Favorite Creative Collaborations with Plants – Spring Edition

Love is all around and at every moment we have the opportunity to act from a place of Love. Valentine’s Day is simply one 24-hour period in time where we are reminded to amplify our Love frequency within and without. Self-love, love of family/friends/community, love of the land, love of Life. Everywhere you turn there is someone and something to love, including our own inner landscape. Love every atom and inch of your being and you will know infinity.

Today I’m sharing my love with you — my love for the plants, my love for creativity, my love of discovery and curiosity. In love we slow down to experience a deeper awareness of our connections to one another. In love we see the reflection of our divinity in all around us.

So with love I put together this playlist of my favorite moments from the springtime lessons of INFUSE, a collaborative co-creation with the plants.

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Crafting Birch Staves

Kick off the springtime with the fresh-start feeling of Birch. I’ll show you how to craft a stave to use for magical purposes or to wear as an amulet.

Dandelion Blossom Tempura

Feed your spirit and body with this delicious spring delicacy that reminds us of the enduring nature of the Sun and the fleeting nature of life.

Chickweed Flower Essence

Open to presence, open to community, open to your connection to the Cosmos — these are some of the applications of Chickweed Flower Essence. Learn how to make your own in this video.

Cleavers Binding Ritual

What or whom are you attaching yourself to? What or whom are you releasing? Learn how to make a sigil to either commit to or release attachments, with the help of Cleavers.

Filé Gumbo Sassafras

Some say the way to another’s heart is through their stomach… And with heart-warming Sassafras, you’ll have even more success. Here’s one delicious way to nourish yourself and those you love. Learn more about the history of Gumbo.

Hawthorn Heal the Heart Salve

Massage and sensual touch is a pleasurable way to experience the love of someone, including your self! Craft a heart-healing herbal oil, salve, and infusion to open your heart to love.

Strength Through Challenge Meditation

Call on the spirit of Hawthorn to help you face challenging moments with love, grace, and compassion.

I’d love to hear from you! Whether you create with these plant allies or intend to, or whether you have a different way of working with and loving the plants, share in the comments below. ❤️❤️❤️

Drink the Ambrosial Nectar of the Bee Tree

Linden blossom season is coming!

Linden, aka Basswood, aka Tilia, aka Bee Tree…

As I write this her tiny pre-blooms are developing.

In the Northeast, she’ll bloom from June to July, depending on where you are latitudinally.

In the South and West, maybe you’ll see her blooms a bit earlier.

In either case, Linden blossoms are beautifully soothing!

The fragrance hangs heavy in the summer air, creating an intoxicating scent path straight to her.

The Bees know just where to go, and Linden honey is oh so fine!

In the following video I’ll show you how easy it is to harvest Linden blossoms, and then how easy it is to make an infusion (tea) with these blooms.

The blooms are anti-inflammatory, soothing to the nervous & digestive systems, and have a mucilaginous quality that is coating in cases of dryness of the mucous membranes (so, great for sore throat, dry cough, constipation).

Enjoy the video! And please let me know what you think by leaving a comment here or on YouTube, subscribing to my channel, or signing up for my newsletter. Thank you!

Want to go even deeper with the healing plants? You might want to join INFUSE for a season or the year!

Birch Besom Spring Cleaning

Spring is a time of renewal, rebirth, and new beginnings.

And there’s no tree more connected to this energy than Birch.

Birch is the tree of new beginnings.

The word Birch comes from Proto-Indo-European root bhereg which translates as “shining.” (Fun fact: Björk’s name has the same meaning!)

Beith is the Celtic Ogham that embodies the Birch and these associations.

Berkana/Berkano is the rune in the Elder Futhark.

But in order for the new beginnings to come, we need to let go of the old energies. It’s time to sweep away the dust of the winter, let go of the past and emerge on the other side of death as a newly hatched seedling, shiny and new!

I love how the Death card from the Motherpeace deck by Karen Vogel and Vicki Noble takes on this theme (notice the Birch trees growing out from the fertile dark Earth).

Here’s a fun way to craft a ritual for release the old, unwanted energies of the last season… make a besom! A besom is a kind of broom that you can use like a regular broom or for energetic cleansing. Watch the following video to see how I make a very rustic besom using River Birch (Betula nigra) twigs that I found on the ground.

If you enjoyed this video, you’ll love INFUSE, a monthly immersion to deepen your relationship with healing plants. We work with one plant each month, connecting through meditation, wildcrafting, medicine making, ritual, and other creative collaborations with the Wise Green Ones.

