September 19th, 2017

SIPA hosted their annual Mabon ritual this weekend, which was being led by a group of Ár nDraoícht Féin druids, which was really cool!

The ritual was held at Giant City State Park, and we had perfect weather - warm, but not humid. We also had a really good turn-out, with around 50 participants, including a lot of first-timers.

We had a visit from a very persistent racoon, who was intent on climbing into the trash can.

The sacred space was in a big clearing and encompassed a tree, cauldron of water, altar, and fire pit.

We were asked to bring water from our watershed, so I did, as well as our favorite glass for the sumbel toast. I brought along my chalice, which has been a bit under-utilized as of late.

The ritual was fairly Celtic in format, but was focused on honoring the Norse pantheon.

After the ritual, I found this stick insect hanging out in the shelter!

SIPA Imbolc

Since SIPA always has a potluck with their rituals, I borrowed a pot and made up some soup this evening; it wasn't anything fancy, just a mix from the convenience store and some tomato puree, but it turned out pretty decent.

I've hardly ever used the dorm's communal kitchen, but this seemed like as good a reason as any. I even got a bonus view of the sunset.

This little framed painting was, I think, unrelated to the ritual, but it was sitting out in Gaia House, and I liked it. "But still, like air, we rise. ~Maya Angelou"

The main altar; I love the cloth, I need to see about getting one for myself sometime.

I wish I would have gotten a picture of the Air elemental altar. All the elemental altars were nice, but the one for Air was just so pretty - it had a bunch of crystals, including a gorgeous Quartz cluster, a drawing of a deity who I think was Hermes, and a Pegasus statue. A very elegant set-up.

Ritual fire in the fireplace; I took this right after it had been lit, so it hadn't quite caught yet.

The main portion of the ritual was spent chanting while making Brighid's Crosses. They came out looking more like God's Eyes, but it was a lot simpler for a large group to do than trying to teach everyone to weave straw the traditional Celtic way, so it worked out.

My Brighid's candle, which I lit in the last part of the ritual.

The potluck was afterwards, with lots of good food, and then I headed back to my dorm room. Great night!

September 12th, 2015

I went on a field trip today! It was for my Architecture History class, and we went to check out a gorgeous Romanesque and Byzantine cathedral, and then we went to a cemetery.

I know it's not quite Samhain yet, but it certainly felt like October today, and it seemed appropriate to wander the grounds a bit. My professor described the architectural precedents for a lot of the mausoleums, and I tried just to honor the local spirits with a small offering when we got off the bus.

The newer area was designed according to Feng Shui principles. For instance, this fountain has a line running through it to mark the Northern direction. Theoretically, it would also align with local dragon energies. However, my professor explained that this area was actually built over an old garbage dump, and therefore has too much bad Chi to really fix with Feng Shui.

Here's a family grave marked with a Celtic cross, and which also has a statue of Grief personified.

This cemetery had a lot of obelisks, and apparently those are usually used for burying Free Masons.

We saw tons of really neat things today, but this mausoleum was possibly the most interesting to me personally. It's designed in an Egyptian style, and there's actually sphinxes on either side of the doors. The symbol in the center, with the sun disk, wings, and serpents, is actually the emblem of the goddess Isis, and is used on Her temples in Egypt. 

I was originally supposed to go on a camping trip this weekend with a local Pagan group, but it ended up being cancelled for a variety of reasons. Because of work and my field trip, I wouldn't have been able to go, anyway. However, we're supposed to be having a Mabon ritual next weekend, so I'm looking forward to that!

Scrapbook of Shadows

I continued adding to my little BOS today. I really like how it's developing. Here are a few sample photos. Sorry about the blurriness; the light quality in my living room could stand to be improved.

First, my book blessing pages. On the left, I glued a tag one of my mom's friends made me a long time ago. I wrote a short incantation on it invoking the elements to protect and guard my book. The right page is occupied by an "ancient Egyptian" blessing used on the show Babylon 5 which always resonated with me: "God be between you and harm in all the empty places where you must walk." Cursory research is inconclusive on whether or not the blessing actually is Egyptian or if the show's writers simply made it up, but some sites anyway cite it as being from the 18th dynasty of Egypt. Authentically Egyptian or not, I find the words to be powerful ones.

On the next two pages is a prayer to Athena which I found here. As I am currently developing a relationship with Her, it seemed appropriate to include a prayer to Her first thing. I also glued in a tiger lily petal, and a sunflower petal, both from our garden.

Long-time readers may remember the posts regarding the Celtic tree months I did several years ago. I collected a lot of information, but it never made its way into my working BOS. Today, I dug up those posts and summarized their contents. I also took some leaves belonging to the trees under discussion and pasted them in. The birch leaf was wide enough that I created a foldable insert for it so that it would not cover up my writing. I also used a crayon to do some leaf rubbings on the right page, but the thickness of the paper stopped that from working very well. The tree month section spanned several pages, but those aren't finished yet, as I'll be adding more as I come across trees of the right varieties. 

Seven new pages today! That's pretty good, I think, and I like how they're looking!

August 16th, 2015

While looking for some other things upstairs, I stumbled across a little BOS my Aunt C gave me when I was six. It's a black volume which she personalized with inserts on the inside cover. When she gave it to me, I only vaguely understood the intended use, so mostly I scribbled all over it. The scribbles, however, were done in pencil, so I was able to erase them and now I can actually use it, after like 13 years. Perhaps there's some significance in that, now that I think about it.

This evening, I decorated the title page. I think I'll use it as more of a spell and prayer book, as opposed to a formal BOS with ritual instruction and the like. Maybe one day I'll even show it to my Aunt.

On the left page, two triquetras frame a pentacle. Below, an insert reads:

Presented to:

{Name}

From:

Aunt C

Yule of 2002

Across the bottom is a triple goddess symbol made of Celtic knotwork, with a Tree of Life in the center.

On the right page, the alchemical symbols for air, water, fire, and earth go across the top. In the middle, another inset reads:

Book of Shadows

What Witches Need 

In Order To Be Witches

{star}

On the bottom is a Green Man face. 

I chose to use the fuchsia as it matches the color of the names which I mostly erased from the photo above. 

Now I'm working on the next two pages, which will hold a sort of book blessing. I am interested in trying to make a sort of scrapbooked BOS (a Scrapbook of Shadows?) - I've seen some beautiful examples, but never really got around to doing anything to that effect.

July 7th, 2015

I've been very absorbed the last couple of days in a craft project, but I finished it this evening, so here I am!

Mom took my brother and I to the thrift store this morning. She needed an ugly Christmas sweater or two for a convention, and I wanted to look around a little. I hadn't actually been planning to get anything, but I suppose the moral of that story ought to be, never let me into a thrift store.

I get a little excited around books (to put it mildly), and they had paperbacks for only $0.89. Most of them were things I'd never look twice at - weight loss manuals, Christian memoirs, you know the type - but after some digging, I was able to find a couple that looked promising.

From left to right, I found:

Power of the Witch, by Laurie Cabot with Tom Cowan

Astral Travel for Beginners, by Richard Webster

Celtic Lore, by Ward Rutherford

I'm hoping that I'll find the one on astral travel helpful; I've made attempts at it before, but haven't been especially successful. Also, Power of the Witch had unexpectedly positive reviews on Amazon, so that should be an interesting read as well. Reviewers were less enthused by Celtic Lore, but it was only 89¢, so I can't really complain.

July 3rd, 2015

We're still getting things unpacked from our vacation. Today, I opened up a box and got out two things which my mom had won in an auction but hadn't wanted (she got them in a box with some other things). The first is this:

It's a very heavy metal disc, probably cast iron, with the directions marked on it. It's probably meant to go out in a garden, and maybe one day I'll have a garden of my own to put it in, but for now it's lying in the middle of my altar as an additional elemental alignment.

Then there was this small plate. Made in Scotland, it carries a 6-9th century Celtic knot pattern on it. I've tried researching the manufacturer a bit (St. Andrew's?), but so far I have been unable to find additional information on it. That being said, it's a lovely little dish, and in very good condition. 

I love auctions - they're a great place to find unique witchy stuff at good prices!

June 16th, 2015

And we're off! My family and I are on our way to the Boundary Waters, where we will be camping for a week. We've only been on the road for three hours, and have many more before we arrive, so I have plenty of time to get some reading done. I've started off the day by finishing my book of Celtic mythology.

Title: The Mammoth Book of Celtic Myths and Legends
Author: Peter Berresford Ellis
©1999

I've spent around the last week reading this anthology, and have really enjoyed it. Ellis has a personal connection to the stories he relates, and he succeeds in capturing the original Pagan spirit of these tales better than in many interpretations.

The myths come from throughout the British Isles, with legends from:

• Ireland
• Isle of Man
• Scotland
• Wales
• Cornwall
• Brittany

The stories cover The Shining Ones, the gods of the Celts, and tells how they were eventually usurped and relegated to the role of the sidhe (shee), the fairy folk. They tell likewise of many heroes and quests, of ghosts and enchantments, of mermaids and sea-maids, and of castles and ancient forests.

