The 13 Months of the Celtic Tree Calendar 2025

The Celtic Tree Calendar is a modern interpretation of ancient Celtic wisdom, combining the symbolism of trees, lunar cycles, and spiritual growth. Inspired by the Ogham alphabet, which associates specific trees with letters, this calendar aligns each lunar month with a sacred tree that embodies unique qualities and meanings.

From the Birch, symbolizing renewal, to the Elder, representing transformation and endings, these trees guide us through the natural cycles of life, growth, and renewal. The Tree Calendar offers a powerful way to connect with nature, reflect on personal growth, and align with the rhythms of the earth. Each tree carries lessons that inspire resilience, creativity, and harmony with the world around us.

The Celtic Tree Calendar is a modern construct that aligns 13 lunar months with specific trees, each believed to hold spiritual and symbolic significance. Inspired by Celtic mythology, the Ogham alphabet, and the natural world, the calendar links each month to a sacred tree, such as Birch (renewal), Oak (strength), or Rowan (protection). This system is widely used in contemporary neopagan and Druidic practices, emphasizing the interconnectedness of humans and nature.

The Celtic Tree Calendar originates from the imaginative work of poet Robert Graves, introduced in his 1948 book The White Goddess. Graves based the concept on the Ogham alphabet, an ancient Irish script that associates letters with trees, and combined it with his interpretation of Celtic mythology, lunar cycles, and poetic symbolism. While the Ogham alphabet and tree symbolism are authentic aspects of Celtic culture, there is no evidence that the Celts organised their year around a tree calendar.

The 13 months in the Celtic Tree Calendar each align with a sacred tree, symbolising unique qualities and guiding personal growth through nature’s cycles.

Birch Moon (December 24 – January 20)

The Birch Moon marks the beginning of the Celtic Tree Calendar, symbolizing renewal, new beginnings, and resilience. Birch trees are pioneers, thriving in barren landscapes, and represent hope and determination.

• Symbolism: Renewal, purification, and starting anew.
• Spiritual Meaning: This is a time for clearing out the old to make way for the new. The Birch Moon encourages setting intentions and pursuing fresh opportunities with confidence.
• Practical Actions: Reflect on personal growth, declutter your life, and create a clean slate for the year ahead.

Rowan Moon (January 21 – February 17)

The Rowan Moon, often called the “Tree of Protection,” is associated with spiritual strength and intuition. In Celtic tradition, Rowan was thought to ward off malevolent forces and bring clarity.

• Symbolism: Protection, higher knowledge, and intuition.
• Spiritual Meaning: This is a time to focus on your inner power and connect with spiritual insights. Rowan trees, with their red berries and white flowers, were often used in magical practices for their protective qualities.
• Practical Actions: Meditate, work on personal protection rituals, and strengthen your inner resolve against negativity.

Ash Moon (February 18 – March 17)

The Ash Moon is a period of connection and spiritual grounding. Ash trees were considered sacred in Celtic mythology, believed to connect the heavens, earth, and underworld.

• Symbolism: Wisdom, interconnectedness, and balance.
• Spiritual Meaning: This moon represents harmony in relationships and an understanding of how all things are connected. It is a time to nurture creativity and seek balance in your life.
• Practical Actions: Explore creative outlets, journal about your life’s purpose, and connect with loved ones to strengthen bonds.

Alder Moon (March 18 – April 14)

The Alder Moon signifies courage and determination. Alder trees grow in waterlogged areas and symbolize balance between emotions (water) and physical strength (wood).

• Symbolism: Protection, courage, and action.
• Spiritual Meaning: This moon encourages decisive action and standing firm in the face of challenges. It’s a time for growth and protecting what you hold dear.
• Practical Actions: Tackle lingering tasks, protect your personal energy, and engage in community or environmental protection efforts.

Willow Moon (April 15 – May 12)

The Willow Moon is deeply tied to the cycles of the moon and water, symbolizing adaptability and emotional healing. The Willow’s ability to grow near water represents resilience and intuition.

• Symbolism: Intuition, healing, and adaptability.
• Spiritual Meaning: This moon invites you to embrace your emotions and use them as a source of strength. It is a time for reflection and healing from past struggles.
• Practical Actions: Practice self-care, explore your dreams and intuition, and release emotional burdens to make way for growth.

Hawthorn Moon (May 13 – June 9)

The Hawthorn Moon represents fertility, transformation, and duality. Known as the “May Tree,” Hawthorn symbolizes balance between light and dark, making it a powerful symbol of purification and preparation for change.

