Description

Rowan Wood Branches

Set of 9 Branches, 25-30 cm each

HERB SCIENTIFIC NAME :  Sorbus Aucuparia 

OTHER NAMES :  Witch Tree, Quickbeam, Quicken Tree, Hornbeam, Witchwood, Mountain Ash, Survivor Tree, Lady of the Mountain, Tree of Bards, Wicken Tree, Delight of the Eye, Sorb Apple, Royne Tree, Rune Tree, Rudha-an (Scots Gaelic for Red One)

 FAMILY :  Rosaceae

METAPHYSICAL / SPIRITUAL CORRESPONDENCES & ASSOCIATIONS : 

• Element: Fire
• Planet: Mercury, the Sun
• Day: Wednesday
• Direction: South
• Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
• Chakra: Root Chakra, Third Eye Chakra
• Energy: Yang
• Gender: Masculine
• Rune: Elhaz
• Ogham: Luis
• Tarot: the Magician, Five of Wands, the Fool, Page of Wands
• Number: 2, 5
• Animal: Salmon, Dragon, Serpent
• Sabbat or Holiday:Beltane / Walpurgis (April 30 – May 1), Imbolc / Candlemas (Feb 1-2), Lughnasadh / Lammas (Aug 1)
• Deity or God / Goddess Association: the Dagda, Pan, Thor, Vulcan, Aphrodite, Brigantia, Brigid, Cerridwen, Hekate, Luna, Selene

Parts Used:  Wood, Branches, Bark, Berries 

Description:  The name Rowan is said to come from the Sanskrit word runa, for magician; the Norse word rune, for charm or secret; or from the Gaelic rudha-an, which means the red one.

The berries are made into a wine in the Scottish Highlands (fruits harvested after the first frost are especially good for this purpose). Scots make a strong spirit from them, the Welsh make ale from them, and the Irish use the berries to flavor mead.

The Rowan berry is bitter, but when mixed with sugar or other sweet fruits, is excellent in pies, jelly or jam. Rowan berries are also made into juice and wine. The berries provide vitamins A and C, carotin, pectin and essential oil, and stimulate the immune system.

Rowan bark has been used for tanning and as a dye.

Rowan berries are a laxative, and can also be used for sore throats, inflamed tonsils, hoarseness, even diarrhea. A decoction from the bark is used as an astringent.

Rowan is one of the trees associated with Saint Brighid, the Celtic patroness of the arts, healing, smithing, spinning and weaving. Spindles and spinning wheels were traditionally made of Rowan in Scotland and Ireland.

Historical Uses:  brewing, flavoring spirits, baking, making jelly, tanning, dyeing, constipation, diarrhea, sore throat, hoarseness, inflamed tonsils, spindle making, spinning wheel making

Mystical / Magickal Attributes:  In Scottish folklore, the Rowan tree is considered one of the most sacred plants, renowned as a powerful symbol of protection against fairies and negative magic. Historically, these magickal trees have been found planted around numerous stone circles and burial sites, as the Druids believed they guarded the spirits of the dead. In Welsh churchyards, these trees are planted to protect and guard the dead. The Druids burnt Rowan on funeral pyres, for it also symbolized death and rebirth.

Rowan is called the “Witch Tree” because the underside of each Rowan berry features a tiny five-pointed star (a pentagram). The tree is widely viewed as a natural ward against evil spirits and enchantments.

Rowan can call and banish spirits, help increase psychic abilities, and open communication with the spirit world. Its wood is great for making tools of divination and wands, and its leaves and berries (which have a pentacle on the end) are good for divinatory incense.

This tree is considered protective in Scandinavia. Runes are carved on Rowan staffs. Walking sticks made of Rowan are used to protect the user from the spirits of the woods. Rowans that grow in the crevices of cliffs are considered especially powerful and are called “flying rowans.”

Rowan trees are planted next to one’s home in order to protect it, and it is thought to be bad luck to dig one up. In the Highlands of Scotland, using any part of this tree except the berries is taboo, unless the wood is to be used for sacred purposes under special conditions or made into a ritual object. Scots often weave twigs into crosses bound with red thread, which they hang above doorways and barns or sew into coat linings to protect their homes and families from sorcery and evil spirits.

This small tree has much significance for the people of northern Europe. It is associated with the Celtic holiday of Imbolc and the Goddess Brigid. In the UK solitary trees are considered especially powerful and deemed Fairy trees. Scottish Fairies are said to hold their celebrations within stone circles protected by Rowan trees.

In Norse mythology, the first woman was made from a Rowan (the first man was made from an Ash). This tree saved the life of the god Thor by bending over a fast-flowing river in the Underworld, allowing the god to grab its branches and pull himself to safety.

Druids dyed ritual garments for lunar celebrations black with the bark and berries. They wove wattle beds from Rowan whips, which they laid upon to induce trance. Rowan wine is considered an aid to second sight.

A traditional traveler’s charm was a rosary of dried rowan berries on a red thread.

Rowan branches have been made into dowsing rods for divining the presence of metal.

At one time this plant was considered especially protective for dairy cows, and British farmers drove their cattle through hoops of Rowan to protect them. On the Isle of Man, equal-armed crosses are made from the branches gathered without using a knife and bound with something red–ribbon, yarn, a bit of leather. These crosses are worn and put on cattle for protection.

