The lore of the hazel tree

Before travelling to Scotland for the first time this past Spring, I had never seen a grove of hazel trees in person. Over a year and a half prior I'd dreamt of a place, a sacred water, which (of course!) at the time I didn't think existed anywhere in the material, tangible world. This water was a healing place that had gone through great devastation, brutality, and pain. Yet its essence and existence was that of a natural [wounded] healer (think Chiron). This sacred water was surrounded by trees, which I could not identify at the time. (but yes, you guessed it! they were hazel trees). I'll share more of that story another time, as this first material interaction took me elsewhere.

The hazel tree (its fruit being the hazelnut), is a tree that has historically had magical properties associated with it. A grove of hazel trees can be found around all kinds of sacred waters -- ponds, springs and wells. They're associated with creative inspiration, communication, fertility, epiphanies, “seers”, poets, reconciliation, divining and magic.

I've heard variations of a myth in which 9 hazel trees surround a sacred pool of water that houses salmon, a highly revered fish. As hazelnuts fall into the water, the salmon eat them, gaining deep wisdom, and essentially enlightenment.

According to Nicholas Culpeper, the hazel tree is ruled by our cosmic communicator, Mercury. People would use the wood to practice various forms of divination, as well as to craft walking sticks for travel. Sticks made from hazel trees were not intended to be used as weapons but could be used for protection if necessary.

I didn't know exactly when or where in Scotland I would stumble upon my first hazel grove. I had already decided on the name hazel ritual months prior, and I knew something special would click when I was actually in their presence.

After exactly 1 week of being in Scotland, from Edinburgh to Glasgow, driving through the magical and whimsical highlands, we stumbled upon this grove on Isle of Skye.

The trees had such a welcoming, kind and almost playful presence. They were covered in bright green moss, lay low and close to the ground in a circular, almost maze-like formation. They felt wise and alive, familiar and inviting. For any tarot people out there, I felt a 3 of cups, queen of pentacles energy 🍀

With this community, I hope to cultivate a spirit of connection, learning, openness, creativity and as many unique spiritualities as there are of us! I'm truly grateful to be on this journey, and welcome you no matter where you are on your path.