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