Like most vines, the Grape is sacred to Dionysos who, among many things, is the god of revelry and credited with bringing wine cultivation to the Greeks. Joyful in its essence, the Grape is a vine of merriment, celebration, and communion. The Grape is also a teacher of fertility, lack of inhibition, and the divine union that results from the dissolving of boundaries.

The Poplar is a fast-growing, deciduous tree in the Willow family found near freshwater rivers and streams. Sacred to Hades, as well as to Herakles and his father, Zeus, in relation to the hero’s success in an Underworld trial, the Poplar is said to grow at the entrance to the Realm of the Dead. Not only tied to death, the Poplar is also connected to many stories of metamorphosis and freshwater, particularly the nymph Leuke and the grieving Heliades. With ghostly bark — whether white or black or both — this liminal tree indicates the location of life-giving waters, while also appearing burnt or parched. Able to survive both flood and drought, the Poplar reminds us to seek the Source: to reach deep to the flow of groundwater that nourishes the root of being.

The Oak is a polymorphic evergreen or deciduous tree that produces acorns; four main species are found growing throughout Greece. Associated with Zeus, god of the sky and just rulership, the Oak is a steadfast ally in our search for wisdom and strength of conviction. One of the most important sites of the sacred Oak is the Oracle of Dodona, where pilgrims sought its wise counsel. The Oak is a formidable elder and can be called upon when we are unsure of — or are doubting — our values.