No matter how well versed they are in their art, every wort-cunner and herbalist will over time develop a few favorite botanicals. Whether these favorites are for healing, magickal or spiritual work there is something that “speaks” to the practitioner in some significant way. One of my favorite botanicals for magickal work is birch.
Birch trees (Betula alba. Betula benta) have long been harvested by mankind for a myriad of purposes; food, medicine, shelter, paper and clothing are among the many gifts that this beautiful and graceful tree has given humanity over the ages. There is also a vast amount of magickal and mythical folklore associated with the tree. From a seasonal prospective probably the best known associations are those of Imbolg and the festivals of the goddess Brigit. The birch is a feminine tree often associated with the Earth Goddess or Earth Mother and in some cultures is called The Lady of the Woods. Protection, exorcism, purification, love and fertility are among the many magickal associations for birch but the ones that really resonate with me are banishing and new beginnings; which pretty much go hand in hand if you think about it.
Over the years birch bark and leaves have found their way into many of my magickal products but it is the essential oil that I really favor. The fresh and stimulating scent is similar to that of wintergreen; similar but not the same. From a magickal prospective there are many oils that have similar properties and associations but energetically there is no substitute in my opinion. (*It should be noted here that while birch oil is incorporated into many skin healing products with great success it can cause skin irritation, rash or contact dermatitis if the undiluted oil comes into contact with skin. Never apply undiluted to skin and always take precautions when working with the oil.)
The leaves and bark are both ingredients in various charcoal incenses and herbal blends that I make. On the other hand the essential oil is an ingredient in many products; soaps, oil blends, candles, charcoal and stick incenses and more. The biggest disadvantage to using birch in magickal products is its sporadic availability. When the bark is unobtainable I can usually find the leaves and vice-versa so when it comes to charcoal incenses and herbal blends one can usually be substituted for the other. On the other hand when there is no oil to be had there are simply products that won’t get made.
We are currently in one of those periods of birch oil unavailability which many of you have noticed as some of your favorite products have been out of stock for a while.
I usually like to do business with companies that I am familiar with; when it comes to essential oils not all companies are created equally so when I find a supplier whose quality and value I have come to trust I am hesitant to go elsewhere. For a while now, all of my usual sources have been out and when questioned about estimated arrival dates they have no answers for me. In fact one of my regular suppliers has even removed it from their catalog due to the inconsistent availability so I have reluctantly yet diligently been searching for a new source.
Without any anticipation of success I recently began what I was sure would be yet another futile search for the ever elusive birch essential oil. Of course I first I tried all of my regular essential oil suppliers just in case but as expected with no success. So I began searching about on the internet; mind you I had tried many times over the preceding months with no success. Whenever I was able to find a dealer that advertised the oil, I was always met with those discouraging words, “out of stock”.
So, was it coincidence, serendipity or simply the magick of the season that caused me to be successful on my very first try? After all, my previous searches had been before the Winter Solstice but this search was done in the Imbolg season. Also in keeping with the energy of new beginnings the supplier not only had large quantities of the desired essential oil but they also carried quite a few other products that I have been trying to find for some time now; so in my opinion it was definitely the magick of the season!
Birch essential oil is a major component in my Banishing Products and Brigit Products not mention my Special Birch Soap and the Birch Votive Candles. All of these products are back in stock now and I have also added a Birch Pillar Candles and Tea Light Candles as well. In the coming months there will be other new products that will have been made possible by the quest for Birch Essential Oil.
So thank you Lady of the Woods for sending me on this journey that has resulted once again in New Beginnings!
A Blessed Imbolg Season to you all!
Raven
Raven’s Flight
The Magickal Apothecary
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