Rowan —by Míchealín Ní Dhochartaigh  Rowan (Luis) 21 January–17 February Rowan, or mountain ash, is a potent tool for divination. Collect rowan sprigs during the Rowan Moon to use as catalysts during your divination exercises. The Druids inscribed symbols onto rowan rods. These were scattered about as a question was asked, and the varied patterns created by the fallen sticks determined the answer. Rowan is the Celtic tree for those born between 21 January and 17 February. Rowan is associated with the festival for Imbolc. It is a member of the apple family, and if you cut across the berries horizontally, a tiny, pentagram-shaped seed container will be revealed, much like a wee version of the one found inside an apple. Leafy rowan twigs bound with red ribbon were often placed in stables and biers to protect livestock. Some Southern and Eastern Europeans believe that Rowan protects again the rising of spirits from grave, i.e., the undead. In ancient graveyards, one will often see planted a Rowan tree. Some also believed that wearing a rowan necklace or placing a rowan cross on the door protected against witches. The rowan, however, is actually sacred to witches. Rowan’s qualities are protection, magic, intuition, a protector against enchantment, and as a guard of the sacred gateways into the Otherworld. Some witches them around their necks and used the berries as "worry berries," similar to the way a catholic might use a rosary. See Also: Celtic Tree Calendar Sources: Conway DJ. Celtic Magic, Llewellyn Worldwide, 1994. Davidson, HR Ellis. Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions, Syracuse University Press, 1988. Farrar, J and Farrar, S. A Witches' Bible: The Complete Witches' Handbook. Phoenix Publishing, London, 1984. Hawke, E. Praise to the Moon: Myth and Magic of the Lunar Cycle, Llewellyn Worldwide, 2002. Llewellyn Witches’ Datebook 2003, ed. KM Brielmaier, Llewellyn Worldwide, 2002. Lonigan, PR. The Druids: Priests of the Ancient Celts, Greenwood Press, 1996. Morrison, D. The Craft, Llewellyn Worldwide, 2002. Personal knowledge/traditions. Page updated 14 Jan 2005 Celtic Background & Logo by Míchealín Ní Dhochartaigh Copyright © 2005 Ireland's OWN All Rights Reserved.