Bringing Goldenrod’s Light Into the Darkness (Video)

First let me say that, I love the dark as much as I love the sunlight. I do not associate darkness with negativity. Darkness is necessary. We get the best sleep and dream in darkness. Stars shine in the darkness - the darker, the better. Dark earth is fertile – it’s where the seeds sprout and grow, where trees are rooted, where networks of mycelia share information with the life in the soil.* The Void where all comes into being is total darkness. One of my favorite practices is to take a bath in complete darkness - it’s a bit like recreating the darkness of the womb. Dark is beautiful!

Like all good things, there is a critical balance. We need both darkness and light, and everything in between, in the right doses. When I talk about darkness in this sense, I’m talking about the dramatic shift that we experience as a result of the angle of the Earth in relation to the Sun, the arc of light that lowers so that we have less daylight.

And that tipping toward the darkness can be difficult for many folks. With the reduced sunlight hours, it’s easier to get blue.

If you are someone whose mood dips down with the lack of sunlight, it can be helpful to bring the sun-embodied plants into your life.**

Dandelion, Sunflower, Mullein, Saint John’s Wort - all lovely allies for this purpose! And Goldenrod!

I think of Goldenrod as this beautiful glowing candelabra of blooms shining when the light starts to dwindle. And it got me thinking, candelabra, candles… hey, we can burn this! (Maybe there’s a hint of pyromaniac in me, I dunno – but who doesn’t like a good fire? Except maybe that misunderstood monster o’ Frankenstein.)

Burning a dried herb bundle of Goldenrod – the cleansing smoke, the sweet aroma – can call in helpful energy when we are feeling low.

In this video, I show you how I make an herb bundle including Goldenrod and some other yummy scented herbs that also like to be burned. Enjoy, and do let me know if you try it - there’s still some Goldenrod blooming out there, in the northeast at least.

This is just a taste of the kind of work we do in I N F U S E, a monthly immersion to deepen your relationship with healing plants. Learn. more here.

*Which reminds me of Black Earth Wisdom – if you don’t know them, check them out!

**Keep in mind that individual results will vary when working with herbs. This suggestion is not intended to replace medical advice, and if you are experiencing extreme mood shifts, it may be wise to consult with a trusted clinically trained medical professional or therapist.

Your Guide to Ethical Wildcrafting

Hey Plant Lover!

Whether you are a seasoned wildcrafter or you’ve never harvested wild plants for food or medicine before, there’s something that’s vital for all of us to consider. That’s the impact our choices have on the life we share this planet with.

Photo by Ray Hennessy on Unsplash

Birds, insects, microorganisms, furry creatures – like us, they depend on the plants for their survival.

And then of course there are the plants themselves. There are close to 400,000 vascular plants on Earth. And nearly 2,000 are discovered or newly studied each year, many of which are on the brink of extinction. It’s estimated that 1 in 5 plants on Earth are threatened with extinction.

So why are plants and other life forms disappearing?

There are a variety of causes, the most visible being habitat destruction and loss. This comes in many forms. Fragmentation of forests from clear cutting, pollution of water by agricultural and industrial runoff, widespread pesticide and herbicide use, sprawling commercial and housing development.

These are but symptoms of a greater issue. At the root, the loss of life on this planet is an ideological problem:

We see ourselves as separate from nature.

By “we” I mean those in the developed world, plagued by colonialism, capitalism, consumerism, racism.

These lenses have clouded our vision of the truth.

The truth is that we depend on all of life to work in concert. That each one of us – animal (including humans), plant, fungi, mineral – are an integral part of the whole. And that our human neuroses – fear of scarcity, fear of other, fear of death – have put us into this stupor of forgetfulness and destruction. We blindly take from the Earth what we think we need without thanks, and without reciprocity. This isn’t need, but greed.

If there’s anything the COVID pandemic is showing us, it is that our destructive habits impact every one of us. The predominating culture looks at the gifts of the Earth as commodities to be extracted, bought, and sold. Clean healthy water is a human right, a right for all living beings. Yet we have dreamed up that it has a monetary value. This dream is killing the beauty of life on this planet. It is time to shift this dream.

There is abundance, joy, pleasure, and enough for all when we reciprocate with the Earth. This has been a basic fact of life for all earth-based cultures on this planet. People who have not lost this sense of belonging to the Earth (and not the f*ed up flipside idea of Earth belonging to us) live this truth. I look forward to the day where more of us not just understand this but embody and live it.

