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The Celtic tree calendar for the mid month of
May starts with the Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha). Hawthorn is
a small tree no larger than a shrub and is popular in England as
a hedge. The name origins came from the Anglo-Saxons “haegthorn”
meaning hedge thorn. Hawthorn has a light, hard apple like wood
also it provides the hottest fires for kindling. The leaves and
blossoms are used for teas to aid anxiety, appetite loss and
poor circulation. Also, it can be used for the treatment of
asthma, arthritis and rheumatism. The Romans and Greeks used the
hawthorn as symbolic growth for hope and marriage. The Hawthorn
has magical associations with Peace, Prosperity, Protection,
Restraint and Fertility.
 
The four Guardians of Iceland, one for each quarter, of the
country are described in an old tale telling of a magician who
was sent by King Harold Gormsson of Denmark to investigate the
country prior to invasion.
The magician swam to Iceland in the form of a whale, and when he
reached the country he saw that all hills and mountains were
full of spirits, large and small. He came to Vopnafjörður (Fjord
of Weapons) on the East coast and a huge dragon approached him,
accompanied by reptiles, worms and lizards. He then swam north
to Eyjafjörður (Fjord of Isles) and was approached there by a
bird so huge, that the wings touched the mountains on each side
of the valley. The bird was accompanied by numerous other birds
of all sizes, large and small. He went west and south and came
to Breiðafjörður (Wide Fjord), where he was approached by a huge
bull which waded into the sea and made loud noises, the bull was
accompanied by a large number of spirits. He went from there and
south of Reykjanes (Smoke Peninsula) and wanted to take land at
Víkarsskeið (The Sands of Vikar), but was approached by a huge
rock giant whose head was higher than the mountains and carried
a large iron staff, and he was accompanied by a host of other
giants. Then the magician went east along the south coast, where
he could find no landing places.
Thus the intentions of the King of the Danes came to naught due
to the efforts of the Guardian Spirits of Iceland.
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