5. Oak twig

Morning sun touches the earth woman in the Samhain garden

The old oak tree

Today was one of those bright, wonderful days when you can't help feeling the joy of early spring. Winter still crunched under my feet as I walked on the frosted grass but spring light illuminated the tops of the trees as the sun strengthened. The mossy old oak on the edge of the woodland seemed to glow in the low morning sun.

The oak is Brigit's tree, and this particular oak is a special tree. It has, like Brigit, a triple aspect - its trunk splits into three just a few feet off the ground. This is probably because it was nibbled by an animal as a young sapling several hundred years ago, but it gives it a symbolic presence. Oaks of course have been sacred trees in many cultures from the Mediterranean to the Celtic countries. They are associated with wisdom, strength, kingship and magic; druidic ceremonies were held underneath them, and St Brigit built her monastery in Kildare, Cill Dara, the Church of the Oak.

Frost on last year's oak leaves

As I walk I think about the notion of trees being sacred, a long tradition in Ireland but little thought of today. What have we lost? How would we change our behaviour to the environment if we remembered the sacred nature of living things? Standing under this beautiful tree I pick a twig and feel grateful for being here.