, which symbolized reprisals against the crowned persons.
Abundant harvests of acorns are repeated after 4 – 8 years. Renewal is also carried out by stump growth. Oak lives up to 400 - 500 years, individual trees - up to 1500 - 2000 years. Relatively light-loving, often drowned out by fast-growing trees (birch, aspen and hornbeam).
English dub “to knight, to give a title”, as well as joke. “to baptize”, dub in “to dub”.
The etymology of the word “oak” is Russian. oak, Ukrainian oak, old glory db, bulg. dab, Serbohorv. oak, slovenian dob, Czech, Slvts. dub, Polish dab, gen. n. debu, v.-luzh., n.-luzh. dub. The original meaning is probably " tree"; Wed lab. jabkodab "apple tree". In etymology, apparently, one should proceed from *dombros from *dom-ros, which could have developed in Proto-Slavic as a base on -u under the influence of some other tree name (for example, *dybъ or *grabъ, like *grabrъ by analogy *dobrъ). Less convincingly, Slav comes closer. dobъ with d.-v.-s. tanna "spruce". The comparison with the Greek is unconvincing. “blind, dark”, Irish. dub "black", goth. dumbs “stupid”, from where dobъ allegedly means “dark wood”. *dhumros “dark-colored tree”, Old Indian. dhumras "smoky, gray". From I.-e. *dheub-; Wed Polish dub, dziub "hollow".
Oak bark is mainly used as a medicinal raw material. Galenic preparations of oak bark have astringent, anti-inflammatory and anti-putrefactive properties. When applying galenic preparations of oak or tannin to wounds or mucous membranes, interaction with proteins is observed, and a protective film is formed that protects tissues from local irritation. This slows down the inflammation process and reduces pain. Tannins denature the protoplasmic proteins of pathogenic microorganisms, which leads to a delay in their development or death. The bark of young branches and thin trunks is used as an astringent, for rinsing with gingivitis, stomatitis, inflammatory processes of the pharynx, pharynx, larynx and for the treatment of burns, replacing imported ratania. For tuberculosis, rickets. Infusion - for gastritis and enteritis, stomach ulcers, gastric bleeding, colitis, dysentery, cholera. Lotions - for skin diseases, bedsores, enemas and suppositories - for hemorrhoids and anal fissures, douching - for vaginal diseases and polymenorrhea, baths - for hyperhidrosis. Infusions and decoctions - for frostbite. Antidote for poisoning with alkaloids and salts of heavy metals. The decoction has a pronounced deodorizing effect. In folk medicine (inside) - for gynecological diseases, heavy menstruation, diarrhea, gastric ulcers, dysentery, gastrointestinal diseases, diseases of the liver and spleen, thyroid gland, rickets, cholera, pyelonephritis; externally - for sweating, for washing bleeding hemorrhoids and purulent wounds, gargling and mouthwash for inflammation, to eliminate bad breath, to remove calluses; ointment - for burns and frostbite. Oak bark is included in bath mixtures for scrofula and rickets. Leaves – infusion and decoction for diabetes. Acorns – acorn coffee and dry powder – for colitis, scrofula. Infusion and decoction - for rickets, anemia, nervous diseases, polymenorrhea, scrofulosis, diabetes mellitus.
Oak is one of the most revered trees in the traditional culture of the Slavs, symbolizing strength, strength and masculinity, as well as personifying the object and place of religious rites and sacrifices.
Among the Slavs, oak is associated with the upper world. Positive meanings are assigned to it. The oak occupies the first place in the row of trees and correlates with the first elements of other symbolic rows. The Russians called him Tsar Oak. In Slavic languages and dialects, the word “oak” often appears in the generic meaning of “tree”; for example, the Serbs said that the oak is the king of trees.
In sacred practice, it was the oak that performed a number of cult functions; in folklore and practical magic, the oak acts in the form of a three-part world tree, modeling the Universe. In conspiracies, an oak tree standing on an island, near a temple, on a mountain, in the middle of the ocean, denotes the center of the world and the world itself, and at the same time an ideal otherworldly space, where only the resolution of a particular crisis situation (in particular, getting rid of an illness) is possible. The Slavs held meetings, trials, and wedding ceremonies under the sacred oak trees. For example, in the treatise of Constantine Porphyrogenitus (mid-10th century) it is reported that the Dews made sacrifices on the island. Khortytsia, where a huge oak tree grew. According to information from the Voronezh province, after the wedding, the newlyweds drove to the old oak tree and drove around it three times. It was everywhere forbidden to cut down and damage sacred oak trees.
The Slavs dedicated the oak tree to the thunderer Perun (in particular, it was forbidden to be under an oak tree during a thunderstorm and to grow an oak tree near the house, since thunder strikes the oak tree first).
In signs and prohibitions, the oak was compared with the owner of the house. In conspiracies, the oak was endowed with a proper name (for example, Karkolyst, Dorotheus).
