Mountain Ash / Drusilla Blackthorn Theories
In Norse & Celtic mythology, the first man and woman were forged from the Ash Tree and Rowan Tree (Mountain Ash), respectively. The connection between these two was just too much for me to not obsess over. Below are some notes about the symbolism of Mountain Ash and how I think it could tie into TWP. Throughout the notes are numbers in brackets that tie to my insane corresponding theories at the end.
Mountain Ash (Rowan Tree)
The Blackthorns are from Cornwall [1] which would more closely link them to Celtic mythology/symbolism. In Celtic mythology the Rowan Tree is known as the Tree of Life and symbolises courage, wisdom and protection. However, there is also a non-celtic legend that a Rowan tree bent over a fast flowing river so that Thor could grab onto a branch and kept him from being swept into the underworld [2].
The Rowan Tree has almost always been tied to symbolism of protection in general but especially against witchcraft, faerie spells, enchantment [3], and evil spirits for several reasons but most notably: at the bottom of each berry is a pentagram which was seen as a symbol of protection in the pre-christian era. It was considered such a sacred tree that it was forbidden (and seen as immense bad luck) to cut one down, taboo to cut one with a knife, and forbidden from being cultivated for anything other than ritual or ceremonial purposes. There is an old rhyme:
โRowan tree and red thread / make the witches tine their speed.โ
Coinciding with this, across the UK (including Cornwall) crosses made of rowan twigs bound with red thread were sewn into the lining of coats or carried in pocket for protection. Also weird fact/coincidence: The Rowan Tree is the clan badge of the Malcom family (as in Malcom Fade?) and is also the tree that the devil is said to have hung his mother from [4].
Other Uses of Rowan Trees
The wood of a Rowan tree was used to make Carving Rune Staves [5] and walking sticks made from Rowan wood are believed to protect travellers from becoming lost as well as help clear the mind and open up perspectives [6]. The bark & berries of a Rowan tree were used to dye ceremonial garments black [7]. Rowan wood was also often used to make spindles & spinning wheels (sleeping beauty anybody?)
The Rowan fairy is seen as one of the most helpful (fairies arenโt that helpful imo so not that high of a bar to cross but anyways), as she values matters of this world while seeking to establish a connection with other realms [8]. She invites interchange between the realms but firmly repels intruders. She has such a grounding influence that she can connect you the other realm while keeping you firmly in this world [9]. Rowan trees are also known as the "portal tree". It is considered the threshold, between this world and other realms allowing you not only to go somewhere but also leave.
Like hawthorn & elder trees, the Rowan was denoted as a Faerie tree because of its white flowers. Having a Rowan tree in your yard/garden is said to provide the home and family with fairy blessings, and the protection of the fey as well as protection from them [10]. Rowan was also thought to ward off changelings [11] and protect the living from the dead [12].
The first ever shadowhunters to drink from the mortal cup were from Cornwall. I feel like this fact would not have been brought up unless it ties it to the Blackthorns being one of the first/original shadowhunters.
Pandemonium is being slated as the sort of ultimate demon realm and what are demon realms of not Underworlds. I think this could tie into Dru directly or indirectly providing Ash/Kit/Jaime (we donโt know who) protection from Pandemonium. Maybe thatโs what it means on the card by โwith me you are safe.โ
Dru will be immune to the enchantments placed on Ash because of her โOGโ shadowhunter blood. We assume that Julian was immune because his feelings were shut off, but it could be more.
I think Sammael (the devil) is the big bad in TWP. The witch Baba Yaga is stated to be the devil's grandmother & is already tied to TLH through Lucieโs โall the stories are trueโ story and maybe there is a bigger connection we donโt yet see. Sammaelโs crime as stated in the codex was โsoftening the veils between the human world and the Void.โ In contrast, the Celts believed the veil between heaven and the mortal world was thinnest on mountain summits which is where Rowan trees are known to grow and are indigenous to. Dru could be the counterbalance or a conduit to a counterbalance.
Not so much a theory but the fact that Rowan wood was used to make essentially a Celtic version of a stele and that itโs name is linked to the word โruneโ itself (Rowan means โa secretโ or โto whisperโ) cannot be ignored and seen as insignificant.
Dru truly just wants to be listened to and acknowledged as someone with valuable input. Itโs why she immediately connects with Jaime. In regards to providing clarity, she helps Kieran whenever he is struggling with the Mark/Cristina situation. Sheโs a wise little bby. And with taking in perspectives - she listens to Tavvy and convinces Helen and the others to be the ones to try to anchor Julian & Emma. Originally she wrote him off as the others did to her and then understood his perspective and it worked. Helping Julian & Emma find their way back to their mortal bodies & souls.
Also not a theory but Druโs favorite color is black so I think thatโs a rad connection.
Dru obviously cares about this world and her family and friends here so she would care to protect it and stop Janus/The Queen/whomever if they try to destroy it. She doesnโt hate faerie or the fey (obvi) but she wonโt stand by if they try to hurt this world.
This could be how TLH ties into TWP. James struggles to come back to this world while in the demon realms except for with the help of Cordelia & Cortana. Maybe Dru and the Blackthorn sword will be the same for Ash/Kit/Jaime and be a sort of guiding light. Also ties into the whole โkeeps you from being lostโ thing mentioned earlier.
I think Ash or maybe even Kit could be the fey protecting Dru & her family/friends from evil in general but Ash/Kit could be the ones protecting them from the fey.
Ok this one is a doozy. buckle in. Changlings are mundanes swapped (kidnapped) in exchange for a sickly fey. Ash is a human/shadowhunter child since shadowhunter blood always bleeds true. However, he grew up in Faerie, has fey attributes & through his enchantments he can perform some magic. Also he has those wings so obvi not totally normal human anymore. Kitโs a direct descendent of both the courts. His line was never intended to have Shadowhunter blood like Ash. He -like the sickly fey left behind- would have never known his origin and would have just thought he had the Sight if it werenโt for Jem & Tessa. I think that Druโs friendship with Kit could help protect him and others close to him if Ash truly cares about Dru and doesnโt want to upset or hurt her.
Protection from the dead as well as evil spirits makes me think of Livvy and the โconsequences from using necromancyโ thatโs already been hinted at by CC. I think Livvy will battle with trying to not to turn into an evil spirit. She has already almost possessed several people even though she was horrified & ashamed when she later realized what she was thinking of doing. She caused what felt like a small earthquake and broke a shit ton of stuff trying to fight that urge. I think even if Livvy doesnโt turn evil, power attracts power and some other spirit/entity/person could try to corrupt her or Ty with temptations of becoming a real person and not just a ghost. Maybe Livvy becomes jealous whenever she sees Ty & Dru interact in ways she canโt (even if she loves Dru). We barely catch a glimpse of how wicked powerful Livvy can become with what she did at the LA institute & the conservatory. The rest of the Blackthorns, the Carstairs, the Herondales, or even Livvy herself might need protection from the dead and/or evil spirits.
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