• Symbolism: Fertility, love, and transformation.
• Spiritual Meaning: This moon marks a transitional period, encouraging you to embrace change and grow from past experiences. Hawthorn energy is also tied to love and creative endeavors.
• Practical Actions: Let go of negativity, nurture relationships, and celebrate your personal evolution.

Oak Moon (June 10 – July 7)

The Oak Moon embodies strength, endurance, and wisdom. As the “King of the Forest,” the mighty Oak represents stability, power, and leadership.

• Symbolism: Strength, courage, and protection.
• Spiritual Meaning: This moon encourages personal empowerment and the ability to overcome adversity. It is a time to solidify your goals and stand as a beacon of strength for others.
• Practical Actions: Focus on long-term projects, take on leadership roles, and connect with nature to draw on its stability and power.

Holly Moon (July 8 – August 4)

The Holly Moon is a time of protection and resilience. Holly trees were traditionally seen as guardians, often planted near homes to ward off evil.

• Symbolism: Defense, perseverance, and overcoming challenges.
• Spiritual Meaning: This moon brings strength and focus for enduring difficulties. It encourages maintaining clarity and determination while preparing for future success.
• Practical Actions: Develop personal boundaries, plan for future goals, and use protective rituals or symbols.

Hazel Moon (August 5 – September 1)

The Hazel Moon represents wisdom, inspiration, and creativity. Hazel trees were associated with divine knowledge in Celtic mythology, and their nuts were believed to hold great wisdom.

• Symbolism: Knowledge, inspiration, and intuition.
• Spiritual Meaning: This moon invites you to seek out wisdom, explore your creative side, and share knowledge with others.
• Practical Actions: Engage in learning, meditate on your life’s direction, and seek inspiration in nature or art.

Vine Moon (September 2 – September 29)

The Vine Moon is tied to harvest, celebration, and intuition. As vines produce grapes for wine, this moon symbolizes the joy of abundance and the cycle of growth and fruition.

• Symbolism: Harvest, celebration, and transformation.
• Spiritual Meaning: It’s a time to reap the rewards of your efforts, reflect on personal growth, and celebrate life’s pleasures.
• Practical Actions: Take stock of your achievements, enjoy the fruits of your labor, and express gratitude for your blessings.

Ivy Moon (September 30 – October 27)

The Ivy Moon represents resilience, determination, and spiritual growth. Ivy’s ability to grow in challenging environments symbolizes persistence and adaptability.

• Symbolism: Strength, perseverance, and spiritual evolution.
• Spiritual Meaning: This moon encourages spiritual growth through challenges, teaching us to thrive despite adversity.
• Practical Actions: Focus on self-improvement, nurture inner strength, and set long-term goals for personal or spiritual advancement.

Reed Moon (October 28 – November 23)

The Reed Moon symbolizes clarity, protection, and truth. Reeds were traditionally used for thatching and protection, representing a strong foundation and fortification.

• Symbolism: Direction, truth, and stability.
• Spiritual Meaning: This moon is a time for reflection and finding clarity in your life’s path. It represents fortifying your purpose and preparing for new beginnings.
• Practical Actions: Seek out honesty, cut through confusion, and create a strong foundation for the future.

Elder Moon (November 24 – December 23)

The Elder Moon marks endings and transformation, symbolizing the cycle of death and rebirth. The Elder tree was associated with closure and the preparation for a new cycle.

• Symbolism: Endings, transformation, and renewal.
• Spiritual Meaning: This moon invites you to let go of what no longer serves you and prepare for renewal. It is a time of deep reflection and spiritual cleansing.
• Practical Actions: Reflect on the past year, release old habits or attachments, and embrace transformation as the cycle begins anew.

The Celtic Tree Calendar, while inspired by Celtic traditions, is not historically Celtic. It is a modern creation popularized by Robert Graves in his 1948 book The White Goddess. Graves combined Celtic tree lore, the Ogham alphabet, and lunar symbolism to create a poetic framework that resonated with nature-based spirituality. However, there is no evidence that the ancient Celts used a tree-based calendar for timekeeping.

The Ogham alphabet, which associates letters with trees, was primarily a writing system and mnemonic tool rather than a chronological guide. Celtic culture revered trees as sacred, associating them with deities, mythology, and spiritual practices, but this reverence was not tied to organizing the year.

In contrast, the Celtic Lunar Calendar, supported by artifacts like the Coligny Calendar, is a verified ancient system that reflects how the Celts structured time around lunar and solar cycles. The tree calendar is best understood as a modern reinterpretation rooted in Celtic symbolism, but it should not be mistaken for an authentic ancient practice.