The Hawthorn

The Celtic meaning of the hawthorn tree deals with balance and duality. The hawthorn is full of contradictions, none of which went unnoticed by the soul-minded Celts. In May, the hawthorn is all its glory of bloom and growth. Its blossoms are nestled tightly among the hawthorn's large and lethal looking thorns. Here we see the first of several juxtaposition, giving this tree/shrub its colorful reputation in history.

Being excellent herbalists and botanists, ancient Celts understood the superior medicinal value of hawthorn leaves and blossoms. However, it was considered a bad omen to bring its branches inside the home. This is largely due to the smell of cut branches (being the same as decaying flesh. We see witness of life-giving aspects as well as associations of death within the same symbolic tree. Weird, right?

Ironically the hawthorn is imbued with male energy, however, it is historically a symbol of fertility and associated with the female goddess form. So, what do all of these contradictions mean? The hawthorn is a standing testament to the idea of duality: it is a perfect depiction of the yin/yang concept.

The Celts understood the power of balance. They also knew that what could not be attributed to specific outcomes indicated a great source of magic. In other words, that which cannot be explained contains immense power.

Nature Connection:

• The hawthorn is to be respected in all its diversity and duality. It is a symbol of union of opposites, and serves as a message for us to be more accepting of the unconventional.