Renewal

The ancient call beckoned my way ~
Its siren song slithered through gaps of time;
Luring me, then grasping me, like a bird of prey ~
Its message seen through a dance of mime;

We met once again on sacred grounds ~
Where echoes of mystical rites lingered;
The voices of our souls did resound ~
With love incantations, now blurred;

Words of power released by fiery tongues ~
Ebbed and infused into primeval stones;
Now rise to the surface along cryptic rungs ~
Of ceremonies staged on shadows of tribal bones.

Occult vows renewed like the sheath of a snake,
We gaze beyond crystal eyes into Eternity,
Oracles from the past, impossible to fake ~
We humbly invoke them with an initiate’s certainty.

© April 1994, Linda Rose Mainella

Rune: Berrachd (Gaelic)  Meaning: Fertility, growth, rebirth, birch tree

Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much; Wisdom is humble that he knows no more. William Cowper

Some of my academic pursuits include the study of Western astrology.

There also exists another branch of astrology, which is said to have originated with the ancient Druids and Celts. Unlike the solar-oriented Western astrology, Celtic astrology involves the study of the moon and its cycles. This lunar zodiac is comprised of 13 "tree signs". There has been much controversy over the validity of this system. Please see Celtic Astrology -- The Fabrication of 'Celtic' Astrology by Peter Berresford Ellis or Celtic Astrology(Con) to read their arguments. However, for a different perspective and if you wish to know more about Celtic astrology, or to see a more detailed chart, similar to the one below, go to Celtic Astrology. This page Druid Tree Lore and the Ogham at the same site, which touches on the controversy regarding Celtic astrology,offers an alternate view from the first two sites mentioned. Another site that may interest you is at Ancient Treasures: An Introduction to Celtic Astrology

Be Yourself. No one is better qualified.(Anonymous)

The table shown below was taken from this source: Paterson, Helena. The Handbook of Celtic Astrology. Llewellyn Publications, Minnesota, 1994.

Birch	December 24-January 20	02°00' Capricorn-29°59' Capricorn
Rowan	January 21-February 17	00°00' Aquarius-27°59' Aquarius
Ash	February 18-March 17	28°00' Aquarius-25°59' Pisces
Alder	March 18-April 14	26°00' Pisces- 23°59' Aries
Willow	April 15-May 12	24° Aries- 20°59' Taurus
Hawthorn	May 13-June 09	21°00' Taurus- 17°59' Gemini
Oak	June 10-July 07	18°00' Gemini- 14°59' Cancer
Holly	July 08-August 04	15°00' Cancer- 11°59' Leo
Hazel	August 05-September 01	12°00' Leo- 08°59' Virgo
Vine	September 02-September29	09°00' Virgo- 6°59' Libra
Ivy	September 30-October 27	07°00' Libra- 04°59' Scorpio
Reed	October 28-November 24	05°00' Scorpio-02°59' Sagittarius
Elder	November 25-December 23	03°00'Sagittarius -01°59' Capricorn