Prunus spinosa

Common name: Blackthorn

Family: Rosaceae (Rose family)

Scots Gaelic: Draighionn

Irish Gaelic: Draighean

Astrological Rulers: Saturn and Mars

Known as both the Mother of the Woods and the Cailleach of the Woods.

Type: Deciduous shrub-like tree; yellow leaves in autumn and fall off in winter.  Bare tree has a stark and twisted appearance.

Size: up to 13 ft in height.

Bark: ‘Rough and scaly; orange is the color of the wood just under the bark.  Sapwood is yellow.

Branches/Twigs: Dense, dark, thorny, branching and twisting all directions. The heartwood is brown.

Fruit: Small bluish-black; round globular berries in the summer; sloe juice yields red dye; ink-like.

Thorn: Long sharp thorns; injury from thorn can become septic. 2-4cm in length.

Flower: Delicate, white flowers; oval petals star shaped with red stamens; musky scent.

Location: Britain and Ireland, edge of thickets, woods and hedgerows; grows near Elder and Hawthorn.  

Deities: Irish Morrigan, the Scottish Cailleach, the Welsh Cerridwen; and all dark, chthonic, Underworld deities.

Folklore & Witchcraft

Blackthorn is depicted as a tree of ill omen. Called 'Straif' in the Ogham, the English word ‘strife’ comes from this Celtic word.  In Scotland, winter begins when the Cailleach (Winter's Hag) strikes the ground with her Blackthorn Stang.

Blackthorn is associated with the dark side of the witch and cunning-craft; it harbors hag energy, dealings on dark phase of the moon and referred to as ‘the increaser and keeper of dark secrets’.  Also associated with cursing, blasting and binding spells, death, war, thorn-pieced poppets.   The famous 'Blasting Rod' is a blackthorn branch with one hollowed out end in which thorns jut out with mal-intent. 

Magic

In Irish tales heroes were known to throw a twig of Blackthorn after them when they fled, the twig would take root barring them from capture.  At New Year, Blackthorn was burned in the New Year’s fire, the cold ashes spread to fertilize the fields.  Blackthorn was also added to wreaths of Mistletoe to instill good luck in the household for the coming year.  

Blackthorn is has properties of purification and the ability to clear away negative energy; it is written that it can be a protection against evil and used to create defensive boundaries as needed. Blackthorn has been used in Christian exorcisms.  

Chthonic rites involving the 'death vigil' uses blackthorn has it has the ability to part the veil aiding the passage of the soul to the afterlife.

The Famous Irish Cudgel

Called a bata, or shillelagh is the length of a common walking stick.  Used for defense and sparing the heavy knob formed at the top, originally formed by the root, was viewed as a weapon. The most famous and sought after were made by hand, buried in a dung heap, smeared with cooking grease and placed in the chimney to cure giving it a black shining appearance.

Many shillelaghs also have a strap attached to the top to fit around the holder's wrist.

Medicinal Qualities

Berries to help in the treatment of stomach troubles, and in the dealing of blood disorders.  Be warned they are bitter until after the first frost.

Also used in the preparation of sloe berry wine and flavoring alcohol beverages such as gin and vodka. Blackthorn leaves can be dried and mixed with tea leaves in what became known as Chinese tea which can be used as a paste to whiten teeth and remove tartar.