CalendarCeltic Tree Month of Hawthorn (00:00 - May 13th, 2011)
Hawthorn has
a lot of superstitions surrounding it. Many believe it to be unlucky and my own
family would not allow a branch of it in the house. Often called the May Tree,
it has natural associations with Beltane and the blossoms were worn in the May
Queen’s hair. Hawthorn is associated with the goddesses Flora and Maia.
Hawthorn is also one of the nine woods put on the Belfire / Balefire at
Beltane.
Other Correspondences
- Bird:
Night Crow
- Colour:
Black
- Gem:
Lapis Lazuli
- Element:
Fire
Herbal Uses
Use only
mixed with other herbs!
- Use
the leaves with another favourite herb as a purifying tea
- Wear
the flowers (or put in a pouch) if you are a woman wishing to attract a man
- The
berries are good for heart problems
- The
young leaves can be eaten in salads
Magickal
Uses
Use hawthorn
in spells for fertility, purification, chastity, cleansing and happiness.
- The
flowers are supposed to attract the Fae
- Put
leaves under the bed to protect virginity (or just say no?)
- Hang
Hawthorn branches over cow byres to keep the animals healthy and ensure lots of
milk
- Hawthorn
hung from the chimney can protect from lightning
An old
folklore tradition is that hawthorn can promote a youthful appearance:
At dawn on
Beltane, a young woman who wants to remain beautiful for the rest of the year
should go and bathe in the dew of the hawthorn tree and chant:
“The fair
maid, who on first of May,
Goes to the fields at break of day,
And bathes in the dew of the Hawthorn Tree,
Will ever strong and handsome be”.
|