The Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) is easily recognized by its generous offerings of bright red berries. Also known as mountain ash, Rowan is a member of the Rose family Rosaceae and genus Sorbus. In magic and daily life, Rowan was said to have apotropaic qualities to repel evil energies and protect against illness or harm caused by witchcraft.
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Rowan is a small tree or bush with ornamental, medicinal and spiritual uses. The bright green leaves, slender trunk and batches of red berries make it a colorful addition to the yard. Beside strong protective abilities the Rowan also imparts wisdom and gives courage in difficult times. Rowan wood, ornaments, sticks or jewelry are said to repel the evil eye and curses.
The Mountain Ash was once known as the travelers' tree because it clarifies awareness of the path and prevents people from losing their way. Rowan is the clan badge of Malcolms and McLachlans. In the Highlands use of any part of the tree, except the berries, was once forbidden except in rituals.
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Rowan is a deciduous hardwood with a darker core of heartwood. The dense wood, tough but flexible, is suited to carving and turning, for tool handles and walking sticks. In Finland, Rowan is the traditional wood for horse sled shafts and spikes of rakes.
Rowan fruit or berries have a bitter taste. They attract birds such as cedar waxwings. In some folk beliefs, winter starts when the cedar waxwings have eaten all the fruit. Berries collected after frost or put in the freezer are less bitter. The taste comes from parascorbic acid in the raw berries, which can cause indigestion. It's destroyed with heat and cooking.
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In cuisine, the fruit of European rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) makes jelly used to accompany wild game. In alcoholic beverages, mountain ash fruit is a flavoring in liqueurs, cordials and ale. The fruit can be made into wine or a clear Schnapps called Vogelbeerschnaps, from Vogelbeer, the German name for Rowan (Eng. bird berry).
In Scotland, a Rowan may be planted by the front door for magical protection. Birds scatter the Rowan seeds in their droppings. In this way a Rowan may grow out of a fertile hole or crevice in another tree. These Rowans, called flying Rowans, are considered to have especially potent magic.
Rowan is a hermaphrodite, producing flowers which possess both male and female parts. The tree supports an ecosystem of butterflies, bees, cedar waxwings, blackbirds, thrushes and other birds, insects, fungi, lichen and micro-organisms.
The deciduous nature of Rowan, shedding its leaves over winter to grow again when the days lengthen, relates the cycles of life and rebirth, a favorite theme in nature religion. Trees in the Northern Hemisphere begin to bud after the Winter Solstice.
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Beautiful through they are, Rowan flowers have an unpleasant scent likened to that of freshly decomposing corpses. It's similar to the Hawthorn which because of its smell was suspected of spreading plague. Both Rowan and Hawthorn have magical powers of protection against evil spirits or entities.
The Rowan's Celtic name, fid na ndruad, means 'wizard's tree'. Planted near the house it defends against malevolent magic entering the home. Rowan helps protect against both hostile and careless fairy powers. Along with Elder and Holly, Rowan is a favored wood for making runes.
A person who witnesses a fairy procession, fairy ring or other fairy activities can be drawn into the magical influence and disappear for years. It seems only a few minutes to the victim.
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The touch of a Rowan bough can negate the fairy magic and ideally bring the victims back to their senses. A Rowan branch over the door allows a person to see fairies passing by in their ceremonial processions.
In Scotland it's bad luck to chop down a Rowan tree. The bright red color of the berries is said to frighten away sinister spirits and malevolent magic. In Eastern philosophy, red is considered the most fortunate color, representing life, Fire and the Sun.
Rowan berries are sacred to the Sami goddess Ravdna, consort of the thunder god Horagalles. The Sami people live in Norway, Sweden, Finland and northern Russia. Parallels appear between Horagalles and Norse thunder god Thor.
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In Wicca, the Rowan is known as a tree of the Goddess or a Faerie tree because of its white flowers. Rowan connects to the zodiac sign Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18). Besides strong protection, Rowan wood can boost creativity and heightens the intellect.
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