One small way to begin to live our belonging is to live in reciprocity with the healing plants.

I’ve created a guide to Ethical Wildcrafting with this at its core. It’s adapted from my book, Northeast Medicinal Plants and is inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer’s words in her book, Braiding Sweetgrass.

Sign up to receive it in your inbox here, or click the image below to get your copy – It will arrive in three easily digestible parts.

I’m delivering it in installments so that you can slow down to take in the information and practice it.

By signing up you’ll also learn additional ways to connect with healing plants and receive information about my new offering, INFUSE – a monthly immersion to deepen your relationship with healing plants. You can always unsubscribe at any time.

I invite you to comment below or email me liz (at) gatheringground (dot) nyc to share your experiences with connecting with the healing plants.

References and Further Reading:

How Many Plant Species Are There in the World? Scientists now have an answer

The Real Cure for Covid is Renewing Our Fractured Relationship With the Planet

**Legacy Lost: **A Brief History of Colonization and the Loss of Northeastern Old-Growth Forests

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Additional Guides to Ethical Wildcrafting From Fellow Herbalists:

Forest Medicine by fellow Timber Press author, Scott Kloos

Herbal Remedies Advice by Rosalee de la Forêt

Learning Herbs by Devon Young

Sierra Botanica by Rachel Berry

handy dandy dandelion

Hello Spring! Well, sort of. Despite the blanket of snow outside, the gifts of Spring are emerging. A couple of weeks ago I was out in the park with my son and some of our friends. One of the kids excitedly pointed out the unmistakeable golden yellow blossom of the Dandelion. They were all very protective of it, yelling "don't pick it!" while the adults (especially me!) were taking pictures.

Each Spring when the Dandelions bloom I take the time to pick the yellow sun rays and make Dandelion blossom oil (see recipe below) and if I have enough left over I make Dandelion fritters. I always make sure to leave plenty for the bees and other insects. Read on for more about the beautifully humble Dandelion... 

Taraxacum officinale

Taraxacum, may be derived from the Greek taraxos (disorder), and akos (remedy). Officinale indicates the long history of use as a medicine.

DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale) 

Lesson: strong foundation to raise your vibration;
stay the course regardless of circumstances
Offering: purification, digestion, pain relief
Element & planetary affiliation: air, Jupiter, Sun
Energetics: bitter, sweet, dry, cool (root & leaf)

Humble warrior
Dandelion is sadly maligned and misunderstood. If only militant gardeners and lawn lovers knew what they were missing when they poisoned this beneficial beauty. This humble plant is tenacious – if you try to rip out dandelion it will only grow back stronger. Dandelion teaches us that to shine brightly, to raise our vibration, we need to have a strong root, a strong foundation. And to not give up regardless of circumstances.

The blossom of the dandelion is like the Great Eastern Sun – radiant, brilliant, awake. The stem, leaves, and root are tender, like the warrior’s heart. When I speak of a warrior, I mean a spiritual warrior. Someone who is confident and clear about where they stand, but also tender and vulnerable, open to the world around them. 

Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche brought the concept of Shambhala Buddhism and Enlightened Society to the West. He endured great hardships to get here. He was forced to leave Tibet when the Chinese communist party took control in 1959. He led a small group of monks on horseback and on foot to escape to India. Often they would trek up a mountain in harsh, snowy conditions to then have to go back the way they came and find a new path. At times their robes were frozen solid with ice and snow. 

Despite being exiled from his homeland, and later experiencing a car accident that left him partially paralyzed, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche maintained his view of the Great Eastern Sun. I see the dandelion as an embodiment of this view. We choose to see the goodness in this humble plant, the goodness that is in all of us. 

Powerful and gentle medicine
Dandelion leaf is full of nutrients – it’s said to have more iron than spinach, and more vitamin A than carrots. It’s also a non-depleting diuretic; unlike pharmaceutical diuretics, dandelion does not deplete the body of essential minerals, like potassium. 

The root is an excellent spring tonic and a liver tonic, stimulating the production of bile and aiding the body in the elimination process. The root also contains inulin, a prebiotic fiber that helps feed beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Solar wonder
My favorite part to use is the blossom. The radiant golden flower has an affinity with the solar plexus. One of my first healing experiences with dandelion blossom was in an herbalism class with Robin Rose Bennett. She was straining off some dandelion blossom and goldenrod oils. At the time I had severe abdominal bloating and pain (I was just figuring out I had a strong gluten sensitivity). When she told the class these blossoms are especially relieving to pain in the solar plexus I jumped out of my seat. I took the oil and massaged my belly – within minutes there was a warm and radiating feeling of relief. 

