"Rowan is the tree of power, causing life and magic to flower."
One of my favorite trees is the Rowan tree and the time when the red berries can be picked up for charms and spells.
In Norse mythology the Rowan tree is the tree from which the first woman was made.(the first man was made from the ash tree).
Legend tells as well that the Rowan tree saved the life of the god Thor by bending over a fast flowing river in the Underworld in which he was being swept away. Thor grabbed a branch of the tree and get back to the shore.
You can find Rowan growing all over Europe and it was furthermore the prescribed wood on which runes were inscribed for divination as well because of its powerful magic.
Especially if you look at the berries, you will find a symbol of protection.
Each berry has a tiny five pointed star or pentagram opposite its stalk.
In folklore the colour red was the best protection against magic or evil for many people and a loop with rowan berries on a red thread can be used as a protection charm nowadays as well.
"Rowan twigs and strings of red,
Deflect all harm, gossip, and dread."
The density of rowan wood was supposed to make it a suitable material for walking sticks, magician's staves, and druid's staffs.
In folklore is was a taboo to damage them, same we know from the elder tree. It would cause bad luck.
Back in the days people wore crosses made from rowan twigs, but without the use of a knife to cut the wood.
Equal-armed rowan crosses bound with red thread for carriying in pockets or hanging them into their homes.
For me the dried rowan berries combined with a protective symbol like the Algiz rune works beautiful as charm that I can carry with me or hanging it at my doorknob or on the mirror of my car.
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