Given the beauty and majesty of oaks, it is certainly not surprising that the ancient druids revered the oak, and the term druid literally means “oak knowledge.” Within the druid traditions, oaks are tied to wisdom, knowledge, strength, power, and grounding. ALike most other hardwood nut trees (hickory, walnut, butternut), oaks are relatively slow-growing and long-lived white oaks (Quercus alba) can live 600 years or more. The sacredness of the oak has been known across cultures and peoples–for more on the magic and medicine of the oak tree, you can see this post. Most areas of the world have some oak (Quercus) species, here in North America, we have over 50 varieties that vary quite considerably across bio-regions. Healing Harvests and the Sacredness of the OakĪlmost anywhere you live in the world, you are likely to be able to find one or more species of oak tree. I prefer to create enough acorn meal to enjoy for a ritual meal for both the Fall Equinox and Samhain. Because a small amount of acorn flour takes quite a bit of time and effort, I see it as a “special” food that can be integrated into feasts, celebrations, and more. Thus, in this post, we’ll explore the magic of the acorn, how to process acorns (through several methods), and a few recipes that you can use to create special foods from acorn flour. I really enjoy processing acorns and using them as ritual foods for both the fall equinox and Samhain. Cultures subsided–and thrived–on annual acorn harvests and the bread, cakes, grits, and other foods that can be made with processed acorns. Here in North America, acorns and chestnuts were primary food sources for native American people. Acorn was once a staple food crop of many different peoples around the world–and in some places, it still is. Each of these oaks, every 2-3 years, produces an amazing crop of nuts that simply drop at your feet. In my area, we have abundant oaks of a variety of species: white oak, chestnut oak, eastern red oak, swamp oak, and much more. With the cooler temperatures of September and October, the abundance of the Oaks come forth.
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