The Ash

ebruary 18 will begin the month of Ash in the Celtic tree calendar.  Soon clusters of small flowers along with the wing seeds will appear.  Ash is a wood of strength and flexibility.  It was often used for bows, arrow shafts, and the spokes of of wheels in time of old.  Today it is most widely used for sports equipment such as bats, snow shoes and more.  The Ash is truly native to Great Britain  although in America it is represented by other species of trees  that closely resemble the true Ash.  Known as the Venus of Woods it is often considered helpful or lucky in the ways of love.  Examples of this:  an ash leaf placed in ones left shoe was believed to result in eventually meeting ones future spouse.