Saga's Cottage : Blackthorn, Friend and Foe.......and wax poppet making.

"Better the bramble than the black-thorn, better the black-thorn than the devil. He who would go in the bramble for me, I would go in the thorn for him" - Proverb; Alexander Carmichael: Carmina Gadelica Vol. II 1900

Prince Phillip fighting his way through the thorns

Disney's Sleeping Beauty 1959

As you know I love fairy tales. I look for the magical elements in them and expand upon them. Some of the elements are obvious, some are not. I like to research. I like to read. I like to connect the dots. I love to create.

I'm going to be listing quite a bit of information about the Blackthorn, to keep here as my reference as well as information for everyone. I am going to focus only on the magical and the folklore.

I've been thinking about Sleeping Beauty for quite a while. I think since I saw the previews for Malificent. And yes, I AM super excited for that movie!

We all know about the thorns that surround the castle of Sleeping Beauty. The handsome prince has to cut his way through the hateful black thorns to get inside to wake the lovely princess from the curse, and in the process, he proves himself worthy because he was able to get through the thorny hedge. Blackthorn has a prominent place in fairy tales throughout Europe. It has always been featured as a tree of bad omens.

Those vicious thorns are Blackthorn. Blackthorn is a sister to the Hawthorn. If both the Hawthorn and the Blackthorn grow in a place together it is considered a more magical place. Blackthorn is regarded as the more sinister of the two.

A winter that is particularly long and hard is called a Blackthorn Winter. This term is used because of late frost which happens at the time of the blossoming of the Blackthorn, in March-April......and will remain that way for a fortnight.

It is also a harbinger of Spring coming, since it is one of the first to flower, usually around Imbolc.

In Scotland, the blackthorn in blossom tells when it is time to sow the barley.

‘When the slae tree is white as a sheet

Sow your barley, wither it be drey or wet.’

Which, roughly translated into Gloucestershire, meant:

‘When the blackthorn blossom’s white

Sow your barley day and night.’

The co-author of the Green Man Tree Oracle, John Matthews, tells us that Blackthorn's message is that "Magic is Everywhere".

It is also called a "a major tree of magical power" by Nigel Pennick.

Three of the trees growing together is ill-advised, because of the power that would be created.

All the information that I found on the internet seems to be crossing the Lunantishee with the Leanan Sidhe. However, in An Encyclopedia of Fairies by Katherine Briggs these are two completely different fairies. According to Ms. Briggs the Leanan Sidhe have nothing to do with the blackthorn. They are just a type of succubus fairy that lead men to their deaths. Also, of the Lunantishee she states: "The Lunantishee are a tribe that guards the blackthorn bushes, and will not allow a stick to be cut on 11 (originally Samhain) November or on 11 May (originally May Day). If you cut blackthorn on those days, some misfortune will befall you. Blackthorn is one of the fairy trees."

The following is the information that was found on the internet regarding the fae that guard the blackthorn. As you can see there is a confusion regarding which one guards blackthorn:

Before the coming of Christianity the tree was thought to be a respected and revered, associated with the Sidhe, but afterwards it became feared even more so. It isn't surprising that the Leanan Sidhe can be seen as a succubus figure. Aine, the goddess, often referred to as the Fairy Queen, is also often seen as the solitary version of the of Leanan Sidhe.

During the full moon, to pay homage to the moon goddess, the fairies will leave the tree.

When the more dastardly fairies stole babies, and replaced them with changelings, they would place the stolen babies in Blackthorn brambles. Also, it is said that the fairies can be forced to return the stolen babies by burning a small fire made of the branches on top of a fairy mound.

It is associated with winter, the Crone, the Irish Morrigan, the Scottish Cailleach, warfare, death, the waning moon, and the dark moon. It is known as "the increaser and keeper of dark secrets". When the Cailleach strikes the ground in Scotland with her Her Blackthorn staff, then winter begins.

The Cailleach with staff, Merlin BBC series

If you happen to prick yourself on one the hard thorns, then you had better make sure to clean it well, because it can become septic and cause quite a bit of bleeding.

Blackthorn has long been associated with witches. Often being used for binding and cursing, the thorns being used to stick in poppets. This practice is called "the pins of slumber". The devil supposedly pricked the fingers of his followers with the thorns, according to beliefs in Medieval times.

Blackthorn pyres were used to burn witches and heretics in medieval times.

The thorns of it were thrown into wells, if your lover was insincere, then the thorns sank. This was a type of divination used by lovers in Wales.

Also, lucky is the woman that is told by her beau that he loves her, if they are standing by the Blackthorn. A happy marriage is then guaranteed.

In celebrations of May Day fertility magic, Blackthorn is used along with Hawthorn. The chambers of brides were decorated with the flowers of both of the trees, for an ancient fertility rite, as they were said to stimulate desires with their musky scents. This is unusual since to bring the flowers in the home was considered a very ill omen.

It is also known to grant wishes if they are made beside it.

A clootie is a strip of cloth. The Blackthorn can be made into a clootie tree, by putting the clootie (with wishes) on a thorn, to make the wish come true. This is why it is also known as the Faerie Wishing Tree.

To banish negative forces and to ward off evil spirits and bad luck, hang it over your doorways. It will also stamp 'return to sender' on any dark magic sent your way.

