CELTIC TREE ASTROLOGY
LUIS/ROWAN - January 21 - February 17
Characteristics
The Rowan Tree - The Rowan Tree is sometimes called the "whispering tree". Ancient Celtic legend says that it has secrets to tell those who would but listen. It has always been associated with protection against evil.
The Rowan Sign - The most prominent aspect of the Rowan individual is thier individuality. They hate conformity! Rowans have visionary minds and are great humanitarians. They tend to be rather self-contained people but speak out with authority when pushed to it or when the issue is one they find important. They have a cool outer temperament but sizzling inner beliefs. They hate bigotry and ignorance. They are natural born leaders but because they often take up unpoular causes, they sometimes have few followers! They are kind,thoughtful people, but have problems following another which leads to authority issues. Personally though they make excellent listeners and are respectful of the opinions of others. Since they are rather unconventional in thier approach to life, they can tend to be a little tackless and can alienate people in that way. They can also tend to antagonize through debate and escalate a situation out of proportion. Careerwise, rowans are naturally drawn to modern technology with an overwhelming desire to reorganize and improve on anything that is outdated. They make sympathetic bosses but would rather not take responsibility for others. They often have diverse interests and tinker with everything. They are extremely inventive people! Thier sense of humor tends to be on the odd side. They have a tendency to laugh at serious issues in life and this can alienate people. They are very drawn to science fiction and UFOs. Thier unpredictability is a weak point in relationships. They are determined in love but can be rather unromantic. They will usually marry later in life because they are loathe to give up thier personal freedoms. They have to find just the right person, someone who understands this! They are supportive parents but will expect a great deal of independance from their children.
Flower
The Snowdrop
The first wildflower of the year is the snowdrop also known as the "Fair Maid of February". Its botanical name "Bulbous Violet" derives from two Greek words for "milk" and "flower" and is associated with purity, being described in Roman poetry from the First Century A.D. as being "brought down from heaven." Monks carried the bulbs from Rome to England and were the first to plant them around old monasteries. Because of this, the Snowdrop is sometimes known as the "Church Flower."
Gemstone
The Peridot
The peridot is one of the oldest known stomes. It was regarded as a powerful magic stone by all ancient peoples. The Egyptians and Babylonians used it as a protection amulet against evil. The Greeks used it in headbands in order to tell the future. The Druids stitched these stones into thier robes for protection.
Animal
The Dragon - The Celtic symbolism of the Dragon represents the supernatural forces that guard the great secrets and treasures of the universe. There are numerous references to serpents or dragons in Celtic mythology. On many occasions, the Fianna fought huge dragons in lakes. One likely center of the Serpent/Dragon was the sacred site of Kildare, under the protection of the Goddess Brigit.
Deity: St Brigit
The Rowan deity is Brigid, Celtic Goddess of Fertility and Poetry. Also known as "Brid" (among many other aliases), Brigid's name comes from the old Irish word "brigh," which means "power" or "renown." Daughter of the Dagda, Brigid was a major Celtic pastoral deity and one of the great Mother Goddesses of Ireland. Her priestesses numbered nineteen, representing the nineteen-year cycle of the "Celtic Great Year." As a Goddess, Brigid presided over many things...fire, fertility, the hearth, all feminine arts and crafts, as well as healing, agriculture, learning, poetry, love, witchcraft and occult knowledge, to name but a few. Brigid became Christianzed as Saint Brigit of Kildare, who is said to have lived from 450 AD to 523 AD, founding the first female Christian monastery community in Ireland. In Irish mythology, Brigid is regarded as midwife to the Virgin Mary, and has also been worshipped as a guardian of children and slayer of serpents. As Saint Brigit or Saint Bride, she is one of Ireland's Patron Saints.
Polarity: Masculine
Color: Red and/or Grey
Class: Peasant
Letter Character: "L"
Planet: Uranus
Ogham Association: Luis
Famous Rowans
Charles Darwin, Charles Lindbergh, Charles Dickens, Jules Verne, Garth Brooks, Natalie Imbruglia, Sarah MacLachlan, Jerry Springer, Michael Jordan
