Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

The ginkgo, or maidenhair tree, is perhaps the most ancient of trees still in existence. It is the only species in its family and has been found as fossilised remains that are over 180 million years old throughout the world. Although it is deciduous, ginkgo is usually classed as a conifer, but in fact it is even older than the conifers, that are considered to be the earliest of the flowering trees.

Ginkgo can be very long-lived. It is found in China and from there was taken to Japan where there are esteemed temple trees over a thousand years old. Ginkgo has a simple form with a single upright trunk and short branches growing out to make a narrow pyramidal form up to 40m (130ft). The leaves are unique and unmistakeable. Fan-shaped with a deep central notch, they are thick and hairless, carried on long stems that spring from short nodes on the branches. In autumn the leaves turn bright butter yellow. The flowers of the male and female trees are budlike catkins in March. When planted nearby the female trees become fertilised and bear a fleshy, plum-like seed that has a strong and unpleasant smell. Leaves and fruit are rich in medicinal compounds. No wild trees are known to exist. Ginkgo remains in existence by virtue of its medicinal and spiritual values. It has become a common park and garden tree since its introduction to Europe by 19th century explorers of the Far East.

The Essence

Keywords: “the Ancient Way”; harmonisation with the Universe; invisibility; flowing with the tides; smooth flow of emotions; internal harmonisation; regulation of internal and external Elements; neutralisation of deep stress and trauma; clarification and purification; contiguous flow; harmonious vessel; the Way of Power.

The main energy of ginkgo helps the internal flow of the feelings within the individual. It is concerned with relationship to the self, self-directed and self-motivated. Without an open, honest awareness of what one’s own state of being is, it is pointless reaching out into the world. Everything we feel internally is expressed in how we behave with everything around us. We mirror in our lives how we feel, or do not feel, inside. Without knowing this as reality it can seem as if circumstances, events and people conspire to prevent us from achieving our goals, when in fact it is the way we interact – our expectations, our blocks, our problems, that often initiates the friction that prevents success. Ginkgo brings a deep relaxation, a release of emotional stress that allows us to enjoy simple pleasures. Where there is an overburdening of emotion it brings release and an acceptance of difficulties.

The solar plexus chakra is balanced at emotional and mental levels. Welling up of strong feelings like anger, fear and resentment are quickly brought to a state of peace. That energy is given creative pathways to revivify the life energy in the body, rather than dissipating in emotional outbursts. Thus the system is strengthened and empowered to act constructively for the benefit of the self. This internal revolution of energy patterns reinforces personal truth and helps to uphold beliefs without the need to force those ideas on others, or to be unsympathetic to the opposite viewpoint.

With this internal harmonisation of flow it becomes possible to have a better connection with others, to be more sensitive and to feel the flow of energy between yourself and others. This can help to balance those who find that they are overly sensitive to the energy of others or who feel they need to be isolated and cut off from the unbalancing influence of other people. Those suffering from chronic energy loss (like ME and CFS), would perhaps benefit from the stabilising effect of the ginkgo tree essence. The essence also helps to create a useful balance of energies in relationships so that personal boundaries are maintained without closing down necessary communications.

Very deep stresses are helped to clear from the most subtle layers of the body. Tendencies from other lives or from ancestral and genetic patterns begin to work free and lose their hold on behaviour and belief structures. Traumas that have locked the body into working in a certain way are gently melted so that a more creative, stress-free flow of energy can be established.

With this tree’s energy comes a profound cleansing and purifying that ultimately can link the flow of the individual’s personal energy circuits to the energy circuits of the Universal tides. Although this potentially provided limitless energy and limitless potential for action, in actuality it creates a seamless flow between desire and fulfilment, where the only fulfilment required is that which furthers the harmony of the Universe. In this sense ginkgo creates a state of invisibility. The individual creates no ripples, leaves no footprints, has no power except the perfect amount required to complete each task.

Signature:

The fan –shaped leaves that create an even flow of energy between the inner and outer worlds.