The Fruit of the Gods: Apple Spiritual Meaning and Magic


The Magic of Apple

Apples have a deeply-rooted magical history and are a richly symbol-laden fruit. They are known as the “Fruit of the Gods” in Celtic Mythology, and the Irish revered “The Silver Branch,” a magical artifact said to be needed to enter the Underworld before one’s time.

The Fruit of the Underworld

Apple is also known as the “Fruit of the Underworld,” Some have believed it to be the fruit that binds Persephone to the Underworld during the Winter.

Magical Ways to Use Apple

Apple wands are perfect for love, fertility, and emotional magic. Apple candles made with infused melted pink wax are often used at hand-fastings as a symbol of eternal and immortal love. Moreover, apple blossoms are wonderfully fragrant and make good additions to love satchels, brews, and incense.


Celebration and Festivities Involving Apples

Apples are often involved in Mabon and Samhain celebrations. During Mabon, the mid-harvest festival, apples are left on altars overnight and placed into the ground as an offering to the Earth.

Apples and Samhain

“Apple-Bobbing,” is a Samhain tradition that symbolizes Apollo’s “Quest for the Golden Apple,” in which he sent Andrei across the water to retrieve his three golden apples from the beast there – Rinosark.

Samhain Divination with Apples

Samhain is also a powerful time for apple divination, a popular one being to peel an apple to see how long one’s life will be. The longer the unbroken peel, the longer life will be.

Red and green apples that appear to be for sale sitting in baskets.

Wassailing the Apple Tree

Wassailing ceremonies also involve apples. There is a century-old English wassailing custom of going out to the apple orchard, picking the largest apple tree, and “hailing” its branches and roots with cider. Cakes are also gifted to the tree as well. This is to wish you good health and a bountiful harvest in the coming year.


Apples in Lore and Mythology

Apples have an interesting vein throughout mythology. It was an apple that is said to have started the Trojan War. Eris, the Goddess of Discord, was displeased with not being invited to a wedding party that a host of other gods and goddesses were invited to. She crashed the party anyway and threw an apple amid the party gatherers, with words etched onto it that said: “For the fairest.”

Moistened red apples hanging from a tree at midday.

The Goddesses Fight Over the Apple

Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite were all in attendance, and upon seeing the apple, each goddess assumed that the apple was meant for her. A quarrel ensued, and Zeus sent the most handsome mortal on the planet – Paris, Prince of Troy – to settle the matter.

A Golden Apple “For the Fairest”

Zeus gave Hermes a golden apple to deliver to Paris, who was, in turn, to give the apple to whichever goddess he considered the fairest.

The Goddesses Promises

The goddess’ all made promises to Paris to try and gain his favor and receive the apple. Hera offered to make Paris King of all of Europe and Asia.

Apples on a linen cloth in the dark.

Paris Gives the Golden Apple to Aphrodite

Athena offered him wisdom and skill in battle, and Aphrodite offered to allow Paris to elope with the beautiful Helen of Troy. It was Aphrodite’s promise that won Paris over, and he gave the apple to her.

The Apple of Discord Leads to the Fall of Troy

This caused much discord between the goddesses, and Hera and Athena, in retaliation, assisted the Greeks in the Trojan War, resulting in the fall of Troy. As a result of this myth, the phrase “apple of discord” came into being.


The Healing Power of Apples

Apples have exceptional healing properties. They are high in fiber and can relieve constipation.  Apple pectin has been known to help treat heart disease, and crushed apples are a remedy used to help prevent infection in fresh wounds.*

*(See Our FDA Disclaimer)

Bags full of red and green apples at the supermarket.

FDA Disclaimer

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13 Replies to “The Fruit of the Gods: Apple Spiritual Meaning and Magic”

  1. I am so thrilled that you came to my attention…what an enchanting, original, informative, and breath-of-fresh air post….I’ve enjoyed it so very much and look forward to reading more (I need to go back to sleep, but will be back after work. Thanks so much for sharing 🙂

    1. Oh wow…you just made my morning! Lol, thank you for such kind and beautiful words…and thank you for reading my post. I’ve been really excited about this project, and glad someone else is enjoying it too. 😀

  2. Fascinating, and so well researched, I enjoyed this through and through!
    I wasn’t aware that apples can be used in love spells, but I haven’t cast any, like you said they’re a bit manipulative.

    Meno

      1. I always think of the old idea that you should change yourself, and in doing that it will change the world around you. It does my perspective wonders.

        Meno

  3. You will enjoy your journey as you search your topics of choice and learn the “magical” powers this planet naturally provides for us. Health is about STRENGTHENING; not KILLING pathogens that maintain a natural symbiotic relationship under normal conditions where immune function is supported and maintained. I guarantee your mind will work like a “sponge” to absorb all different approaches to health and well being. I look forward to watching you develop your own philosophy and lifestyle that helps you achieve your goals in life.

    1. Thank you for the beautiful words. And you as well, you are enlightening people and awaking them to break the conventions that we so easily accepted. I’ve learned much from the handful of posts I’ve read of yours, and look forward to seeing more. If we can break out of the paradigm that teaches us to take care of ourselves using…”dubious” methods, then perhaps the Earth can do what she was meant to do — sustain us.

    1. Thank you, Chelle! The photos actually come from freephotos.com. They have hundreds of thousands of beautiful free stock photos without some tacky watermarks placed inside them. 😛

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