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Botanical name:
Malus sylvestris (Crab Apple)
Pyrus malus (Cultivated Apple)
Other names: Scrab, Wilding-Tree
Folklore:
The apple represents immortality, the passage of time, the
turning of the wheel and the mysteries of the Goddess. Legendary isles
of apples are common and always lie in the west - the place of the
dying sun. From its association with the underworld, the apple is seen
as a passport to it or symbol of it.
When cut in half it
shows the pentacle at its heart, containing the seeds. This symbolises
the Goddess and her womb, the five senses, the five ages of man, etc.
It also has strong connections with love and beauty.
Magickal
uses:
The apple is seen as
representing the Goddess as maiden, mother and aswell as crone. It is
also seen as important at many different times of the year - the
blossom in spring, ripe fruit at Lammas, as a symbol of the setting
sun in the west at the point of the autumn equinox, at Samhain the
journey through the underworld, contact with the other worlds,
divination and intuition, and the bare tree being wassailed at
midwinter, the time of the sun's rebirth and the promise of the year
to come. The
apple blossom represents the return of the summer at Beltaine and the
flowers can be added to incenses or the ritual bath. An apple love
wand can be very effective at this time. |