Wise Woman Herbalist Susun Weed says this about dandelion blossom oil: 

“Dandelion has a special affinity for breasts. Regular use of dandelion flower oil promotes deep relaxation of the breast tissues, facilitating the release of held emotions. Applied regularly to the entire breast area, glowing golden dandelion flower oil can strengthen your sense of self worth as well as your immune system. Easily made, this oil is a superb ally for regular breast self-massage, and highly praised by those doing therapeutic breast massage. Dandelion root oil, used alone or in conjunction with the flower oil, can help clear minor infections, relieve impacted milk glands and reduce cysts in the breasts.”

I also love to make dandelion blossom fritters – all you do is make a batter, dip them in whole and fry them. Tastes like spring! Ethnobotanist and foraging expert (and friend) Leda Meredith turns the blossoms into wine, and sometimes beer. (Recipe here: http://ledameredith.com/dandelion-beer-recipe/) 

Weather predictions

Ancient traditions state that if dandelions stay closed in the morning, it will rain. 
If they bloom in April and July, the summer will be wet.

https://peninsulalighthouse.wordpress.com/2012/11/04/plant-lore-acanthus-to-dandelion/

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MORE ABOUT DANDELION

Constituents and Nutrients
B vitamins; vitamins A, C, E, and K; calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, inulin; flavonoids (luteolin, apigenin, isoquercitrin); caffeic and chlorogenic acid; terpenoids, triterpenes, sesquiterpenes 

Actions
leaf: bitter digestive, potassium-sparing diuretic, tonic
root: alterative, anti-rheumatic, mild aperient, bitter digestive, potassium-sparing diuretic, cholagogue, hepatic
flower: anodyne (topical)

Conditions
acne, arthritis, cirrhosis, constipation, eczema, edema, gout, hepatitis, jaundice, kidney stones, warts (using latex sap)

Distinguishing Features
From a Modern Herbal, by Maud Grieve: “From its thick tap root, dark brown, almost black on the outside though white and milky within, the long jagged leaves rise directly, radiating from it to form a rosette Iying close upon the ground, each leaf being grooved and constructed so that all the rain falling on it is conducted straight to the centre of the rosette and thus to the root which is, therefore, always kept well watered. The maximum amount of water is in this manner directed towards the proper region for utilization by the root, which but for this arrangement would not obtain sufficient moisture, the leaves being spread too close to the ground for the water to penetrate.

The leaves are shiny and without hairs, the margin of each leaf cut into great jagged teeth, either upright or pointing somewhat backwards, and these teeth are themselves cut here and there into lesser teeth. It is this somewhat fanciful resemblance to the canine teeth of a lion that (it is generally assumed) gives the plant its most familiar name of Dandelion, which is a corruption of the French Dent de Lion, an equivalent of this name being found not only in its former specific Latin name Dens leonis and in the Greek name for the genus to which Linnaeus assigned it, Leontodon, but also in nearly all the languages of Europe.”

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RECIPES

For roots, a decoction
Take a handful of dried roots and place it in one quart of water in a small pot. Gently simmer for 20 minutes. Strain and enjoy.

For leaves, an infusion
Take a handful of herb and place it in a 1-quart jar. Pour boiling water over the herbs, cover, and let steep overnight (or at least 20 minutes). In the morning, strain the herbs and compost them. This is the way I make most leaf and flower infusions. 

Dandelion Greens with Double Garlic
from How to Cook Everything, by Mark Bittman
Makes: 4 servings; Time: 15 minutes

The first measure of garlic mellows as it cooks with the greens; it’s the second that adds a real kick. Substitute minced ginger for the second addition of garlic if you like.

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup thinly sliced garlic (5 or 6 cloves), plus
1 teaspoon minced garlic, or more to taste
1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes, or to taste
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound dandelion greens with stems, well washed and roughly chopped
1/2 cup chicken, beef, or vegetable stock
Lemon wedges for serving

1. Put the olive oil in a large, deep saucepan with a lid over medium-high heat. When hot, add the sliced garlic, pepper flakes, and some salt and black pepper and cook for about 1 minute.

2. Add the greens and stock. Cover and cook until the greens are wilted and just tender but still a little firm, about 5 minutes.

