Apple: The Maiden’s Kiss, The Mother’s Mound, Forbidden Bliss, Crone’s Wisdom Found, The Fae’s Lure And Crossing Gate The mists endure Divine apple’s fate. By Jess Rose
There is something both innately comforting but mysteriously enchanting about Apple trees. Since they have a such a long relationship with people, finding an Apple to spend some time with should not be too hard.
They often grow in gardens, along roads and in wild hedges. For the most part they are a beloved and generous tree that manages to hold the archetypes of all stages of the Goddess, Maiden, Mother, Enchantress and Crone.
The Spring blossoms, white and pink tinted hold the allure and potential of emerging Maiden. The round fruit laden with stories, sustenance and ripe with seed are the Mother.
The shrivelled fruits and falling leaves hold the wise ways of the Crone and the ancestors and finally the stark tree with deep roots and hollows opens to the other worlds and the magic if the Enchantress. Getting to know this tree in each of her seasons and faces is a true gift and will increase the potency of any work you do with her.
Identification & Cultivation:
Apples are part of the much larger Rosacea family and cousin to the Rose. From the wild growing crab apples to the familiar domesticated varieties, apples have about 50 or so different species. All apples originate from Malus sieversii (thanks to the work of the genome project for that juicy tidbit) a native to the mountains of Central Asia.
It is an open pollinating plant that readily hybridizes and relies heavily on bees for pollination. It is one of the earliest trees that was cultivated and there are references dating back to pre Roman times. There is evidence of seeds found in Anatolia which carbon date to 6500 BC and there was a fossilized apple seed from the Neolithic period found in England. Apples were planted in the Nile delta from 13 Century BC and Pliny the Elder, a Roman statesman, circa 23 CE, described 37 different varieties of cultivated apples in his Historia naturalis. By the first century AD, apples were being cultivated in every region throughout the Rhine Valley. By the year 1640, horticulturist Parkinson noted 60 varieties, by 1669 the count was up to 92 varieties, and by 1866 Downing's Fruits notes 643 different cultivars.[i]
image from: Addisonia : colored illustrations and popular descriptions of plants by The New York Botanical Garden, 1916, v1.
Apple Identification:
Folklore and Magic:
Nymphs, the daughters of the Evening Star dancing around the charmed apple tree. By: Howard Davie
The apple {Quert} is the second tree in the classic Celtic Tree Ogham - which is pronounced {Ow-wen} - and if you were to pull the apple ogham, it would represent a time of healing and regeneration.
The apple tree also represents abundance, open hearted generosity and gratitude. In Celtic myth the apple tree is associated with Avalon, the Isle of Apples, which is a transcendental place known to be a crossing over into the otherworld. Avalon is said also to be the land of mists, a place that folks can get lost in and sometimes never return, for it is said that the fae can carry those who get lost in the mists of time away.
In other Northern European mythos, the apple was sacred to goddess Iduna whose apples gave the gods longevity and immortality.
In Greek mythology, apple orchards were guarded by and tended by maidens who were representatives of Hera, goddess of love and prosperity. These maidens symbolically joined hands around the sacred tree of life and became its outer protection with a serpent coiled around its roots. This symbolism would later become distorted and placed within the Garden of Eden.
Then there is the goddess of apples, Pomona, who is the guardian goddess of fruit trees, orchards, and agriculture, much like her sister counterpart Demeter, who she is commonly associated with. Pomona is said to watch over and protect fruit trees as well as care for their cultivation.
Pomona's name, of course, comes from the French word "Pomme" which means "apple". Another interesting thing about Pomona is that she was considered to be among the Numina, or guardian spirits, of Roman mythology, who watched over people, places, or homes. The Numina are from whom the word "numinous" derives, meaning spirits of a place. I have to say there is nothing more magical than walking through an apple orchard in the springtime as each of the pink blossoms is filled with the buzzing of sweet bees going about their business of pollinating. One can almost see tiny fairies flying about, or perhaps they are bees, who can say?
Interestingly enough on the Jewish New Year/ Rosh Hashanah, Jewish people dip apple slices into honey as an ancient tradition that expresses hope for a sweet new year.
According to Jewish mysticism, the apple represents the Shekhinah who is the feminine aspect of God, and it is believed that during Rosh Hashanah some Jews believe the Shekhinah is watching how they hold themselves, so eating honey with apples represents the hope that the Shekhinah will judge us kindly and look down on them with sweetness. Beyond its association with the Shekhinah, ancient Jews thought apples had healing properties, and it is said that that during Talmudic times apples were frequently sent as gifts to people in ill health.
