After three years of cautionary isolation, many of us were finally able to attend Beltaine outdoors and in person this year. The next big festival, of course, is Summer Solstice. I am looking forward to the celebration of the Sun’s longest day and I expect to be with friends once again.
As I write this it is Memorial Day, my usual day for moving the indoor houseplants outside for their “summer vacation”. My side project this year has been to sprout and plant some apple seeds which I will place in random sunny spots in the forest this fall. It’s the luck of the draw as to what kind of apples I will get (in about five years). I sprouted Macoun seeds but anything can happen. If I don’t like the result the deer and other critters will! Even coyotes love apples.
About twenty years ago I sprouted some hawthorn seeds that I had brought back from Uisneach, the ancient home of the perpetual fire of the Archdruid of Ireland. I now have a twenty-foot hawthorn next to the house, which has been in full bloom for weeks. I am happy to relate that I recently found small hawthorns, also in full bloom, in random places in the woods. I didn’t plant those, the birds did it all by themselves.
Since trees have been on my mind, I thought I would share some Midsummer tree lore from a few of my books. You can purchase the books from me and get a signed copy via this website www.elleneverthopman.com, or find them in all the usual places, such as independent bookstores and on Amazon.
“Oak branches were traditionally burned in Midsummer fires and used to make wands and staves. Topping them with an acorn will help in fertility rituals. The working of positive magic will be enhanced if the wood for wands is gathered during the waxing Moon. Be sure to leave an appropriate gift as an exchange.”
“A pine cone is gathered on Midsummer’s Day and one seed a day is eaten to become immune to the sun’s heat. In Dionysian ceremonies, a thyrsus was carried by Dionysus (Bacchus) and his votaries; this was generally a giant fennel stalk with pine cones attached to the ends.”
“Remember that tree leaves should be picked before Midsummer (for medicine) due to the gradual buildup of natural insecticides within the plant.”
“Meditating within a grove of elder trees facilitates communion with the woodland spirits. Approach the grove with reverence at the time of a Full Moon following a period of fasting. Midsummer Eve would be the best night.”
Excerpts from “Tree Medicine Tree Magic” (Pendraig Publishing).
“Ash was considered a solar tree, and its wood was used for the Germanic Yule log. Druids carved charms from its wood. Ashen divining rods were cut on Summer Solstice. A Druidic ash wand decorated with spirals was found on Anglesey, in Wales.
Eating red ash buds at Midsummer was said to bring protection from sorcery. Witch’s brooms, used for flying, were traditionally made of an ash pole with birch twigs and willow bindings. Ash “draws the flash” (attracts lightning) and so was used in rain magic.”
“Tradition states that acorns kept in the home or carried on your person will bring good luck. An ancient Welsh tradition holds that good health can be kept by rubbing one’s hand on a piece of oak on Midsummer Day while keeping silence.”
“In England a ritual combat was enacted each year involving the “oak king” who ruled in summer and the “holly king” who ruled in winter. At Midsummer and again at Midwinter these “divine kings” would battle for the hand of the “queen” (the Land Goddess). The oak king always won in summer, initiating the season of green and light, and the holly king in winter, initiating the cold, dark season.”
“Druids supervised the lighting of sacred fires on hilltops on the holy days of the Celts. At Midsummer herbs were ritually smoked over these fires, to be hung in houses and barns as protective amulets. These magically protective herbs included figwort, ivy, mugwort, yarrow, vervain, elder, fennel, chamomile, melilot, St. John’s wort, plantain, hawthorn, lavender, and male fern.”
Excerpts from “A Druid’s Herbal of Sacred Tree Medicine” (Destiny Books)
“Apples are associated with Avalon (from the Welsh Ynys Afallach, which apparently derives from afal meaning “apple”) and the Celtic Otherworld. An apple branch can take you to the Land of Fairy. To encounter Fairies, sleep under an apple tree at noon on Midsummer’s Day. Apple divination: cut an apple in half and examine the seeds. If they are whole, it means good luck. If one seed is damaged it means trouble. If more than one is cut it means severe misfortune.”