Modern interpretations of the Celtic Ogham place Rowan, called Luis, as the sacred tree of February.

Ancient Bards considered the Rowan the ‘Tree of Bards’, bringing the gift of inspiration.

Rowan is one of the nine sacred woods burnt in the Druids’ Beltane fire.

Rowans were once guarded by dragons, and are thus associated with dragons and serpents.

Mystical / Magickal Intentions:  Moon magick, trance, divination, prophecy, visions, psychic ability, calling spirits, communicating with spirits, wand making, protection from fairies, protection from dark magick, protection from evil, protection from enchantment, protection from hexes, banishing spirits, protection FOR spirits of the dead, burials, funerals, home protection, protection of livestock, protection while traveling, faery magick, creative inspiration

Taste & Smell:  The Rowan berry is bitter, but when mixed with sugar or other sweet fruits, is excellent for baking. The berries are very sour from vitamin C and must be cooked before eating because of the presence of a carcinogen (which is destroyed by heat or fermentation).

Botany, Cultivation & Harvesting:  Rowan is a small deciduous tree, found high up in the mountains.  It enjoys growing in the mountains near scotch pine, oak, and birch, and is one of the most northerly growing trees on the European continent. Although it prefers the heights, it can grow anywhere.

It is nicely decorative. The shape of the tree resembles an Ash, however it is not related. This member of the rose family is a native of northern Europe and becomes a small tree of maximum height of 65 ft/20 m (40ft/10 m more usual). It can live up to two hundred years. The bark is quite handsome (this is a good bonsai tree) and is a good host for lichens.

The leaves grow in pairs and are long and slender. In fall, leaves turn yellow naturally, or frosts can turn them bright orange-red.

In May, Rowan blossoms into clusters of little sweet-scented creamy white flowers. The tree berries in autumn with a bright red fruit beloved by birds. Blackbirds eat the berries, but deer and rabbits enjoy eating all parts of this tree, so protect saplings from them. Rowan needs another rowan nearby to make fruit; try planting a threesome. The berries are traditionally harvested after the first hard frosts, as this process naturally breaks down their bitter flavor and makes them much more pleasant to cook with.

Watch out for Japanese beetles, which especially favor members of the rose family, including Rowan.

To grow Rowan trees from seed, soak the seed for 24 hours in cold water in the fridge. Then rinse and fold the seeds into a paper towel that has been wet and wrung out. Put in a baggie and warm stratify at 59-77F/15-25C for 30-60 days (check periodically to make sure they don’t mold or dry out), then put the baggie into the veggie drawer in the fridge at 33-37F/1-3C for 90-120 days. Take out & sow to germinate–you can time it to take them out in March and sow them outside (not in direct sun).

Instead of a paper towel, some people like to mix the seeds with 3 times their volume of sterile moist planting medium put into a little plastic margarine tub or a baggie. You can skip the warm stratification, but the cold stratification is necessary, and skipping the warm will mean less germination over a longer period. Still, you don’t need that many seeds to germinate unless you are planting a forest. You can also just sow them outside in fall.

This plant likes light, acidic soils (dig in some peat moss) that do not become water-logged. Plant in full sun away from other trees–it does not compete well, although it will manage under the shade of scotch pine. It will grow in the northern part of temperate and in cold areas (zones 2-6, or down to -20F/-28C) but cannot take any heat, so it cannot be grown in the south at all. Once it is established, it is easy to propagate from twigs.

Sources: https://spiritartsandherbs.com/sources

**IMPORTANT INFORMATON: Products are sold as curio items for entertainment purposes only and based upon historical and magical uses.  We do not imply or guarantee that any items provide specific abilities, powers, outcomes, remedies, or treatments. Any information provided on listings or through private conversation is intended for educational purposes only and are based on historical folklore and traditions, and should not replace the advice of a physician. Use our products at your own risk. By purchasing this item, you understand and release Spirit Arts & Herbs Inc from any liability. No items we sell are for internal use and should never be ingested for any reason. Some may also not be safe for topical application, or even be safe to touch while unprotected. Always use proper safety precautions when using our products. We will not be held responsible for illness, injury, or death from the use of any product.

PRODUCT IS NOT A TREATMENT. This product has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. It is not a supplement or vitamin, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or any type of physical dysfunction or mental/emotional concern. Descriptions include HISTORICAL uses only, and do not imply fitness or safety for current use, or effectiveness in any way.  CAUTION : Do not use ANY product if pregnant or nursing. Do not use if allergic to any ingredients. Prior to use, consult with your professional health-care provider to ensure safe use and understand effects that ingredients may cause relative to safety, personal conditions, and medication interactions which may be harmful. FOR ADULT USE ONLY. By purchasing, you confirm that you are over 18 years of age. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not use more than recommended by your healthcare professional.  Purchase of this product indicates that you have read, understand, and agree to Spirit Arts & Herbs Terms and Conditions.

Products may cause discoloration to fabrics, woods, and other materials. Avoid contact and spilling. Products may be flammable. Do not expose to high heat or flame.

Many of our products are hand made to order. Once orders are in processing, products are non-cancellable, non-refundable, and not returnable. Shipping times may be up to 3-4 weeks.