Sacred Woods :: Rowan

Rowan is a tree of power,
Causing life and magic to flower.

From the Rede of the Wiccae

The common name for rowan may derive from the Old Norse word “raun” meaning “charm” because of the tree’s power to protect against evil. Though all parts of the tree are reputed to possess this power, it is the glossy red berries that are considered the most potent and it is from another trait of these protective fruits that the tree gets its scientific name, Sorbus aucuparia or Pyrus aucuparia. Aucuparia derives from the Latin “avis” meaning “bird and “capere”, a verb meaning “to catch” because flocks of birds are attracted to the tree’s ripe berries as a food source through fall and winter. These birds played a role in the tree’s other common name, Mountain Ash, as they spread the tree’s seed far and wide in highlands and rocky areas where the seeds take root and flourish in rocky cracks and crevices. Trees that grow in these crevices or in the fork of an older tree are termed “flying rowan” or “flogronn” in Norway and Sweden. The branches of flying rowan are used by diviners, especially when in search of metals. In folklore, it is said that a farmer was particularly unable to make deep, straight furrows with his plough. He blamed his troubles on a troll, but as it turned out his problems were because he had made his plough from the wood of a flying rowan.

The slim rowan begins life with an elliptical crown that will widen as the tree ages to its full maturity at the ripe old age of 200 years. By this time, the tree may soar 35 feet into the sky and stretch its widening branches to a full 16 feet. Though not greedy for space like the oak, the rowan prefers its own open, sunny area where the wind can swirl through, around, under and over its feather-like leaves. The leaves burst from smooth, grayish-brown branches in April, heralding spring much earlier than the Common Ash and by May, sweet-smelling blossoms cluster tightly together to attract bees that will carry away the tree’s pollen. In the heat of summer, the white flowers give way to sun-like yellow berries that begin to ripen to a bright red in August. With the coming of autumn, the leaves turn yellow or red and eventually fall away, leaving bare branches laden with berries that will feed birds and people through the colder months. Through its life cycle, the rowan displays emblems of both the Goddess, in its white blossoms, and the God, in its golden then ruby red berries. It is not surprising then, that the tree has been associated with both female and male divinities in the various lands in which it grows.

In the pre-Christian British Isles, the rowan was considered sacred to the Scottish Brigid, the Irish Brigit and the Northern English Brigantia, who carried arrows fashioned from the wood of the tree. Those three goddesses are typically thought of as virginal maidens of spring and as creative muses, but they have martial aspects as well. They are the protectors of their people who will fight when necessary and do annual battle with the winter hag to free the world from her chilled, gnarled fingers. Well into the Middle Ages, archers and hunters continued to make the bows from rowan wood. Symbolize the goddess’ battle at Imbolg by creating your own rowan bow or arrow or use these items during rites of protection, hunting (as in hunting for a new job), or when you want to send a message, thought or energy in a line as “straight as an arrow”. In Celtic Ireland, the rowan was also associated with Lugh, the warrior solar divinity, likely because of the tree’s sun-like golden berries that begin to ripen at the time of Lughnassa, the holiday Lugh initiated in honor of his mother. As his standard weapon was the spear, it is unlikely that arrows of rowan were associated with the god, but the arrows could be used to symbolize the rays of the sun. Incense of dried and powdered berries, a wash created by soaking the berries in water, or a wand of rowan can be used in ritual to celebrate Lughnassa or to call upon Lugh when courage and protection are needed.

Scandinavian myths tell of the formation of the first woman from a rowan tree and the first male from an ash tree (fraxinus excelsior), thus the two trees are paired together to symbolize female-male polarity. In Finland, Rauni is the earth goddess wife of Ukko, a storm and thunder god. Both are charged with powers of fertility, but it is Rauni who is the patroness of the sacred knowledge of runes. Rune staves were made from her sacred rowan wood, which was believed to be especially effective if cut on her sacred day, July 15. Call on her to reveal her secret knowledge as you create runes of rowan wood or your own rune staff. Norse legends give the rowan a decidedly masculine character by associating it with the sky and thunder god and protector Thor. The scarlet berries are most closely associated with the god, but the entire tree is considered sacred to him as it once saved him from drowning. Trapped and floundering in a fast-flowing underworld river, Thor stretched out his arm to grasp a branch that bowed over the water. The strong bough did not break under the god’s weight as he pulled himself to safety then rested under the rowan that had saved his life. A tree that offered protection to a god, soon extended its powers to humans and animals and its reputation as one of the most protective talisman was not limited to the Scandinavian peninsula.

