I am very excited to this journey’s ogham. Willows hold a very special place in my heart, and I definitely greeted Saille with open arms when she came forth. On my property stands a very very old willow tree, whom we fondly call Old Man Willow. When we arrived at this house to look at it, Old Man Willow was the first being we saw, along with all the other very old trees on the property. Of course, this comes with its own issues in that maintenance was required, and within the first year we had to do some major trimming, but Old Man Willow lives on, albeit a bit more preened. He’s presided over this house likely since it was built in 1940, and if all goes well, will be there long after we are gone. He gives a comforting presence to our home and is paired with what was likely another willow in the front yard that was cut down some time before we moved in. There is spiritual work there to be done, but in the meantime I am doing my best to establish a good relationship with willow, and thus have a good start with my meeting with Saille.

Attributes and Associations

Sail. Saille. SAHL-Yuh. Saille means Willow. Saille is a name related to the Welsh helyg-en and latin salix. Its proto-indo-european root was sal, and it’s phonetic value is s. In the medieval kennings, the verses associated with saille are: li ambi or “pallor of the lifeless one” in Morann mic Moin, luth bech or “sustenance of bees” in Mac ind Oc, and tosach mela or “beginning of honey” in Culainn. Attributes of Saille are birth, connections, enchantment, fertility, flexibility, healing, knowledge, relationships, and wishes. The deity I find most patrons Saille is Ishtar and finds elements in both fire and water.

Willows are notoriously hardy trees, and have a great love of water. There are over 400 different types of willows and all have abundant watery bark sap, which is heavily charged with salicylic acid, soft, usually pliant, tough wood, slender branches, and large, fibrous, often stoloniferous roots. The roots are remarkable for their toughness, size, and tenacity to live, and roots readily sprout from aerial parts of the plant. Almost all willows take root very readily from cuttings or where broken branches lie on the ground. Perhaps to emphasize their tenacity to life, willows have grown from heat laden tropics to near arctic zones all across the earth. Due to Willow’s apparent peaceful, serene nature, it is no surprise that its spiritual attributes are also that of peace and serenity. Its presence brings us comfort and joy, which allows harmony and balance to those who seek its influence in their meditations, and inspiration into their hearts and minds.

The Contract

Saille dances and swirls about me. I sit upon the floor, eyes closed, and Saille imbues soft light upon my eyelids. She understands what my inner being is missing. She speaks through my land, and whispers wonders through Old Man Willow. May I find peace within knowing they watch over me and mine. Timelessness exists in this space with Saille. I can exist here in a moment of calm and healing. Here, I can find balance, swim in a sea of perfect waters, as they tell me where to find what I need. I can return this world with this balance restored, and find flexibility in perspective of the world, and growth in my relationships from a place of resilience and adaptation.

This week’s drawing is Ruis.