Hawthorn Blessings on Lyrids, Falling star pollen will activate Hawthorn flowers, Crataegus this is best time to gather for (W)holy plant with last years berry save. When Joseph of Arimathea traveled by boat with the Virgin Mary, Lazarus, Mary Magdalene he brought the holy grail to Glastonbury. He stuck his staff in the ground and a Hawthorn grew. Today we celebrate this day during the Lyrids, when falling star pollen collects on the Hawthorne branches. Say the Señal de la Cruz, 3 Hail Mary's, an Our Father, and glory be, and walk around the tree when gathering or making medicine. You can take a piece of cloth to leave near the base of the tree, or just think about the people being helped by this medicine. The branch, always ¡before it flowers!, is brought near the entrance to the house, as on an outside porch, ideally where you blessed the house with chalk from the Three Kings, Epiphany, if you haven't done so you can take the chalk to the Hawthorn tree, and it's customary to write something inconspicuous on the tree. Note the branch if flowered should not be brought inside the house to protect from lightning strikes, only outside or nearby.
Hawthorn blooming lowest elevation here, just budding leaf now, soon to flower next week. The waxing gibbous will set west near sunrise, look for star dust pollen in the east, lower horizon, constellation Lyra with brite star Vega after midnight to early morning.
