Oak Trees in Witchcraft: Symbolism, Spells & Magick

The oak tree has a long history of association with mysticism magic & witchcraft.   Oak trees are a symbol of strength, wisdom, and resilience. 

There are so many ways to use this sacred tree in your magical practice!  Here are just a few ideas.

The Oak Tree:  A Witch’s Old Friend

All parts of the oak tree, from the stems to the leaves to the roots and acorns, are useful in spells and magic.

Perhaps bested only by the apple tree for its mythological associations with what we now know as modern witchcraft, the oak tree is alive with sacred energy to be harnessed for your witchy practice.

It provides nourishment for the soul not only as a source of magical ingredients, but a literal shelter from the storms of life beneath its great, noble branches.

Here are some creative ways to use it that you (probably) haven’t considered.

As a natural sacred space.

The oak tree is not only magical in substance.  It also creates a natural, positive “energy field” around it for ritual and spellcraft.

Have a seat under the oak tree for your next solitary ritual and soak up the oak’s sagely vibes.

Summer Solstice & Litha altars. 

Adorn your Summer Solstice altar with hand-gathered oak leaves as an ode to the fullness of the light.

Some traditions use oak as a symbol of the Green Man, a mysterious figure in European mythology that is often associated with the magic of Midsummer.

For strength.

Are you trying to overcome a bad habit?  Struggling to do the right thing in the face of temptation?

Add acorns or dried, crushed oak leaves to sachets and spell bags, and carry them with you to enhance your strength of character.  

To recover dignity.

One needs only to gaze up at the majesty of an old oak tree to recognize its power as a living symbol of dignity.

If you’ve recently lost some of yours to a bad moment, place a small branch from an oak tree on your altar as an offering to learn from your mistake.

When you are humbled by a personal blunder, you have a choice to make.  Will you grow wiser, or indulge your inner child?

For flexibility.

In rough storms, the oak tree bends more easily than it breaks.

If you find yourself in a situation (at work, at home or within your circle of friends) where the actors involved are behaving rigidly to the detriment of the social dynamic, gather a young, flexible twig from the branch of an oak tree.

Place it near the center of the conflict to promote cooperation.

Mental endurance. 

On the Pechanga Indian Reservation in Temecula, California, the oldest oak tree in the world has been standing for 2,000 years.

Imagine what it’s had to put up with in that time.

Carve your name or personal sigil into a piece of oak wood.  Carry it with you during difficult periods to encourage mental stability, strength, and endurance.

For a “solid” home life.

Add furniture made of reclaimed oak to your home imparts a sense of stability in domestic life.

In particular, use oak where the family gathers.  For example, reclaimed oak makes a perfect material for the dining table or porch chairs. 

In mourning rituals.

Burn a log of fallen oak in mourning rituals to heal grief and honor the recently departed.

Fallen oak is associated with healing sorrow and nourishing the hearts of those left behind.

You can also add oak chips to an incense of cinnamon, allspice and/or lavender to burn during funerary rites for the same purpose.

To dispel self-doubt.

If you find yourself facing a situation that throws you unexpectedly into chaos, sit on the roots of an oak tree to ground yourself to the Earth.

The foot of an oak tree makes an excellent site for meditation during times of unrest in your life.  It’s solidity, dependability, and strength counteract the instinct to be absorbed by catastrophe.  Let the oak help you gain perspective and stay rooted to your core values.

In celebratory masks.

Especially during the summer festivals, use oak leaves artistically in masks and headpieces.

Oak conveys a sense of magic and mystery when used to adorn the body (appropriately–don’t be that weird guy).

Fresh oak leaves last up to a week before they fade, so they’re perfect for projects you need to make in advance.

Oak Tree Symbolism Explained

Its standout characteristics lend its symbolism to strength, longevity, and elevating spiritually and materially. It carries distinct leaves since the tree’s edges are wavy, which are shed from the tree in fall time going into the winter.

This tree is abundant in oceanic climates, found inside lush forests, but is a tree found in the Mediterranean climate zones as well.

It is large, bearing a wide trunk and reaching more than 35 meters in height. Ents, or “shepherd trees”, recalled by Tolkien, are old oak trees. And since it is so powerful, it can withstand severe weather: lightning, extreme cold, torrential rain, hail, and more.

In modern and old days alike, it has been a highly prized tree due to its unique wood, which ages beautifully. This wood is used for furniture, and since oak wood carries a distinct taste, it’s the preferred wood for wine barrels. It is an extremely durable wood, used for boats and homes. Its bark contains tannins, which are tanning properties used to tan skin.

Because the wood of the oak is hard and compact, it lasts for centuries without rotting. In the days of the old, its wood was used to construct bridges, docks, and used for ship manufacturing.

Table 1: Symbolic Meanings of Oak Tree Parts

Strength and power may be the most notable symbols of this mighty tree, but such a powerful tree is determined to carry more powerful meanings with it. The energy of it is said to be one of freedom.

The energy is healing, helping those who believe to recover their strength and health.

Here are some more the oak tree’s awesome symbolisms:

• Divine strength
• Wisdom
• Knowledge
• Inner strength and courage
• Overcoming any problem, especially in terms of physical health
• Protection at all levels
• The recovery of self-confidence
• Strengthening the auric field
• Renewing vital forces
• Balancing the energy of the entire being: mentally, physically, and energetically

Its energy is considered masculine because it represents the supreme strength of nature.

Beyond the above, it is the sacred tree for:

• Romans – dedicated it to Jupiter
• Greeks – dedicated it to Zeus
• Slavs – divinely associated with Perun
• Lithuanians – it is Perkunas
• Germans – it is Donate
• Finns – the oak is Taaras
• Nordics – a tree associated with Thor

The famed Greek God, Zeus, received prophecy through the whisper of the wind between the leaves of the sacred oaks.

A tree of strength and freedom, in Guernica it stands in the main square to symbolize the freedom of the Basque people.

In Guernica, when lawmakers take office, they swear their position by taking the oak as their witness.

The question of “where did we come from?” has been intriguing man since ancient times, when creation myths were the tool used to explain.

The Arcadians believed that before they had manifested as human beings, they were an oak tree.

The Hellenes called them their “first mothers.”

This makes sense in regard to folklore because, according to Greek mythology, they were the first trees. Legend has it in many countries that the first food consumed by humans was acorns.

This tree is closely linked to power. In many cultures, important figures would make their decisions under this tree.