Apple Meaning and magickal uses
Also called Apple tree, Malus, Silver bough
A tree of love, abundance and the otherworld, sacred at Mabon and Samhain.
- Intentions
- Love, Healing, Wisdom, Prosperity
- Element
- Water
- Planet
- Venus
- Day
- Friday
- Parts used
- Fruit, blossoms, wood
How to use it
- Find the star
Slice an apple across its middle to reveal the five-pointed star of seeds. Share half with a loved one, or leave it on your altar as an offering at Samhain.
- Love divination
In old folklore you peel an apple in one long strip and toss it over your shoulder; its shape hints at a letter. Use it as a playful bit of seasonal divination.
- Harvest offering
Bury an apple in the garden at Mabon or Samhain as thanks to the land and food for the spirits who travel at that time of year.
Works well with
History and folklore
Apples appear across European myth. In Norse lore the goddess Idun kept apples that gave the gods their youth, and Greek myth tells of golden apples guarded in the garden of the Hesperides. Celtic tales speak of Avalon, the isle of apples, and of a silver apple branch that opened the way to the otherworld. Wassailing customs blessed orchards with song in midwinter. Witches use apple for love, healing, wisdom and honoring the dead.
A tree of love, abundance and the otherworld, sacred at Mabon and Samhain.
- Intentions: Love, Healing, Wisdom, Prosperity
- Element: Water
- Planet: Venus
- Zodiac: Taurus, Libra
- Day: Friday
- Parts used: Fruit, blossoms, wood
Safety: Apple flesh is safe to eat, but the seeds contain amygdalin, which releases cyanide when crushed or chewed. Apple stems, leaves and seeds are toxic to cats, dogs and horses (ASPCA).
How to use it
- Find the star. Slice an apple across its middle to reveal the five-pointed star of seeds. Share half with a loved one, or leave it on your altar as an offering at Samhain.
- Love divination. In old folklore you peel an apple in one long strip and toss it over your shoulder; its shape hints at a letter. Use it as a playful bit of seasonal divination.
- Harvest offering. Bury an apple in the garden at Mabon or Samhain as thanks to the land and food for the spirits who travel at that time of year.
Works well with: Mabon, Samhain, Red Candle, Friday, Venus, Rose Quartz
Folklore
Apples appear across European myth. In Norse lore the goddess Idun kept apples that gave the gods their youth, and Greek myth tells of golden apples guarded in the garden of the Hesperides. Celtic tales speak of Avalon, the isle of apples, and of a silver apple branch that opened the way to the otherworld. Wassailing customs blessed orchards with song in midwinter. Witches use apple for love, healing, wisdom and honoring the dead.
The Witch's Cabinet is a free reference for your practice. Correspondences are traditional associations, not medical advice. Always follow the safety notes, especially with herbs and essential oils around children, pets and during pregnancy.