Something I find so gratifying and peaceful is telling time based on nature’s rhythms. I’ve been going for an early walk every morning before work, visiting the same spot, and love observing the little changes that take place day by day. The bright orange-pink flowers that I haven’t yet identified are fading, the grass is getting more sun bleached, and the sweet little fawns are growing up. On my walk I pass a street lined with Hawthorn trees. Their vibrant pink blossoms had been greeting me each day in May, but now their season is ending and nature’s clock tells me it’s June. Summer is approaching.
A relative of Rose, Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), also known as May tree or sometimes just as “thorn” (the Holy Glastonbury Thorn, for example), blooms its white or pink flowers in May just in time for the Celtic festivities of Beltane, a time at which the veil between worlds is said to be thin. Traditionally, May flowers were used to create crowns and to decorate the maypole for the holiday. Hawthorn is so rich in myth and lore because it traverses the dichotomy of birth and death and is believed to be like a gateway to other worlds. The flowers have a complex scent due to the compound Triethylamine. This is one of the first chemicals released in a decaying body, and it is also present in semen(?!). So these blossoms carry with them the scent of fertility and sex, but also death and decay (may the circle be unbroken, right?). The tree produces its berries, the “haws”, in the fall around the Celtic holiday Samhain, the pagan ancestor to Halloween, falling opposite to Beltane. Beltane celebrates fertility and new life, whereas Samhain connects us to the darkness and the spirit of the underworld. So there really is this thread that weaves life and death together and it is materialized in the life cycle of this special tree. Superstitions regarding the flowers due to their odour and the symbolism of death are plentiful, but I wonder if these fears stem from Christian influence as, like a number of things sacred in paganism, the church had a tendency to turn the sacred into something scary. I’ll save that conversation for another time ; )
Legend has it that if you fall asleep underneath a Hawthorn tree you will be transported to the faery realm. I don’t know about you but that’s going on my Summer to-do list.
Ok so we have determined that Hawthorn is so cool and we haven’t even gotten into the medicinal uses! There are many species of Hawthorn and they are more or less used interchangeably in herbalism. Here in BC our native species is Black Hawthorn (Crataegus douglasii), but you will commonly see the introduced European varieties planted in gardens and around most cities. If you’re in Victoria you can take a walk down May street which is aptly lined with May trees. It is a wonderful tree to form a relationship with because the harvest happens twice a year providing leaves and blossoms, and then ripe berries for all sorts of diy medicine and magic. Hawthorn is for the heart. Like rose, and other thorned plants, there is affinity for the spiritual heart as well as the physical. Think of the thorns as a protective mechanism for the heart. When dealing with emotional upset or grief we long to feel safe and protected in order to open up and let the love flow. This is the role of our thorn-bearing allies but Hawthorn’s medicine goes even deeper. Hawthorn is a cardiotonic, meaning it acts on the heart by strengthening and restoring the heart muscle itself. In herbal medicine it is used to regulate blood pressure, heart palpitations, and to improve circulation. Its actions go beyond the cardiovascular system too, to the nervous system. The leaves and flowers can help calm nerves and anxiety, and also aid in digestion (they have an astringent quality). I have mostly worked with the berries, which I like to pick and use to make oxymels (a herb infused honeyed vinegar) or just use in tea as the berries are rich in flavonoids and antioxidants. Yum! If you have any heart concerns, or just want to give your heart a little love, Hawthorn is what you need. It is really an incredible medicine and if you’re interested I encourage you to read up on some of the scientific literature out there because it is seriously cool.
Interestingly, the genus name, Crataegus, comes from the Greek word kratos, which means strength. This plant literally strengthens the heart. Hawthorn wood is also incredibly strong, and was used to create all sorts of tools from fishing hooks for the indigenous peoples of North America, to witches’ brooms in Europe.
A true herbal icon and angel, Juliette de Bairacli Levy, refers to the young leaves of the Hawthorn as “pepper and salt” for the flavour they give to salads. I somehow haven’t tried this but will report back when I do! There’s a sweet documentary about Juliette that I watched a couple years ago, after scouring the web and eventually renting it for a pretty penny. But guess what? Herbalists rejoice, it’s now on youtube for your streaming pleasure, so please enjoy.
Thank you all for subscribing and reading my words. It’s wonderful to share with you and create this little newsletter community. I hope you gained something from this and find a Hawthorn tree to love <3 See you back here next week!
With love and admiration,
Anika