I had never had the opportunity to read any of these stories previously. Some of them I had seen summarized, or heard referenced in songs, but it was great to finally be able to see the originals. I feel like it fleshed out a big gap in my understanding of western mythology, and would definitely recommend it.  

I'm going to try to not use up more of our data plan, so I will leave it at that, but have a great week everyone, and I'll see you on the other side.

The Instructions of King Cormac

I was a listener in the woods,
I was a gazer at the stars,
I was not blind where secrets were concerned,
I was silent in a wilderness,
I was talkative among many,
I was mild in the mead-hall,
I was stern in battle,
I was gentle towards allies,
I was a physician of the sick,
I was weak towards the feeble,
I was strong towards the powerful,
I was not parsimonious lest I should be burdensome,
I was not arrogant though I was wise,
I was not given to vain promises though I was strong,
I was not unsafe though I was swift,
I did not deride the old though I was young,
I was not boastful though I was a good fighter,
I would not speak about anyone in their absence,
I would not reproach, but I would praise,
I would not ask, but I would give.

- Cormac Mac Cuileannáin

King and Poet of Cashel, 836-908 CE

January 19th, 2015

Well, I go back to class tomorrow! My fingers are crossed for a good day; both of my Tuesday courses are ones I've been really looking forward to, so hopefully it will be a good time.

After spending about a month's worth of days working on it, I finally finished crocheting my Celtic knot shawl. The pattern is available for free here on Ravelry, if anyone is interested in giving it a go (you may have to make a free Ravelry account to be able to view it). I would rate the design as being of intermediate difficulty, although the knot pattern itself was very easy to follow.

According to the woman who posted the pattern, this design came from a book of Celtic knotwork, and symbolizes human interconnectedness and friendship.

I've always loved these seemingly endless patterns, but realized that I actually know very little about the history of their use. As such, I've done a bit of a Google search to learn more about Celtic knotwork.

These popular patterns, generally presenting a stylized image of a knot as opposed to taking a realism-based approach, are found in the Celtic style of Insular art. Insular artwork - also known as Hiberno-Saxon art - developed in the post-Roman history of the British isles. The name "insular" itself comes from the Latin "insula", meaning island. Most insular art comes from Celtic Ireland, beginning around 600 CE.

While the classic Celtic knot came about after the fall of the Romans, the designs may have been rooted in Roman patterns. In the 300-400s CE, knotwork began to appear in Roman mosaic floor tiles. Similar motifs are found in Byzantine, Coptic, Islamic, and Russian artwork of the same time period; given the growth of trade and cross-cultural exchange in this era, it seems probable that the geometric designs of the Middle East spread along the trade routes of the time and morphed eventually into the Celtic knotwork that we recognize today.

Most of our modern understanding of these Celtic art forms comes from its preservation at Christian hands. Therefore, what we know must be taken with a grain of salt, given the contemporary monks' tendency to try to appropriate local practices and erase any Pagan overtones. That being said, it is clear that prior to the Christianization of the Celts, their artwork consisted of predominately spiral, step, and key patterns.

These designs, and variations thereof, found their way into the illuminations of Christian manuscripts, as well as onto gravestones and other cross-bearing emblems. Much of the modern understanding of the knotted designs comes from the preservation of these pieces.

Lots of websites propose potential "meanings" for different styles of knotwork; however, as with much of the rest of Celtic history, few written records survive to document the actual intended symbolism. There is no evidence that I could find to prove a religious or philosophical association with the designs. That being said, a few relatively standard interpretations stand out. The first is the idea of eternity, which should be mostly intuitive, given the fact that the knots usually are endless. Also, associations with nature, man, and the elements seems to be the widely accepted correspondence. Published books on the matter are likely more authoritative on the subject than uncited sources on the internet, so I will leave it at that.

One design in particular that I will mention is the triquetra.

You may recognize this design - most Neo-Pagans probably do. This simple piece of Celtic knotwork is often used in Pagan circles to represent, for example, the Triple Goddess. In Christian circles, it is taken to represent the Holy Trinity. Many variations on the design exist; for instance, the intertwined circle in the image above may be a more modern version.

To my understanding of it, the usage of the Celtic knot has been so widespread and predominately secular for long enough that it is not cultural appropriation to use the designs in one's work. If I am mistaken in my understanding of this, by all means drop me a message.

At any rate, I enjoyed putting together this miniature history lesson, and hope that it has been informative.

January 7th, 2014

Hazelnut gave me a copy of this book as a Yule gift, and I thought I might review it here for anyone interested in learning more about the fairy peoples. You may recognize the format if you've seen other books by the same publisher, such as The Crystal Bible.

