Fabulous Folklore: Yew

                

Yews (Taxus baccata) are easily Britain’s oldest native trees. Yews are considered “ancient” when they reach their 900th birthday, and can live for thousands of years longer, up to about 3000 years old.

They are often found in church graveyards, our cemetery being no exception, due to churches being built on sacred pagan sites, and due to a spate of church building after the Norman Conquest, which led to many being planted. In fact, it is very rare to find very old specimens of yew outside of church grounds; this beauty (pictured) is a fine example, and is found within the grounds of Waverley Abbey, Surrey.

The yew has been associated with death and eternity by both Christians and Pagans; perhaps because of the length of time they live. The Druids held the yew sacred, observing new trunks being rooted where old branches touched the ground; symbolising the cycle of death and rebirth. Thankfully, the representation of everlasting life was largely forgotten by the 17th century, as it is noted that yews probably wouldn’t have survived the religious destruction of the Puritans. They are planted in a very deliberate manner in churchyards, in relation to funeral processions, and in our cemetery they are dotted along the paths, crowning the entrances to the chapels. The remains of Anglo Saxon churches suggests they were planted around the building in a circle.

Although poisonous, yews have a rich magickal history. Sacred to Hecate, the Yew was said to purify the souls of the dead as they entered the underworld of Hades, and it is one of the five sacred trees in Irish mythology.

It is popular for decorations at Yule; firstly because it is an evergreen, but also because the winter solstice represents the cusp between the season of death and the season of life, the days soon getting longer.

Yew should never be used by the lay herbalist due to its toxicity.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: My Personal Story About Talking Trees

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Evergreens of Yule

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Cemetery Stuff: Anniversaries on The Cemetery

Today is the anniversary of my husband and I moving into our beloved cemetery home. It is more than a crumbling stone building; it is our sanctuary.

We know the very heartbeat of this place. It is very much alive.

We know every tree, every flower, every shrub.

We love the moon bathing the house in her light; illuminating row upon row of graves. We love the rabbits at sunrise in the summer, the bats that sneak in through open windows, and the starlings nesting in the eaves above the kitchen.

We love the wooden floors, the higgledy-piggledy staircases, and the metre-thick walls that turn the house into a refrigerator in the winter. We love the living room, once a storeroom for spades and headstones, and the kitchen window that casts a view upon the legions of the dead.

We love that this amazing place has embraced us, breathing life back into us, giving us space and time to heal, and to recognise each other again.

We love each other.

Who would have thought an old building would give us so much?

NEXT - Cemetery Stuff: Memento Mori
NEXT - Ritual: Graveminding Ritual

Fabulous Folklore: Werewolves, Werewolfery & The Werewolf Witch Trials

The word werewolf comes from the Old English word werwulf, a compound of wer "man" and wulf "wolf". The werewolf, or lycanthrope, is a human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf (or wolf-like creature) after being placed under a curse, or attacked by another werewolf.

The belief in werewolves is said to have developed parallel to the belief in witches around the Late Middle Ages, and was widespread throughout much of Europe.

The hunt for ~ and persecution of ~ werewolves is integral to the witch hunt phenomenon. Accusations of lycanthropy were unusual, but did appear during witchcraft trials. Werewolf trials started in Switzerland, and spread to Germany, France, Austria and the Balkans. Between 1527 and 1725, there were at least 18 trials that involved people being accused of lycanthropy as a part of their alleged witchcraft. Some trials did not involve witchcraft, and instead were focused on general wolf-related crimes; for example wolf riding or wolf charming.

The first werewolf trial happened in 1521 but was not related to witchcraft. It was the trial of two serial killers who having been tortured by the Church confessed to being werewolves. In 1692, a man named Thiess claimed to be a “good” werewolf. He openly admitted ~ without torture ~ to being a werewolf, and said they were the Hounds of God who helped combat witches and demons.

It is believed that many of the accused were actually suffering from a rare mental illness called “clinical lycanthropy”, in which the sufferer believes they are able to turn into a feral animal.

During the time witch and werewolf trials took place, things were pretty shaky (the Protestant Reformation was sweeping through the land) and the Church used the interrogations of “witches” and “werewolves” to bolster their power and influence.

Image is a photo of a piece of art found at The Museum of Witchcraft & Magic, Boscastle. 

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Witch Balls

Sacred Symbols: Elhaz of the Elder Futhark

We have a rune in the floor of our hallway. As I sit on the stairs, and put my boots on, my gaze always lands on this shape. It appears to be Elhaz of the Elder futhark, also known as Algiz, Eoih, Elgr. ᛉ

You can’t see it very well in this photograph but the bottom branch of the stave is more - or less - visible depending on the light.

Elhaz is the rune of defence and protection, and I think it is fitting, as the mark is right by our front door. My eyes trace over the symbol each time I sit it in front of it, or pass by it; and in my mind’s eye I imagine protective energy emanating from it. Each time I do this the feeling gets stronger and stronger. I ask it to protect all that dwell in this house.

This symbol asks us not to take this protection for granted (I won’t), but to remain alert and level headed; using intuition where possible and when needed. Your intuition is your protection with this rune.

Do you have any markings in your home that were already there when you arrived? Have you placed runes, or other symbols, in or around your home for protection or other reasons? 

NEXT - Sacred Symbols: Thor's Hammer
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NEXT - Simple Magick: Magickal Attitudes & Personal Protection 

Honouring Nature: Winter Foraging

We had our first frost on Tuesday ~ time to pick sloes if you’re making gin ~ and there are loads of mushrooms on the cemetery, which got me thinking about foods that can be foraged at this time of year.

You might imagine that with the wet and cold there wouldn’t be much, but this is far from the case.

Mushrooms 

There are plenty of mushrooms available from November to February in the UK. From the Common Oyster to the Winter Chanterelle, the most important factors are knowing 100% what you are picking (you’ll only eat the wrong mushroom once), and more importantly leaving enough for animals and invertebrates, who will be looking to sustain themselves over the winter.

Sloes (Prinus spinosa) 

There has always been a bit of a debate as to when the best time to pick sloes is, but the general consensus seems to be that sloes for gin should be picked after the first frost. You can make all sorts of things with sloes; jams, jellies, chocolate, wine.

Sweet Chestnuts (Castanea sativa) 

Not to be confused with “conkers” from the horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), sweet chestnuts are amazing cooked on an open fire. They’re high in vitamins B and C, and can be used for nutroasts, stuffings, cake fillings and more.

Hawthorn Berries 

Hawthorn berries ~ “haws” ~ are at their most ripe in November. Surprisingly you can make quite a few things with haws - gin, ketchup, syrup fruit leather, and jellies.

Bullace (Prunus domestica) 

Bullaces are a type of plum that are a lot like damsons. I’ve not managed to find any around here yet! They can be used for all the usual plummy things - jams, chutneys, crumbles, wine and liqueurs.

Green and leafy things 

Chickweed, navelwort and dandelion can all be harvested for their leaves, which can be used in salads, sandwiches and stews.

Please follow the following foraging guidelines:

• Please take only what you need, or even better: less. The animals and local ecology come first. I actually took a break from foraging this year.
• Don’t eat anything you haven’t ID’d yourself.
• If you’re not 100% sure of what you’re picking: don’t pick, don’t eat.
• Don’t take unless you fully intend to use.
  
  NEXT - Honouring Nature: Hedgehog Health & Pumpkins
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