Celtic Month Of Hawthorn
May 13 to June 9
"The fair maid who, the first of May, Goes to the fields at break of day And washes in dew from the hawthorn tree, Will ever after handsome be."
Latin Name(Crataegus oxyacantha)
Celtic Symbol : The Chalice
Color: Purple
Zodiac Degrees : 21º00` Taurus - 17º59 Gemini
Letter: H
Class: Peasant
Ruling Planet : Vulcan - Govannan
Ancient Gods associated with Vulcan Greek : Vulcan Or Hephaestus Celtic : Govannan Or Goibniu
Goddess associations: Cardea and the legends of Cu Chulainn.
Magickal associations: Fertility, defense (use the thorns), peace, prosperity, binding cleansing & enforced chastity, restraint, male potency, hindrance, bringing protection from the inner magical realms. Hawthorn can be used for protection, love and marriage spells.
According to the Ogham calendar, May, the month of the female Hawthorn, leads up to the fertile Oak month following on from Mayday, or Beltane. The Hawthorn is a small tree that grows with a dense, many branched and twisted habit. Hawthorn usually doesn't grow much bigger than a shrub, and is popular in England as a hedge plant due to its impenetrable growth and has even been used to pen livestock. The origin of the name Hawthorn comes from the Anglo-Saxon 'haegthorn', meaning hedge-thorn. Hawthorn has a light, hard, apple-like wood that provides the hottest fire known when it is burned. It is a deciduous tree dense leafed and thorny with short trunk. New shoots and leaves are reddish. It has a distinctive white blossom with strong scent in May and red berries (haws) later in the season. Height 10 - 15 m. It is long lived - 250 years.It may also be noted that its leaves and blossoms are used to create a tea to aid with anxiety, appetite loss and poor circulation. Its juice can be used in the treatment of asthma, rheumatism, arthritis, and laryngitis.
Other common names are Whitethorn and May. Whitethorn originates from the contrast of her smooth gray bark with the powdery black bark of the Blackthorn. The name May comes from the time that the tree flowers and because the blossom is used to form garlands on houses and maypoles for Mayday. The custom of gathering Hawthorn blossoms was known has "Going a Maying. It is also the tree used at marriages for it reflects the union of the forces of nature.
The Greeks and Romans saw the hawthorn as symbolic of hope and marriage, but in Europe it was associated with witchcraft and considered to be unlucky. It was thought that sleeping in a house with hawthorn blossoms would cause great misfortune. This seeming contradiction is to be expected from a tree with such beautiful blossoms and such deadly-looking thorns. It is a generally unlucky tree and its name, translated from the Irish Brehon Laws, had the meaning "harm".
The Hawthorn blossom, for many men, has the strong scent of female sexuality and was used by the Turks as an erotic symbol. The monks of Glastonbury perpetuated it and sanctified it with an approving tale that the staff of Joseph and the Crown of thorns were made of Hawthorn.
Hawthorn blossoms have potently erotic perfume and were thought to enrich fertility. In Celtic times most divorces took place at Beltane, the beginning of light half of the year when the hawthorn is a mass of blossoms and new leaves. In many cultures, the month of the Hawthorn (May) is a month of bad luck for marriages. However, to destroy a Hawthorn was to incur great peril to the person responsible.
The Hawthorn tree is embodied in the character of the chief giant Yspaddaden in a Welsh romance of Kulhwch and Olwen. A guardian figure who tries to protect the virginity of Olwen. He is felled and the blooms of summer soon open, thus symbolizing the advance of summer defeating winter at last. It is associated with Govanna (Vulcan) a smith god that is the custodian of the celestial fire and higher powers of the mind. Thus it is symbolize as the Chalice as it too represents divine secrets and everlasting life.
Celtic Tree Astrology
Hawthorn tree people are full of innovations and new ideas. They tend to be very beautiful in youth. People born under this sign are multi - talented and adapt easily to any changes in their lives. They have personal qualities akin to the Celtic bards and druids of old, often excelling in the performing arts and naturally drawn to spheres of influence. They can be tough to work with because they demand total business attitudes and so do not joke around but attend only to the business at hand. They can be shrewd business people. They are very dependable and stable Generally, their great strength is knowing the weaknesses of their adversaries or any opposing forces, but they are not ruthless people, merely clever strategists. They are protective of all they consider to be family.
People born during the first two weeks of the lunar month are more impulsive and have a more sensual nature. Their positive traits are, however, extremely consolidating once they have decided upon their course of action. People born in the last two weeks have a distinctly different approach to all things, and are much more difficult to pin down regarding personal relationships or commitments of any kind. Their positive traits are linked to a wider vision that opens the locked doors of the mind.
