Hawthorn Tree - Huathe - Huath 

Bruce Clifton

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​Hawthorn Tree - Huathe - Huath 

Pronunciation: (Who huh, who ar thh)
Moon Phase:  6th Moon of celtic calendar (April to May) Aries to Taurus 
Moon Name:  Growing, Seed, Awakening moon 
Letter: H
Title: Peasant
Height: (mature) up to 20ft 3mtr
Influence: Masculine
Age: You will outlive this tree, but this tree will surround you with its offspring.
Legend:  Fearless, Defender, Fair of Faith, Seeker of Lightworkers.
Deity: Freya 
Element: Earth
Chakra: Sacral Chakra
Aura: Blue
Medicinal Qualities: Berries for cardiac problems, also dried are a heart stimulant but must be diluted with other herbs. Petals dried and sprinkled is a good blood tonic. 
Totem Entities: Robin Redbreast, Badger. 

The Hawthorn is frequently found as a solitaire close to a water source or well and so their reputation as a portal to the other world began. Druids saw this as a sign of the other world being close. With the Hawthorn flowering in May as a pre-cursor to the Oak tree in June, the druids reverence to when the Ash, the Oak and the Thorn come together, it is of no surprise that this tree is known to open the door or close the door to the other world.

As darkness was first and followed by light, this tree has berries followed by flowers. The druidic belief was the dark side of the year followed by the light side of the year and this tree represented the sacred change from dark to light.

With the legends and myths afforded to this tree, and the enclosure movement of land between the 16th and 19th century this tree contributed towards the change in the British countryside and the resources used to make furniture. People decided to stake their claim on the land around them and used Hawthorn as a means of keeping others off their land, where once the land was predominantly common land and all could use it with the changing of the seasons, it became owned... prote and common land became the rarity instead of the norm. A time of much bloodshed and upheaval ending with the British landscape changing forever and the Hawthorns popularity at it's highest.

Joseph of Arimathea, High Priest of the Huathe Grove and Sage to the Druids is said to have founded the first church in Wells, Somerset. Baptising James son of Jesus, also baptising the armies of Bran and Prosutagus totalling more than eighteen thousand men. 
Known in many time frames as a fire tree is said to have been used to burn witches at the stake, is also believed to have been the burning bush that Moses saw, from the crown of thorn that was placed on the head of Jesus, blood is said to have splashed onto the breast of a Robin and left a permanent stain. The Hawthorn can be found in many a churchyard providing the Robin Redbreast food throughout the winter and a nesting santuary come spring. It is known to be quick burning and intensely hot used by blacksmiths from as early as the iron age. Throughout the ages it has been revered from both sides, as a spiritual holy tree and also as a demonic or treacherous tree it's dense thorny dark bark and leaves have not helped its appeal to the average garden. The Hawthorn is very hot and quick burning it would have been used to start the fires of Beltane,(Mayday) the coming of the waxing sun, also Samhain, (Halloween, all hallows) the waning sun.

Olde Lore dictated that marriage could only take place during the light side of the year hence the significance of the flowering Huathe, these flowers contributing to the handfasting ceremonies and trial marriages of that time. It is also probably why the tree became known as a tree of chastity and celebration as garlands would adorn the houses and maypoles in celebration of Beltane, Mayday and the time of marriage.

The thorns of the Hawthorn are always there under the surface of the leaves and flowers, with care the flowers and berries can be picked without harm. This is the nature of this tree, by carefully negotiating and showing due respect this tree will reveal it's secrets of both fertility and protection. Celebrated and marvelled during the Beltane celebrations for fertility, renewed life, strength and rebirth. Also used at the opposite end of the Celtic year Samhain (sow urn) with it's fallen twigs and branches gathered and burned being used for protection, solitude, cleansing, preparation for new beginnings, or to protect against unwanted other worldly activity. (With todays international trading relations we burn sage for that same effect)
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Ogham Tree Lore

Bruce Clifton

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