The sweet apple itself, when sliced in half, reveals the sacred symbol of the pentagram, or five pointed star. The pentagram has many associations - one is the elements of earth, air, fire, water, and in the center, ether. The pentagram was originally a symbol of the goddess Kore, who was worshiped thousands of years ago, and whose sacred fruit was the apple.
The Roma people of Romania still cut open apples and refer to them as stars of knowledge, with folk traditions saying that couples should cut apples in half on their wedding night to share so that they will be fertile.
Likewise, the five-pointed star within a circle was the Egyptian hieroglyph for the underworld womb, where rebirth is said to occur. Evidence shows that the belief that apples help to carry souls from one incarnation to the next exists in many cultures from the Scandinavians to the Romans, Egyptians and even the Chinese.
The apple tree offers us a time of reprieve, a time to rejuvenate ourselves and understand the blessings we have in our lives. The apple tree is said to support us in times of lack to trust that there will be abundance once again.
In fact, apple blossoms were often used as wedding flowers, representing the virgin form of the goddess, whose full maturity was shown when the full-blown fruit was ripe and ready to eat. Of course, so many of these old pagan symbols were taken over by the Christians, as shown by the Apple-Eve-Mother-Goddess who was said to be another form of Rose-Mary the Virgin, for whom the five petaled rose and the apple blossom were often mystically combined according to Barbara Walker-The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and secrets.
Elements of Air and Mists: The apple tree contains both the elements of air and mist, as it relates to the Mists of Avalon, the sacred isle where priestesses lived and worked. These mystical mists were said to only be lifted by an initiated priestess of the Isle, and the apples of Avalon are said to be the sweetest and most magical apples on earth.
These mists are often what women think of when they consider the classic training and initiation of the priestess of Avalon/Isle of Apples.
Sadly this is not an option for us any more, if it ever really was as idyllic as we may dream about. Our initiations are hard-won by life experiences, and the only mastery we can hope to achieve is over ourselves. However, it is not such a bad thing to dream a little.....
Recipe and Magic making:
The Silven Bough:
In Irish mythology there is a poem called The Voyage of Bran, in which a silver branch from an apple tree, called a silven bough, is said to offer its user entry to the otherworld of Tir na nog. In my Celtic animist training we made silven boughs from small branches of apple trees as a representation of our work in the otherworld, and it was a beautiful and inspiring process to sink into as we sat creating a sacred tool to support us in our work within the "Otherworld".
Here is a short version of the silven bough story: In Old Ireland there was a marvellous silver bough, which like the golden bough of Virgil, served as a doorway into the Otherworld of the gods. Some say it was the property of Manannan MacLir, others that it belonged to Lugh. Cut from a mystic apple tree, the silver branch gave forth magical music which none might resist. The nine apples it bore served as dangling bells, which played the most beautiful music. This enchanting song put people into a deep, trance-like sleep, which allowed them entry into the otherworlds. Folklore tells a tale of Cormac MacAirt, the high King of Ireland, who was lured to the Summerland one day, when he encountered a young man holding a wondrous branch of silver which had nine golden apples dangling from it. When the youth shook the branch, the apples touched and made sweet music, like bells, so that he who heard it forgot his sorrow and care. Cormac asked the young man if he would sell the marvelous branch, but to his dismay, the youth demanded the king's wife, son, and daughter in exchange. Enchanted by the music of the silver bough, Cormac agreed. His family were distraught to learn how they had been traded away until they heard the music of the branch, at which they immediately forgot their dismay and departed with the young man joyfully.
After a year had passed, King Cormac longed to see his wife and children and so, taking the silver branch, he set out to find them. As he rode, a magic cloud enveloped him and he found himself on a beautiful green plain, before a majestic house. Within, he was greeted by Manannan who ushered in Cormac's wife and children. Manannan revealed that it had been he himself who had taken the king's family in order to lure him to his happy country. Cormac and his wife and family slept that night in the house of Manannan, and when they awoke the next morning they found themselves in their palace at Tara with the silver branch and other magical gifts beside them.
This story beautifully describes the power of the magic bough or wand to transport its wielder into the Land of the Gods, the astral realm of archetypal form and becoming. Story adapted from Lewis Spence, The Magic Arts in Celtic Britain
Exercise: Make a silven bough for yourself, taking time to remember your own childhood/maidenhood filled with dreams and magic, and allowing yourself to re-live that powerful and magical time. It is really easy to make one, all you need is a small stick, or if you can get an apple branch even better! Typically a silven bough has 9 silver bells on it but other then that you have free range on how creative you want to get with it! Make sure to eat some slices of apple as a treat while you do this activity.