3. Uncover the pan and continue to cook, stirring, until the liquid has all but evaporated and the greens are quite tender, at least 5 minutes more. Taste for seasoning and add red or black pepper and salt as needed; add the minced garlic, cook for 1 minute more, and serve hot, warm, or at room temperature, with lemon wedges.

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Dandelion Blossom (Fridge) Jelly
from Martha Stewart

4 cups water
4 cups dandelion blossoms (yellow and white parts only)
1/4 cup plus 1 1/2 teaspoons ( 1/2 package) powdered pectin
4 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Bring water and dandelion blossoms to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and let stand for 10 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve into a measuring cup, pressing solids. Discard blossoms. (You should have 3 cups of liquid; add water if necessary.)

Combine pectin and 1/2 cup sugar in a small bowl. Bring dandelion liquid and remaining 4 cups sugar to a boil, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar. Add the pectin mixture, stirring constantly to dissolve pectin and sugar. Add lemon juice, and boil for 1 minute. Skim foam from the surface. Let cool slightly. Pour mixture into an airtight container. Cover with a lid. Refrigerate until set, about 4 hours. Jelly can be refrigerated in the airtight container for up to  2 weeks.

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Dandelion Blossom Oil
For topical use only. 

Fill a small jar with dandelion blossoms (just blossoms, no stems). Cover blossoms completely with olive or sesame oil, filling the jar to the top. I like to cover the jar with some muslin or cheesecloth and if it’s a mason jar, just use the ring to close it (or a rubber band). This way the moisture from the blossom can escape, preventing mold from forming in the oil. After 2 to 4 weeks, strain out the blossoms. Use as is or make a salve by melting beeswax (1 part beeswax to 4 parts oil) and mixing in oil over a low heat. Pour into jars or tins. 

Poetry/songs/lore

The First Dandelion
from "Leaves of Grass," by Walt Whitman

Simple and fresh and fair from winter's close emerging,
As if no artifice of fashion, business, politics, had ever been,
Forth from its sunny nook of shelter'd grass--innocent, golden, calm as the dawn,
The spring's first dandelion shows its trustful face.

Dandelion Bubbles
From Highlights

"Dandelion" 

Dandelion
Rolling Stones
(Mick Jagger, Keith Richards)

Prince or pauper, beggar man or thing
Play the game with ev'ry flow'r you bring
Dandelion don't tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Blow away dandelion

One o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock, four o'clock chimes
Dandelions don't care about the time
Dandelion don't tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Blow away dandelion, blow away dandelion

Tho' you're older now its just the same
You can play this dandelion game
When you're finished with your childlike prayers
Well, you know you should wear it

Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailors lives
Rich man, poor man, beautiful, daughters wives
Dandelion don't tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Blow away dandelion, blow away dandelion

Little girls, and boys come out to play
Bring your dandelions to blow away
Dandelion don't tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Blow away dandelion, blow away dandelion 

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Further Reading

The Eldrum Tree. Dandelion.
http://www.eldrumherbs.co.uk/content/content_files/profiles_dandelion_taraxacum-officinale.php?state=1

Grieve, Maud. A Modern Herbal. Dandelion. 
https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/d/dandel08.html

Image Sources:
1. Liz Neves
2. http://bluesolitaire.deviantart.com/art/Dandelion-Wine-Poem-133773013
3. Liz Neves
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taraxacum_officinale#/media/File:Taraxacum_officinale_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-135.jpg
5. Liz Neves
6. https://www.highlightskids.com/poetry-player-poems/dandelions
7. Liz Neves

Dive deeper into the Magic & Medicine of Dandelion in INFUSE, a la carte, a month long immersion with this wonderful plant ally!

hawthorn: fierce & gentle protectress of the heart

Dear one, is your heart aching? Whether it be a personal emotional woe, the collective pain, or a physical manifestation of these in the heart organ or heart center, call Hawthorn your new best friend. Just sitting with Hawthorn and gazing at her protective thorns can give one the sense of relief to grief, heartbreak, or stress. Hawthorn is a beauty any time of year, with her May flowers, late summer to autumn berries, and always those magnificent thorns. Read on for more of Hawthorn's magic...

Crataegus monogyna. Image: Wikipedia

HAWTHORN (CRATAEGUS spp.)

Lesson:
you are protected, open your heart to love

Offering:
circulation of energy, protection, assimilation

Element & planetary affiliation:
Fire, Mars

Energetics:
sweet, tart, slightly warming (some consider cooling)

In Western Medicine (meaning European and American traditions of medicine), Hawthorn is
the ultimate heart tonic. It has the power to both raise and lower blood pressure (this is known as being “amphoteric”). How does it do this? According to herbalist Matthew Wood, it "improves the deposition of lipids in the walls of the capillaries and red blood cells that are squeeze through them.” This cuts down on “irritability” allowing free passage of the blood flow. Hawthorn also helps lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol.

Hawthorn can help heal a broken heart and is often recommended during times of grief. The flower essence can also be useful in addition to the herb, or alone, to heal emotional wounds.

Symbolism and lore

With its abundance of healing properties, Hawthorn also holds several strong associations. Death, fertility, chastity, marriage, witchery, fae, and protection are all linked to this shrubby, thorny tree. I’d also add longevity to this mix, considering Hawthorns can live 400 years.

Perhaps its association with death comes from the scent of the flowers – some liken it to a rotting fish odor – thanks to trimethylamine. And such the flowers attract carrion insects. Others associate the same scent with sex and therefore fertility. I suppose the association with fertility could also be due to Hawthorn’s ability to cross breed so easily. Or maybe it’s because Hawthorn flowers in May, during Beltane, a time of pagan fertility rituals.

Sleeping under the “May tree” when in bloom is said do bring you to fairyland. The same goes for being amongst Oak, Ash, and ‘Thorn trees simultaneously (see below for Rudyard Kipling's "Oak, Ash and Thorn" poem). Witches are said to be able to turn themselves into Hawthorn trees. Merlin was also trapped in a Hawthorn by a witch.

Birds find refuge in the thorny branches of Crataegus, nesting there to keep away from predators. I learned something fascinating about the true thorns of Hawthorn (versus the "prickles" of roses) from friend and teacher Leda Meredith – true thorns have the potential to become branches. If you look closely at one of these trees you might spot thorns with leaves, flowers, and berries growing off of them. Consider all of that potential energy stored in this healing tree and you begin to get a sense of her power. 

Etymology

The botanical name Crataegus comes from the name given this tree “krátaios” by Dioscorides. The root of this word is “krátys" meaning “strong” or “hard” (referring to the wood).

“Haw” is an old word for “hedge,” and Hawthorn is used in that way. I really like this description of the etymology of Hawthorn from Sacred Earth:

But in the mindset of the ancients a hedge was more than just a living fence; it signified the boundary between the known, safe and civilized world, and the wild woods beyond. The word 'hedge' derives from 'Haga' which is contained in the old name for Hawthorn 'Hagathorn' and shares the same root as 'hag'. The hag, in old English was not just an old, ugly woman, but is cognate with 'haegtesse', a woman of prophetic powers, and 'hagzusa' spirit beings, and 'hedge riders' - in other words, beings that live 'between' the worlds of mundane reality and the otherworld beyond, and who could easily traverse the boundaries between them. Likewise, healers, seers and soothsayers were also considered 'boundary-walkers'. Thus, Hawthorn's symbolism is that of protection, but also as a gateway to this other world of magical beings.

Yes! 

Clockwise from top left, fruit of clockwise from top left: Crataegus coccinea, C. punctata var. aurea, C, ambigua, C. douglasii. Image: Wikipedia

MORE ABOUT HAWTHORN

Constituents and Nutrients
crategolic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, glavone, sugars, glycosides, flavonoids and oligomeric procyanidins, pectin, saponins, tannins, selenium, chromium, B vitamins, vitamin C

Actions
amphoteric, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, cholesterol lowering, circulatory stimulant, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, hypotensive, mild sedative, tonic, vasodilator

Conditions
ADHD, abdominal distention, angina, anxiety, arrhythmia, arteriosclerosis, boils, cough, diarrhea, dysentery, fluid retention, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, hypotension, indigestion (esp. stuck food, esp. meat), migraines, palpitations, poor memory, stagnation, stones/tumors, tightness and/or weakness around heart, valvular insufficiency

Botanical Description
From A. Vogel: “The monostyle (single seed) hawthorn is a very branchy, small bush to medium-sized tree with thorny branches. The latter bear oval to rhombic, deeply and three- to five-lobed, dark green leaves. The flowers have five white to pink petals and one pistil. They are arranged in cymes. In the autumn or Fall, they form brilliant red, ovate to spherical berries (pseudocarps), 4mm to 8 mm in diameter and 6 mm to 10 mm long. The mealy, yellowish flesh contains a pip. The end of the berry has a small dimple, around which the remains of the five corolla tips can be seen. The di-style (double seed) hawthorn is very similar. But its leaves are only three-lobed and display rounded, serrate sections. Its flowers have two to three pistils and the berries have two to three pips. The two species cross readily and are thus difficult to distinguish. The hawthorn flowers from May to June. Other species of hawthorn, some of which are also used in medicine, include C. azarolus L., Azaroldorn, with yellowish-orange fruits; C. nigra, the black-fruited hawthorn; C. pentagyna, the pentastylous or five-pistilled hawthorn, with dull, dark purple fruits; and C. laciniata, the oriental hawthorn, with small, pear-shaped, red fruits.”

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PRECAUTIONS
If you are using cardioactive pharmaceuticals like digoxin, consult your doctor for supervision. Dose adjustment may be necessary.

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Hawthorn berry jam. Image: China Sichuan Food

RECIPES

Hawthorn Berry Decoction
Add 1 ounce of berries to 1 quart of water. Simmer for 20 minutes. Drink 1/2 cup up to 3 times per day.

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Love Me Tender Tea Blend
Makes 5.25 ounces (net weight)

2.5 ounces oatstraw (Avena sativa)
1 ounce rose (Rosa spp.)
.5 ounce hawthorn berries (Crataegus spp.)
.5 ounce ginger (Zingiber officinale)
.25 ounce red clover blossoms (Trifolium pratense)
.25 ounce cinnamon chips (Cinnamomum verum)
.25 ounce cardamom, hulled (Elettaria cardamomum)

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Store in an airtight glass container. To make an infusion, steep 1 to 2 tablespoons per cup of boiling water.

~~~

Hawthorn Berry Cordial
from Wild Foods & Medicine

2 oz dried hawthorn berries
2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger or 1 teaspoon dried ginger
4 oz tart cherry juice concentrate
4 oz honey (this could be rose, lavender or hawthorn flower honey)
12 oz alcohol (this could be vodka, brandy or better yet, a tincture of hawthorn leaf and
flower or berry with a minimum of 40% alcohol.

Place hawthorn in 16 ounces of cold water. Bring to a boil and simmer until the water is reduced to 8 ounces. Strain through muslin cloth and place the tea back in a clean pot. Add black cherry concentrate and honey. Heat and stir until honey is dissolved but do not allow to boil. Turn off and allow to cool. Add alcohol, stir ingredients well, then bottle in glass jars and store in the refrigerator. This cordial will last 6 months to a year.

Hawthorn berry is high in a thickening agent called pectin. When making fresh plant tincture, it may become jelly-like. This is less likely to happen if the berry is dried. Pectin is an adventitious ingredient when making jelly and a simple recipe of ground hawthorn berry, ground rosehips and apple juice makes a delicious tonic jelly.

~~~

Hawthorn Ketchup
from Great British Chefs

You can find another recipe for this ketchup in Leda Meredith's book, The Forager's Feast: How to Identify, Gather, and Prepare Wild Edibles.

500g of hawthorn berry
300ml of cider vinegar
300ml of water
170g of sugar
1/2 tsp salt freshly ground black pepper

1. To begin, remove the berries from the stalks and wash well with cold water. Add to a large pan with the water and vinegar, then bring to the boil. Allow to simmer for approximately half an hour, until the skins of the berries begin to burst

