Legends and myths about trees

Celtic beliefs in trees (23)

Ng for Ngetl (Broom) - October 28th - November 24th

“Entering into dormancy – The Celtic Tree Calendar (Ref), Twelfth Month”

colour: blue; Star: moon; Gemstone: opal; Gender: male; Patron: Mercuris, Morpheus, Bacchus; Symbols: dignity, purity, healing, spiritual protection, soul journey

The common broom is ubiquitous in European wetlands. It grows unmindful from alpine peaks to lowland scrub and wilderness, providing temporary shelter from the wind and rain on rugged, bare ground. Although delicate in looks, its long, straight stems are strong and flexible and will not break in the wind. As its name suggests, it is used to make brooms. The broom has also been valued as a medicinal plant since ancient times. In medieval England, it was used by the royal family as a remedy for after drinking and singing parties and debauchery. The reason was that in November, when it was cold and people spent a lot of time indoors, there was nothing else to do but to be merry and boisterous.

The efficacy of medicinal herbs is corroborated in ancient Celtic literature. The ogham form of the word Ngetl represents from a word panacea, meaning 'physician's power'. The most important constituent of the broom plant is sparteine (an alkaloid). Some people associate the broom plant with witches because large doses of sparteine can cause extreme excitement or hallucinations. It is also said to be the reason why witches are flying astride broomsticks.

Beer is now made from hops, but in the olden days young, supple broom plants were used to flavour the beer and enhance the tipsy mood. Tea made from the yellow flowers was often used as a diuretic. In esoteric rituals, the broom plant is used for purification and prayers for personal safety, and is said to be particularly powerful against poltergeists. It is also said that throwing the branches of the broom plant causes wind, while burning them and burying them in the earth quiets the wind.

The spirits leave their bodies and embark on a journey. Druids (Ref2) and shamans call this 'the journey to the underworld', and the broom plant is a symbol of such a journey. Anyway, with its remarkable healing properties and narcotic-like effects, the broom plant has long been associated with healers, sorcerers, witches and shamans.

For the Celts, the month that the broom plant governs, which marks the end of the year, is a time to store up for the winter, sweep the house clean and hope that miscellaneous thoughts and bad habits will leave the house. In a nutshell, the enithid symbolises the virtue of keeping one's behaviour clean. It also teaches us to pay close attention to the dreams we have while sleeping at night.

木にまつわる伝説・神話

ケルト人の樹木の信仰 (23)

NはNgetl (ｴﾆｼﾀﾞ) - 10月28日～11月24日　

『休止への入り口 〜 ケルトの木の暦（参照）、12番目の月』

色: 青; 星: 月;  宝石: オパール; 性: 男性; 守護神: メルクリス、モルフェウス、バッカス; シンボル: 尊厳、清浄、癒し、精神の保護、魂の旅

普通種のエニシダ(英:ﾌﾞﾙｰﾑ) はヨーロッパの湿地帯ではどこにでも生えている。高山の山頂から低地の低木林や荒野まで、荒々しいむきだしの大地に雨風をしのぐ仮の宿を提供しながら平然と生育している。見た目は繊細だが、長くまっすぐな茎は丈夫でしなやかで、風で折れることはない。その名が示すように、ほうき(英:ﾌﾞﾙｰﾑ)の材料として使われる。また、エニシダは古くから薬草としても重宝されてきた。中世のイギリスでは、王族が酒を飲んで歌い騒ぎ、放蕩した後の薬として使っていた。寒さが厳しく室内で過ごす時間の長い11月は浮かれ騒ぐよりほかになかったからだ。

薬草の効能については、古代ケルトの文献にもそれを裏書きする記述が見られる。そもそもオガム表記のNgetlは「医者の力」を意味するパナケア(panacea) を表しす。エニシダの最も重要な成分はスパルテイン（アルカロイド）である。スパルテインを大量に摂取すると、極度の興奮や幻覚を引き起こすことがあるため、エニシダを魔女と結びつける人もいる。また、魔女がほうきにまたがって空を飛ぶのもこのためだと言われている。

