Hawthorn, Tree of May-June

The Celtic Tree Month is currently that of the Hawthorn and comes to an end on the 9th of June. This is a modern invention but it is a useful tool for insight into the time of year and into the different aspects of many trees.

The Hawthorn (also named Mayblossom, May bush, Mayflower, Haw, Lady’s Meat among other things) is a stunning, twisted and beautiful tree. It is associated with marriage and with hope and is both a fire and water tree, symbolising its mutability, balance and magical importance. It is energy/inspiration and also healing and fertile.

Hawthorn trees are found round healing wells in Ireland and Scotland and have a strong link with fairyland/the fairy realms and fairy lore. It is one of the tees of the bale fire and a purifying tree. It was said to give sight of the faerie to humans.

Use Hawthorn for clearing and purifying, for prosperity and fertility, marriage and love, protection and happiness.

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:

The Island of the Mist is book 2

The Stone in the Sword is book 1

The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:

The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin

Partial Solar Eclipse: 1st of June 2011

On the 1st of June, there is a partial solar eclipse and will be visible from high latitudes in the northern hemisphere. In ancient times, eclipses were seen as negative events but today we known this to be a misconception.

What does this mean for pagans? For the most part, not a lot but you can use the energy in spells or for meditation should you chose.

As you will be aware, a solar eclipse in when the sun is blocked out in part, or wholly by the moon. So we could say this is a melding of lunar and earth energy, which is why it is very good for meditation or any inner workings (lunar), or any earth-based spells and grounding work.

If you have a preference for shamanic workings, or other trance workings, this is a good time to do it.

As mentioned, this is a time of part lunar energy and so any psychic work will go well on this day. Although it is a partial eclipse, it is still a powerful time.

Divination would be a perfect way to go on this day – especially with a crystal (the combination of earth and lunar energies). It doesn’t have to be a crystal ball, a fair sized crystal held in the hand would suffice.

The other way to tap into these energies would be to connect with lunar and earth deities that you have been trying to meet/ask something of/honour.

Whatever you decide to do, I hope the partial solar eclipse will bring good tidings and a greater awareness of the energies around you.

NB: Just to prove that there is always balance in nature: there is another partial solar eclipse on the 1st of July in the southern hemisphere – if you live in the southern hemisphere – this will apply to you then.

Grow your own herbs

Spring is an excellent time to start growing your own herbs. It couldn’t be simpler and now you don’t even need a garden – most supermarkets sell grow your own herb packs and you just pot a few seeds and sit them on your window sill. A few weeks later you have edible/useable herbs.

Not sure which herbs to choose? Start small. Go for three herbs you will use in cooking as well as for healing/magical pusposes.

How about Rosemary, Thyme and Sage? All very easy to grow and have multi uses.

Think about the herbs you use the most and for different reasons, and simply buy them to grow! There really is nothing quite like growing your own when cooking, healing or working magic :D

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:

The Island of the Mist is book 2

The Stone in the Sword is book 1

The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:

The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin

Month of May, post Beltain

May is a beautiful month. All the most vibrant flowers are appearing, the scents are amazing and life is fully blooming.

May starts with a blaze, Beltain, and eases into Summer, usually with a sizzle.
In the Celtic Tree Calendar, this is in part, the month of the Willow (15th April to the 12th May). I always thought that odd, as Willow is a wet tree and May is usually one of the driest in the UK and in W Europe.

The Willow Tree represents water and is ruled by the moon. There is a new moon on the 3rd of the month. As this moon grows, think about aspects of your life you would like illumination or inspiration for, as the magic of the Willow is that of inspiration, divination and prophesy. The Willow represents Spring and Autumn, the tides and as such is considered a feminine tree.

It is associated with weddings in the garlands of flowers worn on the head of the brides and in pentagrams made for handfastings, due to its flexibility.

While Beltain has passed, the rest of the month is lively, filled with life and vibrancy and the key to the first part of this month is, due in part to the tree, flexibility.

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:

The Island of the Mist is book 2

The Stone in the Sword is book 1

The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:

The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin