The Maple

Book of Shadows - Gardening

Written by Madame Aradia

Saturday, 25 October 2008 17:43

The maple, native to North America, was first harvested by the Native Americans. They called it “sinzibuckwud” which means “drawn from the wood”. They used it in cooking, as a drink, and for curing ham. The syrup was also used to make a delicious wine. No one really knows how they discovered the syrup. An Iroquois legend tells of a Chief who threw his tomahawk at a tree and ate the syrup which ran out. Others believe the Indians discovered it by eating the sap as it oozed out of the tree and froze in the winter weather. Besides eating the syrup from the tree, the maple can be used for medical purposes. The bark and leaves can be used for liver and spleen problems. For sore eyes, make an astringent (or buy a lotion) for relief. For magical purposes, maple leaves are used in love spells (perhaps because of the sweetness of the tree...ha!). Many wands are made from maple twigs. Legends tells us that if a child “passed through” the branches of the maple, he could expect a long life. It is also considered a lucky wood to have for travels or if one is moving...gives one the feeling of being at home.