From the earliest times our Celtic and Druid ancestors from Iron Age times and probably before, the countryside in which they lived was the centre of their universe. It was full of meaning and wisdom. The trees were particularly important in the role each should play in their lives. We can once again use this ancient wisdom, along the part the trees played in the seasons of the year, and the time of birth and death in their lunar months. One of the trees that had great powers in their world was the Blackthorn.
It was firstly symbolic of its bright white blossom in the early spring. A coming out into the white pure light, shown by the brightness of its flowers appearing out of the darkness of the winter, like our ancestors we can see this time of blossom as time of coming out of a black period, a time of darkness, of death, and a new awakening. A time of a stirring of positivity within one’s self and a time of emergence from the long dark times of winter, a dark place, time of difficulty, a depressing time. Let the blossom be your light at the end of the dark tunnel.
As the first green shoots of the early leaves start to appear, so our first creative signs will start to appear, nourish them and let them open out as the leaves of the Blackthorn open out in nature.
The Black thorn is the Tree of Strength and Perseverance, so strong and resilient is its wood to the weather, the cutting of its branches for staffs and also for the shillelagh, it is hard wood and, grows back very quickly and stronger, and can grow where many other trees cannot. Let the Blackthorn be your strength, your perseverance, use it as your staff, as did Joseph of Arimathea when he arrived in Glastonbury and planted his staff which took root and blossomed. Let your creative thoughts planted blossom and come forth in positivity.
On your path there will still be trials and tribulations, but new growth of your strength will see you through, with the help of you staff and perseverance. The Blackthorn as it name implies, is a thorny tree, this is for its protection and it also protect all who use this protection for the safety of their nests, their homes, and in caterpillars, their metamorphosis into beautiful butterflies, and in this way the Blackthorn will protect you in your infancy of your new found creativity, and during your metamorphosis into the wonderful being you are, so that you may bask in the warm rays of the sun in harmony with mother nature.
The Celtic other use for the Staff or walking stick or Shillelagh was as a Cudgel combining supportiveness and a way of fending off people in self defence, this you can remember when anybody tries to beat you down or suppress those new creative thoughts and aspirations, a the Blackthorn also is sin ominous with standing up for ones rights, assertiveness and obstinacy, which is not a bad thing in rebuilding ones life.
The Celtic People also believed that the thorns on the tree provided protection for Ghosts, particularly in Ireland, so the tree can also protect you for your ghosts, and lay them to rest.
In Irish stories Blackthorn could be used in spells of protection, heroes were aided, if they threw a twig of Blackthorn afternoon, it would take root and form an impenetrable hedge or woods, thwarting the pursuing giant, in the same way the blackthorn can protect you by putting an impenetrable barrier between your new beginnings and that was behind you.
In England Witches would carve the Norse Rune Thorn on a Blackthorn Stave for protection. Traditionally, Blackthorn is used in protection against evil, creating boundaries, purifying, confronting our own dark side. Black thorn dispels negativity, toxins, old wounds and impurities. It is used in exorcisms, and associated with chthonic and protective deities. All these assosciations will help you reinforce and protect your way forward along your path toward your aims and self belief.
Blackthorn Trees and Shrubs are said to be held sacred by fairies. The Luantishees are the Blackthorn Fairies, who guard the trees, November 11th is their festival. All thorny trees and shrubs are said to serve as meeting places for fairies. Kindling a fire of thorn wood atop a fairy mound is also said to force a fae to return a stolen child.Let this be your sacred and the meeting place of your thoughts to decide which path to follow to achieve everything have ever wished for.
A Blackthorn Stave in the creation of a Sprite or Spirit Trap, it is used in combination with copper wire, which must not have been used for the carrying of electricity. The copper wire is bound to the stave with red thread and the stave is marked with a Dag or Rune. The procedure is carried out mainly for its symbolic value in religious tradition. The single traps are used at night, when the trap is set at the entrance to a home, church, graveyard or other location were sprite disturbances are taking place. To attract the troublesome entity, a cleft Blackthorn Stave with a lighted candle is place in front of the trap.
After the Sprite has been captured, it is removed from the location, and the red thread is cut with a consecrated knife, the thread is then placed into a prepared witch bottle. If the bottle has been prepared to imprison the sprite or spirit, a spell is recited while the thread is placed into it. Finally the bottle is corked and sealed with red wax before being buried. A Blackthorn or Thorn Bush or Tree is planted on the site. The witch bottle is a very old spell device that has stood the test of time. The spell is a magical act intended to cause an effect on reality using supernatural means of liturgical or ritual nature.
In this same way if your sprite or spirit comes back to bother you,simply wind some red cotton or material around your door handle before retiring to bed and in the morning cut the tie and put in a pot and bury it, if you are not able to bury the item, caste it far away.If you believe your sprite is within you loosely tie a wrist or ankle band of red material before going to bed, and in the morning draw off, do not cut the cloth whole and either put it in securely fastened pot, or if you have a fire, cast it into the fire and the sprite will disappear.
It is said that if a witch’s bottle is ever found and opened, a very angry sprite or spirit will escape.
The Blackthorn being a tree is an iconic image of heraldry and of symbolic significance in various cultures throughout the world. It represents many things, including the Great Mother in her nourishing, sheltering and caring form, as well as a sacred spot of attainment and Spiritual Enlightenment.If you are in the countyside of find a Blackthorn Tree or Bush, you may have one in your hedge, park, just take a few moments to draw in the energy given off from the Blackthorn. PLease take care not to be be spiked by the thorns. Thet are best viewed in flower or with there slow berries.
Being deeply rooted into the evolutionary psychology of our race as well as earth’s powers, it draws water from the soil and stretches up to the heavens and eternity, acting as a world axis. In occult or Gnostic circles, it is seen as being emblematic of the axis mundi, the world pillar, and the centre of the earth itself. It is closely linked to the symbolism of the pillar and the mountain, as well as connotations of a phallic representation, best signified by the ancient usage of obelisks for ritual and ceremonial purposes. It serves as an intermediary icon of the mysterious dimensions between the realm of the Gods and men. A common Shamanic concept has the seeker or healer using the tree in order to transverse the physical realm and bring back secrets from hidden dimensions. Use this power to follow your Spiritual Path, and seek the power and energy to sustain and grow your spirituallity and let it become firmly rooted and grow strong inside you, let it be you staff, your help and guidance and your link to spiritual guidance and reassurance whenever called upon.Let your spirituality lead you to a better and enriched way of living.
Such is the Power of the Blackthorn Tree, I hope you will find it useful if ever the need arises, or if you find yourself or have a friend or relation who can gain some assistance from any part of this article. You may wish to print off the article.
If you ever have a problem, and you need assistance on a spiritual level or just need a good listener do not hesitate to contact me and I shall give you my email address, so it will be confidential on a one to one basis only.