Trust the Trees: Dendromancy & Autumn Leaves in Divination
In the Northern Hemisphere, the Autumn is in full bloom, so to speak, and Winter is right around the corner. The leaves have not only turned from greens to fiery oranges, golden yellows, and rusty reds, but, in many areas, they’ve already been falling to the ground for a number of weeks now. Some take to raking up the fallen leaves and disposing of them – don’t! Not only are you doing your yard and the environment a great disservice by ridding the land of fallen leaves (you can read more about that here), but you’re robbing yourself of an opportunity to partake in seasonal divinatory fun! Yes, fallen leaves can be a useful tool for divination, and the bare branches they leave behind can also be read for omens. In this post, we’ll take a look at dendromancy and a few methods of divination that make use of the autumn leaves.
Dendromancy
Dendromancy is, technically, any method of divination using the branches or leaves of trees or plants. The term comes from the combination of the ancient Greek words δένδρο / dendro (meaning ‘tree’) and μᾰντείᾱ / manteíā (meaning ‘divination’). The term is most commonly used to refer to the examining of bare branches for omens and the Western European custom of using mistletoe (especially mistletoe found growing on oak trees) to divine.
Branch reading: The practice of reading tree branches is best done when the leaves are mostly or completely fallen, leaving bare limbs behind. There are a two main methods of reading branches – intuitively or within a system of symbols.
For those who prefer to use symbols with assigned meanings to divine, there are a number of systems one can turn to. There are some who use a system much like they might use in tea reading, where different shapes and images have assigned interpretations. Many modern practitioners also look for runes, letters, and/or numbers in the branches.
Intuitive readers, on the hand, need not only rely on shapes within the branches, but often seek omens in the state of the branches themselves – Is the branch dead? Is it barely clinging to the tree? Is there moss or fungi growing upon it? Are the branches fanned wide and away from one another? Are they clumped together? Do they intertwine? One can read the shape of the branch, its sway in the wind, it’s creaking and groaning as it moves. One can also find omens in the presence of bugs on the branch, the presence of nests, and whether a bird lands upon it or flies from it. Each of these situations would mean something different, depending on the reader, and their associations vary from culture to culture around the world.
Some trees are associated with divination and can, thus, be ‘preferred’ for branch reading. Hazel, Ash, Fig, Beech, Yew, Camphor, and Maple are all closely associated with divination and prophecy; Apple and Birch are considered ideal for divining matters of love and the heart; and Oak, Hawthorn, and Cedar are considered, in many cultures, potent magical trees that can be used for such work.
Mistletoe:
NOTE – The following information is strictly intended for educational purposes and to discuss the historic use of mistletoe in dendromancy. Mistletoe is considered poisonous and should be handled with care – do not ingest mistletoe; wash your hands after handling mistletoe (or wear gloves if available); do not leave any part of a mistletoe plant where it is accessible to children or pets. For more information about the safety of mistletoe or what to do if you’ve ingested mistletoe, see here (Poison Control) and here (WebMD).
Across many cultures, mistletoe is considered a sacred plant and has many magical uses. When it comes to dendromancy, mistletoe (particularly that which was cut from an oak tree) was used to foretell the future. This could be done a variety of ways – the mistletoe could be examined, its condition and health serving as a portend of times to come; and/or the mistletoe could be burned, the cracking of the mistletoe and the way it burns being read and interpreted, or the smoke being read in a little dendromancy/capnomancy team-up.
CAUTION: Burning mistletoe is not recommended. Though this custom was once practiced, it is not recommended that you burn mistletoe. Mistletoe is considered a poisonous plant, and burning poisonous plants can release toxins in gaseous forms, which can be dangerous if inhaled. Burning and/or smoking mistletoe can damage the respiratory system, and exposure can be more dangerous for some than others.
Divining with Fallen Leaves
So, your yard is filled with fallen leaves? Perfect. It’s time to collect a few and see what you can divine with them. Here are a few easy methods for using autumn leaves in divination –
Using the Wind:
When seeking a simple yes or no answer, take up a few dried leaves and hold them in your hands and close your eyes while you think on your question. Then, when the wind is blowing, let the leaves go (you can either let them go as whole leaves or you can crumple them up first, which will make them more easily manipulated by the wind). If the leaves aren’t carried far from you and land nearby, the answer is no. If the leaves float a good distance away, the answer is yes.
This method can also be used when you wish to ascertain if the outcome of a decision, project, or endeavor will be favorable or not – if the leaves don’t float very far and land nearby, the outcome is not favorable; and if the leaves are carried far from you, the outcome is favorable.
Using Rose Leaves for Love Divination:
As with the method above, you can use rose leaves and the wind for this method of divination. Take a rose leaf and give it the name of the one you love. Release the leaf into the wind. If the leaf stays near you, your love is true. If the leaf blows far away, it is not meant to be.
Using Fire:
Burning leaves for this divination method is to be done is very small batches – think just a few leaves, not a pile. When burning leaves to divine, you’ll want to study the behavior of the leaves as they burn. Do they crackle a lot, producing quite a bit of noise? Do they burn quickly and silently? Do they produce a steady flame or a wildly flickering one?
Generally, a noisy, crackling fire is seen as a portend of positive results, a good omen. A quiet or silent burn is oft considered a bad sign.
As for the steadiness of the flame, how it is to be interpreted depends upon the situation one seeks answers for. When divining about a relationship of any kind, a flame that flickers wildly promises unsteadiness, chaos, and high energy, while a calm, docile flame speaks of something gentler. If one is divining about ending a relationship of any kind, the more a flame sputters, flickers, or dances, the more difficult it will be to sever ties between the two, often seen as a signal that someone is not willing to let go and move on.
Capnomancy – divining by smoke – can also be performed by burning leaves. Reading the behavior of smoke and the patterns formed in smoke is an ancient method of divination. The interpretations of the smoke’s behavior vary from culture to culture, though it is generally accepted that smoke that has many twists and curls is considered a negative omen, while a strong, straight plume of smoke is considered a positive omen. If one would prefer to read the curls of smoke, study what shapes, symbols, and letters may appear there and decipher them as you will, according to your customs.
CAUTION: When burning leaves for divination, as said before, do not burn large quantities of leaves. Also, ensure that you have a safe area you can burn leaves in. Leaves should be burned in a fire safe pot or vessel, not on the ground or on any surface that is not fire safe. Leaves should never be burned outside near other leaves, near tinder, or near any flammable materials; a stone patio away from any foliage is recommended. If you are burning leaves outdoors, always check if your area is currently under a burn ban, as it is essential to adhere to burn bans to protect your environment.
Using Crumpled Leaves:
Take a handful of leaves and crumple or mash them up. You can even use a mortar and pestle to get as small bits and pieces as you can manage. Once they’ve been crushed toy our satisfaction, take the small pieces of leaves and cast them into the air. Observe what patterns they form as they fall and once they’ve landed. Do any symbols present themselves? Did the leaf bits form distinct piles? Were they scattered far? All of this may have meaning, and it’s generally intuitive how those meanings are deciphered. That being said, when divining about matters having to do with money or fortune, to see close clusters or piles of leaves is a good omen, while the leaves being loosely scattered about is a bad omen.
I encourage you to experiment with leaf divination and to formulate your own methods using autumn leaves. It’s never too late to take up a new practice, and living within the seasons, building our customs around the seasons, is always a helpful and healthy way to go. Happy autumn!
Keziah (she/her/they/them) | Keziah is one of Crowsbone’s staff writers. She is a diviner, a dream interpreter, a jewitch, and a practitioner of traditional regional folk magic and medicine from the area she was raised in (the Southern United States) and from the practices of her ancestors (she is Jewish, a second generation Irish-American, and Aniyvwiya, with French and Scottish roots). She is a scholar of folklore, mythology, and Jewish mysticism, and a would-be historian. Outside of magical craft and all things related, Keziah enjoys puzzles, codes and ciphers, baking, reading, and drinking tea.