Hedgewalking with Apple
Apple trees love to be pruned and adore offerings of sweet things such as honey and milk as well as corn and if you bring an apple trinkets that sound lovely in the wind they will adore you forever! My own apple tree gets all sorts of bells and blown glass beauties and they all are cherished by the tree. I find that I can go to the apple with just about anything that is coming up, including just sitting under the tree and feeling into the gentle and loving nature of this spirit. The apple often looks more like an old grandmother to me offering her wisdom, but in the spring every now and then she is a young maiden and the messages are joyful and powerful. Enjoy your time with apple, and go back often for they adore long term friendships.
Apple/Quert Ogham: If you draw this ogam it is suggesting that perhaps now is a good time for you to take some time for yourself to rest and heal. Apple is a healing tree and very gentle in nature and can support us in our spiritual and personal growth. If you draw it reversed it suggests that perhaps you are grappling with indecisiveness and need to sit down and actually make a decision. Apple can support and help us with all of these things. We love this little charm from the book Voice of the trees. An excellent emblem in the apple you find To heal your soul and bring peace of mind Two beauties before you by your choice you must stand The choice must me made by your very own hand.
Making Home and Hearth Talismans with Apple
What you will need: 1 apple 1 orange Rosemary sprigs Cinnamon sticks Bay leaves Copper or green florists wire Needle Twine
Instructions: Thinly slice the apple horizontally rather than perpendicularly so you get beautiful round circles with the start shape. Repeat with the orange. Gently dry the slices on very low heat in your oven for 6-8 hours or in a dehydrator following manufacturers instructions. Once dry, string the slices on the wire alternating with herbs and cinnamon sticks. Be sure to check out the tutorial. Hang these around your house to invite in generosity, prosperity and longevity.
Apple Good Harvest Ritual
1 apple 5 cloves Cinnamon powder Ginger powder Dragon’s blood resin Calendula or sunflower leaves Pen and paper Bee’s wax Candle Knife
Take some time to list your intentions, goals and seeds that you are planting right now. What exactly are you looking to harvest in our life. This may not be material things but could also be emotional, spiritual or just something small and personal. Write a small list.
When you are ready gather the rest of your ingredients and set up a sacred space as befits your usual practice. Gather your power through connecting with your breathing, clearing your mind and asking for the help of the Apple Spirit. You may even want to focus your power by rubbing your hands together and drawing the heat from your heart and breath into your hands. When you are ready cut an opening into the apple- almost like you are coring the apple. Inside stuff the herbs and your intentions. Use the candle to warm the wax and seal all of your intentions inside. Ask Apple to guide and bless your seeds for a good harvest. Next, I like to bury the apple in my vegetable garden as both and offering and a prayer for a good harvest. Any extra apple flesh I leave as an offering to the local nature spirits. Be sure to close by thanking Apple for their blessings.
Harmony at the Hearth Charm:
From Eco Enchantments
This charm is about taking two of the sacred trees each representing the opposite of each other and bringing together in harmony. For this you will need a apple twig and a Blackthorn thorn. The Apple represents the female, with perfumed blossom and sweet fruit, The Blackthorn, male, protecting itself year round with fierce spines, bearing dark and bitter berries.
Clasp a twig of each together - bind them close with red thread or ribbon to enhance the life force. Make a loop to hang them by the hearth or at the heart of the home They'll bring balance, harmony and protection to your family.
Wise Woman Apple Butter
From Valerie Weisman at Sacred Wise Woman
10-12 pounds’ variety apples: Granny Smith, Pippin, Jonathan…. Cube in eighths, leaving peeling and core, removing only stem. 4 cups approx. apple cider or juice 2-3 cups honey or other sweetener of choice- to taste ¼ cup lemon juice 2+ Tablespoons ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons ground cloves 2 teaspoons ground allspice 7-quart crock or largest you own
Instructions: Turn crock pot on high. Measure apples and juice in your crock. You want the juice to be right below the top of the apples- maybe ½ an inch. Pour into large pot, bring apples and juice to a boil and return back to the crock pot. Cover with lid that is propped with a spoon or equivalent. Turn on low and cook overnight. Remove lid in the morning and cool a bit. Puree in food processor or blender. Put back in pot along with honey, lemon juice and spices. Adjust all to your personal taste. I am heavy handed with the spices! Bring back to a boil and can in sterile jars. Flavour develops with age.
Resources: Addisonia : colored illustrations and popular descriptions of plants by The New York Botanical Garden, 1916, v1.
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away". Vegetarians in Paradise. Archived from the original on 11 February 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2008. http://www.vegparadise.com/highestperch39.html