Title: The Fairy Bible
Author: Teresa Moorey
Date of Publication: July 1, 2008

I was impressed in general by the text's content; many similar books that I've read in the past just invent names of fairy species that aren't backed by any sort of history or lore. Granted, many of the texts I've read are intended for younger audiences, but even so. All entries in this book introduce the original mythology for the spirits, and some also give examples of how they have been reimagined in pop culture.

The book's categories are as follows: Water, Air, Fire, Earth, House, Flower, Tree, and Weather. Each category then has the related spirits, as well as information at the end of each section on meditations that can be done to contact these fairies. Most of them also have suggestions for the
 kinds of altars that could be established to attract the type of spirit in question, as well as to make your living space a more welcoming environment for them.

Most of The Fairy Bible's entries come from the folklore of Western Europe,

particularly the British Isles, and I was left feeling like the inhabitants of other cultures were rather under-represented. That being said, the book does incorporate entries for djinn, domovoiye, a few Native American entities, and a Japanese water spirit, so it did make some level of effort.

Still, some of what the author considered suitable content was questionable to me. For example, the book contained sections on several deities, including Pan, Brighid, Hermes, and others. While I certainly don't object to learning more about these Powers in general, it seems to me that it might offend said god/desses to be included in a book regarding Fey. This is not to say that Fey are lesser Powers - many of them certainly possess astounding capabilities - but it seems odd to me that deities which are never portrayed as fairies in their myths are then included in the book.

Not only that, but famous fairy entities that one would expect to see in a book like this - for instance, the illustrious Queen Mab - were hardly mentioned at all.

All in all, I thought it was a reasonably informative book, and most of its meditations and other exercises were well-composed, but buyers should be aware that some of the content is a little watered down, and parts of it come across as more of a "how-to-Pagan" than a strictly-informative guide to the fairy realms. Ultimately, know what you're buying. There definitely is quality information in it, but in places it takes a bit of digging.

I would call it, "fairies for beginners", and not, "the definitive guide" as the cover suggests.

July 21st, 2014

The last couple of days have been pure insanity, so allow me to catch you up on some of the Pagan things I've been doing.
On Thursday, my family went to a local Botanic Gardens for the afternoon. Besides lots of pretty flowers, I saw some things relevant to this particular blog:

This, if you can't read the sign, is Artemis Silver Sage. Sage is a wonderful herb of purification, and if you were doing a working with the Goddess Artemis or any of her sacred animals, it might be worth the research to find some at a garden center. Besides its purifying qualities, this particular Sage has the added benefit of having leaves that are positively downy with fuzziness.

There was this depiction of Pan on a dry fountain in the English garden.

Outside the English garden, someone had crafted a statue titled "The Guardian" with these massive Quartz crystals set in the center; the whole matrix was longer than my forearm. Whether or not the artist actually has the crystals empowered to act as a Guardian of the garden, I couldn't say. Nevertheless, one could absolutely use crystals around the home for protection as desired.

The three trunks in the center of this picture belong to an Alder tree. I immediately thought of my blog when I saw it, because for some unfathomable reason, my "Celtic Tree Month: Alder" post is still my most popular, with over 5,200 views at this time. Here's a photo of one such tree I can actually claim to have taken!

There was also a big grove of birch trees which I felt had to be included. Birch is sacred to many deities, and is particularly noted in Wicca as being a tree of the Goddess.

On Friday, I went downtown with a friend to see a showing of A Midsummer Night's Dream (it was brilliantly done), and Saturday was spent at the zoo. Yesterday was occupied primarily by church and work, and now, finally, I have a moment to sit an catch up.

As many of my followers are probably aware, I am off to college next month and have been scrambling to get things ready. On Saturday, I found a marvelous little couch at a garage sale for $20 that will be perfect for my dorm - I'm considering it a Goddess-given miracle. Additionally, I was able to get a bunch of books from the library yesterday, so expect posts in the near future regarding the metaphysical subjects I'm now perusing.

