Dear Hearts
Hazel the fabled Tree of Knowledge whose precious nuts drop in to the water to be consumed by Salmon. He who swims from the Skylands up in the mountains down to the sea and back. Of all the animals in the old tale of the search for Mabon he is the eldest. Tales of ‘the oldest animals are common throughout the literature of the world, ancient and modern. Such legends are to be found in Jewish, Persian, Chinese and Hindu literature for example.
Salmon eats the nine hazel nuts as they drop into the water. It is said that the spots on his back symbolise the nuts consumed. This is the animal who travels between realms from the Underworld up to the Heavens (sky) in the mountains.
Oh, Silver Streak lighting up the darkness
How swift you do travel
You who reaches where no one else can
Finding the source of the sun
A deep bed sunk in the night time
Stars mirrored in hazels and upon your back.
None is mightier than you
Except for the Golden Haired One
Who scoops you up out of the roiling cauldron
Of deep waters swirling
Tasting you, deep knowledge at his finger tips
ACV 2024
Who is the eater of those wise and ancient and Salmon? Why Bear of course. Although Bear is not directly mentioned, or disappeared into the mists of time due to the medieval churches’ propaganda, nevertheless Bear remains as a presence. King Arthur is involved in quest to find Mabon the son of Modron. Art, as in Arthur, meaning Bear is well attested. Giants of uncommon strength and those heroes who reach maturity in but a matter of days are also thought to be allusions to bears. Indeed, scholars have researched as such. But maybe I digress too much.
Blackbird, Stag, Owl, Eagle, all point eventually towards Salmon as the repository of ancient knowledge as the oldest animal. Although it is thought there were more animals than these first four in the tale originally. Of course, what has all this to with Hazel? Well, it’s partner Apple comes next and thus will end our tale (or it begins again in the cycle). With September comes the equinox, and the balance of day and night tips towards the dark and thus begins our descent to the Other World. What has Apple to do with this? You shall see.
Hazels unripe were once crushed and the milk sweetened with honey to feed babies. These days we have Hazel milk in cartons. We can of course make a tea with leaves. These nuts too are common at All Hallows/Samhain, used in fortune telling.
This is a short letter, much is going on behind the scenes.
In the tale of the search for the oldest animal as part of the search for Mabon the seekers have to go through a number of animals until they reach Salmon. It is Salmon who is both the oldest and wisest.
Is Salmon in pristine condition? No, he is battle scarred. He is living proof is he not? Living proof that wisdom costs.
As William Blake says,
What is the price of experience? Do men buy it for a song? Or wisdom for a dance in the street? No, it is bought with a price of all the man hath, his house, his wife, his children.
That great Salmon who has swum in fresh water and salt, has great tines in his back from being hunted. Thousands of miles of travelling and wounds gathered along the way. He is life’s journey.
Life is very challenging at the moment and I’m in danger of autistic overload. I am doing my best to try and pace myself. I’m not perfect, nobody is.
Perhaps this is where we start, by acknowledging our humanity and our imperfections. Wounds only heal when we can pull out the things that are hurting us, but it takes bravery to travel to the place where they are and then to view them. But first we have to know we are hurting and why. That’s the challenge.
I’m not perfect, far from it. Nobody is.
Those hazel nuts the salmon swallowed are hard won.
Hazel is a magical tree, but you have to work for the harvest.
Wild Wishes and blessings
Amanda Claire x
Beautifully put. A reminder I much needed as I experience the thornes of the journey. Wisdom is truly hard won, but the only prize worth reaching for.