October 28th - November 24th

Ngetal, Ng~NgEtal~Guelder Rose ~Reed ( Phragmites australis ) or Broom

Class: Shrub

Holiday: The Fire Festival Of Samhain

Celtic Symbol : The White Hound Or The Stone

Zodiac Degrees : 5º00` Scorpio - 2º59` Sagittarius

Ruling Planet : Pluto - Pwyll

Ancient Gods Associated With Pluto :Greek : Pluto Celtic : Dis, Pwyll, Arawn

Magickal Properties: Fertility, protection, love, family concerns

Color: Grass Green

Letter: NG

Meaning: Upsets or surprises

Tarot Key: The Priestess

Reed Moon (feminine) also called: Moon of the Home, Hearth Moon, Winter Moon, Moon Which Manifests Truth

Identified with the submerged or hidden dryad, The Reed represents the mysteries of death.  In fact the Fire Feast of Samhain celebrates the dead and on Samhain, the boundary between the Otherworld and this world dissolve.  It is a night of great divination.   Or in another fashion, it represents the hidden roots to all life.  The Reed is associated with with being both a savior and custodian.  Pwyll, the Celtic ruler of the Otherworld was given "The Stone" , one of four treasures given to him for safekeeping.  The Stone represents the right of the kings and queen to have divine power.  Thus the Reed is also the symbol of Royalty.   The White Hounds represent the dogs that guard the lunar mysteries.  This Tree is the Tree of Doom. It is a time of prophecy, communication with spirits, and the ability to face one's shadow. Its symbols are crows, black cats, and horses. Symbolized by The Morrigan, Hecate, Rhiannon, and Neb-Het - 'Lady of the (Great) House' also known as Nephthys who was represented by a black cat or vulture. Kali, the Hindu goddess of Time, also has frightening forms as well as benevolent, queenly ones.

The reed is a giant grass, with stems as high as 12 feet. It grows in marshy areas, where it often forms dense stands. The dead stems rattle and whisper in late autumn winds. The young stems of the reed can be dried and pounded into a fine powder, which when moistened, can be roasted like marshmallow; the rootstocks can be made into flour; and the tiny reddish seeds can be ground into flour or made into gruel.

The reed becomes ready to cut in November. The Egyptian canna-reed which grows from thick roots like a tree was an ancient symbol for royalty in the eastern Mediterranean. In Egypt the reed was used to make scepters and arrows hence the Pharaohs of Egypt would should arrows in every direction to symbolism the Sun-god and their own sovernty. If the scepter broke the kind was believed to have lost his virility and vitality. The Irish used the reeds for thatching of roofs. A house was not completed or established until the roof was thatched. The dead stems rattle in the wind and are commonly referred to commonly as broom. The broom is a wide, bushy shrub that grows in abundance in the British Isles, and blooms in yellow pod-shaped flowers. It can grow to seven feet in height, and its stem can grow very thick and strong. . Its branches are often dried and used as brooms (as the name suggests,) and a decoction of young branches and seeds can be used to treat malaria, gout and painful joints. It is also a good diuretic. Oil drawn from the stems (by heating them over and open fire,) can be used to treat toothaches, and for the removal parasites such as lice.The Reed is used to make pens, thatching, mats, and baskets.

The broom is a wide, bushy shrub that grows in abundance in the British Isles, and blooms in yellow pod-shaped flowers. It can grow to seven feet in height, and its stem can grow very thick and strong. Its branches are often dried and used as brooms (as the name suggests,) and a decoction of young branches and seeds can be used to treat malaria, gout and painful joints. It is also a good diuretic. Oil drawn from the stems (by heating them over and open fire,) can be used to treat toothaches, and for the removal parasites such as lice.

Traditionally the Celts were a nomadic people. They camped on one place throughout the cold winter months, and would break camp in the spring when the first yellow blooms appeared on the broom. Although it has associations with spring, broom stands for the month of October in the Ogham Calendar.

Celtic Astrology

Reed Characters Are The Duality Of The Ivy Sign. Persephone And Pluto Form a unifying aspect of the psyche which nevertheless is full of drama and passion. Reed people are very vital and vibrant. They are more likely to be male then female. But they will be good caretakers of their home and property. They may come across as cocky or arrogant for their aristocratic attitudes. People born at this time have a powerful personal presence similar to the ivy people, the difference being that reed people are more forceful and less inclined to compromise, for they have a role to play which excludes any signs of weakness or the luxury of sitting on the fence. They act like catalysts rather than competitors in life, and they are more concerned with changing the whole formula of life rather than certain aspects of it.

New moon people born during the first two weeks will make both powerful friends and enemies as their initial response is inclined to be impatient and impulsive. They will, however, maintain their position and achieve a great deal of respect, especially from their adversaries. Full moon people plan their moves with more subtlety and achieve more recognition publicly, but they are inclined to want to move on to other things which can undermine their true sense of purpose. Generally speaking, reed people are great survivors in life who are inclined to encounter the hostility of others rather than a helping hand.

Celtic Tree Month of Reed