HAWTHORN BERRIES

HAWTHORN 

Folknames: Bread and Cheese Tree, Gaxels, Hagthorn, Halves, Mayblossom, Tree of Chastity

Planet: Mars

Element: Fire

Deities: Cardea. Flora, Hymen

Powers: Fertility, Chastity, Fishing Magic, Happiness

Ritual Uses: Hawthorn was once used to decorate May Poles. At one time Hawthorns were believed to be witches who had transformed themselves into trees. Witches have lonce since danced and performed their rites beneath the thorn.

Magical Uses: It has long been used to increase fertility. Because of this power it is incorporated into weddings, especially those performed in the spring. The leaves are also used to enforce or maintain chastity or celibacy. The leaves are placed beneath the mattress or around the bedroom for this purpose. When worn or carried, the hawthorn promotes happiness in the troubled, depressed or sad. Hawthorn protects against lightning, and in the house in which it resides, no evil ghosts can enter. It is also powerful for protecting the house against damage from storms. The Romans placed hawthorn in cradles to protect the child from evil spells. In the past most witch's gardens contained at least one hawthorn hedge. The hawthorn is sacred to the fairies, and is part of the tree fairy triad of Britain: "Oak, Ash and Thorn", and where all three trees grow together it is said that one may see fairies.

The herb comes in a grip seal packet for freshness and contains approximately four tablespoons of herb.