Some of you may have seen my little video last week, well it carried on as a bit of a theme, as these things tend to do so this blog is brought to you, drumroll please, courtesy of... Sorbus Aucuparia - the humble Rowan.
Did you know that we use Latin names as standard for all plants, because in the 18th century, a systemised method was developed by Swedish Naturalist Carl Linnaeus? One reason being that as a so called 'dead' language, the meaning of the Latin words wouldn't alter and it was long been seen as universally acknowledged scientific language along with Greek? Well we all know now!
So, what's in a name? If you use google translate, Sorbus Aucuparia roughly translates 'a sip of bird watching', which at first google may seem a bit odd. Sorbus can also means 'service tree' and aucuparia pertains to birds - derived from 'avis' and 'capere' - catching. This has been accredited to the fact that traditionally, the berries may have been used to trap or catch wild fowl in hunting. Hmm, we'll see about that.
The Rowan is a tree of many, many names; it is also known as the Mountain Ash and more poetically The Lady of The Mountains due to it's ability to thrive in wilder more liminal locations, and it has been referred to as the quickbeam, wicken and witchwood, as well as being called fid na ndruad in old Irish or Celtic language which translates to the Wizard's Tree. It is often associated with Faeries, perhaps on account of its beautiful creamy-white, five petalled flowers, a similarity shared with those of the also fae friendly Elder and Hawthorn, and there were certainly lots of them around the famous Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye when we visited a few years ago.
The Rowan is also important in Norse Mythology, legend has it that when the God Thor was swept into a fast flowing river towards the underworld, Rowan dipped her branches and rescued him, allowing him to pull himself to the safety of the banks and also as opposed to being crafted from a spare rib, in Norse creation folklore, the first woman was made from the wood of the Rowan and the first man was made from that of the Ash Tree.
My favourite legend or myth though, is the one I alluded to, but which eluded me in my little video, and that is of the Greek Goddess and bearer of the chalice of eternal youth, Hebe. Her magical chalice bore the Ambrosia or Nectar to the Gods and Goddesses of Olympus. It was stolen from her by demons, and the Gods sent an Eagle to help her recover it. A battle of epic proportions ensued, and although the eagle triumphed and restored the chalice to Hebe, many of their feathers and droplets of blood fell to earth, whereupon the Rowan Trees sprang up with berries of blood red and leaves shaped like eagle feathers.
Hmm, throwback to a 'sip of birdwatching', rambling rowan thoughts currently include sipping a cup, maybe as in a cup or chalice of eternal youth? Service tree, could that be serving the Gods? As for aucuparia and 'avis' and 'capere', could that also be catching, how about the Eagle recapturing the chalice? Each to their own interpretation, but I think I know where my thoughts and inclinations have rambled off to!
Rowan is renowned for it's protective qualities, it is said to protect people from witchcraft, enchantment and even lightning. Planting one in your garden was said to make for a happy and safe home, my parents house, which was my Nan's house before that, has several Rowan Trees in the garden, partly due to several generations of us having Rowan Berry Fights every autumn, and that has certainly been a happy family home through no less than seven decades. A staff of Rowan is said to protect the traveller from getting lost too.
Rowan berry protection charms were once very commonly made and placed either in or outside the home to protect those who dwell there. Over the years, several have disappeared amongst the Jasmine around my front porch, but flashes or red peek through every now and then! I make them most years, carefully and respectfully asking the tree for their wood and berries before I take them. They vary in design, but usually incorporate a cross of Rowan twigs, and a circle of berries on red cotton in one form or other. This month we decided to make some more at our Moon Circle, no doubt weaving in an additional collective protection, brought by the power of women sat in a circle drinking tea and eating cake!
It seems such a satisfying short ritual to make them, one that our ancestors must have done for many years. I've hung mine with the collection in the porch and also made a simple string of berries to hang above the back door too, and of course you can't fail to notice the tiny pentagram on every single berry, adding protection, magic and mystery to each charm.
Have A Blessed Week x x
