The Roebuck hides in the thicket and the cuckoo utters, "where" ? The Roebuck hides at the apple tree - the noblest tree of all, it is the tree of immortality through wisdom, the wild apple tree of the Sacred Thicket, the tree that hides the Roebuck.

The Muses promise to the poet is .

"Seek patiently, and you shall find."

The clue to the secret of the apple is to be found hidden within the apple. When the apple was cut cross-wise by Cuchulain's sword, "night fell". For when the apple is cut cross-wise each half shows a five pointed star in the center, emblem of immortality, which represents the Goddess in Her five stations from birth to death and back to birth again.

"I am a lure from paradise"

The popular conception of a grove is a collection of exceptionally well-formed trees set in a place of outstanding natural beauty. Under the friendly sheltering boughs of these arboreal sanctuaries our forebears were inspired to contemplate the wonders of the universe, particularly the countryside in which they themselves lived, and perhaps were prompted to first ask the question, "who created such beauty?"

Within the Apple Branch, we offer three programs.

For women just beginning their dance with Goddess, we have a year and a day program called Dancing with Goddess.

From the Branch is our outreach program developed for those who wish to study Dianic Witchcraft in preparation for becoming priestesses.

We offer our Guardian Program for women interested in priestessing as Guardians. This program is very similar with emphasis actual time in nature and working with energy as related to Guardian Priestessing.

We use the Sacred Tree Alphabet in all three programs as a model of continuity of the energies of both the lunar and solar year combined with a great deal of practical experience in all areas of service to The Goddess.

Our approach to our magic is to remove the focus from the cerebral ~ to bring the energy down into the body ~ thereby removing barriers and limits to personal ecstasy and fulfillment. This is not always an easy approach, but in the long run becomes a full experience of the whole self, embodying all of our personal magic into an ecstatic experience.We consider our work to be shamanic.

"Like the honey apple turning red on the high branch,

High on the highest, but the apple pickers missed it.

Oh no, they did not miss it, they could not reach it." Sappho

The quest for wisdom was realized by pursuing the white doe (as the blue roebuck) under a wild Apple tree

In the Welsh Câd Goddeu (The Battle of the Trees), the Apple is described as the noblest tree of them all, the tree that symbolized poetic immortality.

The Apple Tree is closely linked to Druids, in their aspect as magicians and shamans."In Druid lore, the essence of three sacred apples growing on the Tree of Knowledge came from three drops that fell from Cerridwen's cauldron, which correspond with the Druid's most holy symbol, the Three Rays of Light."

Bards (poets) and Ovates (shamans) carried apple branches, (with bronze, silver, or gold bells), called the Craobh Ciuil (Branch of Reason) as symbols of their office.

Pulling the Ogham stave Quert is a mandate to rest and heal yourself from strife, illness, fatigue, or injury. It is an invitation to regain your sense of wholeness and connection with nature. Associated with the holy isle of Avalon, the apple represents rest and healing, recovery, and a peaceful relaxing Otherworld journey to the magical isle.

Within the Apple Branch you are invited to work with "the divine madness of the shaman." It calls you to journey to the Otherworld by its many names - Avalon, Avallach, Tir na Og, Eamhain Abhlach. Apple also represents the spiritual warrior who fears not to travel beyond the mortal realm to face death, sacrifice, and hardship, in order to benefit his or her tribe. The apple branch represents shelter and protection on these intense shamanic journeys. Apple invites you to dare to be different in order to discover your own truth. The apple offers protection, strength, comfort, and respite for your ordeal.

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