Apple Magick: The Fruit of the Underworld
“And when you crush an apple with your teeth, say to it in your heart:
Your seeds shall live in my body,
And the buds of your tomorrow shall blossom in my heart,
And your fragrance shall be my breath,
And together we shall rejoice through all the seasons.”
― Khalil Gibran
When thinking about enchanted orchards as they appear in fairy tales and folk stories, there are none as famous as the mystical, magical apple. Governed by Venus and said to be the fruit of the gods, apples ripen en masse as the dark months arrive and we invite fire back into our homes.
Apples are also known as the food of the dead and the fruit of the Underworld. At one time, Samhain was called the Feast of Apples.
'Malum' is Latin for 'evil,' but it also means apple. There's a good chance this overlap played into the belief that apples were poisonous or might curse the picker.
In some folklore, apple trees are protective plants. They offer shelter to maidens with pure intentions, like in Andrew Lang's The Tale of Little Two-Eyes. In this fairy tale, a tree with silver leaves and golden apples sprouts overnight, just in time to rescue the heroine from her evil stepmother and stepsisters.
If we take a trip to the mythical Isle of Avalon (which translates to the Island of Apples), we'll find Merlin, the famed magician and mentor to King Arthur. According to stories, Merlin performed magickal rites in apple orchards. He also consumed the sweet fruit, which aided him in his gift of prophecy. Additionally, Merlin carried an apple bough that allowed him to move between worlds.
The Welsh poet Taliesen also carried an enchanted apple branch. Taliesen's name means “Radiant Brow,” a nod to the ancient magick shared with him by Cerridwen, the Crone of Wales. Legend says unicorns also find sanctuary beneath the apple tree and occasionally nibble on low-hanging fruit.
In some magickal communities, apples symbolize immortality and totality. They also represent inner alchemy, and a union of the five elements – earth, air, fire, and water surrounded by Spirit or Aether. The apple's relationship to elemental magick likely has something to do with the image hidden within its core. When an apple is sliced down the middle, it exposes a seed-laden pentagram. Pentagram (and Pentacle) imagery has appeared throughout temples, art, and sacred texts for thousands of years, with some of the earliest depictions on Sumerian relics.
So, how do we invite apple magick into our craft?
Let's start with the sweet and tasty option – Kitchen Witchery! Whether it's pies, cobblers, or fritters, the smell of a warm apple desert is a powerful spell. Kitchen Witches know this, which is why they focus on their intentions during the entire cooking process. While removing the peels, dusting with cinnamon, and baking each apple delight over the hearth, ask yourself – how do I want people to feel when eating this desert? What are the magickal associations behind each ingredient? Which emotions/energies/spirit will I imbue into my recipe?
And then, when your plate is empty and stomach full, you'll have to decide what to do with the leftover core and seeds. For a simple spell, try drying and saving the seeds for future spell jars, offerings to Venus, or use them in heart-centered rituals.
Or, if you were inspired by our latest Little Witch Tale, The Scavenger Hunt, perhaps you'd like to craft a wand made from an apple branch or tree cutting? Wands represent the element of air, while apples are associated with water. Ask Taliesen or Cerridwen for advice on using your apple wand to direct energy and voyage between worlds. And most importantly, before you do anything, ask the tree for permission!
To bring some apple magick aesthetic into your home or sacred space, create an apple garland! Great for draping an altar or workspace in loving, protective energies, apple garlands are also easy to make. First, slice an apple in half. Starting at the core, begin cutting thin, even apple slices. Slip the apple pieces onto a piece of twine using the pentagram-shaped hole in the center (naturally occurring from the core). Let the apple slices hang for a few days so they can dry. Once dry, string up your apple garland in doorways, windows, or anywhere that could benefit from some apple magick.
At Little Witch Books, we have been so inspired by apples lately, that we included this fruit and its mystical pentagram in our latest story, The Scavenger Hunt: A Little Witch Tale. We love apples for their relationship to witchcraft and elemental magick, of course, but also because apples are easily accessible and affordable tools for magickal practioners. If you haven't read our latest original tale, you can read chapters 1-6 of The Scavenger Hunt on our new blog, Little Witch Tales (Chapter 7 coming soon!) And if you're looking for moon spells and musings, you can now find those under the 'Moon & Vine' tab.
And finally, as an extra thank you for supporting Little Witch Books and Pointy Hat Press – whether you're sharing our stories, reposting our art, or buying books made for witches by witches – from now until November 29th, you can take 15% off everything at LittleWitchBooks.com! That includes books, pins, and cozy sweatshirts for the witch in your life. Just use code SHOPSMALL15.
By the way, have you seen these sweatshirts? Kristin here – I've been living in mine. These run true to size but if you like the oversized, wrap-me-in-my-winter-cocoon look, size up!
Enjoy the New Moon, Witches!
Crowdfunded by you and published by Pointy Hat Press, 'Little Witch Hosts Samhain Supper' is a Pagan Children's book about magickal meals, ancestral magick, and the Season of the Witch. No matter our age or occupation, we hope that Little Witch serves as an archetype for the inner child, liminal living, and the magick that exists betwixt and between each season of life.