Star Signs in the Sacred Grove? A Thoughtful Look at Celtic Astrology

When you hear “Celtic astrology,” you might picture ancient druids whispering to the stars, mapping out destinies beneath the boughs of sacred trees. It’s a hauntingly beautiful idea—one that’s found its way into oracle decks, spiritual books, and social media horoscopes. But where did this idea really come from?

Let’s wander down a winding path of myth, memory, and modern imagination to explore the roots—and branches—of “Celtic astrology.”

Did the Celts Really Have Astrology?

Short answer? Not exactly.

The ancient Celts were animists, astronomers, and seasonal storytellers. They honored the solstices, celebrated lunar cycles, and used complex calendars like the Coligny Calendar, a bronze tablet from Gaul that tracked time using a lunisolar system. They also revered certain trees and may have used the Ogham alphabet—a system of notches or strokes carved into stones and sticks—as a kind of symbolic or divinatory language.

But despite their connection to the stars and natural world, there’s no direct evidence that the Celts developed a zodiac-like system akin to Babylonian or Greco-Roman astrology. There are no surviving birth charts, no horoscopes, and no ancient references to celestial personality mapping.

So Where Did "Celtic Astrology" Come From?

The modern version most people know emerged in the mid-20th century, thanks largely to Robert Graves, author of The White Goddess (1948). Graves was a poet, mythographer, and something of a mystic-scholar. He proposed that the Ogham alphabet—each symbol associated with a tree—held keys to a lost pagan lunar calendar. He imagined a world where each tree aligned with specific human traits and times of the year, much like zodiac signs.

Graves was not reconstructing a historical system—he was inventing a mythopoetic vision. His work inspired a generation of modern druids, witches, and seekers who were hungry for an alternative to Western astrology. The idea was spiritually resonant, if not historically verified.

In the 1970s, Liz and Colin Murray picked up where Graves left off. They created a full Tree Zodiac system based on 13 lunar months, aligning tree lore, birth dates, and personality traits. Their work was published in The Celtic Tree Oracle and popularized the Tree Zodiac as a spiritual tool, especially within neopagan and New Age communities.

Their motivation wasn’t to deceive—it was to revive lost wonder, reconnect people with nature, and offer a sacred system grounded in ecological symbolism and ancestral reverence.

Is It Valid to Use?

Yes—if it’s done with transparency and respect.

Modern “Celtic astrology” is not an ancient druidic tradition, but it is a meaningful, soulful invention rooted in poetic connection to nature. If you use it as a symbolic or spiritual framework—rather than a historical claim—you are engaging in a tradition of mythmaking, which the Celts themselves deeply valued.

It becomes appropriative only when it’s presented as ancient fact, or sold as secret “Celtic wisdom” without acknowledgment of its modern, largely British origins.

The Celtic Tree Signs & Personality Types

Here’s a brief guide to the 13 signs from the Tree Zodiac calendar based on the Murrays' system:

Tree Sign	Dates	Personality Traits
Birch	Dec 24 – Jan 20	Visionary, determined, natural leaders. Birch people bring light to dark places.
Rowan	Jan 21 – Feb 17	Philosophical, idealistic, unique thinkers. Often seen as mystical or aloof.
Ash	Feb 18 – Mar 17	Intuitive, imaginative, artistic dreamers. Often deeply in tune with other realms.
Alder	Mar 18 – Apr 14	Brave, fiery, driven. Natural trailblazers and protectors.
Willow	Apr 15 – May 12	Deep, intuitive, emotionally wise. Willow folk understand cycles and tides.
Hawthorn	May 13 – Jun 9	Mysterious, multi-layered, passionate. Often different than they appear.
Oak	Jun 10 – Jul 7	Strong, nurturing, wise. Guardians of tradition and stability.
Holly	Jul 8 – Aug 4	Regal, confident, determined. Often found in positions of influence.
Hazel	Aug 5 – Sep 1	Intellectual, perceptive, curious. Natural scholars and seekers of truth.
Vine	Sep 2 – Sep 29	Elegant, indecisive, lovers of beauty. Sensitive to balance and harmony.
Ivy	Sep 30 – Oct 27	Resilient, compassionate, enduring. Ivy people climb through adversity.
Reed	Oct 28 – Nov 24	Investigative, secretive, deep. Drawn to hidden knowledge and transformation.
Elder	Nov 25 – Dec 23	Wild, freedom-loving, unconventional. Elder folk are natural shapeshifters.

Some versions also add the “13th sign,” Fir (or Beith), for December 24, and variations exist depending on the version used.

In the End: Myth Is a Living Thing

Whether you plant your roots in historical fact or in symbolic myth, the Tree Zodiac offers a way to listen to the world differently—to honor the sacred cycles of growth, decay, and rebirth, reflected in both the forest and the self.

Just remember: when working with reconstructed systems like Celtic astrology, the magic isn’t in how old it is. The magic is in how it helps us live more rooted, respectful, and connected lives today. Anything resonate? Send me a raven on Instagram! @weirdsisterswellness