The Power of Apple

Apple is a complex tree spirit. Its physical form, the apple, can bring both blessing and bane (it is good for overall general health, poultices can soothe inflammations, and apple cider vinegar is good in spiritual cleansings and as an astringent but at the same time, we can also extract cyanide from its seeds. Additionally, we find it cropping up in folklore in such sayings as "an apple a day keeps the doctor away"). 

What I know of esoteric lore concerning Apple comes predominantly from my studies of Ogham, but we know that there was interaction between the Norse and the Celts --in the later Viking age particular, quite extensive interaction-- and the lessons a spirit has to teach often remain the same regardless of the cultural context in which they’re being expressed. In working with Apple Spirit, I have found surprising insights and connections to Idunna too. 

Traditionally, Apple is a spirit and fruit-tree associated with divine madness, particularly shamanic madness. We see it with figures like Mad Sweeney from the Cattle Raid of Cooley. Some of its kennings include “lunatic, death sense, shelter of lunatics, protection, and force of a man.” Its name in Gaelic is “Queirt” and etymologically through the ‘cu’ sound in this word, it is related to warriors and the hunt, the sacred chase (‘cu’ –anglicized ‘qu’--means wolf or hound and one of its other by-names is ‘shelter of the wild hind’). 

The symbol of the apple branch is a symbol of journeying, of bardic power, and of messengers from the other worlds. Apple is both a gateway and a crossroads and this holds true both within and without. It can be used to awaken energies and travel within the worlds. It can be used to create gateways or doors which unlock deeper meanings in things. It can also be used to carry messages between the worlds. In this, there is a very strong connection to ancestor work. 

The relationship to poison (cyanide) serves as a deadly reminder that some doors should not be unlocked. We see hints of its baneful power, in figures like the wicked Queen in “Snow White.” It also reminds us that wisdom and knowledge, power and skill often demands great sacrifices, some of which we may not be prepared to make.  It is in this aspect of apple’s power that I connect to Idunna most strongly.

Apple is also about inspiration. It is the unlocking of the power of words and speech, of bardic inspiration and the power of the skald (and how fitting that Idunna be wed to the God of bards). There is a sheltering and magically protective aspect to apple as well that leads me to think that it might prove very useful in wardings. When combined with hawthorn spirit, it can be used to create and demarcate sacred space, and journey safely into and out of it. 

Ultimately, Apple is about awaking one’s otherworldly senses, which, if we look at this particular fruit-tree as one of Idunna’s primary tools, sheds interesting light on some of her functions. This is particularly true, not only in the journeying aspect of this tree-spirit, but in its connection to the gift of shamanic madness as well.