Aspen Grove

In a grove of aspen trees, it is never silent. The leaves tremble in the slightest breeze, giving the tree the nickname "Quaking Aspen". It is said that if one is silent in a grove of aspens, one will hear the whispered voices of Fey Folk.

The Aspen has a special significance to Witches, as all the aspen trees in a single grove grow from one source...in reality, all we see above the ground shares a root system and is in reality one tree. This makes the Aspen a perfect natural exemplar of clan or family, as well as the traditions of the ancestors and the law and courage and faith of the ancient peoples on whom our knowledge of Craft is built, and from whom sprung our lore as well as our lives.

Tree: Koad signifies the unity of all eight festivals of the Keltic Year.  It can be described as the sacred grove, the location in which 
all things become connected together.  Druids and Witches throughout the centuries have performed their spells and enchantments 
within the confines of the Sacred Grove.

Expression: This Forfedha indicates the ultimate focus and the beginning and ending of all understanding: the self.  This is the 
reference point for all readings.  This may sometimes be a "collective self" when a reading is being done for a pair of lovers, a family,
 a group, or an institution.

Divination:  Bringing things together.  Uniting separate forces.  Wisdom gained by seeing past illusions.

The Challenge of Koad is the tendency to attempt a task alone when teamwork is needed.

The Fifths:

Koad is the first of the final five Ogham characters, which were added at a far later date than the others are. Needless to say these later additions to the Ogham are still relevant today.

Druids are still to this day known to worship in groves and hold these sacred places close to their hearts. Today in certain places you may still find groups of different varieties of trees untouched by the hands of man.

Within these groves, Druids find peace and solitude so they may commune with nature and their Gods and Goddesses. Even today within the druidic communities their elders hold counsel to hear of grievances and offer practical solutions to the problem.

One Goddess in particular is associated with Koad... her name is Nemetona. She is known to be a warrior Goddess who watches over those on the side of truth and justice.

I have heard it said that in the past Druids could challenge their elders by right of combat, although I would be surprised if this still held true today. Nemetona is also known to reside over noble people who have passed over to the other side.

Koad is a place where knowledge, wisdom and understanding become intertwined. A place where Druids hold ceremonial rituals, and make offerings of the self, in return for guidance along their paths.

Working with the Grove may bring the first steps in achieving harmony and balance with regards to the past, present and future. This in turn can help us to gain further insights into ourselves and assist in the development of understanding.

This deeper understanding accompanied by knowledge and wisdom may only be gained by looking within our own self, guided by the surrounding trees. Any exploration of the self will bring issues to the fore that we are required to face.

At times these issues may bring with them turmoil and hardship resulting in an internal conflict or battle which needs to be resolved. Nemetona is on hand within the grove to offer guidance towards this resolution and when in need offers refreshment and cleansing within the sacred springs which often wait silently nearby.