Oak Musings

This is the last completely free newsletter for The Crossroads! This past month has been so enlightening and rewarding for me to be able to explore different facets of Slavic culture and healing practices with you. I’ve loved hearing your stories and sharing some of mine as well, which I look forward to continuing.

I will still send out some free newsletters, but those who want to continue diving into our ancestral roots can pledge below for a monthly or yearly subscription. This assists me greatly in being able to continue research and writing in this area and sharing it all with you.

We’ve barely scratched the surface, and I can’t wait to go even deeper into our Slavic lineage with you. Now, onto oak!

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There are certain earthly things that even the gods take note of. Something about their shape or presence instills a sense of “otherness” or “greatness” about them. But there is only one thing in Slavic culture that ascends all others and plants itself firmly in lore, culture, medicine and beyond.

Oak, a tree we probably all walk past on a regular basis is the epicenter of Slavic belief. As we’ve been talking about Slavic cosmology, I believe it is also very important that we also include oak in that discussion. 

The World Tree

For the Slavs, oak is considered The World Tree. This sacred tree acts as a bridge between all of the realms. Within the roots lives Nav, the underworld. The trunk lives in Yav, our human realm. The canopy of the great oak houses Prav, the heavens. If you recall the giant serpent Yggdrasill, it is said that he wraps around The World Tree to support the balance between worlds.

Depiction of oak as The World Tree with all of the cosmic forces at play. Artist unknown.

Of course it makes so much sense that oak would be the chosen tree for this bridge. It exudes strength and stability. It’s wood is tough and durable. And if you’ve ever tried to pull oak seedlings out of a garden (result of living in the forest!) you were probably shocked at how deep and difficult it was to unearth. Maple and other seedlings that are not attached to a greater root system are easy to pull up. But it’s as if as soon as oak breaks free from its acorn, it sends its life force as deep and focused as possible.

Oaks also play a role in different versions of the Slavic creation story. While we’ve discussed some already, I love this Carpathian carol that sings another tale:

It used to be at the beginning of the world –

Then there was no sky or earth,

No sky nor earth but the blue sea,

And in the middle of the sea on oak

Two pigeons were sitting.

Two pigeons on an oak tree

They held such a council,

Happy debated and cooed:

How can we create the world?

We will fall to the bottom of the sea,

We'll bring out the fine sand

Fine sand, blue stone.

We will sow fine sand,

We will pick up the blue pebble.

From fine sand - black earth,

- icey water, green grass.

From the blue stone - the blue sky,

Blue sky, bright sun,

Bright sun, bright moon,

bright moon and all the stars

You may notice similarities from the other creation story with the main focus being birds diving to the bottom of the ocean to bring mother earth to the surface, thus creating the basis for all life. This version in particular is interesting because it makes no mentions of gods or cosmic forces. Rather, two common pigeons achieved the impossible as if it were simply another day. 

Matka ziemia, moist mothe earth, standing before oak in all her glory as it grows directly from the water. Artist unknown.

There is a lesson in that, and the oak no doubt played a role in their ability to create life. The oak was a symbol of possibility in a world of nothing but ocean. To be able to grow, its roots must have reached down all the way to the ocean floor. Maybe the pigeons followed these roots as a guide. The oak as a silent sentinel was at the beginning of it all.

But oak wasn’t simply a character in a story. In ancient times, the Slavs didn’t have temples. Rather they performed all of their rituals in the forest around oak trees. To this day, there is a small town called Kazimierz in Poland that is home to oak trees over a thousand years old. 

A Persistent Messenger

It is a tree that doesn’t intrude, doesn’t insist on planting its roots in any open space, rather it bides its time until pioneer species die back. And still it perseveres. There are times though when oak is not so subtle. When I first moved into my house here in the forest, I immediately noticed the great swamp white oak standing near my front porch with its bell shaped canopy. It wasn’t too old or large, but made its place known quickly as the sentinel of the threshold (places that are sacred to the Slavs).

Summer turned into autumn and we began hearing a constant barrage of thuds on the roof. I thought at first it must be a family of raccoons up there, but it became a nightly occurrence very quickly. It wasn’t until I was standing outside and was nearly smacked on the head with an acorn that I realized the oak was dropping nuts on the roof. This is where the ruckus that sounded like a firestorm of bullets was coming from.

The intensity of it felt like it was more than just another cycle. It felt like it wanted to say something, hazing us maybe? To this day nearly six years later, there still hasn’t been a year where the acorns fell so relentlessly. I view that tree with more intelligent eyes now. Perhaps I should have introduced myself first before just moving in.

I’ve also gotten to know the northern red oaks that also love the swampy forestland that I live on. While the oaks may not be the showiest during fall, they keep me company throughout winter as they’re the only deciduous tree here that holds onto their leaves throughout the coldest of months.

Their dried and shriveled leaves rattle against the wind on eerie autumn days reminding us the ancestors are never far. During winter they hang honorably, painting the world in white cascades of snow that clings to their lobed surfaces. And finally in spring, the leaves emerge new once again.

Oak Medicine

Oak of course was also used in medicine. Its bark is the main part used and is very astringent and disinfectant, but also styptic, hemostatic, stomachic, and vulnerary. Its astringency proves useful when the bark is infused into water to create a gargle for sore throats or a mouthwash for irritated gums. It also helps tighten up the bowels to prevent diarrhea as well as parasites. 

Baths and water medicine is extremely important to Slavic folk medicine, so oftentimes oak bark was infused into a bath for a variety of skin issues. Allergic dermatosis was a main indication for the use of oak in a bath, but it could also be used to address vaginal inflammation or bleeding, eczema, psoriasis and sores. Compresses of oak could also be used to treat these issues.

While oak doesn’t play a huge role in modern herbalism, its accessibility should be a huge draw for people. Not only is the bark medicinal, but the acorns can provide a highly nutritious food source. In fact, it was a staple in our Slavic ancestors’ diets. Pliny the Elder even named oak as “tree which first produced food for mortal man.” This even plays into our belief that the oak was there when mother earth was first created.

Nutritious acorns growing on an oak branch by Mastiff Studios.

It is also important to note that with the world’s rising population and our less than nutritious agricultural systems, oak could be considered a valuable crop of food as long as it is tended with sustainability in mind. Acorns have a higher caloric value than regular cereal grains, are gluten free, and contain high amounts of vitamin C, starch, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.

Once the autumn season comes around, we’ll explore more how to actually process and use acorns. But, they are easily stored and can be made into healthy flours for baked goods. Many folks have even made them into a tasty coffee alternative. 

As we get to know oak better, we may see that while it is a part of our past, it may even more importantly be a part of our future. 

What is your relationship with oak? Do you know what varieties live near you?

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References

Starin, D. (2014, May 16). Is reintroducing acorns into the human diet a nutty idea?. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-reintroducing-acorns-into-the-human-diet-a-nutty-idea/

Zevin, I. V., & Altman, N. (2000). Russian herbal: Traditional remedies for Health and Healing. Healing Arts Press.

Knab, Sophie Hodorowicz. Polish Herbs, Flowers & Folk Medicine, Hippocrene Books, Inc., New York, NY, 2020.

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The statements made within this newsletter have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These statements and the products of this company are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please consult your physician before implementing any new diet, exercise and dietary supplement programs, especially if you have preexisting medical conditions or are taking prescribed medications. The statements made on this newsletter are for educational purposes only and are not meant to replace the advice of your physician or healthcare provider.