The Briar Rose

Hawthorn..perhaps the most enchanted of British trees.

The original hedge of the earliest settlements,so it's said..Quickthorn..fast growing,visciously armed..and bearing profuse sweet smelling flowers and deep red haws.

A useful tree..flowers and berries..and viscious thorns.

Wild hedgerow hawthorn is a very different tree to the docile domestic thorns that are grown in cities and the suburbs.A tree strong and sturdy enough to withstand the elements and prevailing winds,most often twisted into curious shapes and forms,old,gnarled and knotted.Pretty and adorned with greenery and flower in the spring and summer,it;s viscious thorns hidden bneath a veil of white flowers..in the winter is it  a very different thing..stark,twisted,ominous..thorned branches against the grey sky.Hawthorn,despite popular teaching,has two faces,like any true witch..benevolant and baneful.

A boundary tree,one that once denoted the barrier between the order of settled land..and the disorder of the wildwood.Within the hawthorn the hedgewitch might meet with the wildworld..and here the wise women,the tribal grandmothers,the hedgemothers maintained the ancient relationship between mankind and the spirits of the wildwood.Here they left their offerings,gifts to appease the wild spirits..gifts in exchange for knowledge and ultimatley,magical power...and here they learnt their craft..to heal..to bewitch,to heal and curse,to communicate with the Otherworld.Hawthorn's position at the edge of worlds made it a place where the domestic might meet the wild..and consequently hawthorn is known as a faery tree,a tree populated by the spirits of the wildwood.

Hedgesitters,hedgemothers,hedgriders.. hedgewitches..a true and ancient hedgegrow is a marvellous thing,a thing that supports the plants and herbs required for medicine and magic..a place that provided shelter and food for wildlife..and a barrier of thick and dense thorned plants,briars,brambles and nettles that kept things out..and kept things in.

The few that chose and even dared to roam or cross this hedgerow gained a knowledge possessed by few..and understood by less.

A tree that was seen by many as a guardian to the wildwood..a tree that kept it's secrets..yet also a tree that prevented the wild world from entering the settled,ordered world of mankind.

The hedgerow exists in reality...it is the boundary between the ordered world and the disorder,as we see it,of the Other and wild world.A place between,a place of merger,where two worlds might meet..where knowledge is to be gained.A meeting with the Thorn Lady can change your perspective..you may never see the world in the same light again...you may see the Magical world,with all it's beauties and horrors.You may,even, be changed forever.

 

For he has been beyond the hedge and come back again...

A living barrier between the mundane and the magical..dare you cross it?

 

Problems ordering multiple purchases? Simply email your order to thegothickrose@aol.com and we'll send a combined invoice by return.

A wild wood..and a strong wood.A wood for the working witch,perhaps a wand that no true witch should be without.

Being a thorn tree,hawthorn is both protective and aggressive..for defence and attack.Contrary to popular teachings,hawthorn is not just the benevolant force of fertility and spring weddings.Visit the tree in the winter and you will see  a very different face.Neverthless she retains this face,even dressed in her spring finery.A wood that must not be underestimated.A power wood that is the guardian to the wildwood and to arcane knowledge.

 

 Hedgemother

 

A wonderful example of older hedgerow hawthorn,a beautiful strong classic hawthorn wand,richly coloured and subtley gnarled.

This is a lovely piece..the wise grandmother..the cunning wytchwyfe...a wonderful thing to possess.

This wand measures a touch over 48cms in length and is 5cms in circumference.

 

Hedgemother £16.99 

SOLD

 

 

 Hedgemother 2

Big strong power wand..a really lovely piece,subtley gnarled and beautifully patterned by the pigmentation of the inner bark.

A very impressive sturdy wand.

This piece measures 43 cms in length and 7 cms in circumference and has been fitted with a copper ring and a scarlet red and emerald green cord.

 

Hedgemother 2   £19.99  

 

Handcrafted Hawthorn 1

 

A rather mischevious wand..cheeky and spirited and full of trickery.This wand has a habit of going missing when you're looking for it...and then turning up in the most unexpected places.

A wonderful piece for the more lively amongst us..a wand to take on your woodland walks..this piece will not sit happily on an altar or as a display item..but it is a very good companion,a true spirit of the hedgerow.

This is a good strong wand measuring just on 53cms in length and just under 5cms in circumference.Heavily streaked with rich gold brown pigmentation,it'll take some handling..but will be,for sure,a lot of fun.

Handcrafted Hawthorn 1   £12.99

 

 

 

Handcrafted Hawthorn 2

A subtle wand,virtually gnarl free..a fine wand to begin with...a guide to the crooked paths of the wildwood.This is older wood,perhaps a more benevolant wood with a lively yet not uncontrollable nature.

 

This piece measures 42 cms in length and is 4.5cms in circumference.

 

Handcrafted Hawthorn 2  £9.99 

 

Classic Hawthorn Wand

 

Lovely classic hawthorn..old hedgerow wood,with prominant dark gnarling and wonderful rich colouring.

A lovely piece of manageable size..perfect for those long country walks,and an ideal wand for the 'prentice or a first wand for the younger witch.

This piece measures a touch over 37 cms in length and 4.5cms in circumference.

 

Classic Hawthorn Wand  £10.99 

 

RESERVED

Fine Ceremonial Hawthorn

A beautiful long,slender wand,subtley gnarled and dusted with rich browm pigmentation.A really fine wand..something to be pround of.

 

This piece measures 54cms in length and 4cms in circumference.

 

Fine Ceremonial Hawthorn  £10.99

SOLD

 

 

 

Dark Ceremonial Hawthorn

Very old hedgerow wood,still retaining it's dark bark.

A lovely piece,naturally wavered and wild,yet fine enough for the high altar.A tactile wand,one which has lost nothing of the deep natural graining of the wood .

This precious wand measures 42.5 cms in length and is just under 4.5cms in circumference.

Dark Ceremonial Hawthorn  £10.99  

 

RESERVED

 

The Thorn Lady

Hawthorn to die for...A beautiful piece,heavily gnarled,highly tactile and beautifully and naturally coloured.

This piece bears both the bare wood and the beautiful patterning that comes from the retention of the inner bark during the crafting.

Ever so slightly wavered by nature,this piece possesses a curved natural "handle".

A wand for the experienced witch..this piece is a lively and energetic power,yet also a somewhat daunting power..like standing at the gate between worlds..

This wand measures 48cms in length and 5.5 cms in circumference.

 

SOLD

 

 

 

Thorn: Runic Hawthorn

Beautiful strong hedgerow hawthorn bearing the runic stave Thorn.

Perhaps the ultimate in protection,based on the Thorn's ability to repel,deflect and block malicious activity of any type.

There are centuries upon centuries of traditional associations related to this wand..it's a formidable piece..

And a very powerful force..of protection and magic.

This wand measures 51cms in length and is 5.5 cms in circumference.Subtely gnarled and beautifully coloured,it's a rare treasure.

The right rune stave on the right wood..a formidable force indeed.

 

SOLD

Wildwood

 

A beautiful piece,and a very powerful,lively wand.

Almost devoid of gnarls and knots at the top,gradually becoming prominantly gnarled towards the bottom and a rich golden cream wood,streaked with darker pigmentation.

 

This wonderful piece measures 53cms in length and 5.5 cms in circumference.

Just gorgeous.

 

Wildwood  £14.99                 

SOLD 

 

Forked Hawthorn

Wonderful naturally forked hawthorn wand.A lovely big strong wand beautifully coloured by natural pigmentation.

This is a fine example of older hawthorn,a very strong wood heavily gnarled..a true working wand at home in the hdgerows and wild wood..a wand for poking and prying with..for use and not for ornamentation.

This lovely piece measures just over 53 cms in length and has a 9cms span between the forkes which are shaped to sharp points,and is on average 6cms in circumference in the shaft

 

Forked Hawthorn £18.00 

 

 

Hawthorn no 6

A lovely example of old hedgerow hawthorn...heavily gnarled and beautifuly coloured.

This piece is naturally curved..a good strong working  wand measuring 47 cms in length by 5cms in circumference.

 

Hawthorn no 6   £16.00

 Handcrafted Hawthorn 3

A paler wood..light golden cream in colour,beautifully gnarled.

This is older wood,with it's own natural self coloured patterning within the wood..a lovely thing and of a manageable length.

This piece measures 42cms in length and 5cms in circumference.

 

SOLD

 

 Wytchwyfe

A wonderfully gnarled wand,a true hedgerow treasure.

This is a fine example of older wood,heavy and prominant gnarling,strong and sturdy.A wand to go poking about with,like

any decent old wytchwyfe...and  benevolant force of protection and arcane wisdom.

This piece measures 41cms in length and is on average 5cms in circumference.A truely distinctive piece.

 

SOLD

 

Fine Twisted Hawthorn

A remarkably curious piece with fascinating gnarls and knots.Naturally twisted by nature,this id old hedgerow hawthorn,a wonderfully enchanted thing.

This piece measures 57.5 cms in length overall and is 4.5 cms in circumference.

A true wildwood spirit.

 

Twisted Fine Hawthorn  £12.99 

 

SOLD

Hawthorn Power Wand

Gorgeous old hedgerow hawthorn..a very strong wand beautifully coloured and subtley gnarled measuring 42 cms by 6.5 cms.Fitted with a copper ring and a handbraided cord in red,black and emerald green.

Hawthorn power Wand  £16.99 

Hagthorn 1 :Dark Twisted Hawthorn

Formidable dark twisted old hawthorn wood..

A powerful strong wand with a wonderful serpentine shape, fascinating twisted graining to the wood and fine gnarling.

This piece has been crafted with it's bark on and is a fine dark red brown colour,with lighter colouring at the gnarls.

This piece measures 46cms in length,excluding the twists and curves and is just on 6cms in length.

 

Hagthorn 1   £16.99         

SOLD

 

Hagthorn 2

Another twisted dark hawthorn....this one showing a strong contrast between the old dark bark and the paler wood surrounding the gnarls.Deep obvious graining and prominant gnarling make this a very intriguing and unique piece.

This wand measures 48cms in length,excluding twists and is just over 5cms in circunference,

 

Hagthorn 2  £16.99  

SOLD

 

Twisted Hagthorn no 1

amazing old hawthorn..gnarled and twisted and fulll of curious dark eyes.

A fascinating piece..a true glimpse into the hedgrows.

This wand seems possesed by the mischevious spirits that lurk in the hedgrow..the dark gnarls seem like eyes..and each eye is watching..something..it might be you..it might be something else.But whatever it is..it's a powerful piece,an unearthly piece,a curious piece..full of otherworldy magic.

When you hold this wand there appear to be a curious face peering back at you...neither human or animal..perhaps something in between.

A beautifully crafted wand,old wood with wonderful characteristic features.

This wizened old lady of the hedges  measures a touch over 41 cms overall length and is just under 4.5 cms in circumference.

This wand has been strung on a hamdbraided nine thread cord in emerald green and scarlet red.

 

Twisted Hagthorn 1  £18.00  

 

Stripped Hagthorn

Lovely old wood..naturally shaped into a handle at the top.

This is old hawthorn,a good strong wand,wonderfully coloured with subtle gnarling measuirng 47cms in length and 5.5cms in circumference.

 

Stripped Hagthorn  £16.99 

Twisted Hagthorn 2

Another old beauty...this piece slightly paler in colour with some very nice natural wavering to the top..and a sharp turn towards the botom.

This wand measures 43cms in length and is just under 5cms in circumference.

 

Twisted Hagthorn 2  £14.00   

 

 

Twisted Hagthorn 3

The third of our old ladies from the hedgerow..for now,at least.

Another fine piece..a somewhat stronger wand with very nice characteristic gnarling.

This piece measures 41.5cms overall length excluding bends,and is 5cms in circumference

Twisted Hagthorn 3  £14.00 

 

 Jack in the Green

 

SOLD

 

The May Queen

 

SOLD

 

Fairy Gate:Hawthorn Wall Hanging Charm

Wonderful naturally forked old hedgerow hawthorn,gnarled and heavily grained,knotted and twisted.A wonderful forked charm that is not only highly protective,but is also a gateway to Elfhame.

 

The hedge..and a gateway through it.But remember,a gate might open both ways,so don't be suprised if you encounter some rather strange otherworldy activity when you hang this piece.

This piece measures 37 cms in length and is 20.5 cms in width at it's widest.It has gnarls,and knots and a wonderful rich golden cream colouring with darker pigmentation.It hangs by means of a small copper ring at the back.

Fairy Gate Wall Charm  £18.99  

 

SOLD

 

Three Mothers

Beautiful three pronged hawthorn wall charm.Old hedgerow wood,beautifully coloured,twisted and wizened with prominant dark gnarling.

A charm that repesent rhe sacred feminine three..the Matronae,the Disir,the Wyrd Sisters..the Triple Goddess.A charm to invoke their guidance and protection in their role as craft Mothers, guides and guardians..and a charm to honour their presence.

This piece measures 50cms in length excluding twists and turns and is 30cms in width across the forks.It will protrude from the wall by approx 14cms.

This piece has been fitted with three copper ring for hanging and has been tied with a handbraided cord in emerald green and scarlet red..representing the supernatural status of the Mothers.

 

SOLD

 

The Fairy Queen

Beautiful triple pronged hawthorn wall charm..lovely fine yet heavily gnarled wood measuring 40cms in overall length,and 17cms in width between the prongs.

This charm will protrude from the wall by approx 17cms and has been fitted with a copper ring for hanging and tied with a handbraided cord in scarlet red and emerald green.

 

The Fairy queen  £16.99 

Fairy Gate

Wonderfully quirky two pronged gateway charm...

Beautiful mellow old hawthorn in  aplae amber shade,naturally forked and heavily gnarled.

This piece measures an overall height of 45 cms with a span of 25cms between the forks at the widest point.

Bound with a red and green handbraided cord,this piece has been fitted with a copper ing for hanging.

Fairy Gate  £18.00 

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Small Fairy Gate

Lovely old gnarled hawthorn wall charm.A wonderful little piece,chunky strong wood  fitted with a copper ring and tied with emerald green and scarlet red.

A bright,mischevious charm.31cms in length and 15cms in width.

 

Small Fairy Gate  £15.00 

Hawthorn oil 

Handcrafted form the leaves bark and flowers.

30 ml amber glass bottle  £3.25

 

A Dozen Hag Thorns

A dozen hag thorns,both single thorns and sprays in varying sizes..straight off the tree.

A Dozen Hag Thorns £3.50 

 

Hawthorn Bark 25 gm

Fine stripped and dried hawthorn bark for magical or ritual use.

 

Hawthorn Bark  £3.00