Page 43 - September 2022 Magazine - Bumper Edition

A Druid's staff made of beautifully crafted Hazel would have been seen as a clear sign of his authority.
When building a house, four shafts of Hazelwood would have, as standard, been added to the construction, to protect the dwelling from lightning and fire. Where there were areas that needed shade from the sun, Hazel trees would be planted.
Shelled Hazelnuts would have often been blitzed in a blender and used as a smoothie to relieve a cough or sore throat. (well it would have been if they had blenders and electricity)
Our fabulous feline familiar, Willow, has graciously taken the time to inform us of a legend she has found in the library archives here at the Manor.
Whilst we’re familiar with the book of King James, this legend was previously unknown to us.
Ancient myth has it that when Adam and Eve were being escorted by security out of the building, well, actually the garden (of Eden), they were presented with a branch of the Hazel tree.
They were informed this would enable them to create any animal they wanted. (yes we too are asking why at this point)
However, in order to do so, they would have to strike the surface of a lake with the branch of the Hazel.
Adam, created the first sheep, on seeing his creation, Eve then created the first wolf to attack the sheep. So Adam then created the first dog, which chased off the wolf and all was well.
Whilst we are obviously grateful to Willow for informing us of this myth, we are quite frankly, totally underwhelmed by it.
However, the point of it is that Hazel can be used for both good and not-so-good intentions, but is very much a powerful tool in creating harmony.
The Hazel tree is actually part of the Birch family of trees, it only grows to roughly about 20 feet tall, it flourishes in most of Europe but can be found anywhere throughout the British Isles. It was regionally referred to by many names but throughout the Celtic world, it was widely referred to as Halse (Halt-zhar).
Now, this is amazing, recent studies have found that Hazel has grown in the UK region known as Dartmoor, since at least 7500 years BC. That means that Hazel has provided building materials for dwellings, fuel and thus warmth, and food for humans and animals for like 9,500 years.
Now then, talking of nuts, in Anglo Saxon, Haesel Knut (the Knut was referring to the shell of course and the 'K' would not have been silent) you may see them in ancient texts as ‘Filberts’, why? we hear your ask.
Well, all will be revealed...
St. Philbert's day is on the 20th of August, which just happened to coincide with the ripening of the nuts on a Hazel tree. Now before you inundate us with emails, we are not familiar with St. Philbert, but that’s the reason why Hazelnuts are in some parts, called Filberts.
New Moon
Hazel peeps of the New Moon tend to have a very inquisitive nature - they have enquiring minds. They love researching and learning.
The Flickering Cauldron® Magazine - Ogham Hazel | 43