Hawthorn Meaning and magickal uses

The May tree of Beltane, for love, protection and the fairy borderlands.

• Intentions: Protection, Love, Peace
• Element: Fire
• Planet: Mars
• Day: Tuesday
• Parts used: Flowers, leaves, berries (haws), thorns

Safety: Hawthorn thorns are sharp and can cause infected wounds; wear gloves. The seeds inside the berries contain cyanogenic compounds, so never eat them. Hawthorn can interact with heart medications, so never take it as a remedy without your doctor.

How to use it

• Beltane garland. Gather a little blossom outdoors at Beltane for a garland or crown. In much folklore it is unlucky to bring it inside, so keep it on an outdoor altar.
• Thorn protection. Place a few fallen hawthorn thorns in a protection jar with salt and rosemary, then seal it and keep it near your door. Handle the thorns with gloves.
• Leave an offering. If you find an old hawthorn standing alone in a field, leave a ribbon or a little water as a respectful offering, and never cut it.

Works well with: Beltane, Red Candle, Pink Candle, Rose, Thurisaz

Folklore

Hawthorn blooms around May Day, so it became the May tree of Beltane, gathered for garlands and maypoles. In Irish and British folklore a lone hawthorn is a fairy tree, and people would build roads around one rather than cut it. Bringing the blossom indoors was thought to bring bad luck. Clootie wells are often hung with ribbons tied to hawthorn branches. Witches use it for love, protection and work with the fair folk.