Sif and the Rowan Tree
by Raven Kaldera
To do this entry justice, I must needs give credit where it is due, and that is to Thorskegga Thorn of Chiltern Kindred, England. It was she who first gave me to understand that the Rowan tree is Sif's. I knew that the Rowan tree was traditionally linked to Thor, but honestly it seemd much less of a Thor tree than his other traditional tree, the mighty Oak. When I heard it linked to his bride Sif, it made much more sense. (In addition, the Saami goddess Ravna is the Rowan-goddess, and she is the wife of Horagales, a thunder-god who some scholars believe is Thor pulled into the beliefs of the nearby Saami. This would add another link between Sif and the Rowan.)
The botanical name of the Rowan is Sorbus acuparia, and its northern European folk names include Delight of the Eye, Luis, Quickbane, Quicken, Quickbeam, Ran Tree, Mountain Ash, Royne-Tree, Roden-Quicken, Sorb-Apple, Thor's Helper, Whitty, Wicken-Tree, Wiggin, Wiggy, Witchen, Wiky, and Wild Ash. In Old Norse it was known as Raun or Reynir; in old AngloSaxon as Cuicbeam, Reynir, or Reyni-runnr; in Old High Germanic as Raudnia. In modern German it is Eberesche or Vogelbeere; it is Rönn in Swedish, Røn in Danish, and Rogn in Norwegian.
The Rowan is native to all parts of subarctic Europe and has been one of the sacred European trees for millenia. The Celts consider it the tree of Brigid, the goddess of fire and smithcraft and healing and poetry, and Rowan is Luis, the second Celtic tree-month. Rowan twigs tied with orange-red thread were hung as a common charm across medieval Europe to repel evil spirits and bring blessings. Wands of the wood increase psychic powers and are used for divining. The tree is protective, and the classic anti-demon spell consists of Rowan berries tied with red thread, while an equal-armed cross of the twigs tied with the same red thread wards off evil magic. A Rowan staff keeps nighttime predators at bay, and is good for travelers in general. It is used for invoking spirit teachers, and banishing spirits you don’t want around. Magic wands were often carved from Rowan.
The berries, which are rich in Vitamin C, can be made into a tart jelly. (Throw away the seeds, as they contain hydrocyanic acid.) The bark and leaves are used as a gargle for thrush. A decoction of the bark has been given as a douche for vaginal fungal infections. The berries were also dried and powdered into a flour by German peasants, and brewed into a strong ale in both Germany and Wales. In the last century, Russian and Siberian horticulturalists have bred cold-hardy fruit trees by crossing Rowans with Pear and Cherry trees, selecting especially for high vitamin content and ice-hardiness. These have recently come on to the market and are a good investment for cold-climate farmers and homesteaders.
Thorskegga Thorn writes:
The holy plant of Sif is the rowan,
The protective tree with its berries of sacred red.
The tree that is called Thor’s salvation.
It saved Thor from the anger of vengeful giantesses,
Let it save you too.
Pass beneath the rowan three times and receive Sif’s blessing.
She also recommends using the traditional Rowan charm for Sif, which involves tying up Rowan twigs with their orange-red berries with a red string, and hanging it over doorways for protection. When one passes under the Rowan bundle, one says the following folk charm:
Rowan tree and red thread,
Rowan tree and red thread,
Wicked wights they hold in dread!
Rowan tree and red thread,
Rowan tree and red thread,
Drive ill-thinking from this stead!
Artwork by Anoch.