Celtic Tree Month: Birch

The Celtic name for this month is "Beth", pronounced "beh", and celebrates the Birch tree. Birch is a broad-leafed hardwood of the genus Betula, and is in the same family as Alder, Hazel, and Hornbeam (the first two of which are other sacred trees to the Celts). Birch trees and shrubs tend to be of a medium size, with small samara fruit. They are typically found in well-drained, often acidic, soils, and are considered a pioneer species, meaning that they are often the first trees to return after a fire or other disaster.
Folklore surrounding the Birch is plentiful. In Gaelic legend, the Birch is closely associated with Tir na Nog, the Otherworld of the faeries and the Sidhe. To the Celts, brooms, or besoms, made of birch had a purifying quality and were used to drive away evil spirits. During handfasting rituals, the couple would jump over a broom made of Birch; for a long time, the "besom wedding" was legal. Birch were also used in Beltane celebrations as a living maypole - as one of the first trees to grow leaves in the spring, the Birch is an obvious symbol of fertility. The spring goddess Eostre, from whose name comes both "Easter" and "Ostara", was associated with the Birch, as was Frigga, Thor, and Freya from the Norse pantheon. Siberian shamans make their own use of the Birch, notching a Birch twig nine times during an initiation rite to represent the nine steps to heaven. In North America, some Native Americans prized Birch for its practicality in canoe and paper making, and also used the bark to ritually wrap their dead.
Magickally speaking, many cues can be taken from the Birch tree's mythological background - today, wood and leaves from the tree can still be used to make besoms, to ward negativity, and for aid in love. Birch can be burned at Samhain, Beltane, and Yule, and can form the traditional Yule log and Maypole. The wood can likewise be used in dealings with faeries and nature spirits, whether to call the friendly ones or banish the not-so-friendly ones.
Both the leaves and the inner bark of the tree are edible; either can be eaten raw. The inner bark can be added to soup, or can be ground and used as a flour. Made into a tea, it is diuretic, can help cure other minor illnesses, like fever, and makes a good antiseptic. The leaves have similar properties. Birch sap is also edible, and though it is infrequently tapped (it's less sweet than maple sap), it can be turned into a molasses-like syrup or be fermented into beer or vinegar.

November 25th, 2012

Happy Elder Moon, everyone! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, today is the first day in the Celtic month honoring the Elder tree.
The Elder tree belongs to the genus Sambucus, and can be found in temperate to sub-tropical regions in both the North and South hemispheres. The tree's flowers are found in branching clusters, often white in color, and later produce berries that are a dark blue to black. The berries are a valuable food source for many birds, and planting the Elder tree around the home is an excellent way to support native animal species.

The Elder Mother

In popular folklore, the Witches' association with the tree varies - some stories say that the Elder tree will ward off Witches, while others say that it is under the tree where Witches may congregate. Elder wood is one of those trees mentioned in the Wiccan Rede; unlike its compatriots, however, the Wiccan is warned that "Elder is the Lady's tree; burn it not, or cursed ye'll be". Other stories tell us that instruments made from Elder wood produce a sound that the Faeries find most favorable. Accordingly, it is said that on Midsummer's eve (Litha), one can find the Faerie folk making merry beneath the Elder trees. Like the Rowan, the Elder is considered protective - the Rowan guards the front of the house, and the Elder protects the back. These protective qualities extended to the business world as well - Elder trees were often planted near bakeries and dairies to protect the food and prevent evil from touching it. However, any food actually left under the tree was considered a gift for the Faeries, and couldn't be reclaimed. In Scandinavian mythos, Elder trees had a guardian spirit known as the Elder Mother, and any damage done to the tree could invoke her wrath. It is from this spirit that the tree may have gotten its name.
Many spells for beauty call for elderflowers - and with good reason! The cosmetic industry has gotten clued into this, and employs Elder derivatives in skin cleansers and eye lotions. If you are looking to freshen up your exterior, infuse warm water with a teaspoon or two of elderflowers and chamomile; then empower, and use daily as a facial cleanser. The tree's protective qualities are just as strong today as they were hundreds of years ago, and growing an Elder in your yard invites friendly Faeries while warding off negative influences. Elder wands have the same protective power as the tree does (JK Rowling clearly did her magickal research!), as does music played on an instrument made of Elder wood. Before cutting an Elder branch for any reason, be sure to respectfully ask the Elder Mother for permission, and leave an offering in thanks (a piece of cake, water, a stone, etc.). The leaves and berries can be used in spells to turn away negativity.
The flowers and berries of the Elder tree are edible, and are often used in foodstuffs in European countries. The flowers can be pressed into a drink known as elderflower cordial. An extract from the flowers is turned into a syrup, typically found in drinks, baked goods, and sweets. Both flowers and berries are also found in everything from yoghurt to wine, fruit pies, marmalade, and more. However, it should be noted that the leaves, branches, twigs, and seeds of the Elder tree can contain small amounts of cyanide, that, when consumed in large quantities, can be toxic. Think apple seeds, here.

