Hawthorn is sacred to the old gods and goddesses of Ireland known as the Tuatha de Danaan. Long ago driven below the ground by foreign invaders, today the Tuatha de Danaan are the fairy folk of Ireland.

You can open yourself to fairy contact through a simple ritual. You will need two hawthorn blooms, a basket, and a chalice of water.

Go outside to a natural setting or garden and place the basket on the ground. Meditate on the setting's symbolism as a place of unity for two polarized forces; God-Goddess, male-female, fairy-human.

Place the two hawthorn blooms in the basket, pour water over them and walk away, leaving your offering of friendship to the fairies.

- By Edain McCoy