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.
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.”
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.
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.*
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