Hawthorn Berries whole 1oz (Crataegus laevigata)
Hawthorn Berries and trees are around the world in many varieties. Gaelic legend marks it as the entrance to the "Otherworld", R. Graves links it to the White Goddess calling it the whitethorn for its flowers. This is a wonderful berry to add to any Path or lore you draw upon.
Hawthorn leaf, flower, and berry have been praised over the centuries for their heart elevating properties. Believed to uplift and strengthen both the physical and emotional heart, hawthorn, as it supports healthy cardiovascular function, was also revered for ceremonial and spiritual purposes. The flavorful red berries have been used in candies, jams, jellies, wines, and cordials and are widely available in many forms as dietary supplements.
Hawthorn has been used since the Middle ages, with some accounts going back as far as the first century to Greek herbalist Dioscorides. It was later used by Swiss physician Paracelsus (1493–1541 CE). Considered to be a particularly symbolic tree with many folktales and magical myths surrounding it, hawthorn was "sacred tree medicine" to the ancient Druids, and was said to house fairies, specifically when growing with oak and ash trees.
