Table of Contents

• Hello, and Happy Imbloc!

• Exploring the Tree Ogham: The Birch

• Dear Joy: Your Personal Questions Answered

• Special Dates and Celebrations This Week

• Coven Share: How do you do you?

• Thanks & What’s Upcoming?

Hello, and Happy Imbloc!

Hello there,

Thank you for joining me this week—it’s wonderful to touch base and hear how much you enjoy our time together. I hope you took some cleansing ideas from last weekend with you, and that, like me, you now feel better placed for the year ahead. Earlier in the week, I felt as though I was caught in a brutal storm; everything seemed upside down and empty. Little did I know that this turmoil was merely the precursor to calm—a necessary clearing out of the old, much like one of my readers in this week’s Dear Joy article. Although uncomfortable, this process is essential to allow something new and more aligned to enter our lives.

I continue to be surprised by how deeply my passion for nature affects me—an irony, perhaps, coming from a hedge witch. My exploration of the energy of our native birch trees has been both palpable and invigorating, charging me with the courage to break new ground. This renewed energy is reflected in my readings, and I am excited to share this passion project as it unfolds.

Exploring the Tree Ogham: The Birch

This month, I am delighted to explore the ancient Tree Ogham (pronounced "Oh-am"). The Ogham is a Celtic system that uses 20 native trees from the UK, each marked with a distinct symbol, to form a sacred code. I am developing a divination method similar to Tarot or Runes, with the aim of eventually offering Ogham readings for you. Each month, I will focus on one tree, listen to its wisdom, and seek its permission to remove a small twig – about as wide as my little finger and as long as my middle finger – which, once dried, I will carve with its unique symbol. This process allows me to connect deeply with the tree’s energy and share its insights with you.

This month, my focus is on Birch. I will finish what Glennie Kindred started above, “The Birch is the first tree to colonise new ground, shedding its leaves and twigs to enrich the soil for other trees to follow.” In the UK, two native birch species exist: Silver Birch and Downy Birch, with Downy Birch more common in the Scottish Highlands, often hybridising with Silver Birch. These trees can grow up to 30 metres tall, have diamond-shaped leaves that turn yellow in autumn, and feature distinctive bark that transitions from golden brown to silvery white. Their delicate catkin flowers, known locally as ‘lamb’s tails’, bloom from April to May, and a birch provides habitat for over 300 insect species.

Initially, the bare winter landscape made it difficult to spot birch trees, but a recent visit to a nearby valley revealed a stunning display of Silver Birch and wild birch hedging. The energy of the birch resonates with transformation—it is akin to the Death and Hanged Man cards in Tarot, urging us to shed what no longer serves us and embrace new beginnings. I feel its power guiding me to release unhelpful influences, much like the birch sheds its bark, pausing and paving the way for renewal.

Working with birch has taught me the importance of true self-care, the kind that nourishes the soul rather than merely offering surface fixes. It calls on us to connect with nature, cleanse our inner spaces, and let go of old patterns to make way for growth. I am continually inspired by Glennie Kindred’s work, which has taught me to commune with the trees and rewild my spirit. Credit is due where it is deserved—her teachings have been instrumental in shaping my practice.

Dear Joy: Your Personal Questions Answered

On my Etsy shop JoyWellnessWitch my practice is open to the whole world. I'm very grateful to the openness and connection I have with my clients. Each week I'll be sharing someone's energetic queries and my intuitive advice.

Special Dates and Celebrations This Week

WED 12th Full Moon Snow Moon. Rooted in the transition from winter to spring, the Snow Moon represents renewal and rejuvenation. As the last full moon of winter, it signifies a turning point in the seasonal cycle, urging individuals to shed old habits and embrace new beginnings. This period of transition encourages us to align our intentions with the natural rhythms of the Earth, fostering a deeper connection with the cycles of life and the universe.

Coven Share: How do you do you?

We feel good as we connect with our world and our tribe, the way I celebrate the cycles of the year and being connected to the elements may look very different to you, please share your practice with me, we grow as a community and how you celebrate may really inspire others, This is your space to fill.

If you have a picture of how you appreciate nature, celebrate the cycles of the year or of your practice please share them with me, I will only be able to pick one that I feel best represents this time, but I’d love to know how you are getting along. Please say if you'd like an anonymous share or if you're happy for me to use your name and location in the world.

Thanks & What’s Upcoming?