Witch trees

[lilyfae]

I went on the Tree Trail at Centre Parcs and it was very interesting as the guy not only told us how to recognise trees but what they are used for in survival and historical uses and some folklore.

Of course we all know that the Elder Tree is the Lady's tree and that one must petition her, but we were also told about tree against witches... I was giggling, my fiance was giggling and my friend was giggling too.. to the confusion of all the pensioners on the trail!

If you have a hedge made of hawthorn no witch will be able to cross it apparently... so my next mission is to test this theory out!! lol

And if you carry a stick of rowan, no harm will come to you as witches and spells are repelled by rowan wood....

Now this is interesting as I've always known Rowan as a faery tree... That spirits live within the branches, and often (unless i got confused with another tree) a witch when she dies becomes a dryad of a Rowan, which is why you ask a rowan dryad to vacate the tree before you cut it... the guy said that every time he or anyone he knows cuts down a rowan they get an awful migraine! Wonder if they told the witch then??
I saw a little faery sitting in the branches as we stood by it listening to the guy talk and as we were about to move, a berry fell from the branch directly above me, but splatted to the ground just by my toe...
Now was that the rowan tree telling a witch to back off.. or the faeries having fun again with me.. sort of a nah nah nenah nah situation???

Are there any other folklores about witches and trees???

[Calibri]

That's very interesting and funny LilyFae! Now, I would imagine that NO ONE could cross a hawthorne hedge, witch or not, because of those very sharp thorns!

I found a few more tidbits of interest!

Olive
In Italy, blessed olive branches were believed to keep witches away from homes.

Certain trees were believed to protect against misfortune and evil. Ash, rowan, birch, hazel, holly, oak, hawthorn, and bay were believed to repel evil, faeries, and witches. In Russia, aspen was laid on the grave of a witch to prevent her ghost from riding out at night to terrorize people (Guiley 1989 344).


One Old English charm against witches goes as follows:

Black-luggie, hammer-head,
Rowan-tree, and red thread
Put the warlocks to their speed (Wedeck 43).

Elder
If properly handled, it was believed an elder tree could protect and inable one "under certain circumstances to find out what witches were doing"

This info was obtained from this site, which is very interesting! www.shanmonster.com/witch/wards_tools/index.html

[elfholm]

I would say that more than proterct from witches the trees protect from evil - because in those days there were alot of misconceptions about witches. I have three large ash trees in my garden which don't have any 'bad' effect upon me and my work

[Wulfcwen]

We have Rowan trees growing close to the flat. By close I mean by the path that leads to the side door of the building and close to my garden.
Sadly the Council cut down not one but 3 young Rowan trees. I was relaived to see the one that is closet to the garden is still safe and the one just down from it is safe as well.
Does anyone know how to grow Rowan trees from seed? I would like to preserve the tree if at all possible just in case the Council in their ultimate wisdom cut them down.

[vermindaspirit]

AM, I'm not sure about Rowen but i have grown a sycamore from a seedling that has rooted in the garden...I took it from where it was and placed it in a pot - Its doing well and after 3 years its about 3 foot....

I would plant a seed and see what happens.... ;D

Lily, regarding the Hawthorn, i too have heard this and at the park around the corner from me there are two Hawthorns that stand at the entrance, i always smile when i walk through the entrance, because i always think of that saying......

[elle]

I knew about the Rowan tree, my new neighbours parents bought her a sapling telling her it was to keep witches out. I just stood on my side of the fence and grinned. (Unfortunately I kind of wish it would die now, her mom planted it about two inches away from my fence - give it ten years and the fence will be pulled down.)

[Wulfcwen]

We have Rowans growing close to the flat and the Council have cut down 3 in total this leaves two now. I love them and would hate to see them cut down as well. So I am trying to find out how I can grow one from seed so I can bonsai it.
Yes I know some hate the idea of bonsai trees but in Japan some trees grow naturaly stunted. That is where they the idea from, also if a tree that is bonsaied is planted in the ground it will grow.
The problem is people forget that what is above the ground is also below in the form of roots and wonder why paths and fences are affected when the tree grows. That is why Councils end up cutting trees down they forget about the roots. Duh who would have thought it trees have roots. Around here trees have been cut down as they have caused problems with cracks in the houses due to the roots.

Anyone know how to grow a Rowan tree from seed?