Ash

Cunningham records a garter of green ash bark once worn against the power of sorcerers and conjurers. Grieve describes the bark, taken from the trunk and preferably the root, as bitter and astringent; it was used to tan nets and given in decoction for intermittent fevers.

Cunningham puts ash leaves under the pillow for prophetic dreams, scatters them to the four directions to guard a house, carries them to win love, and leaves a few in a bowl of water by the bed overnight to ward off illness. Kynes records leaves bearing an even count of leaflets as lucky in love charms and divination, and on the Isle of Bute lovers ate the leaves of one ash to dream of their future spouses. Grieve notes their laxative use in herbal medicine.

The winged keys. Kynes notes that a few carried in the pocket were thought lucky, and lays a ring of them round the base of a candle to strengthen a spell. Grieve records that they were once pickled with salt and vinegar and used in place of capers.

Cunningham carves ash wood into an equal-armed solar cross carried against drowning, hangs a staff of it over the doorposts against harm, makes healing wands from it, and burns it at Yule for prosperity. Kynes keeps a small ash twig nearby for dream work and journeying.