October 28th, 2012

Welcome to the month of the Reed! Although some modern Pagans refer to this as the Elm month, the Celts used this time to celebrate their native water reeds. "Reed" is the general term for tall, grass-like plants that inhabit wet places. All species belong in the order Poales. Reed beds are found in waterlogged places such as floodplains and estuaries. Beds with more than 20 cm of surface water during the summer are called Reed swamps, whereas those with water at or below surface level are known as Reed fens. Because the plants grow poorly in acidic soil, succession often takes over in places like bogs, replacing the reeds with a hardier plant.
In mythology, a number of stories relate to the Reed. One Greek legend tells us that the forest god Pan was pursuing a beautiful young nymph. He chased her to a river, where she transformed into the first Reeds. The wind blew, and Pan was so struck by the beautiful noise the wind in the Reeds made that he took some, bound them together, and formed the first Reed, or Pan, pipes. The infamous Pied Piper is also said to have played on Reed pipes; he first led a plague of rats out of town, and then the town's children to punish the townsfolk for not properly thanking him.
Reeds can be used to make besoms, which are then employed in ritual to brush away negative energy.  The same besom can be hung in the house to continue repelling negativity. One can take a cue from the above myths and construct or purchase a set of Reed pipes, to be used in ritual (Samhain, anyone?). This time period is also one for divination, especially scrying, and seances. Spirit and energy work is appropriate at this time. In ancient times, Reeds may have been soaked in fat as a cheap alternative to candles.
From what I have seen online and elsewhere, although Reeds are not usually poisonous, they don't make very good eats, either.

September 30th, 2012

Today is the beginning of the Ivy Celtic Tree Month (in spite of the fact that Ivy isn't actually a tree). The Celts called this month Gort.

The word "Ivy" encompasses 15 species belonging to the genus Hedera, native to Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. The plants have been introduced to North America as well, though some varieties are considered invasive. On ground level, Ivies are creepers, not exceeding more than 20 cm in height, but once they find a surface to climb, can grow to well over 30 feet tall. Such surfaces include rocks, trees, homes, and other structures where the vines can get a grip on the surface. Young vines are tender and flexible, allowing them to wrap around new material, but as the vines mature, they become woody and firm, much like a small tree trunk. The berries produced are typically bitter and are dark purple or black. Ivy is frequently pollinated by bees and small birds.
Ivy was a plant sacred to the Roman god Bacchus, god of wine and pleasure. According to legend, Baccus' son died, and out of pity, Gaia transformed the boy's body into the Ivy plant. In Egyptian lore, Ivy was connected with the Sun God, Osiris. A Cornish legend recounts the love of the knight Tristan and his betrothed, Iseult. As is typical in most such stories, Tristan was slain in battle, and out of mourning, Iseult died as well. A vengeful king, who had desired Iseult, ordered their graves to be placed far apart, but an Ivy plant grew from each grave. The two plants met, and twined around each other.
Magickally appropriate for Samhain, Ivy is related to rebirth and resurrection. Additionally, one can take a cue from the third myth and use Ivy in matters of the heart and strengthening positive relationships. The plant can be used to create a magickal barrier around your person, shutting out negative influences and energies. It is useful in cooperation, protection, and healing, and ensures fertility. Some folklore recommends boiling Ivy twigs in butter and using as a salve to reduce sunburn; only try this if you can say without a shadow of a doubt that the plant you are using is not Poison Ivy.
Although many birds and other forms of wildlife consume Ivy berries, both the plant and fruit are poisonous to humans, and should not be consumed. The berries aren't deadly, but consumption of them can have unpleasant side effects; luckily, they don't taste good, anyway, so we aren't missing anything.

Celtic Tree Month: Vine

Autumn is on the way, and with it the Vine month, which focuses specifically on the powers of the grapevine, used extensively by the Celts in wine-making.

Grapevines are one of the oldest plants ever cultivated. Egyptian hieroglyphics show the making of wine, and many historians estimate that wine-production has been occurring for at least 8000 years. The grape is the seed of a deciduous vine, occurring in clusters rather than individually. The grapes can be dark blue, black, yellow, green, pink, and orange, most of which are descended from a European variety. A few rarer species can be found in the Middle East and Asia.
In Christian lore, wine is used in the Eucharist as a symbol of the blood of their god. They are also mentioned at leats twice in the Jewish Torah. In Greek mythology, on the other hand, wine was the speciality of the god Dionysus (also god of revelry and theatre) and his satyr friends. In Roman myths, Dionysus is referred to as Bacchus, leading to the modern word "bacchanalia", meaning a typically alcohol-induced frenzy. Egypt, where wine played a major role in daily and religious life, had its share of vine god/desses, including Geshtinana, also known as the "Lady of the Vine", and Asar, who, in addition to playing a major role in the afterlife, judgement, etc., was a god of agriculture, responsible for wine and beer.
In magick, grapes are a popular symbol of abundance at harvest time, and as a Mabon symbol are second perhaps only to the apple. The vine and fruit thereof increase fertility and mental prowess. The plant is useful in spells both for the garden and money (going back to that overlying theme of abundance). It can be used in workings for balance, to enhance one's goals and ambitions, and, if desired, to connect to the Dark Goddesses.
As I'm sure almost all of you are aware, while we may not eat the grapevine, the grapes themselves are perfectly edible! Grapes can be enjoyed raw, cooked into jellies and jams, dried as raisins, added to fruit salads, fruit cocktail, and jellos - the possibilities are almost endless!