In Scotland, it is said that a rowan once grew near every house or in every garden. A tree near the home protected the house and its occupants from evil spirits and there are documented instances occurring as late as the latter half of the twentieth century of people being warned against removing or damaging a rowan growing on their property. These instances occur in Scotland and in Ireland, where carrying a piece of rowan was believed to protect a person from being held captive in a fairy hill. By virtue of its white flowers, rowan came to be associated with fairies that, according to a legend told in Sligo, Ireland, lived in the Forest of Dooros. In the forest grew a huge rowan that sprung up when a fairy dropped one of the rowan berries she had brought from fairy land. The berries from the tree had fantastic powers, eating one would make a person happily intoxicated but consuming three would restore lost youth by returning the person to 30 years old and protect against death by ensuring that the person would live to be 100. With such potent powers, the tree itself warranted protection and this job feel to a giant named Sharvan.

The rowan is the only sacred tree with its own holy day, in English countries, May 3 used to be Holy Rood Day or Rowan Tree Day, a day on which the branches were gathered then hung about buildings for protection and left in place for one year before being renewed. The branches were believed to have the power to break curses and offer safety from all negative, unwanted energies when carried or hung about the home. When attached to the headboard of a bed, they guarded the sleepers during the dark hours of night and warded away rheumatism. Wooden amulets for protection were often made of rowan and the tradition of creating equal-armed crosses out of the branches spans the British Isles. Rowans growing near a circle of standing stones were thought to possess the most potent powers. On the Isle of Man crosses made from the twigs were worn by people and cattle and hung over the lintel on May Eve for protection. In Scotland and Cornwall the crosses were bound with red thread and sown into coat linings, but it was thought to be unlucky even harmful to cut the tree with a knife. In making your own amulets, take this into consideration and do not use a sharp blade. Rowan’s protective energies extended to the animal world as well. On Beltane, animals were passed through a hoop of rowan for protection and fertility in the coming season. Twigs were tied to cow’s tails with red ribbon to guard them against evil magic and switches were carried by horse riders to safeguard both themselves and the horses they rode.

It was not only the branches of the tree that were considered to have protective powers, the berries were considered equally, or sometimes more, potent. The berries have a tiny pentagram, an ancient symbol of protection, on the end opposite their stem and their color at full maturity is blood red, the color most often associated with protection and life blood. String berries on red thread to create a protective necklace as the ancients did. Carry berries to speed healing and add them to healing/health sachets and mixtures. Grind them into incense or brew them into waters for protection, courage and healing. A protective water can be made by soaking the berries in water; to use, sprinkle the area or object with the charged water. Rowan berries also serve as a food source, staving off illness in the cold winter months by adding much needed nutrients and vitamins. It is said that the taste of rowan berries can stave off hunger. The berries can be made into jam which is commonly eaten with game in the Scottish Highlands or they can be fermented to create cider. A combination of the following: hawthorn haws, rosehips, crab apples, blackberries, sloes, plums, elder berries and rowan berries makes hedgerow jelly.

The branches, the berries and indeed whole rowan trees were accepted as being able to shield man, animal and structure from all harm. Its powers even extended into the unknown void after life ended. During funeral processions, the coffin was rested under the boughs of a rowan for protection from evil spirits and the trees were planted in graveyards to prevent the slumber of the dead from being disturbed. Interestingly, rowan also makes an appearance in vampire lore, it was the preferred wood for stakes with which to stab the heart of the suspected vampire to prevent their eternal sleep from being disturbed any further.

Rowan’s practical applications as a strong, resilient yet workable wood allowed people to employ the wood for everyday purposes while drawing on the tree’s mystical properties of protection. Cross beams and plank flooring in houses were constructed of rowan to protect the house and its occupants. Cradle rockers of rowan protected babies from all manner of evil spirits and illness. Cartwheels, waterwheels, spinning wheels, spindles, tool handles and mallet heads were once fashioned from rowan. Rowan platters and bowls ensured that the diners would never go hungry. A Gaelic threshing tool, called a buaitean, used on grain served the practical purpose of separating the wheat from the chaff, but was only employed for rituals and celebrations when it was called upon to charge the food with its protective energies. The Druids used the wood in their tanning process and used the bark and the berries to dye garments black. Most of these uses are outdated or impractical for today, but one common use is not, that of the walking stick. Collect a fallen branch to serve as a staff to make nature walks safer; you can also use this staff in ritual as the staff is considered similar to the wand. Rowan wood also burns very well and is excellent for fires to light and warm the dark, cold winter months.

