The Spirit of the Blackthorn Tree

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

From the earliest times our Celtic and Druid ancestors
return a stolen child.Let this be your sacred and the
from Iron Age times and probably before, the
meeting place of your thoughts to decide which path
countryside in which they lived was the centre of their
to follow to achieve everything have ever wished for.
universe. It was full of meaning and wisdom. The trees
A Blackthorn Stave in the creation of a Sprite or Spirit
were particularly important in the role each should play
Trap, it is used in combination with copper wire, which
in their lives. We can once again use this ancient
must not have been used for the carrying of electricity.
wisdom, along the part the trees played in the seasons
The copper wire is bound to the stave with red thread
of the year, and the time of birth and death in their
and the stave is marked with a Dag or Rune. The
lunar months. One of the trees that had great powers
procedure is carried out mainly for its symbolic value in
in their world was the Blackthorn.
religious tradition. The single traps are used at night,
It was firstly symbolic of its bright white blossom in the
when the trap is set at the entrance to a home,
early spring. A coming out into the white pure light,
church, graveyard or other location were sprite
shown by the brightness of its flowers appearing out
disturbances are taking place. To attract the
of the darkness of the winter, like our ancestors we
troublesome entity, a cleft Blackthorn Stave with a
can see this time of blossom as time of coming out of
lighted candle is place in front of the trap.
a black period, a time of darkness, of death, and a
After the Sprite has been captured, it is removed from
new awakening. A time of a stirring of positivity within
the location, and the red thread is cut with a
one's self and a time of emergence from the long
consecrated knife, the thread is then placed into a
dark times of winter, a dark place, time of difficulty, a
prepared witch bottle. If the bottle has been prepared
depressing time. Let the blossom be your light at the
to imprison the sprite or spirit, a spell is recited while the
end of the dark tunnel.
thread is placed into it. Finally the bottle is corked and
As the first green shoots of the early leaves start to
sealed with red wax before being buried. A Blackthorn
appear, so our first creative signs will start to appear,
or Thorn Bush or Tree is planted on the site. The witch
nourish them and let them open out as the leaves of
bottle is a very old spell device that has stood the test
the Blackthorn open out in nature.
of time. The spell is a magical act intended to cause an
The Black thorn is the Tree of Strength and
effect on reality using supernatural means of liturgical
Perseverance, so strong and resilient is its wood to the
or ritual nature.
weather, the cutting of its branches for staffs and also
In this same way if your sprite or spirit comes back to
for the shillelagh, it is hard wood and, grows back very
bother you,simply wind some red cotton or material
quickly and stronger, and can grow where many other
around your door handle before retiring to bed and in
trees cannot. Let the Blackthorn be your strength, your
the morning cut the tie and put in a pot and bury it, if
perseverance, use it as your staff, as did Joseph of
you are not able to bury the item, caste it far away.If
Arimathea when he arrived in Glastonbury and planted
you believe your sprite is within you loosely tie a wrist
his staff which took root and blossomed. Let your
or ankle band of red material before going to bed, and
creative thoughts planted blossom and come forth in
in the morning draw off, do not cut the cloth whole and
positivity.
either put it in securely fastened pot, or if you have a
On your path there will still be trials and tribulations, but
fire, cast it into the fire and the sprite will disappear.
new growth of your strength will see you through, with
It is said that if a witch's bottle is ever found and
the help of you staff and perseverance. The
opened, a very angry sprite or spirit will escape.
Blackthorn as it name implies, is a thorny tree, this is for
The Blackthorn being a tree is an iconic image of
its protection and it also protect all who use this
heraldry and of symbolic significance in various cultures
protection for the safety of their nests, their homes,
throughout the world. It represents many things,
and in caterpillars, their metamorphosis into beautiful
including the Great Mother in her nourishing, sheltering
butterflies, and in this way the Blackthorn will protect
and caring form, as well as a sacred spot of
you in your infancy of your new found creativity, and
attainment and Spiritual Enlightenment.If you are in the
during your metamorphosis into the wonderful being
countyside of find a Blackthorn Tree or Bush, you may
you are, so that you may bask in the warm rays of
have one in your hedge, park, just take a few
the sun in harmony with mother nature.
moments to draw in the energy given off from the
The Celtic other use for the Staff or walking stick or
Blackthorn. PLease take care not to be be spiked by
Shillelagh was as a Cudgel combining supportiveness
the thorns. Thet are best viewed in flower or with
and a way of fending off people in self defence, this
there slow berries.
you can remember when anybody tries to beat you
Being deeply rooted into the evolutionary psychology
down or suppress those new creative thoughts and
of our race as well as earth's powers, it draws water
aspirations, a the Blackthorn also is sin ominous with
from the soil and stretches up to the heavens and
standing up for ones rights, assertiveness and
eternity, acting as a world axis. In occult or Gnostic
obstinacy, which is not a bad thing in rebuilding ones life.
circles, it is seen as being emblematic of the axis
The Celtic People also believed that the thorns on the
mundi, the world pillar, and the centre of the earth itself.
tree provided protection for Ghosts, particularly in
It is closely linked to the symbolism of the pillar and the
Ireland, so the tree can also protect you for your
mountain, as well as connotations of a phallic
ghosts, and lay them to rest.
representation, best signified by the ancient usage of
In Irish stories Blackthorn could be used in spells of
obelisks for ritual and ceremonial purposes. It serves as
protection, heroes were aided, if they threw a twig of
an intermediary icon of the mysterious dimensions
Blackthorn afternoon, it would take root and form an
between the realm of the Gods and men. A common
impenetrable hedge or woods, thwarting the pursuing
Shamanic concept has the seeker or healer using the
giant, in the same way the blackthorn can protect you
tree in order to transverse the physical realm and bring
by putting an impenetrable barrier between your new
back secrets from hidden dimensions. Use this power
beginnings and that was behind you.
to follow your Spiritual Path, and seek the power and
In England Witches would carve the Norse Rune
energy to sustain and grow your spirituallity and let it
Thorn on a Blackthorn Stave for protection.
become firmly rooted and grow strong inside you, let it
Traditionally, Blackthorn is used in protection against evil,
be you staff, your help and guidance and your link to
creating boundaries, purifying, confronting our own dark
spiritual guidance and reassurance whenever called
side. Black thorn dispels negativity, toxins, old wounds
upon.Let your spirituality lead you to a better and
and impurities. It is used in exorcisms, and associated
enriched way of living.
with chthonic and protective deities. All these
Such is the Power of the Blackthorn Tree, I hope you
assosciations will help you reinforce and protect your
will find it useful if ever the need arises, or if you find
way forward along your path toward your aims and
yourself or have a friend or relation who can gain
self belief.
some assistance from any part of this article. You
Blackthorn Trees and Shrubs are said to be held
may wish to print off the article.
sacred by fairies. The Luantishees are the Blackthorn
If you ever have a problem, and you need assistance
Fairies, who guard the trees, November 11th is their
on a spiritual level or just need a good listener do not
festival. All thorny trees and shrubs are said to serve
hesitate to contact me and I shall give you my email
as meeting places for fairies. Kindling a fire of thorn
address, so it will be confidential on a one to one basis
wood atop a fairy mound is also said to force a fae to
only.

[Kim Jurey]

THANKS!!!