Wood Witchcraft: The Wood Element
Wood Witchcraft: The Wood Element uses tree witchcraft, forest bathing, and tree spirits to connect with the magical properties of wood with Plants By Laurali! This is part of my spellcraft series on the four elements and the Chinese elements, and how to use them in the craft.
When I think of the wood element, I think of trees, first and foremost! Trees are what wood is made from, after all. Trees produce oxygen and create a canopy in the forest.
How often have you been in a bad mood and decided to venture into the forest? As soon as you were surrounded by copses of trees, plant life, and the forest floor, it made you instantly feel better!
You can use trees as a kind of healing therapy, heading into the forest for a little forest bathing on the go! Forest bathing is when you slowly immerse yourself in the forest, taking in all of your surroundings using all five senses.
Not only do trees have the ability to heal, but you can also magically look at trees. You can do this by working with the spirit of the tree. Trees are magic!
Tree spirits are best known for their wisdom, stability, and longevity. Trees have been around for hundreds of years and have seen many things. Working with the tree spirits means working with the element of wood!
The wood element is best known for growth, expansion, flexibility, and spring-like energy! It’s about new beginnings, progress, and being the architect of your own life.
As a green hearth witch, you can use the wood element in long-term spells that can stand the test of time! Wood tends to live on, even as civilization becomes more technological and advanced. It reminds us of older times.
Back in the day, people needed wood to survive the winter solstice. You can still use wood in combination with the fire element to keep the homefires burning. Every winter, my boyfriend builds a fire in the fireplace for many good times to come!
It reminds us that winter has arrived and that it’s time to slow down and relax by the fire. We often have some wine and a good conversation.
Working with wood and fire together creates warm and cozy vibes! The same can be said about mushroom witchcraft, too. Mushrooms are often known for growing fungi communities on logs in the forest.
As you can see, wood witchcraft can be used for multiple purposes! We haven’t even begun to touch the surface of what the wood element can do in your craft. Let’s learn about wood magick!
Wood Witchcraft: The Wood Element
Using the wood element in your green witchcraft practice can create groundedness and longevity! If you want to make a spell that lasts, wood is the way to the future.
I use wood all the time in my craft! Wood can be used to burn things or hold things in place. I often like to collect sticks from around the forest for wand making.
Wands can be used to focus energy. You can read about my DIY Green Kitchen Witch Wands if you ever want to make wands out of elements from the kitchen. Even a real wooden spoon can act as a wand!
I also use wood to ground my energy and connect with tree spirits and gnomes. Gnomes often live in trees and tree hollows. Gnomes are kind, helpful, and friendly to humans and are easy to work with if you like gardening and hiking in the woods.
If you’d like to invite gnomes into your practice, you are going to want to work with the wood element! Gnomes can be seen in the faces of tree bark. Be sure to leave them a treasure in the hollow of a tree!
Much like the earth element, wood is earthy, grounded, and deeply spiritual. Working with wood means having a deep connection to Mother Nature.
I also find placing your hand on trees and tree hugging them makes a wonderful grounding ritual. I do this all the time on my forest walks.
I recommend collecting sticks and nice wood pieces to bring home! I try to only take woodland sticks that have fallen on the ground versus breaking them off of the tree itself. This is done out of respect and reverence for the tree!
Once you are done wildcrafting, you can take your tree branches home to use in witchcraft! I often use them as offerings to deities or break off little pieces to be used in spells. Be sure to look up the meaning of the trees you’ve collected!
Birch, oak, elder, and rowan all hold different medicinal and magical properties! There’s a spiritual meaning for trees you can research and learn about.
As you can see, working with the wood element opens your practice up to many possibilities! Wood can be used for many things that will enhance your craft.
Magical Properties of the Wood Element
East and Southeast Directions
Colors: Green and Blue
Associated with Gnomes and Tree Spirits
Early Morning Hours (11 pm - 3 am)
The Planet Jupiter: Growth and Expansion
Yang (masculine energy)
Warm, Cozy, Seasonal
Medicinal Properties of the Wood Element
Groundedness
Regulating Qi (vital energy, blood, and emotions)
Liver and Gallbladder Support
Emotional Balance
Eye Health
Muscles and Tendons
Anti-Aging and Longevity
The wood element can be used in spells for more knowledge and wisdom! This especially proves true during the waxing moon when the energy is increasing. It can be used to study for tests and learn about botany!
The water element can be used in spells where you are building an aquarium environment with aquatic plant life and aquatic creatures such as frogs. You can add a wooden log to your tank to give the aquatic creatures something to sit on while they are enjoying their day.
The air element can be used in wood magick spells with wooden windchimes! In this way, you can also use sound as a preference for meditation in the Zen garden.
The fire element can be used with wood witchcraft to build fires and offer offerings to deities! Build a fire for your favorite god or goddess. You can also use a combination of wood and fire for fire divination by watching the fire for answers to a question.
The earth element can be used with the wood element for forest bathing! For animal magick, you can work with tree spirits, gnomes, and woodland creatures.
The wood element is one of my favorite Chinese elements to work with! I find the wood element promotes growth in my daily practice and keeps me close to the forest wherever I go.
I often incorporate wood into jewelry that I wear. I will often purchase a piece of jewelry with wood, then I enchant my nature-inspired accessory!
I also use the wood element by burning herbs and matches (wood) in my tiny cauldron! Sometimes, I go bigger, and I’ll burn herbs and wood in the fireplace together. There’s always something to craft with wood magick!
As you can see, there are so many magical uses for the Chinese wood element! Wood is everywhere, but is often overlooked for the magic it holds. Wood is magic!
