An Oak Touchwood worn at the breast is said to protect the wearer from all deception and the world’s false glamour, is carried for longevity, gifts good health, preserves youthfulness and protects against illness. Oak shields the bearer from adversity and getting lost in the forest of life. Oak increases prosperity and brings wisdom, luck and fine judgement. The Oak is used to grant divinatory powers, enabling us to sort truth from fiction. Oak restores will and self determination and brings strength for the journeys to come.
Mythology and Folklore
The oak was sacred to many gods, including Zeus, Jupiter and the Celtic Dagda. Each of these gods ruled over thunder and lightning, and oak trees are often hit by lightning as they are the tallest living feature in the landscape.
Druids practised rituals in oak groves and cherished the mistletoe that grows in oak-tree branches. It’s also linked with royalty: ancient kings and Roman Emperors wore crowns of oak leaves.
In England, the oak is a national symbol of strength. Couples were wed under ancient oaks in Oliver Cromwell’s time. Oak is the emblem of many environmental groups, including the Woodland Trust.
King Arthur's round table was said to be hewn from one huge single slab of Oak. Benefitting the knights with wisdom and courage.
The ancient Greeks listened for the voices of the Gods rustling through the branches and leaves of Oak tree groves.Here they built their Oracles.
The seventh letter in the Celtic Tree alphabet is Duir the Oak. It represents wisdom and strength. The Druids took their name from the Duir or Oak tree.
Oak is considered a medicine tree by many American indigenous eastern and midwestern tribes, associated with strength and protection.
Dreaming of resting under an oak tree means you will have a long life and wealth.
Climbing the tree in your dream means a relative will have a hard time of it in the near future.
Dreaming of a fallen oak means the loss of love.
If you catch a falling oak leaf you shall have no colds all winter.
If someone does get sick, warm the house with an oakwood fire to shoo away the illness.
Carrying a piece of Oak protects against illnesses and pains, for immortality and youthfulness, and to increase fertility .
Carrying any piece of the oak draws good luck to you.
Uses of Oak
Oaks produce one of the hardest and most durable timbers on the planet. However, it takes up to 150 years before an oak is ready to use in construction. It has been a prized hardwood timber for thousands of years and is still used for flooring, wine barrels and firewood.
Other uses of oak:
Leaves, bark and acorns were believed to heal many medical ailments, including diarrhoea, inflammation and kidney stones.
Acorns have also been used to make flour for bread making.
Tannin found in the bark has been used to tan leather since at least Roman times.