Long before the birth of Christianity, the Celtic civilization flourished and, with it, Celtic Astrology. Created around 1000 BCE, Celtic Astrology was practiced by the Druids.
Today, Druids are thought of as being a type of ancient Celtic hippie, but they were actually the philosophers, priests, scientists and poets of the Celts. Their studies began in childhood and lasted up to twenty years.
To the Druids, trees were sacred. They were thought to contain spirits called dryads, as well as infinite knowledge and wisdom. Over time, trees came to symbolize life, death and renewal. They were even used as the basis of writing forming the Celtic Tree Alphabet or Celtic Ogham, where each symbol or letter was the name of a tree.
The Druids gave each tree its own quality and meaning. They noticed that the qualities of certain trees matched those of children born at certain times of the year. This knowledge helped them to gain insight and clarity into people and into life. It became Celtic Astrology.
How Celtic Astrology Works
Celtic Astrology uses the cycle of the moon to create the zodiac. The year is broken into 13 months, each containing 28 days. There is also one extra day, December 23, that is called Nameless Day. Each month is associated with a different tree, making 13 Celtic zodiac signs.
Celtic Zodiac Signs: The Foundation of Celtic Tree Astrology
Click on the Celtic zodiac signs to learn more about each one. Also be sure to find your compatible Celtic zodiac sign and your Celtic animal sign.
Rowan (January 22 – February 18)
Rowan signs are idealistic visionaries with strong humanitarian and spiritual concerns. They enjoy change and dislike restriction and conformity. They tend to be “out of the box” thinkers and do well as artists. They are natural leaders and do best taking the lead, as they aren't good at following others.
Ash (February 19 – March 17)
Ash individuals have a dual nature, trying to balance their artistic and vulnerable side with their logical and realistic side. They are compassionate and sensitive, with a strong intuition. They could do well financially if they followed through on their ideas.
Alder (March 18 – April 14)
People born under the sign of the Alder love to travel and strike out on their own. They're quite brave and competitive. They're quite funny, but become angry easily. They make great parents and entrepreneurs.
Willow (April 15 – May 12)
Willow individuals are intelligent and stubborn. They are powerful allies and fierce opponents. They can be secretive, making it difficult to get to know the real them. Family is very important to them. They excel as teachers and in positions where they can influence the public.
Hawthorn (May 13 – June 9)
Hawthorn people are charismatic and creative. They make great communicators and are often found performing for a crowd. They are clever strategists with strong sense of humor, but need to watch their temper.
Oak (June 10 – July 7)
Oak individuals are charismatic, determined and self-motivated. They make great leaders and have an infectious optimism. Their biggest downfalls are they don't always know when to keep their mouth shut and they tend to take financial risks.
Holly (July 8 – August 4)
Holly signs are practical and strong, with a tendency toward perfectionism. They prefer to take a supporting role in work and relationships. They don't take criticism well and have been known to retreat from the world. They do great in banking and insurance.
Hazel (August 5 – September 1)
Hazel people are clever and detail-oriented, often analyzing every situation. They tend to have low self-worth and a lot of nervous energy. Their strength is their mind. They are great planners and organizers, and often excel as scholars.
Vine (September 2 – September 29)
Vine individuals are very refined and perceptive. However, they have a tendency to mood swings – being happy one moment and sad the next. Their kind and gentle nature helps them to do well in public service.
Ivy (September 30 – October 27)
Ivy signs are exuberant and unique. They seem like the Energizer bunny, with a steady stream of energy that allows them to keep going and going. They're very friendly, funny and optimistic. Although they usually don't do well in school, they're so talented they often receive a lot of public honors and recognition.
Reed (October 28 – November 24)
Reed people easily grasp the complex. They're great friends and leaders, but need to curb their jealous streak. They tend to be quite proud and do well when faced with challenges. Their inner strength is so great that at times they need to remember to do the right thing.
Elder (November 25 – December 23)
Elder individuals are highly intelligent and energetic. They do best when there is a lot of variety in their life. They tend to waste a lot of time when they're young and don't begin to get their life together until they're older. They have the frustrating habit of always thinking they're right, and the annoying part is that they always are.
Birch (December 24 – January 21)
Birch individuals are goal oriented and have a strong need to succeed. They do best with a lot of routine. They do well with money, but need to be careful that they don't become workaholics. They're happiest when they have a goal to work towards.
Don't stop with just Celtic Tree Astrology! There's another layer of Celtic Astrology just waiting for you. Learn more about this ancient form of astrology using Celtic Animal Zodiac Signs
If you want more information on Celtic Astrology and Celtic Zodiac Signs, you might like:
- Celtic Astrology Compatibility
- Celtic Tree of Life Meaning and Celtic Tree of Life Symbols
- Celtic Tattoos: History and Meaning
- Learn about the History and Beliefs Behind Astrology
- Mayan Astrology