With the apex of summer comes Coll, the Irish name of the ninth letter of the Ogham alphabet. Represented by the rune ᚉ, which means “hazel tree” or “inner life force,” Coll spans August 5 to September 1 in the Celtic Tree Calendar.
Known as “The Knowledge Keeper,” the hazel was associated with inspiration, wisdom, and the ability to communicate ideas. The Gaelic word for the tree’s fruit—the hazelnut—is cno, and the word for wisdom, cnocach. In highlighting the connection between the hazel tree and the life energy needed for survival and growth, Coll is, thus, associated with wisdom and knowledge.
In Truth and Lore
Hazel, which is linked to intuition, divination, and the ability to perceive hidden truths, is a magical tree, capable of both enhancing magical abilities and protecting against them. Wands crafted from hazel wood were used by Druids for divination and for connecting with the wisdom of the tree.
In “The Song of Wandering Aengus,” by William Butler Yeats, the poet (as Aengus), peels a hazel wand and catches a magical fish that turns into a beautiful girl who then runs away. Infatuated, Aengus wanders the earth in pursuit of her, growing old but never giving up his dream.
The hazel wood has various practical uses, in addition to its common use as shepherds crooks and walking sticks. Because of its pliancy, the wood was bent into baskets and into a U-shape to hold down thatch on roofs and to weave wattle into fences and house walls. Forked twigs of hazel were used to dowse water. Hazel leaves were fed to cattle as fodder. There was also a belief that they could increase a cow’s milk yield.
Hazelnuts provided a plentiful and easily stored source of protein. They were ground and mixed with flour to make nourishing breads. Today, they are found in luxury foods, such as chocolate, and as Nutella and hazelnut butter. Cultivated hazelnuts, called filberts, take their name from St. Philibert’s Day, August 20, the date by which hazelnuts were supposed to start ripening.
Witch hazel, an astringent, can cleanse wounds and promote healing. It relieves minor skin irritations caused by acne, insect bites, and hemorrhoids, and is used in skincare products to tighten pores and reduce oiliness. It can reduce bruising and swelling by tightening blood vessels.
The Salmon of Knowledge
Hazel is also linked to sacred wells, magical springs, and the salmon of knowledge.
According to an ancient tale, nine hazel trees grew around a sacred pool, dropping nuts into the water that would be eaten by a sacred salmon, which would then absorb the wisdom. The number of bright spots on the salmon were said to indicate how many nuts had been eaten.
This is the basis of the legend of Finn McCool. As a boy, Finn studied under the Druid Finnegas, who lived alongside the River Boyne, in which lived the Salmon of Wisdom. Anyone who ate the salmon would become the wisest man in Ireland.
Finnegas, who had been trying to catch the Salmon of Wisdom for years, caught it one day and instructed Finn to cook—but not eat—it. While turning it over the fire, however, hot juice from the fish spattered onto Finn’s thumb. When he instinctively stuck his burned thumb into his mouth to cool, he imbibed the salmon’s wisdom.
“Take the Salmon of Wisdom and eat it,” Finnegas said to Finn. “The prophecy has come true.”
That’s how Finn McCool became the wisest man and one of the greatest warriors in Ireland.
A Feast for Lughnasadh
The hazel tree and hazelnuts are also associated with Lughnasadh. Named for the Celtic warrior god Lugh, the holiday is celebrated on August 1 and marks the beginning of the harvest season. It also celebrates Lugh’s foster mother Tailtiu, who died while preparing the land for farming.
Lughnasadh is a time for gathering the first fruits of the harvest as well as preparing for the coming harvest.
Another early harvest symbol is the blackberry. Enjoy a piece of blackberry pie in honor of Lugh.
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