Celtic dictionary: Hazel

August 5 - September 1 - "Moon of the Wise"

Called the Tree of Wisdom, the Hazel was believed to possess knowledge and magical skills within its Hazel nuts. To fell this tree was considered a crime and was punished by death. Bearing close affinity to the element of water, the Hazel twigs were favored by water-diviners and it was believed that the mushrooms that grew on this tree could help a person recover lost items. Being favored by the Druids, Hazel wood was preferred in the making of staves. Ground Hazel nuts were used medicinally in the curing of coughs, sore throats and the relief of cold head symptoms.

The Hazel is a small tree, robust and deciduous that can be found growing on heavy, dry soil. It grows near the edges of forests, scrubs and open woodland. The poles of the Hazel were once used to construct the walls of houses and hurdles for sheep.

The Hazel person can be of two distinct types. And it is as such with every tree in the zodiac: a first type called 'the new moon', related to the first two weeks of the sign, and 'the full moon' that obviously goes to the last two weeks of the respective sign.

The 'new moon' individuals embark themselves in a quest to seek out knowledge. Their inquisitive natures can, however, turn them into impertinent and deceitful characters. The 'full moons' are more communicative and cordial in their temperament. They have a tendency to become public figures or teach arts to people. A 'full moon' Hazel has a strong sense of honesty, but may become a bit too critical in attitude. If Hazels do not express their creativity, they can become irritable and moody.

Overall, Hazels are clever and reasonable persons. Witty and ingenious, they make good writers and interposers. The Hazels like to organize everything to the smallest detail. Their artistic skills allow them to create wondrous things with many practical uses. Strong defenders of truth, they can judge all kinds of situations very quickly. Hazels hate falsehood and are known to be the most cerebral of all the Celtic signs, their sense of reservation allowing them to keep aside from life's emotional sphere. On the other hand, Hazel people do tend to get paranoid and lose their self-confidence. Relationship-wise, Hazels are caring, warm and honest, but have a tendency to spoil their kids and spouses.

The Hazel individuals should be a source of inspiration to others in what the arts are concerned. They must trust their intuition in order to achieve wisdom.

The Ogham symbol that is associated with the Hazel is Coll.

The lucky gemstone of the ones born under this sign is the Amethyst, a valuable stone, its colors ranging from pale lilac to deep purple. This gem is the symbol of sincerity and peace of mind and is said to improve memory, provide immunity to poison and, if placed under a pillow, assures nice dreams. For the Amethyst to work at its best, it should be set in gold or silver jewelry.

The flower of the Hazel is the Vervain ('Dragon's Claw', 'Pigeonweed'), a plant that was intensely used by Druids in ritual sacrifices. A perennial plant, it thrives in waste areas and the colors of its flowers range from white to blue and lavender. Once believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac, it was until recently hung by the necks of children to prevent infections.

The celestial body associated with the Hazel is the planet Mercury ('Mugher').

The Hazel deity is Oghma, the God of Writing, Literature and Rhetoric. He is the inventor of the Ogham alphabet used by the Druids in their rituals. Oghma also provided escort to the Otherworld to the recently-departed. Another deity that held the Hazel as sacred was Manannan mac Llyr, a Sea-God with shape-shifting abilities. He had many a magical weapons, a self-propelled ship and an armor that could render the wearer invisible. Manannan was not popular amidst the Celts until they took to the sea.

Two animals are the representations of the Hazel: the Stalking Crane and the Rainbow Salmon. The Cranes, according to Celtic lore, were people making atonements for their wrong-doings. The Crane was also considered sacred to the Goddesses, symbolizing magic, shamanic travel and the depths of learning and truth. The Rainbow Salmon was regarded by the Celts as one of the most ancient of animals, the symbol for inspiration.

There are also other lesser influences for each sign of the Celtic zodiac. These influences can be traced by the specific date of birth within the major sign. In the case of the individual born under the sign of the Hazel, there are three influences, similar to the 'ascendants' in the European zodiac:

 

August 5 - August 13 - The Poplar

August 14 - August 23 - The Cedar

August 24 - September 1 - The Pine

 

The approximate equivalent of the Hazel sign in the Western/European zodiac is the Virgo (August 23 - September 22).