A little history about the Acorn and its many meanings: Common Good Luck Symbol Meanings Acorn: During the Norman Conquest, the English carried dried acorns to protect themselves from the brutalities of the day. Considered to be an emblem of luck, prosperity, youthfulness and power, the Acorn is a good luck symbol indeed! It also represents spiritual growth. An Acorn. Acorns have a deep and rich symbolism in druidry. As I’ve written about in other blog posts, druid literally can be translated as “oak knowledge” and the oak is a symbol of druidry. Oak knowledge traditionally dealt with the survival of the Celtic people, and while that is still true, it can also be more broad. So we might see “Oak knowledge” referring to knowledge of growing and harvesting foods organically, foraging and harvesting from the wild, and knowledge of sustainability and permaculture. But oak knowledge can also include knowledge of stories, myths, and spiritual traditions of the ancients, the druid revival and modern druid era. Because druidry is a living religion/spiritual path, we might also see oak knowledge as our understanding of how nature can help us solve our substantial challenges in the 21st century. The acorn, as a seed, is also a symbol of growth and unlimited potential. The acorn, in its dormant state, reminds us that we, too need periods of rest/dormancy and periods of growth. We, too, must look to the oak and understand the importance of living within the seasons, with grace and harmony. The acorn teaches us about our own potential–how one acorn can grow into a massive oak and seed a whole forest. The oak tree is only partially seen–the massive root system of an oak tree is as tall and wide as the tree itself. This teaches us that there is much to living and our spiritual experiences that we can’t see, and that even though the roots can’t be seen, we can see their influence. The acorn is a symbol of strength and power. In the fall, these tiny yet hardy little nuggets drop from the oak trees to land on the ground. Most will be eaten by passing wildlife, but a few will survive to form a new tree in the spring. Because the acorn only appears on a fully mature oak, it is often considered a symbol of the patience needed to attain goals over long periods of time. It represents perseverance and hard work. In many cultures the oak is sacred, and is often connected to legends of deities who interact with mortals. Throughout history, most of the major civilizations of Europe held the oak as a highly venerated tree, and it was associated with deities in many pantheons. The Celts, Romans, Greeks and Teutonic tribes all had legends connected to the mighty oak tree. Typically, the oak was related to deities that had control over thunder, lightning, and storms. In Norse legend, Thor found shelter from a violent storm by sitting under a mighty oak tree. Today, people in some Nordic countries believe that acorns on the windowsill will protect a house from being hit by lightning. In parts of Great Britain, young ladies followed a custom of wearing an acorn on a string around their neck. It was believed that this was a talisman against premature aging. The Druids are believed to have held rituals in oak groves, and certainlymistletoe was to be found on oak trees. According to legend, mistletoe was indicative of the a god stopping by via a lightning strike on the tree. Certainly, oak trees seem to be more susceptible to lightning strikes than other trees, although this could be because its often the tallest tree around. Rulers often wore crowns of oak leaves, as a symbol of their connection to the divine. After all, if one were a living god, personification of the god on earth, one had to look the part. Roman generals were presented with oak crowns upon returning victorious from battle, and the oak leaf is still used as a symbol of leadership in the military today. Around the reign of King Henry VIII, oak became popular for its use in construction of homes for the wealthy. Managed oak forests in Scotland supplied thousands of pieces of timber for use in London and other English cities. The bark was used as well, to create a dye that was used in ink-making. The acorn is the fruit of the oak tree and has long been a sacred tree to many different cultures, and the acorn was known as the sacred first food of mankind. It is a symbol of security and abundance. An acorn carried on one’s person counteracts loneliness, illness, and pain, aids longevity, brings luck, and preserves youthfulness. Acorns are often a talisman against lighting, especially when kept on a windowsill. This is why window blind pulls were often shaped like acorns. If gathered by the full moon, the acorns make good faerie talismans, as the fey have a love for oak. To plant an acorn under the light of the moon is to bring luck and prosperity to you. To tell if a significant other is one’s “true love” take two acorn caps. One should be named for both the significant other and the inquirer. The caps should then be placed in a bowl of water. If they float together, it is “true love” if they float apart it is not love. In mythology of Druids, Norse, Romans, Native Americans and many other cultures, acorns were very often present. There is a Nordic tale in which, Thor took shelter under and oak tree during a bad storm. Diana is often depicted wearing a necklace of acorns. The acorn is sacred to the Samhain season since the time of the ancient Celts/Druids who saw the Oak as especially sacred. The oak tree is a symbol of the Horned God, also known as Cernunnos and Herne, and acorns are often used in talismans and such that are devoted to The God. An old folk tale of German Origin tells of a farmer that promises his soul to Satan. He is, however, granted a reprieve until his first crop is harvested. The farmer outwits the devil by planting acorns. This ensures him a long life to live before his debt is due. Harvesting acorns is quite an easy matter, but should be done properly. If you find an oak tree, you are sure to find a ground littered with acorns. However, taking all of the fallen fruit would be selfish, and will not be good for one’s fortune. Acorns are used by many wild animals as a food source, and that must be considered when harvesting them. Taking a handful is acceptable. It is even better to leave an offering. Oaks particularly like an offering of wine or juice. Also, if you are going to take acorns from an oak, make an effort to plant a few of them as both an offering and being good to the earth. Acorns also have numerous non magickal uses. Soaking the caps in iron rich water will yield a black dye for baskets or yarn or fabric. Their medicinal properties are also extremely useful. Boiling the husks to make a strong tea makes a great skin wash for skin problems or a gargle for mouth problems. A second or third boiling of the hulls will yield a tea that is a good enema for hemorrhoids or can be used internally to treat gastrointestinal bleeding. Acorns also are good for culinary purposes. The inside fruit can be soaked in running water and then ground into flour to make cakes that are extremely nutritious and make good survival food
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 16:11:38 +0000
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