Giant mythological snakes lived on large oak trees - patrons of the land, protecting the area from hail and bad weather and fighting with the challahs. Next to the oak tree or right on it are the king, queen, God, and around the oak tree in its roots or on the leaves lies a snake (cf. also the South Slavic Guardian Snake living on the oak tree). The king of birds, Cook, and an eagle lived on the oak tree. In Belarusian folklore, oak and Perun appear in the plots of fairy tales and conspiracies dedicated to the Thunderer’s pursuit of a snake, falcon and other opponents. Mermaids lived on oak trees: A.S. Pushkin placed the Lukomorye oak tree at the center of the mythological universe, and not its branch - the mermaid.
In beliefs, practical magic and folklore, the oak consistently appears as a male symbol. After bathing a newborn boy, water is poured under an oak tree. In the Vitebsk region, a midwife cut a boy’s umbilical cord on an oak block so that he would grow up strong. When the bride is brought into her husband’s house, she enters first and says to herself: “There are oak trees near the yard, and sons in the house,” if she wants boys to be born to her.
There is an ancient Russian custom of rubbing your back against an oak tree at the first thunder or at the sight of the first spring bird, so that your back is strong; tuck an oak branch into the belt on the back so that the back would not hurt during the harvest, etc. The Poles hung oak wreaths on the horns of cows so that the cows would be strong and so that the horns would not break when gored.
The oak served as an object to which diseases were symbolically transferred (another duplication). Belarusians poured water under a young oak tree in which they washed a consumptive patient. When Poles had abscesses in their mouths, they spat into a hole dug under an oak tree. Ukrainians, Poles, Czechs and Moravians left the clothes of the sick person on the oak tree; Bulgarians, Serbs and Macedonians visited revered oak trees and tied them to their branches ribbons And threads from clothes. In the folk medicine of the Southern Slavs, a popular way of treating childhood illnesses, as well as a way to stop child mortality in the family, was the custom of placing cut nails and hair of a sick child in the trunk of an oak tree or thread, which was used to first measure the child, and then hammer this hole with a peg: when the child outgrows this hole, the disease will leave him.
Among the oak groves, temples of Veles were built (in particular, the temple of Baal in Damascus; see more about the cult of Veles-Baal). The famous club of Hercules was made from oak. The Druids called the oak the “tree of science” (cf. the Judeo-Christian tale about two trees growing in paradise: the tree of life and the tree of knowledge). Not a single tree enjoyed such love and honor among the peoples of Europe as the oak. The Slavs, ancient Greeks, and Romans considered it sacred, worshiped it, and attributed miraculous properties to it. It was believed that the oak was given by the gods to people as a great gift. Without the permission of the priests it was impossible to cut down an oak tree or break off a branch. In Greece, an oak branch was a symbol of strength, power, and nobility. Oak branches were awarded to warriors who accomplished great feats. The uneducated Greeks believed that the oak appeared on earth earlier than other trees. They dedicated the oak tree to God Sveta, sciences and arts to Apollo. On the basis of the mythology of Apollo, a myth arose about the Hyperboreans (Hyperborea - Rus', see) and their country, where morality and art flourished under the sign of Apollo’s mercy (Pind. Pyth. X 29 - 47; Himer. XIV 10; Herodot. IV 32 - 34). As for the arts, it should be said at least that it was in Rus', at the Avdeevskaya site, in the 20th thousand BC. The oldest flute has been found. And in general, the Slavic god Perun is persistently discernible in the image of Apollo. According to the mystery scale of the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, oak corresponds to fifth hour of the night journey solar barge Ra.
One of the most revered and sacred trees of the Indo-Europeans was the oak. The name of the tree goes back to the Sanskrit root dwr (at least that’s how it is written in most sources, I only found the word dvar), which sounds approximately the same in all languages, and means “door”. Another Indo-European meaning of the root, as stated in many articles, is “tree” (daru). In all cultures, a tree (world tree, shamanic tree, etc.) is a path along which one can move between worlds. And the door is always a border. The door closes, opens, fences off, divides. What? For example, worlds. In Russian conspiracies it is often said “Beyond the blue sea, beyond the Khvalynsky Sea, in the middle of the Okiyan Sea, lies the island of Buyan; on that island of Buyan there is an oak tree...”, i.e. in this case, the oak acts as one of the symbols that defines the “division” into the world of people and the world of gods. The Celts, and they were not alone, believed that oak doors best protected against evil entering the house.
The Celtic month of the oak tree, with the summer solstice falling on it, marked the turning point of the year when the solar king Taliesin passed through the earthly doors into the underworld, and the souls of people could remember the purpose of their earthly existence. Actually, the day of the summer solstice in the Druid calendar was also considered Oak Day. In "Cad Goddeu" the oak appears as "a powerful gatekeeper against the enemy - his name is in all lands."
Just imagine a small acorn. Imagine how it sprouts, grows, now its crown stretches upward, and its roots go deep into the earth - as are the roots, so is the crown. Human generations change, but the oak tree still stands... A hundred years, five hundred, a thousand... For a person, the life of an oak tree seems surprisingly long, the tree itself becomes an object of worship - after all, it remembers such ancient times, about which one can only hear fairy tales... And how much wisdom it contains a tree that lives so long!
