Friday 18 October 2024

Rounding the Year: Foraging for Sweet Chestnuts


With the weather turning unexpectedly warm this week, I went for a walk in Beckenham Place Park with a friend. While we were there we foraged for sweet chestnuts. It brought back fond memories of roasting them on a bonfire at Halloween or Guy Fawkes Night parties when I was a child. They're also traditional Christmas fare.

Sweet chestnuts are more accurately called Spanish Chestnuts. Sandra Lawrence in her book Witch's Forest, points out that their scientific name, Castanea saliva, comes from Greece and that Theophrastus wrote that chestnut trees grew abundantly on the slopes of Mount Olympus, home of the Gods. They were dedicated to Zeus. Rachel Patterson, in A Kitchen Witch's World of Magical Herbs and Plants, writes that they are associated with love and are great to use in spells for that aim. 

The outer casing of sweet chestnuts is extremely prickly - much sharper than conker shells, which come from the horse chestnut tree. I would personally consider them excellent for protection magic. You could combine the two aspects of the tender, slightly heart-shaped nuts inside their sharp casing for a spell to protect tender emotions when love is going through difficulties. Keep your own heart safe from those who would abuse your affection. 

Sharing seasonal photos

Inspired by ideas in my book Rounding the Wheel of the Year, I've sharing seasonal pictures, art, crafts, words and other creativity. I'd love to encourage readers to record what's happening in nature in various ways including photographs, journalling, drawing or painting and crafting. 

Here are ways to share the things you're doing or what you see out and about as the wheel turns:

  • Leave a comment on this post about what you're up to
  • Find my prompts to share on my Facebook Page: Lucya Starza Pagan Portals Author
  • Share on Instagram or X (formerly Twitter) with the tag #RoundingtheYear

Where to find my books


If you want to buy any of my Pagan Portals witchcraft books or my Gothic novel Erosion really cheaply, now's your chance. My publisher Moon Books, which is part of Collective Ink, is offering 50 per cent off all e-books until October 31st. All you need to do is:
  • Click here > https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
  • Choose your e-book(s)
  • Click 'Add to basket for direct download.'
  • Click on your shopping basket
  • Click on 'Do you have a coupon?'
  • Apply promo code Spooky50  and Validate.
  • Proceed to Checkout.
You can also view Pagan Portals - Rounding the Wheel of the Year on Amazon. 

(Notes: I earn commission from advertisers for some links.)

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