A Witch's Garden: Witch Hazel

Disclaimer

This is NOT a page about Wiccans or neo-pagans, and I do not advocate the belief that Wiccans are Satan-worshippers and/or baby-killers. I am well aware that they are not. This is a starting point for historical research into the great witch craze of 1100-1700 AD. And please, don't ask me for spells.

Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel received its name from its use in dowsing, or water witching. A dowser often uses the forked branches of a witch hazel to find water (or any other not readily apparent thing).

The magical roots of hazel extend back to ancient times:

Mercury's caduceus, a gift from Apollo, was made of hazel. (The caduceus is the symbol of spiritual enlightenment and the emblem of the medical profession.) The early Roman naturalist, Pliny, wrote of how to use hazel wands for divining underground springs. The rod of Moses was cut from a hazel tree by Adam in the Garden of Eden. Moses and Aaron used hazel rods to bring plagues into Egypt. In the fourth century, St. Patrick is said to have rid Ireland of snakes by drawing them together with a magic hazel rod and then casting them into the sea. . . .

Hazel nuts also have been used in the casting of spells. In some areas, picking hazel nuts on a Sunday is believed to summon the Devil to appear. Hazelnuts are gathered in traditional fall fertility rites in some parts of England (Guiley 1989 153).

Witch hazel was also considered a beloved tree of faeries. If a hazel tree was disturbed, the faerie might bring about retribution through sickness (Miller - Hawthorn).

As a Ward

Although hazel was purported to have been used by witches, it was also used to protect against witches. Hazelnuts and hazel wood were believed to offer protection against faerie bewitchment, demons, and witchcraft. Horses were protected by wearinng hazel breastbands on their harnesses. In Scotland, double hazelnuts were hurled at witches, and cattle were singed with hazel rods at Midsummer and Beltane fires to keep faeries away (Guiley 1989 153).

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A Witch's Garden is copyright 1997-1998 to Shantell Powell.
The preceding botanic illustration is from The Virtual Garden Search Engine, part of the Time Life Electronic Encyclopedia.