Time away with Rudha-an

Rowan. Mountain Ash. Sorbus. Witchywood. A tree important enough to the Druids of old the dyed ceremonial robes with its gifts. They named it Rudha-an, or “The Red One”, and made it the second tree in their Ogham alphabet. I have been spending a lot of my time with this tree. I first noticed its bright red berry clusters and wondered if they were edible, something I wonder about most plants that come into my view. The skills of a forager are tightly entwined with what it means to be human, and as someone with a nomadic inclination and animistic intentions, they are, or at least I presume they are, essential to life. And the great wheel. (Something on my mind since I realized Jordan’s new book is out, and since I have been watching the “Into the West” series on DVD).
Once I found that those enticing berries were indeed edible as a jelly, and perhaps a few other things, I immersed myself in learning about this tree, it history as a symbol of wisdom and strength, and it’s fruit. About this same time a book I had ordered, “ the Neighborhood Forager”, had come in and there in its pages was the Sorbus, and a recipe for its fabled jelly. A jelly said to be like cranberry sauce, but more complex, good with meats, poultry and scones.
So I decided to make some, and since the berried had not been “shocked” by a frost yet, they are a bit bitter, due to the berries nature as an astringent. That took up the better part of 2 days, plucking, sorting, washing, drying, boiling, straining, and boiling, and canning.
Jelly making and canning both being new to me, I had to get the jars and miscellaneous equipment on the cheep, thrift store style, and I had to get the knowledge to do it.
Anyhow then I found that you can make not only jelly, but wine, schnapps, and drams too, and the search for the knowledge of these arts was on.
Its hard to believe I am investing so much time into this pursuit, but I feel drawn to it, the Nature of the practice, the nearly 8 hours I spent today plucking and sorting berries, and the sense that I am learning skills that although integral to our development as a species, are falling into oblivion.