To be able to ward away illness and death was, and is, one of the most important components of protection and rowan bark and berries contain active constituents that give it a variety of healing properties. The active constituents are bitter essence, carotene, pectin, prussic acid, sorbic acid, sorbitol, sugar, provitamin A and vitamin C. It also contains parasorbic acid, which has been linked to cancer but the poisonous elements of the berries can be neutralized by high cooking. These components give rowan anti-scorbutic, astringent, diuretic, digestive, demulcent, expectorant, febrifuge and vulnerary properties. A decoction of bark has long been used as a blood cleanser and to treat diarrhea, nausea and upset stomach. The fresh juice of the berries acts as a laxative and helps sooth inflamed mucous membranes when used as a gargle. The berries and jam and cider made from the berries have been used to combat scurvy because of their high vitamin C content. Rowan berries can also be brewed into a tea to treat urinary tract infections, hemorrhoids and diarrhea. Since before the Druids, who prized the Rowan for its healing as well as its magical properties, the rowan has been used in medicine. Today, one of the sugars that occur naturally in rowan berries is given intravenously to reduce pressure in eyeballs with glaucoma and rowan continues to be used in herbal medicines.

With such a deep-seeded, extensive belief system surrounding the rowan it is not surprising that the lore and superstition surrounding it survived well into the Christian era. During the 15th and 16th centuries in England, the rowan gained a negative reputation because of its close association with paganism and the supernatural, but this did not last long and was not prevalent. The powers of the tree simply morphed to accommodate the new times and social atmosphere. Now the tree became a powerful talisman against witchcraft, exemplified by the English rhyme “Rowan tree and red thread make the witches tine (loose) their speed” or “Rowan tree and red thread, haud (hold) the witches all in dread.” Planted in gardens, the trees were now said to protect the home and occupants from witchcraft. In Wales the sacred tree was planted in church yards to warn negative forces not to enter. The tradition of bringing branches into the home for protection was moved from Beltane or Holy Rood Day to Good Friday and, like the old tradition, the branches were replaced the following year. To touch a witch with a rowan stick was believed to direct the next evil eye, curse or devil to the witch instead of to you. Another piece of lore holds that if a true witch was touched with a rowan stick, the devil would appear immediately and drag her away to hell.

With all this talk about protection, you might begin to think that it is the only power that the tree possesses, but that is not true. The tree’s association with the Divine Feminine gives it additional attributes that fall under Her domain. Burn incense of leaves and berries for divination rites and to increase psychic ability or carry a charged amulet to help improve psychic powers. Use rowan during the invocation of the Goddess when seeking her aid, direction and bounty. Likely because of its association with Brigit, who is a patroness of poets and bards, rowan also has the ability to inspire, enhance creativity and set the creative process in motion. According to Robert Graves, the Celtic tree month of Luis (Rowan) begins January 21 and ends February 17. This period encompasses Imbolg and is thought of as the quickening of the year, when spring begins to stir beneath the soil, horizons expand and the self to turn outward. Use the energy of this time in workings, center rituals and meditations around these themes to attune with the cycle of the natural world.

In Europe, rowan trees are very common, especially in Scotland and the British Isles, Scandinavia and Northern Europe. They are fairly common in the US as well, but if you do not have access to an established rowan, consider planting one on your property to bring the magic and protection of the tree into your daily life. Rowan trees are remarkably hardy and will grow in almost any kind of soil though they prefer light, peaty, well-drained soil. Since they are a member of the rose family, they can become weedy and new growth may be established from twigs cut and planted directly into the ground. They like wind and tolerate urban pollution well, but they do not like it to get too hot. In fact, they prefer it cold, zones 4-7 are perfect for them. Do not plant them with quick growing, taller varieties of trees as the rowan is a slow grower and will be pushed out for lack of sun and they do like their sun. A variety of rowan, called Sheerwater Seedling can be purchased bare root and is a narrowly upright selection with white flowers and orange berries that is both beautiful and hardy enough for even the most brown-thumbed gardener.

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