現在、ビールはホップから作られているが、昔は若くてしなやかなエニシダがビールの風味付けやほろ酔い気分を高めるために使われていた。黄色い花で入れたお茶は利尿剤としてよく使われた。密教の儀式では、エニシダは浄化や身の安全を祈願するために使われ、特にポルターガイストに対して威力を発揮すると言われている。また、エニシダの枝を投げると風が吹き、燃やして土に埋めると風が静まると言われている。

魂は肉体を離れ、旅に出る。ドルイド（参照2）やシャーマンはこれを「冥界への旅」と呼び、エニシダはそうした旅の象徴である。いずれにせよ、エニシダには驚くべきヒーリング (癒し) 作用と麻薬のような効果があるため、長い間、ヒーラー、魔術師、魔女やシャーマンと縁の深い植物なのだ。

ケルト人にとって1年の締めくくりにあたる、エニシダがつかさどる月は、冬に備えて貯え、家の中を綺麗に掃き清め、雑念や悪習に退場を願う時期に当たる。一言でいえば、エニシダは自分の行動を綺麗に保つことの美徳を象徴している。そして、夜寝ている間に見る夢に細心の注意を払うようにという教えでもある。

BINATANG KAPRE

Based on my true experience!

Warning!

Wayback last year 2019 I can still remember that time when I was in my middle of my heartbreak experience that really got so bad and I decided to take an unwind moment for myself. Me and my friend Irene had plan to go to Samal Island which is famous here in our City we went to Hagimit falls. There are a lot of myhts about in this falls old people said us that we should not be so loud and we should always say "tabi po" to respect to the fairies living there. There's also Irene's boyfriend accompanied us and me too, I invited my other male friends which is they didn't stayed overnight though to personal reasons cause they got other responsibilities to do. So I respect that, fast forward. After that we got a place there we decided to prepare our food and alcohol drinks. We grilled the fish and start to drink and have fun then the owner of the place told us that maybe if we want to go out and search for another place because later on it will rain so hard and the falls will get high tide and we might be stranded there the owner warned us and they got worried also. But we insist to stay and told them that we will be responsible enough to handle things there. And then the owner also told us that they will leave the place before it went dark also for their safetyness. And also my male friend leave too. Fast forward when the night comes, maybe around 5-6pm as that time. We got so fucked up cause we drank too much and hit also a weed. My friend Irene and his boyfriend stayed in the cottage and did all the cuddle thingy thing. And me? Myself just laying in my hammock til I fall asleep. Until this! This is the moment that literally woke me up because i thought someone swing so hard my hammock that in fact only Irene and his boyfriend and me are just in there!? "How come!?" I even told this in my mind. And then i start to freak out calmy. And I told myself maybe it was a nightmare. So i decided to transfer to the cottage to continue to sleep until this! I began to freak out again calmy because i smell the scent of the "tobacco" that in fact no one just in there! I'm surely sure that no other people are just in there only the three of us! So how come this happen that I can literally smell the scent of the tobacco!? I told this in my mind. And my instinct told me maybe someone just passed by. Maybe it was a "kapre". I got scared that I began to woke them up and told them but they didn't smell anything so they just don't mind me. They got so sober at that time and all I can do is to pray to God. And then in the morning. I told again my friend Irene about what happen last night and she just listened to me without any hesitation and the owner of the place got back and I told them what I've experienced last night and they confirmed it that there is someone living there, what we called us here "kapre" to guard the place/falls. Good thing we didn't do any harm or we don't got so loud at that night that they may become disturbed. The owner told us also that the "kapre" is also a binata and that is playful and he likes to play with you but in no harm. But for me i found it so creepy and disgusting. So fast forward, finally! We arrived safe in our home. But I couldn't stop thinking about what happened to that day we're in fact all I wanna do is to unwind my self. 😪 And I promised that I will never be with that place again!

By the way here in Philippines, Kapre means is a creature that could be characterized as a tree giant. It is described as being a tall (7 to 9 ft), big, black, terrifying, hairy, muscular creature. Kapres are normally described as having a strong smell that attracts human attention. They stay at a branch of a tree smoking. 👻