Tree Flower - Holly

HOLLY (Ilex aquifolium)

Key: Power of peace

Few people are unable to identify the holly tree with its dark green glossy, evergreen leaves edged with sharp spikes. Holly will grow anywhere except excessively damp soil, and its well-protected leaves can withstand harsh conditions. Holly is common in hedgerows, often having been used in the past both as an effective barrier to animals and as a year-round guide in accurate siting of straight plough furrows. Male and female flowers grow on separate trees. Both bear small, waxy, white, four-petalled, sweet-scented flowers in May or early June. The fertilised female flowers swell to become the familiar red berries, loved by birds throughout the winter months.

Holly grows in woodland as an understorey tree able to tolerate low levels of light. It is very slow-growing and has a very fine, dense, white wood. Often old woodlands can be identified from the scattering of large old holly trees that would originally have been found among the more mature oaks and ashes long removed for their timber.

Holly is a spiritual guide and a balance for the mind. It helps clear away disturbances from the past that may cloud judgement. It encourages discrimination, balance and justice to develop.

Holly helps to activate and energise the control systems and the systems of intelligence – hence it boosts the endocrine and immune systems.

The essence can help one to deal with panic, that loss of control linked to a sense of insecurity. Loneliness, the need for others, or dissatisfaction with oneself, the need for security, is addressed as is unhappiness, which again depends upon the sense of security, comfort and contentment. The Liver, Triple Warmer and Bladder meridians are all helped at this level.

The brow chakra is calmed. Irritability and noise at mental levels are reduced. Deep peace is given a chance to surface and communication processes are improved. This reduces friction in the system, calming everything right down. Eye, ear and head problems may benefit from holly essence.

There is better appreciation of the quality of life-energy within the body, and this allows a more accurate picture of safety and risk in one’s surroundings, increasing the ability to be flexible and cope with situations, turning them to one’s advantage.

The higher subtle bodies become better integrated which releases tension and allows deep healing and creativity to flourish. This new spiritual re-integration can effectively remove deep-seated spiritual trauma and shock.

Signature: The sharp leaves are protective of the clusters of white flowers and red fruit.