It was then that I was told about the playful myth surrounding hawthorn’s history. Please add your email address below and click "Submit" to add yourself to our mailing list. Share this tasty beverage with those you love. A tincture is also an accessible way to take in hawthorn’s gifts. Hawthorn has an almost unmatched capacity to support local wildlife. }, moneyFormat: '%C2%A3%7B%7Bamount%7D%7D', (Easley & Horne, 2016). Throw the tincture in your satchel or your pocket and reach for it a few times a day as you feel drawn to it. appId: '6', Springwater. script.async = true; Fill a pint jar with hawthorn leaf, flower, and berry mixture. Can this tree connect us to the innermost parts of ourselves—those parts that have not forgotten how to experience joy through the lens of wonder? Hawthorn is known in the Ogham as ‘Huathe’ (and occasionally as ‘Huethe’) and represents the letter H. It’s the sixth letter of the Ogham alphabet, and is formed by one vertical line, with a shorter horizontal line extending from the centre, to the left. Hawthorn has many colloquial names such as the May, May thorn, and thorn apple, and it typically produces its white flowers around May 1st. The blossoming of the Hawthorn is symbolic, signalling the end of the dark, cold winter nights, and the beginning of spring, fertility and new life. Fairies were feared and respected across the Celtic Nations, with tales of kidnapping and curses abound, so the Hawthorn was treated with care and respect. Your email address will not be published. "product": { It is said that the hawthorn is the guardian of the faery realm. 1/3 cup organic 100% unsweetened blueberry juice ui.createComponent('product', { When taken as a cordial after meals, hawthorn can soothe digestion as well as open the heart. Interestingly enough, Maypoles were said to be made from hawthorn trees (Masé, 2013) which are very fitting as those beautiful flowers pop just in time for May Day and Beltane celebrations. "@media (min-width: 601px)": { script.onload = ShopifyBuyInit; }); This botanical family also contains red raspberry (. All hawthorn species have wellness benefits (de la Forêt, 2017) and herbalists use them in similar ways. In this article, I’ll touch on some of the myths, as well as the benefits hawthorn offers. Its use as a tonic dates back to 1st century Rome, where it was also viewed as a symbol of both love and marriage. (document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]).appendChild(script); Not believing the stories the foreman cut the tree, and as he did, hundreds of little white mice emerged from under the roots. 1/2 cup organic dried rose hips (Rosa canina) options: { } So named because it was believed to be home to the fairies who lived in the Hawthorn to look after it. ShopifyBuyInit(); I think of hawthorn as being able to help us honor the innate strength and connection to who we truly are at our core. In 1999 work was interrupted on the main road from Limerick to Galway because a fairy tree stood in its path. . The most common moniker for the Hawthorn is the Fairy Tree. "quantity": false Tilgner, S. (2009). With the arrival of fall, I am excited for the hawthorn trees to begin ripening their fruits to crimson, soon ready for harvesting. It matches both strength and softness while allowing for the ability to cultivate healthy boundaries as well as gentleness. "layout": "horizontal", Post was not sent - check your email addresses! loadScript(); Hawthorn can often be found in small groves as well as hedges—, physical barrier between homes and properties. Links to external sites are for informational purposes only. Masé, G. (2013). "font-size": "15px" Alchemy of herbs: Transform everyday ingredients into foods and remedies that heal, The wild medicine solution: Healing with aromatic, bitter, and tonic plants, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Please add your email address below and click "Submit" to add yourself to our mailing list. Herbal medicine: From the heart of the earth. Combine all three plant parts—leaf, flower, and berry—and you’ll have a tasty and nourishing tea that is relaxing. Again, reach for hawthorn when you need that hug or feel alone. } "img": false, 1/2 cup organic honey You’ll also find two easy hawthorn recipes to use throughout the fall season. There are a couple of cautions when thinking of using hawthorn, especially for those with chronic heart conditions. Hawthorn berries can be a gentle digestive aid (Easley & Horne, 2016). The most common of the hawthorn species is. leaf, flower, and berry } The berry is full of vitamin C and flavonoids, thus making a nutrient-rich, antioxidant. Hawthorn crowns were worn by brides as decorative headwear and a hawthorn branch would be used as a wedding torch, perhaps where the phrase ‘carry a torch for’ comes from, meaning to love or have strong feelings for. 1 organic cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.) Also known as the Fairy Tree, the Lonely Bush, and the Queen of May, the Hawthorn is an interesting tree in Celtic Mythology. Remember hawthorn for its delightful folklore, for its valued boundary and emotional heart care, as well as its support on digestion and the physical heart. var script = document.createElement('script'); Interestingly enough, Maypoles were said to be made from hawthorn trees (Masé, 2013) which are very fitting as those beautiful flowers pop just in time for May Day and Beltane celebrations. Hawthorn was additionally sacred to the Greek Goddess Maia (Roman Flora). /*]]>*/, Irish Symbols – each with their own fascinating origins and still relevant today, Celtic jewelry – symbols of love and friendship, How Ireland protects its harp and shamrock emblems…take care if using them, Why the Guinness