Rounding the Year: Beech Nuts & Tree Wisdom

Walking down my street on the way to the shops yesterday, I realised I was treading on a prickly carpet of beech nuts among fallen leaves. I stopped to take photos - the canopy of the tree looking magnificent and what was on the ground. A few I picked up and took home to put on my seasonal altar. 

I was surprised there were so many on the pavement as it's still August, but then I noticed the tree's owner had plainly pruned some of the smaller lower branches, shedding their bounty. Although beech nuts are edible by humans, they're very bitter. Leave plenty for squirrels and other wildlife as they are a valuable source of native food.

Forked beech twigs are among the natural woods used as rods by dowsers. In English folklore, the beech is considered a mother or queen tree, paired with the oak, which is king of the woods. Historically, slivers of beech bark were used to write on. Anglo-Saxons called the tree 'boc', a word which later became 'book'. Magically, beeches are associated with written wisdom. Small slivers of birch are good for written spells still, but don't take any without permission of both the tree and the owner of the land.

Share your Pictures

Since my book Rounding the Wheel of the Year  came out I've been inviting people to share seasonal pictures, art, crafts, words and other creativity. I'd love to encourage readers to record what's happening in nature in various ways including photographs, as well as other seasonal journalling, musings, drawing, painting and crafting.

Here are ways to share the things you're doing or what you see out and about as the wheel turns:

• Leave a comment on this post about what you're up to
• Find my prompts to share on my Facebook Page: Lucya Starza Pagan Portals Author
• Share on Instagram with the tag #RoundingtheYear
  

Where to find Rounding the Wheel of the Year

My book offers more ways to acknowledge and celebrate the seasons in ritual, magic, folklore and nature. You can view Rounding the Wheel of the Year on Amazon, find it at esoteric bookshops or via my publisher Moon Books: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/our-books/pagan-portals-rounding-wheel-year

(Please note: I earn commission from some links.)

Other previous Related Posts
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/06/while-walking-down-my-street-this-week.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/04/rounding-year-helping-birds-in-nesting.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/02/rounding-year-daffodils-narcissus.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/03/springtime-camellias.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/01/rounding-year-flower-of-love-hope-or.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/03/rounding-year-too-soon-for-silver-birch.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/03/rounding-year-damson-blossom-green-buds.html