August 5th, 2012

Welcome to the Celtic Tree Month of Hazel! A special shout-out here to my friend Hazelnut, whose name comes the fruit of the Hazel tree. The word for Hazel in Celtic is Coll, meaning "the life force inside you". This is the time of year that Hazelnuts start appearing on trees, and the harvest can begin (notice how this corresponds in timing to Lammas, the first grain harvest of the year). The Hazel genus, Corylus, is a group of deciduous trees and large shrubs. They produce flowers in early spring before the leaves develop, with the male catkins being pale yellow, and the female catkins being a bright red. The nuts are largely spherical, 1 - 2 cm in diameter, and with a hard husk completely covering the inner nut.

In Celtic mythology, the nine Hazel trees that grew around a sacred well at the source of the river Shannon were said to possess great wisdom. The nuts fell into the river, where they were then eaten by salmon (a fish sacred to the Druids), giving them the great wisdom in turn. Supposedly, the number of spots on the salmon showed how many nuts they had eaten. In a similar Druidic legend, one fish ate all the Hazelnuts, and a Druid master, seeking great wisdom, ordered the fish to be caught and cooked. His apprentice did so, but while the fish cooked, the grease splattered on the apprentice's thumb. He sucked the grease off the finger, thus taking all the fish's wisdom, and later went on to become Fionn Mac Cumhail, one of the greatest figures in Irish mythology. Because of the prominence of the Hazel in the mythos of this region, felling a Hazel tree often had severe consequences. On occasion, the wood was used to light funeral pyres, and wands made of Hazel were buried with important figures. In Roman mythology, the Hazel was sacred to Mercury (known as Hermes in Greek legend). According to Roman belief, Mercury killed some of the bulls sacred to Apollo for dinner, and as such, sang Apollo a song while playing his lyre to make up for it. Apollo so loved the music that he did not punish Mercury, and gave him the famed Hazel-wood Caduceus in exchange for the lyre.
Magickally, anyone who read the above legends could guess the Hazel's association with wisdom. Hazel wands and staffs can impart wisdom and poetic energy to its bearer. If one is to make a Hazel wand, the traditional time to cut the branch is sunrise on Wednesday, Wednesday being the day sacred to Mercury. Stringing the Hazelnuts together and hanging about the house is a way to draw good luck, and the same Hazelnut strands can be given to bridesmaids as gifts signifying wealth, wisdom, and good health. The nuts, when empowered, can ward off excessive menstrual flow, fever, and diarrhoea. They can also increase fertility. Additionally notable is the Hazel's association with divination. Dowsing rods, in particular, are traditionally constructed from Hazel wood.  These dowsing rods are Y-shaped branches, with the two top prongs being held loosely by the diviner. When the bottom section moves of its own accord, this is considered a "hit". Dowsing rods can find water, mineral deposits, lost objects, and even people and pets.
While the tree itself isn't particularly edible, Hazelnuts are nutritious and tasty, providing protein, and are easily stored. They can be ground and mixed with bread flours, roasted, added to candy, and substituted for many other tree nuts. These days, Hazelnuts are often eaten in luxury delicacies, such as chocolate. Many even take Hazelnut-flavored cream in their coffee!

July 8th, 2012

For the past month on the Celtic calendar, the tree of note has been the Oak. Today, however, is the first of the Holly month. Personally, I find this a significant representation of the Oak and Holly King story, as the Holly King cast down his twin not long ago, at midsummer. The Holly month, called Tinne by the Celts, is a time of masculine energy.