harp faces the opposite way to the official Irish harp, Yule – ancient festival pre-dating Christmas, Easter Lily – sign of peace and hope for the future, Irish Art – clues to ancient Irish cultures and beliefs, Triskele – From the Greek meaning ‘three-legged’, Celtic Cross – symbol of faith and culture, Celebrating the rich diversity of Irish culture, Celtic Cross jewelry – steeped in history and symbolism, Ēostre – the Spring Equinox – forerunner of Easter, Beltane – festival of fire to welcome the summer, The Spiral – thought to represent the sun, Brigid’s Cross (Brighid’s Cross, St Brigit’s Cross). (Recipe adapted from Alchemy of Herbs by Rosalee de la Forêt), 1 cup organic dried hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) Folks taking beta-blockers or other cardiac medications should consult an experienced practitioner, such as their primary care physician, before taking hawthorn, and those with congestive heart failure are advised not to take hawthorn (Gardner & McGuffin, 2013). , in fact, translates to hedge. }); While this abundant tree is the subject of various stories, mythology, and interesting facts, hawthorn also provides us with more than just story—it provides us with a range of supportive actions for both the physical and emotional body. "products": { 1 pint-sized canning jar As mentioned above, Hawthorn can provide nourishment to the spiritual heart (emotional body), but it also acts on the physical body as well. Hawthorn Trees in Celtic Mythology Also known as the Fairy Tree, the Lonely Bush, and the Queen of May, the Hawthorn is an interesting tree in Celtic Mythology. }, The hawthorn tree offers many gifts: leaf, flower, berry, and some herbalists even use the thorn. var r = d.getElementsByTagName(t)[0]; Carlsbad, CA: Hay House. . The hawthorn tree offers many gifts: leaf, flower, berry, and some herbalists even use the thorn. }(document, 'script')); Colin Farrell considers taking the Pope out for a free kebab, Gaining Irish Citizenship through family ties, Christina Aguilera stops by Dublin pub to watch trad band perform, Irish drama group stunned when Hollywood superstar drops by to watch rehearsals, American man discovers Church took him from his mother as a baby. 2 cups brandy. In ancient Greece, likewise, the hawthorn was associated with love and marriage. The wild medicine solution: Healing with aromatic, bitter, and tonic plants. The Herbal Academy neither endorses them nor is in any way responsible for their content. } else { "footer": { Another interesting bit of hawthorn history is that the Mayflower ship was said to be named after the hawthorn tree for the feeling of hope that this blooming tree inspired in England. "button": false, How fantastic is it that herbs in the rose family are so easy to love, and yet, they know how to protect themselves as well? }, }); Hawthorn can often be found in small groves as well as hedges—where it has been planted to create a physical barrier between homes and properties. Hawthorn has your back and your heart when you need some extra care. The folklore behind the cutting of hawthorn is quite interesting. American Herbal Products Association’s botanical safety handbook. "contents": { This botanical family also contains red raspberry (Rubus ideaus) and wild rose (Rosa woodsii), each of which, like hawthorn, protect themselves by the thorns they bear. If you take a nap underneath a hawthorn tree, you’ll be escorted off to the world of the Fae. loadScript(); Conversely, leaving cut hawthorn branches laying outside was often thought to keep witches from entering the home. Then check your email to find a welcome message from our Herbal Academy team with a special link to download our ", Herbal Beer: An Ancient Drink for Modern Times, Herbs for ADHD, Cognition, and Focus Intensive, The modern herbal dispensatory: A medicine-making guide, American Herbal Products Association’s botanical safety handbook, Herbal medicine: From the heart of the earth. When life is busy and tea just seems like too much to add to your day, taking a tincture of hawthorn is yummy and easy. Hawthorn symbolized not only hope but love, marriage, and intimacy. "@media (min-width: 601px)": { Chinese, Native Americans, and European peoples have a longstanding relationship with hawthorn as a heart tonic. In Celtic mythology it is one of the most sacred trees … The energetics of hawthorn are cooling and mixed in moisture depending on the plant part used. Teas can be made from hawthorn’s dried berry, leaf, and flower. if (window.ShopifyBuy) { "max-width": "100%", As it is considered a fairy tree, it is believed to be extremely bad luck to cut one down, remove branches, or even hang things upon it (except at Beltane when this was customary) in case you disturb the little folk. }, Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press. Pleasant Hill, OR: Wise Acres LLC. "styles": { I was drawn to the thorns, the lobed leaves, and the darkening fruits. This practice is still carried out today, in modern day Celtic countries it’s customary to attach small cloth rags or ribbons to a Hawthorn at Beltane, especially if the tree grows by a well. It is known to tonify and strengthen the heart muscle (Easley & Horne, 2016) acting as a cardiovascular trophorestorative (Tilgner, 2009). "margin-bottom": "0px" This belief has survived into modern times. I often find that my clients could use the support of hawthorn in a wellness formula or even as a simple tea or tincture as it offers various actions that lovingly guide us through the modern world. 1 chopped organic McIntosh apple, seeds removed "productSet": { } Let ingredients macerate for 4 weeks while shaking the jar daily. It is often referred to as the gentle bush, lone bush or thorn, as it …