Thor's Day - 1st Day of Coll Celtic Tree Month

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."

26th Day of the 8th Lunar Tree Cycle
Ruled Hecate
Lunar Tree Cycle of Tinne/Holly
1st Day of the Celtic Tree
Month of Coll/Hazel
Moon Phase: waning half
Moon rises: 1:13AM EDST
Moon sets: 4:52PM EDST
Moon in the Mutable Air
Sign of Gemini
Ceridwen's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The blessing
of twilight.
Sun in Leo
Sunrise: 6:20AM EDST
Sunset: 8:31PM EDST
Solar Question for the Day: "What
needs to be fulfilled or accomplished
right now?"
Lughnasadh (Gwyl Awst) Quarter
of the Year
August 5th, 2010

Thor's Day - Jupiter Day - the Day of Vision, Spiritual Insight and Expansion.  This is also the first day of the Celtic Tree Month of Coll - Hazel.

Hazel/Coll

  The hazel corresponds to the Ogham letter coll (cull) and is the bringer of enlightenment and inspiration. The legendary Salmon of Wisdom lived at the foot of the hazel and gained its powers from eating nine hazelnuts. Finn MacColl, in turn, gained gifts of insight from eating the salmon. To open the door for creative inspiration, why not enlist the help of the hazel tree during its month? Gather nine hazel nuts, a hazel-nut scented candle, and small fabric bag. Carve the coll/hazel symbol on the candle and paint one on the bag. Light the candle and recite the following charm nine times, each time dropping a hazel nut in the bag. When you're done, tie the bag closed with nine knots, and keep it nearby when you are working on any project that could benefit from some added inspiration.

"Hazel fair and blessed tree,

Hazel nuts smooth and lovely,

Awaken within me inspiration,

Creativity from life's cauldron."

by Mickie Mueller in Llewellyn's Witches' Datebook 2010

Hazel Month

   In Celtic lore Hazel is referred to as Fair Wood and Sweet Wood. It is coppiced and used in much the same way as Willow, and has been so since ancient times. Hazel wood is much favored for dowsing, and the nuts are mineral rich and highly nutritious. The nuts can be ground and used as flour, and the whole shell, husk, and skin were powdered and added to a drink to ease heavy menstruation.

   The Hazel features in the tales of many of the Gods. It is said that when Lugh severed Balor's head, he placed it in a Hazel but the dripping blood poisoned the tree until Mananna felled it. Later Fionn used the wood to make his shield Dripping Ancient Hazel. It was said to be a tree of keening (a form of weeping) over death and sacred to Brighid, the Goddess who first used this form of grief over the death of her son, Ruadhan. The Hazel is also sacred to her in her role of Goddess of Wisdom and Inspiration, as some of the nuts are said to contain her wisdom. It also features in the tales of Artemis, Diana, Mercury, and Thor.

   Today we use the Hazel in spells for luck, protection, wishes and fertility. Eat the fresh nuts in season prior to Rituals for divination and burn them in a fire when seeking the knowledge of Brighid. Weave Hazel wood around your hat to make your wishes come true. Hazel wands Wands were also the symbol of the herald, and sometimes used in Covens to mark the office of Summoner.

[From: "The Real Witches' Year" by Kate West]

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