“Dried elderberries picked on Midsummer’s Day are placed on the windowsill to prevent evil from entering. As with rowan, an elder cross is protective of the house and barn. Make one by binding two equal length twigs with red thread. Hang it over the door, place it by a window, or wear it on your person. The juice of the inner bark is applied to the eyelids to give someone “the Sight”.
“Those who seek contact with the Fairy Realm will sleep beneath a solitary hawthorn growing on a hill, on Bealltan or on Midsummer’s Eve.”
“Hazel rods are cut on Midsummer’s Day to be used for dowsing and water witching, and to find veins of gold, coal, lead, and lost or hidden objects.”
“If found unsought, wild Saint John’s Wort can prevent fevers and abduction by Fairies, especially if it is found on Saint John’s Eve. It is named for the fact that in Britain it blooms around Saint John’s Eve (near the Summer Solstice). The ancient Celts smoked it over the Midsummer fire to make a protective charm.”
“At Midsummer, Saint John’s Wort is gathered and smoked over the ritual fire to be hung in the house and barn as a protective charm. Thanks offerings are made to the Sun. Deep magic at this time involves taking direct action to improve your life and to aid the world.”
“Selchie, Selkie, Seal Women – Large grey seals that take the form of beautiful humans in the moonlight; on Midsummer’s Eve, at the Spring Tide, or every ninth night. They can be trapped and kept on shore by hiding their sealskins without which they cannot get back to their ocean home.”
“Trolls – Ill-tempered creatures with gross bodies that are disproportionate in regards to length and width and features, who ride through the air between dusk and midnight (the “Fairy-hours”) on bulrushes. If they are still about at sunrise, they are day-bound and visible to mortals until the next sunset.
Their high festivals are Midsummer Eve and the seven days before Yule. At Yule-tide they will attempt to do mischief to humans who have not protected themselves, and at the end of the Yule festivities they retreat back into the Underworld.”
Excerpts from “Scottish Herbs and Fairy Lore” (Pendraig Publishing)
Some Upcoming Talks and Appearances
Saturday, June 11 -“Celebrate the Sacred Earth“
A discussion and reading from my newest children’s book “Once Around the Sun – stories crafts and recipes for the sacred Earth year”
East West Books – an online talk – 2:30 PM Eastern, 11:30 AM Pacific
https://www.eastwestbooks.org/events/celebrate-sacred-earth-11jun22
JUL 2 AT 5 AM – JUL 3 AT 5 PM Eastern USA time – MOONCON 22
FREE two-day online event
https://www.facebook.com/events/287887610155224/?ref=newsfeed
Ellen will speak at 2 PM Eastern USA time/ 7 PM in Britain
July 15, 2022 @ 12:00 pm – WitchsFest 2022
WitchsFest 2022 will be held July 15th through July 17th with Virtual days on Friday and Sunday, and live classes in-person in New York City’s Astor place on Saturday, July 16th. Ellen will be offering on line talks via Zoom on Friday and Sunday Click here for more info: https://events.zoom.us/ev/DI6YDmh_ovRCkI-qZAAAFgAAAPbaCP6-RA_3peYwGt-efVarUOhAtXFM_QR–MIlbnD9FzEAJ2Af~AFLle34LtMLCS8TJJAwu7PIHZiE0W7aDdBQK3a8
July 21, 2022 – Secret Medicines from Your Garden
4pm Eastern time
A Zoom talk (free)
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/conversation-club-secret-medicines-from-your-garden-tickets-235444489807
October 20, 2022 – The Sacred Herbs of Samhain – 4 PM Eastern
A Zoom talk (free) Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/conversation-club-the-sacred-herbs-of-samhain-tickets-235465472567
October 23, 2022 – 16th Annual “Celebrate Samhain“
10am-6pm – DoubleTree by Hilton Nashua, Nashua, NH
https://www.facebook.com/NHSamhain/
My message for those who read this – may your Midsummer fires be strong and bright! And may you be blessed by the bounty and beauty of summer’s flowers, herbs and trees!