Holly, or Ilex, is a genus of 400 to 600 species of flowering shrubs. The genus is spread worldwide, in evergreen and deciduous forms, both in the tropics and in temperate climates. Holly flowers are small and white, usually with four petals. Unlike many species, the members of the Holly genus typically have distinct male and female flowers, which grow on separate plants (there are exceptions, however). Pollination occurs through bees and other insects. The fruits of the Holly, typically called berries, are actually drupes, and ripen in the winter. Because the drupes are available when most food is scarce, the Holly is an important source of food and shelter for many birds and animals.
Mythologically speaking, Holly was considered by the Druids a gift to keep the earth beautiful when the sacred Oak lost its leaves. It was also associated with the aforementioned Holly King, the patron of the Winter Solstice festivals. Later, the Romans hailed Holly as being sacred to Saturn, and so used the plant to decorate images of Saturn and as a method of honoring him during the festival of Saturnalia. Centuries later, early Christians avoided Roman persecution in their Christmas rites by using the Saturnalia Holly. Hence, Holly was adopted into Christian tradition as well. In European lore, although boughs of Holly could be taken for decoration, and the berries used for animal feed, to cut down an entire tree/shrub was considered bad luck. Some people went out of their way to avoid hurting the trees, and believed that they had protective qualities. The Holly was believed to keep houses from being struck by lightning, and was cultivated as a protective barrier. As such, it became associated with thunder gods, like the Norse Thor. Interestingly, modern science has shown this ancient legend to hold some ground - the distinctive shape of the Holly leaves and spines act as a sort of natural lightning conductor, protecting the Holly itself, as well as nearby objects.
In magick, use Holly to access masculine energy, and consider carving masculine tools (an athame handle, wand, etc.) out of Holly. In related fashion, some traditions hold that a proper athame ought to be consecrated with holly incense. Its protective properties remain relevant also; hanging a Holly bough in the home will bring good luck and safety. Holly can be worn as a protective charm, and soaking Holly in moon-bathed water for several hours will create Holly water, which when sprinkled around people acts as a blessing, and when sprinkled in the home acts as a cleanser. Holly is associated with the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, and can be used in a Lammas ceremony as easily as in one meant for Yule. It can help people cope with death, and brings calm, sweet dreams.
Holly is not known for being edible - indeed, eating the berries can cause vomiting and diarrhea. The plant is considered toxic to humans and should not be ingested.

June 11th, 2012

It came to my attention last night at about 10:30 that yesterday was the beginning of the Celtic Tree Month of Oak. For whatever reason, I was thinking that was next weekend. As such, I shall do my little spiel today, yes?
The Oak month is Duir in Celtic, and may have meant "door". Many scholars theorize that Duir was the root word of Druid. The Oak is a tree or shrub in the Quercus genus, and has about 600 different species. Oak is native to the northern hemisphere, and can be deciduous or evergreen, ranging from temperate climates to tropical. The flowers are catkins, and the fruit is the omnipresent acorn, also known as a cupule.
In Greek mythos, the oak is Zeus' sacred tree, and at his oracle in Dodona, an ancient oak forms the temple's central structure. The priests of Zeus would interpret the god's word by listening to the rustling of the oak's leaves. In Baltic mythology, that is, the myths of the Lithuanian region, the Oak is sacred to Perkons, god of thunder, like Zeus to the Greeks. Even the Celts followed the relation to thunder - Taranus, the thunder god, was associated with the tree. The Norse continued the association: Thor's tree was the Oak. Some scholars speculate that this was because the Oak is the largest tree native to Europe, and therefore was most frequently struck by lightning. Regardless, the Oak has a strong connection to the weather, particularly storms.
In magick, the Oak is an extremely versatile wood. It can be used in spells for strength, prosperity, good fortune, fertility, money, and success. According to legend, catching a falling Oak leaf before it touches the ground ensures good health in the coming year. Also, and acorn carried in the pocket will bring success to a business meeting. The ashes from a burned piece of Oak will protect one against lightning and fire, although on the other hand, Oak could be used to draw a storm during drought. The burning of the leaves has a purifying effect, and can be used as an alternative to incense. Oak is also closely tied to masculinity, making it a traditional wood for carving masculine tools: the athame, staff, etc.
*A note to the wise: Oak, like other trees, is said to be the home of the Fey. Oak is a powerful and sacred tree, so any wood, leaves, etc. taken from a tree must be repaid with a sacrifice of some kind. Water and/or natural fertilizer is a good place to start, but tokens such as hair, stones, etc. are also acceptable.
Acorns make excellent snacks, although other parts of the tree are less edible. The White Oak in particular provides acorns that may be sweet enough to be eaten raw. (The White Oak can be identified by the rounded edges of the leaves.) However, the acorns can also be boiled or roasted, then dried. As such, the acorn can be eaten like a nut, dipped in syrup to make candy, or ground into flour. Acorns contain natural, healthy fats, and are rich in protein.