Elm

This deciduous tree is sacred to the elves and the Fey. Elm tree once dominated the forest of Britain until Dutch elm disease wiped out many of the oldest trees. In a practical level, the trees are missed. A strong and water-repellent wood, elm was often used for making coffins. Elm trees were also a part of the hedgerow and were cultivated to shade vineyards from the Sun and to encourage the healthy growth of the vines.

榆樹屬落葉喬木，是精靈界的神聖植物。在早期整個英國森林幾乎都是榆樹的天下，直到之後荷蘭榆樹病菌將大部分最古老的榆樹消滅後才被其他植物取代。榆樹既粗壯且防水防潮，因此常被選來作棺材；另外也常被做成葡萄園中的綠籬、讓葡萄可以在充滿陽光與自然能量的樹蔭下健康成長。

An important tree in both Celtic and Scandinavian myths, the elm also has a connection to the dead and to the realms of the underworld and the realm of the Fey. The folk name for the elm tree is “Elven” because elms were often growing around burial mounds and faerie hills. Today if you would like to get in touch with the nature spirits, an elm tree may afford you the greatest opportunity. Add elm leaves into your rituals or create a faerie wand out of a fallen elm ranch. The elemental corresponded for the elm tree is water. The planetary association is Saturn. In the language of flowers, this herbal tree signifies dignity.

包括凱爾特人和北歐神話中，榆樹都佔有重要的地位，因為它連接著人界與死亡陰間；此外榆樹在民間又叫做“靈樹”，因為它往往圍繞著古墳和神祕的精靈山丘生長。而到如今，如果你希望能與自然靈氣聯繫，那麼從榆樹著手是最快最方便的方法；做法也不複雜，只要你在自己的儀陣中添加榆樹葉，便可提高儀陣中的自然靈性磁場（所以巫師的魔杖常常就是用榆樹做的）。在自然界中，榆樹的對應元素是水、對應行星是土星。至於花語方面，榆樹象徵著「尊嚴」。

採自：Witch’s notebook, Llewellyn worldwide

潤飾：小嵐塔羅