Tree Diet

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 Trees have always held a greater role in the practices of Celtic Religion and its understanding of the world, however there are certain kinds of trees and species that shouldn't be cut down, forming a certain 'Tree Diet' if a tree must be cut down then likely it would've involved formal rituals. The following will be a list of these trees taken from 'A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology' where it refers to ancient Irish laws and other context clues about trees.

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Oak

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Oaks have always held a place of great importance in Celtic Religion, they serve as the etymology of the word Druids and a site of the famous mistle toe ritual. It was further said to represent the Celtic Zeus, most likely some form of thunder god that held a high place in the ancient religion, it was also one of the three woods Druidic wands were made of. It was later chosen as an important place of religious sites for Christian priests and saints, such as Saint Brigid and her holy place in Kildare (Church of the Oak) and Saint Columbus's Doire Calgach (Calgach's Oak) which can also be found in the tale of the priest who reoriented his church to avoid having to cut down oak trees. All of this points towards the Oak being a sacred tree that one should avoid cutting down at all costs, especially if it bares mistletoe.

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Ash

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 The Ash was another tree of importance, especially in Ireland where records state that the people refused to cut down the Ash tree even when wood was scarce, which suggests a memory of the Ash's importance. The tree also featured other uses such as divination and medicinal purposes, as such it is clear that the Ash should be avoided.

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Hazel

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 Hazel trees were considered sacred and thus there was a taboo against cutting down the tree or using it as fuel. This was because the Hazel was considered a tree of wisdom, with it hanging over the well of Segais, dropping its fruits in a sacred well creating salmon of wisdom. Because of its mystic uses it was holy to poets and as such it is best to not cut it down.

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Alder

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 Alders were considered otherwordly due to the changing colour of its wood, it is further used in making Fe and divination. It was punishable to cut down an Alder and this is supposedly still avoided.

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Yew

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 Yews are an important wood, especially utilized by Druids for their wands and staffs. Further the spear of Lugh is cast with the words 'Yew' and 'ReYew' it is also Totemic to several Gaelic and Gallic tribes, including the Eognachta and the Eburones, The Yew was also at one point protected by law in both Ireland and Wales, as such it is best to avoid cutting down the Yew Tree.

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Elder

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 The Elder is considered synonymous with the Fairy Tree in Mann and is heavily associated with it in Ireland. Folklore suggests that fairies stay within the Elder tree, pointing further towards its sacredicity. Its otherworldly associations can be further seen by it possessing red and black berries with white flowers, the colours of the otherworld. As such Elder wood should be avoided and the Elder tree not cut down.

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Fairy Tree

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While heavily associated with the Elder, other species of tree can become a Fairy Tree, because they are possessed by the spirit of a Sidhe or a god it is taboo to cut down any Fairy Tree.

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Sacred Grove

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 In any instance, a Celtic Pagan should avoid cutting down sacred groves as it is sacrelige to do so. Sacred groves can be made of any kind of tree or wood, and this should always be taken into mind.

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