2. Take off the heat and pour the contents of the pan through a sieve to remove any stones and tough pieces of skin

3. Transfer the liquid to a clean pan with the sugar and place over a low heat, stirring often to dissolve the sugar

4. Once dissolved, bring to the boil and simmer for 5-10 minutes more, until syrup-like and reduced

5. Season the syrup to taste with salt and pepper, then transfer to sterilised bottles. The syrup is good to use for 1 year

~~~

Hawthorn Jam
from China Sichuan Food

1 pound of fresh hawthorn berries
1 cup sugar or more as needed
1 and 1/2 cup water
1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Airtight and clean containers

Wash and rinse your storage containers. Clean the fresh hawthorn berry and then soak in slightly salted water for around 20 minutes. Then wash again and remove the core. Transfer hawthorn into a food processor, add water. Blend until almost smooth but there are some small particles or smooth according to your own taste.

Pour the mixture to a sauce pan; add sugar and simmer for around 80 to 100 minutes. Add fresh lemon juice in the middle. Stir from time to time. Pour the jam into the prepared containers. Leave 1/3 of space at the top of each container to allow room for the jam to expand in the freezer. Seal the containers and let the jam sit at room temperature for 24 hours. Then store the jam the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

For a longer storage time, you can increase the amount of sugar used in the recipe.

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Image: "Hawthorn Tree" by Arthur Rackham

POETRY/SONGS/LORE

The Hawthorn Tree
by Willa Cather (1873-1947)

CROSS the shimmering meadows--
Ah, when he came to me!
In the spring-time,
In the night-time,
In the starlight,
Beneath the hawthorn tree.

Up from the misty marsh-land--
Ah, when he climbed to me!
To my white bower,
To my sweet rest,
To my warm breast,
Beneath the hawthorn tree.

Ask of me what the birds sang,
High in the hawthorn tree;
What the breeze tells,
What the rose smells,
What the stars shine--
Not what he said to me!

From The Traveller
by Kathleen Raine

A hundred years I slept beneath a thorn
Until the tree was root and branches of my thought,
Until white petals blossomed in my crown.

Oak, Ash, and Thorn
by Rudyard Kipling

Of all the trees that grow so fair, old England to adorn,
Greater are none beneath the sun than Oak, and Ash, and Thorn
Sing Oak, and Ash, and Thorn good sirs,
All on a midsummer's morn.
Surely we sing of no little thing
In Oak, and Ash, and Thorn.
Oak of the clay lived many a day o'er ever Aeneas began
Ash of the loam was a lady at home when Brut was an outlaw man,
And Thorn of the down saw new Troy town, from which was London born
Witness hereby the ancient try of Oak, and Ash, and Thorn.

Sing . . .

Yew that is old, in churchyard mould, he breedeth a mighty bow
Alder for shoes do wise men choose, and Beech for cups also
But when you have killed, and you bowl it is filled, and your
shoes are clean outworn
Back you must speed for all that you need to Oak, and Ash, and Thorn

Sing . . .

Elm, she hates mankind, and waits till every gust be laid,
To drop a limb on the head of him that anyway trusts her shade,
But whether a lad be sober or sad, or mellow with ale from the horn,
He'll taketh no wrong when he lyeth along 'neath Oak, and Ash, and Thorn

Sing . . .

Oh, do not tell the priest our plight, or he would call it a sin,
But we've been out in the woods all night, a-conjuring summer in,
And we bring you good news by word of mouth, good news for cattle and corn
Now is the sun come up from the south, by Oak, and Ash, and Thorn.

Sing . . .

Image: Cicely Mary Barker

The Song Of The Hawthorn Fairy
by Cicely Mary Barker

These thorny branches bore the May
So many months ago,
That when the scattered petals lay
Like drifts of fallen snow,
"This is the story's end," you said;
But O, not half was told!
For see, my haws are here instead,
And hungry birdies shall be fed
On these when days are cold.

The Hawthorn Tree
by Nathaniel Haskell Dole (1895)

At the edge of the hedge is a Hawthorn Tree,
And its blossoms are sweet as sweet can be,
And the bees are humming there all the day,
And these are the words that I hear them say:
Sweet, sweet is the Hawthorn Tree!

All the breezes that breathe o er those blossoms rare
A burden of perfume happily bear;
And the songsters revel there all day long,
And these are the words of their merry song:
Sweet, sweet is the Hawthorn Tree!

And a maid and her lover wander by
As the twilight glories fade and die;
And they pause neath the fragrant boughs to rest,
And above them sways the robin's nest:
Sweet, sweet is the Hawthorn Tree !

We too, they whisper, shall soon build a home
Neath the azure arch of the infinite dome;
And we, all the day, shall sing like the birds,
But with deeper meaning in music and words:
Sweet, sweet is the Hawthorn Tree!

~~~

MORE LORE
from Mandy Haggith

• Hymen, Greek goddess of marriage, carried a torch of hawthorn

• Greek goddess Hera touched hawthorn and had an immaculate conception of twins Ares (Mars) and Eris (Venus)

• Hawthorn-decorated May ceremonies were traditionally scenes of 'lascivious revelry and sexual merriment'

Read more beautiful magic about Hawthorn at Eco Enchantments.

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RESOURCES

Wood, Matthew. The Earthwise Herbal: A complete guide to old world medicinal plants.
North Atlantic Books. 2008.

The Goddess Tree. Hawthorn. Available at: http://www.thegoddesstree.com/trees/Hawthorn.htm

Wild Foods and Medicines. Available at: http://wildfoodsandmedicines.com/hawthorn/

Weed, Susun. Take Heart From Hawthorn. Wise Woman Herbal Ezine. Available at: http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/November08/healingwise.htm

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