The Fairy Thorn
Sister to the Blackthorn, a solitary Hawthorn growing on open ground is a sacred tree deeply entrenched in the lore of the fair folk. Hawthorn trees were (and in some places still are) treated with fear and respect because they were said to be the home of the fae. To cut down or in any way injure the hawthorn was to risk the wrath of the good people. The fair folk were reported to take their revenge in brutal and often gruesome ways, blighting the land or bringing violent injury or death to the offender and their family.
Is any man so daring As dig them up in spite, He shall find their sharpest thorns In his bed at night.
A lone Hawthorn is a dangerous and some might even say, cursed tree. Because it is believed to be an entrance to the Otherworld, to stand or fall asleep under the tree - especially at night - is to risk being stolen away by the fairies, never to return home again. In some folklore, it was the Faerie Queen herself who came to steal away the unfortunate individual.
Hawthorn can be very unlucky to bring indoors. Since it is considered the home of the fair folk, bringing any of it inside can mean bringing or inviting the folk into your own home. Sleeping next to it is also said to potentially bring about death or other misfortune.
Hawthorn blooms and elder flowers will fill a house with evil powers.
Hawthorn is also a tree of very contradictory lore. While it is considered extremely dangerous as it related to the fair folk, it is also a very powerful protector, as well as an aphrodisiac, a tree of fertility and love, and a healer.
The Hawthorn tree was used in folk medicine as a cure for many ailments, from soothing sore throats to mending broken hearts. Hawthorn was also used at weddings to decorate wreaths and altars, a symbol of chastity and prosperity, and used to promote fertility. It was a protector of children, hung over the cradle to keep newborn babes safe from harm. Hawthorn hung over a stable will protect animals from witchcraft. Tools made from the branches or thorns of this tree are well suited for any work involving the Elphame Queen and various concoctions can be made from the berries for love workings or to enhance the Second Sight or soul flight.
Hawthorn trees can also be associated with clootie wells, a type of holy well or spring. The custom is to take a strip of cloth, dip it into the well, and tie it to the tree while making a prayer to the spirits. This prayer can be made simply to honor the local spirit, but is mainly to petition for healing.
If you find yourself fortunate (or maybe not!) to have a Hawthorn growing nearby, approach with a healthy dose of caution. While the White Thorn can aid in many different magics - love, divination, protection, cursing and healing - it is best to build a good rapport with the tree and its various denizens first. Offerings such as honey, milk, butter, or cream can help smooth the way towards working with this tree and its inhabitants, but remember to be respectful as always when you work with the fair folk or their sacred homes - and to stay far away from it after nightfall.
