The Autumn Acorn

The Autumn Acorn

I was reminded recently of the utter perfection that is the oak acorn sitting in its little cup. The oak tree is particularly revered at this time of the autumn equinox, as its acorns provide wild animals with a crucial source of sustenance for the coming winter. A quick trawl through my books also revealed some interesting stories about the folklore of acorns and just a few are mentioned here below for this autumn equinox blog.

A well established magical virtue of the acorn is that of protection, unsurprisingly as it comes from the tree that is the epitome of strength, majesty and power. It is said that airmen would carry an acorn when flying and steeplejacks when ascending chimneys and towers as a good luck charm against the ravages of storms, particularly lighting strikes. Even having the image of an acorn in one’s house, was potent enough to guard against storm damage.

To carry an acorn was also believed to preserve youth and, in Devon, could be used to predict the outcome of a love affair. This could be done by placing two acorns in a bowl of water, and, if they floated and drew together, foretold a love affair that would eventually turn into a marriage.  Another tale says that a husband could guard against his wife cheating whilst he was away from the home by secretly placing two acorn halves under her pillow. However, this charm could be broken if the halves were discovered and eaten by both the wife and her secret lover.

An acorn necklace worn during magical rituals was said to enable contact with higher deities and ruling gods. The deities associated with the Oak are numerous, and includes Blodeuwedd, the Welsh goddess of both the light and dark, spring flowers and hidden owls. Her energies of resilience, acceptance and carving your own path can be invoked through the wearing of such an acorn necklace as can the energies of Diana/Artemis, the Roman/Greek goddess of nature, hunters, wildlife, childbirth, crossroads, and the Moon.

I will leave you with an equinox prayer to the Lady of the Autumn (in my path, this is Demeter)

The wheel has almost turned

To Winters Stillness

Death cannot linger forever

And offers solitude and peace

Dark Lady of the Autumn

Of the fire-tipped trees

Bless this time of descent

Fill us with wisdom and learning

Prepare us for sleep