My Result to What is Your Magickal Name? Quiz
Mauve Sunrise - You are a deeply spiritual person, possibly more so than your fellow Wiccans. You revere the Earth wholly, and are essentially as close to the ancient Druids as they come. You love animals, and focus every aspect of your life on nature and your craft. Although you might not be the most skilled, you have the passion that really drives your deep spiritual connection with Mother Earth. Most likely, you live in a remote location without many of society's luxuries - or at least you'd like to.
http://www.quizilla.com/cgi-bin/result/result.pl
Month of Willow
Today, April 15, is the beginning of the Celtic Month of Willow.
The following information was taken in its entirety from: http://www.dutchie.org/Tracy/trees/celtic_tree_willow.html
WILLOW LORE
* 5th Moon of the Celtic Year - (April 15 - May 12)
* Latin name: Weeping Willow: salix babylonica; black Willow: salix nigra
* Celtic name: Saille (Sahl' yeh)
* Folk or Common names: Willow, Witch's Tree, Pussy Willow, Salicyn Willow, Saille, Sally, Withe, Withy, Witches' Aspirin, Tree of Enchantment, Osier, Tarvos Tree, and Sough Tree. The Anglo-Saxon 'welig' from where the name 'willow' is derived, means 'pliancy'.
* Parts Used: Bark, sap, twigs, branches, wood.
* Herbal usage: The bark of the Willow has been used as a pain killer... the bark contains a glusoside called salicin that forms salicylylous acid which is the 'active ingredient' in aspirin. The bark has astringic qualities and can be used for rheumatic conditions, heartburn and as a diuretic. The sap gathered from the tree when it is flowering can be used to treat facial blemishes and dandruff.
* Magical History & Associations: The bird associated with this month is the hawk, the color is haze, and the gemstone is blood-red carbuncle. The Willow, a Feminine herb, is associated with water, and is an herb of the moon. The bird associated with this month is the hawk, the color is haze, and the gemstone is blood-red carbuncle. The Willow is associated with water, and is an herb of the moon. Willow wood is one of the nine traditional firewoods to be added to the Belfire that is burned at Beltane - as the tree of death that is Sacred to Hecate, Willow is added to the fire as a celebration of death. The Willow is sacred to Minerva who invented numbers and also to Artemis, Ceres, Persephone, Brigid, Hera, Helice, Mercury, Belili, and Circe. The Sumerian goddess Belili was a goddess of trees, and Willows in particular. The Willow is also associated with Orpheus, regarded by the Creeks as the most celebrated of poets. It is said that Orpheus received his gifts of eloquence and communication by carrying Willow branches on his journey through the Underworld. A bas-relief in a temple at Delphi portrays Orpheus leaning against a Willow tree, touching its branches. Pagan associations with the Willow have always been strong, for they are often revered as trees of the MoonGoddess, she who reflects her moon magic upon the waters of Earth. Willow was often the tree most sought by the village wise-woman, since it has so many medicinal properties, and eventually the Willow's healing and religious qualities became one and the tree became called 'witch's tree'. The Willow is also associated with the fey. The wind in the Willows is the whisperings of a fairy in the ear of a poet. It is also said that Willow trees can uproot themselves and stalk travelers at night, muttering at them.
* Magickal usage: The Willow has applications in magick done for enchantment, wishing, romantic love, healing, protection, fertility, magick for women, death, femininity, love, divination, friendship, joy, love, and peace. Placed in homes, Willow branches protect against evil and malign sorcery. Carried, Willow wood will give bravery, dexterity, and help one overcome the fear of death. If you knock on a Willow tree (knock on wood) this will avert evil. A Willow tree growing near a home will protect it from danger (I know this to be true. When the tornado hit our farm, the only reason we only lost part of the roof, rather than the whole house, was because the grove of Willows around the house protected us. Our poor Willows got pretty battered by the storm, lost most of their leaves and quite a few branches, but have recovered fully now!). Willows are also a good tree to plant around cemeteries and also for lining burial graves for its symbolism of death and protection. Willows can be used in rituals for intuition, knowledge, gentle nurturing, and will elucidate the feminine qualities of both men and women. If a person needs to get something off their chest or to share a secret, if they confess to a Willow, their secret will be trapped. Also, wishes are granted by a Willow tree if they are asked for in the correct manner. Willow leaves, bark and wood add energy to healing magick, and burning a mix of Willow bark and sandalwood during the waning moon can help to conjure spirits. Uses of Willow in love talismans include using the leaves to attract love. Willow leaves or twigs can also be used in spells to create loyalty, make friendship pacts, treaties, or alliances. A rejected lover can wear Willow as a charm to win back the love. To determine if you will be married in the new year:
"Throw your shoe high up
into the branches of a Willow tree;
If the branches catch and hold the shoe,
you soon will married be."
Willows have many uses to Witches, the most common is that the wood is used to make wands for moon magick. Willow wands can also be used to dowse for water (underground), earth energies, and buried objects. (The Witch should be careful to ask for the tree's blessings before taking a branch to make a wand.) The supple long ending branches of the Willow make good weaving materials to use to weave circlets and wreaths. Willow wood is good for making magical harps.
Here comes the Sun - It's finally SPRING!!
