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Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: APPLE
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 The crab-tree or wild apple is the Mother of Apples, the stock on which were grafted the best from Europe, mostly from France. The apple is one of the oldest, most familiar and best-loved of all Beltaine plants. Pliny wrote of twenty-two different varieties. Old Saxon manuscripts include mention of apples and cider. The Encyclopedia of Bartholomeus Anglicus, one of the earliest printed books of botanical interest (1470) has an entire chapter on the apple. The fruit lends itself well to all sorts of divination. To answer an important question, peel an apple carefully so that there is one long, unbroken skin. Ask the question and throw the peel over your shoulder. If it falls in the shape of a U or O, the answer is no. Anything else means yes. Or do the same for a marriage divination. If the peel falls, unbroken, it reveals the initial of your future spouse. If it breaks, you'll remain single. Say the name of someone you love and throw an apple seed into the fire. If it pops, it means they are bursting with love for you. Cut an apple in half and count the seeds. An even number means tood luck, an odd number disappointment, and cutting one of the seeds in half is bad luck. Never pick all the apples off the tree at harvest time. Always leave some "for the birds" (or the fairies!) or leave a fallen apple or two on the ground as an offering. According to the British food writer Jane Grigson, apple farmers in Brittany always leave one apple on the highest branch of the tree. If it clings to the branch until all the autumn leaves are gone, its an omen of a good crop next year for all the trees in the orchard. Grigson says that this Mother of Apples is "the sign of fertility, the apple of good luck." An Apple Spell for What the Heart Desires: Whatsoever your heart desires, Write it down in words of fire; Cut the Sacred Apple through, And place your wish between the two. Seal with twigs from the Lady's tree, Place in a kiln till dried it be; Sleep upon it night or day Until good fortune comes your way! References: http://wwiz.com/issue26/html/article6.html A Modern Herbal, volume 1, Mrs. M. Grieve Apple Divination by Cheryl Lynn Bradley Mother of Apples and Apple Branch plaques created by Fedelm Cruithni especially for the Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt.  |
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~ Table of Contents ~
Feverfew
Lavender Ladybugs Thyme Bay Laurel Mint Answers to Spring Equinox Quix Dandelion for Spring Tonic Nettles for Spring Sun-Infused Calendula Healing Salve Fiddleheads Daffodil Quiz Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: Hawthorn Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: Magical Fern Seeds Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: Mystic Mistletoe Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: EGLANTINE Beltaine Treasure Hunt '08 - GARLIC Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: FLAX BLOSSOMS Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: GREEN WHEAT EARS Beltaine Treasure Hunt '08: THE CHARM OF IVY Beltaine Treasure Hunt '08: MARIGOLDS AND MAIDENS Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: THE SACRED OAK Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: VERVAIN |
