Hazel

Hazel 

Hazel is very old. The nuts of her tree were eaten by the earliest people in Ireland. They also used hazel for their huts because it bends easily and regrows. If you cut a Hazel Tree down you had to give two and a half cows as a fine. Hazel has yellow ‘lambs tail’ catkins in spring, and her nuts grow from small red buds.

Hazel, a friend of Brigid, sister of Midir and brings inspiration. Hazelnuts are brainfood, the Salmon that gave Fionn MacCumhall the knowledge of the Universe ate from the Nine Hazels of Wisdom. Hazel is used for dowsing, wishing rods and wands. Wear a crown of hazel twigs and wish very hard and it might come true!

Hazel protects us from harm. The Fianna learned to fight using a hazel stick and shield. When Midir brought Aengus to his father The Dagda at Uisneach, Aengus was told to take Newgrange from Elcmar who was unarmed save for a fork of white hazel, it being Samhain, a time of peace.

Hazel can be found at Holy Wells and Fairy Forts, like Tara. Check and see if Hazel is at the next fairyfort you visit?