The energy of oak is strong, like a powerful stream that washes away everything artificial and artificial in its path. In this regard, oak can also be interpreted as a core, a foundation. Therefore, oak is credited with colossal both physical and spiritual strength. In many cultures, the festive fire (as well as the fire in temples) was lit on oak logs so that requests and wishes, multiplied by the amazing power of the tree, rushed straight to the abode of the gods.
When we say the word “oak,” we most often mean something strong, hardy, and strong. Even the idiom “stoeros oak” means “an oak tree that grows straight,” and only then a stubborn, stubborn person. Oak symbolizes strength, courage, endurance, strength, longevity, fertility, nobility, and fidelity. Because of its qualities, the oak is associated with the thunder god, the lord of the heavens (Zeus, Ares, Jupiter, Mars, Ahuramazda, Perun, Perkunas. Thor, Dagda).
The energy of oak can not only nourish a person, but also open doors to other worlds. Because of this property, oak also acts as the dwelling of the gods, oak groves - as sacred places into which the gods descend, allowing people to talk to themselves (therefore, oak groves have become places for ceremonies, the most important rituals, and holidays).
The center of the Greek sanctuary of Zeus in Dodona was an oak tree, next to which there was a spring. Listening to the rustling of leaves, the priests predicted the future. In Rome, the wedding of Juno and Jupiter was celebrated every year in an oak grove, while oak branches symbolized fertility, vitality and fortitude. Particularly worth mentioning are the Celtic Druids, who made oak forests open-air temples. For the Druids, the oak was an object of worship, symbolizing the axis of the world and personifying strength and wisdom, hence everything that grows on the oak became a “gift from heaven.” The union of oak and mistletoe, in addition to everything else, was a union of masculine and feminine principles (the oak became a conductor of male power). The Ostrogoths considered the oak tree to be the tree that preserves the world, and cutting it down was equated with a crime. For the Slavs, oak was associated with ancestors and clan. People came to him to ask for advice, to ask for strength and health. In the biblical tradition, the oak acts as a symbol of pride and arrogance: Saul sits under the oak, Jacob buries foreign gods under the oak, Absalom finds his end on the oak. Jesus Christ is crucified on an oak cross. In the Christian tradition, oak becomes a symbol of firmness in faith and virtue. In specifically Christianized Ireland, the oak was one of the "Seven Noble Trees" (the other six being apple, black alder, birch, hazel, holly and willow), the destruction of which was punishable by a fine of one cow; It was customary to build churches near oak trees; in front of the oak trees growing on the church grounds, during the All Saints prayer procession, held three times in the week before the Ascension, the priest stopped for a short service (unwittingly paying tribute to ancient pagan traditions).
The power of oak lies in the fact that it does not allow a person’s consciousness to be entangled in spells, and gives clarity and sobriety of thoughts. An oath taken under an oak tree not only meant “in the presence of the gods,” but also “in a sober mind and memory.” An illustration of this can be the conversation between King Adalbert of Kent and St. Augustine. The king, wary of Augustine's witchcraft, gives him an audience under an old oak tree, where it is possible to listen and talk without fear of, in modern terms, brain hacking. Carrying oak leaves and acorns with you, as well as consuming them as food (for example, in the form of acorn coffee), also protects against unwanted influences, prevents brainwashing and gives perseverance in one’s beliefs and views.
People loved to enter into marriages under the oak canopy, thereby confirming their sincere desire to unite destinies. The rite of fraternization, sealed under the fused branches of two oak trees, meant that the connection between people was now eternal and would exist until the end of time. The oak tree, representing the “core” of the personality, in this situation also witnessed the sincerity of the desire.
The oak, rising high with its crown, sometimes became a lightning rod, which was struck by lightning. The wood of such a tree acquired additional protective properties, because was marked by the patron saint of the oak - the thunder god. In particular, the house of a person storing a piece of such a tree was considered insured against fires caused by lightning.
The energy of the tree is used by people to quickly restore strength. A walk in an oak grove fills a person with strength and cleanses (at the same time, it is like a piece of meat that can easily restore the strength of a healthy, strong person, but cannot be absorbed by a weakened body). To recharge, oak brooms were used in the bathhouse, or an oak log was placed at the patient’s feet. The power of the tree was such that it could also cure drunkenness, clearing the brain and removing addictions.
The symbolism of oak is also used in those areas of everyday life where it is necessary to emphasize the strength, protective properties and inflexibility of their owner (images of oak leaves/wreaths/branches can be found on military uniforms, coats of arms and shields).
Oak wood retains a number of properties of a living tree. It can be used (along with ash and yew) to create runes. Oak makes excellent tools for magical work; once placed on oak objects and talismans, weaving is “imprinted” into them, remaining for a long time. Oak amulets work especially well, aimed at protection, increasing physical strength, and achieving success.