Because of it's white flowers on dark wood, the Blackthorn has a perfect balance of light and darkness.

According to folklore in South Devon, England, Blackthorn walking sticks were carried by witches, to cause mischief. The sticks are carried by the Irish as protection against the fae. Divining rods have also been made from this most magical wood. Wands and staffs are excellent for general protections, protections from fire, and aid for exorcisms. To cause harm, one just needs a wand that still has the thorns attached. A staff is also excellent for making wishes and carrying on protects a person from evil. It is also used as the traditional wood for Irish shillelaghs. Rumors originating from Devonshire say that miscarriage can be caused by a rod of Blackthorn.

A story from Niall Mac Coitir tells of a shadow that visited a woman nightly. It frightened her so badly that she sought the help of a local wise woman. The wise woman told her that she get a stick made of Blackthorn and put it next to her bed and sprinkle holy water around her home. The shadow never made another appearance.

In Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1670, Major Thomas Weir had a magical Blackthorn staff. His staff was carved with a Satyrs head, and it was rumored to have extraordinary powers. The powers were so marvelous, it was even said to be able to fly through the air. It was rumored that he received it from the devil. Major Weir was a Covenanter, and he gave sermons that people traveled far and wide to hear. During one sermon in 1670, he suddenly confessed to years of corruption and sin with his sister, Jean. He did this in front of the congregation. Up until this confession, he was called the Saint of West Bow. Unfortunately both brother and sister were tried and condemned to death. Major Weir ended up being burned as a witch with his fantastic staff. Edinburgh West Bow is still haunted by Major Weir and his Blackthorn staff.

Folklore from Germany states that witches can be repelled by a bundle of Blackthorn sticks on May Eve.

It can also be a protection aid. Iceland thought that it provided protection against wandering spirits.

Used in a hodgepodge of protections spells, there are tales from Ireland in which the Blackthorn tree aided heroes. The heroes were able to make an impassable tangle of thorns, which would stop a giant in it's tracks.

An excellent protection aid that has been used for years is to carve the Thurisaz rune from the Elder Futhark on a branch or stave of Blackthorn.

On the Ogham Tract, is it designated as one of the Eight Chieftain Trees.

For powerful purification and banishing, use Blackthorn at Imbolc (February 1st) and at Samhain (October 31st)

Blackthorn is excellent for purification of negative thoughts and impulses in our psyches at the deepest levels. Issues are dealt with on a Karmic level. It will aid in fighting fear, anger, and depression. Meditation on blackthorn can get rid of built up negativity and help in release of emotional toxins. Using hawthorn with blackthorn will aid in a speedier healing.

Rites for the goddesses, Morrigan, Cailleach, and the Dark Mother, will work well if you add dried leaves, to aid in contacting ancestors.

During Samhain and Beltain rituals, using Hawthorn staffs and Blackthorn wands or staffs in conjunction with each other in initiations will represent death and rebirth.

Also, Caeilleach Bheur, the Scottish Old Blue Hag of Winter, can be called during rituals of Samhain or Yule.

Song of the Cailleach Bheur

What’s all this merriment and cheer?
Is it not winter that you fear?

I am the old veiled one of the wood,
And my appearance shall do you no good.

My realm is cold, dead, and dark.
The ground is barren and the trees are stark.

My fierce white hounds, with eyes of red
Howl through the night, a paean to the dead.

I strike my blackthorn upon the ground!
Now nothing green or living shall be found.

I am the Cailleach Bheur, and now is my reign.
I shall not leave you until next Beltaine.

The darker aspects of deities can make their presence in your life known by the appearance of Blackthorn.

If you would like to contact an Underworld deity, then go outside on Samhain and meditate beneath a Blackthorn tree.

Blackthorn tree in flower. I didn't add any medicinal

information, but this site has a good blog about it.

The magical aspects:

Planet: Saturn, Scorpio, Mars, and Pluto

Element: Earth and Fire

Polarity: Feminine

Zodiac: Aries and Scorpio

Symbolism: Death, protection, revenge, negativity, strife, balance in light and dark

Stones: Black Opal, Agate, and Bloodstone

Birds: Thrush

Colors: white, black, and red

Deities: Morrighan, Cailleach, Ceridwen, Goddess of Winter, the Dark Mother, Morgan le Fay, Gwynn ap Nudd, the Celtic fire god Bel, and the Dagda

Sabbat: Samhain

Folk names: Sloe, Faery Tree, Wishing Thorn, Pear Hawthorn, Snag, Spiny Plum, Um Tree, Sloe Plum, Crataegus Tomentosa Mother of the Wood, and Dark Crone of the Wood

Ogham Name: Straif (strife)

Letters: Z, Ss, St, Z

Animals: Wolf, Dog, Toad, and Black Cat

Virtue: Unity

Associations: Bad luck, Strife, Unexpected changes, resentment, confusion, and refusal to see the truth

Challenge: Turn negative to positive

For this "craft" I am making wax poppet. I am also going to go with the cursing poppet.

I made these with a mixture of melted white candles and parrafin. The parrafin makes it easy to work without getting as stiff. And that allowed me to work my herbs in and spread them throughout the poppet's body. I covered my hands with jojoba oil to work without the wax sticking and I made the poppets on a piece of parchment paper. It worked great.