Rowan...

Had a weird dream a few nights ago. A pesky, weird, damaged-feeling older woman with short mousy hair had somehow made her way into my abode (which didn't resemble my house very much). I told her to go away, to get out of there, and she seemed a bit persistent and wouldn't leave. I don't remember much about the dream, except I think I did get rid of her, and I remembered the name "rowena" (I'm not sure if that was her name, or if that's what I used to get rid of her). Anyway, having dreamt that, I remembered I was thinking of researching rowan trees this month. Of course, I imediately associated it with the female gender when all the magical texts say it's "male". I felt it as a kind of crabby, older, dried up busybody type. Maybe the research and experiences will dispell these ideas... The tree out back certainly doesn't feel like that.

Finnish poetry

Of course, the Finns have something to say about this:

"In the yard there grows a Rowan.
Thou with reverent care
Should'st tend it.
Holy is the tree there growing.
Holy likewise are it's branches.
On it's boughs the leaves are holy.
And it's berries yet more holy."

From The Kalevala, a compilation of Finnish
oral poems dating back to the first century A.D.

PS: No matter how holy they might be, don't eat any part of this tree, especially not the berries. I repeat, don't eat the berries...

Various things I didn't know before...

The Rowan tree (also known as Mountain Ash, Quicken Tree, Quick Beam, Witchwood, Wiggen, Witcher and Sorb Apple) grows throughout northern Europe (Sorbus Aucuparia) as well as in the northeast part of North America (Sorbus Americanus). They are members of the Rose family and grow to be about 50 feet tall. They can strive in poor soil and colonize easily in disturbed areas. In some parts of Europe they are very common around ancient settlements and Stone Circles, probably due to having been planted. The Rowan is noted for having lovely white flowers in May and, every third year, berries that turn bright red in winter.