Image 1 of 1
WEEPING WILLOW (Salix babylonica)
Key: Ego
A tree everybody recognises, weeping willow originates from China where it grows near rivers and watercourses with other willows and poplars. It was thought to have moved westwards along the Silk Route as woven baskets and crates. Willow twigs, even those apparently dead, will grow quickly when stuck in the ground. It was probably introduced into Britain at the beginning of the eighteenth century from a tree growing on the river Euphrates. All willows cross-fertilise and present day weeping willows are much larger than their Chinese forebears.
Like most willows, weeping willow has a deep link to the solar energies. Its main focus is the balancing of power. Power can be both life-supporting and life-damaging, like gentle sunlight or the fierce desert sun. Weeping willow helps to balance the extremes of energy. At its finest level it is the spiritual fire, the manifestation of wisdom and beneficial energy to all.
It works with aspects of the Spleen and Lung meridian energy. The essence deals with the negative ego-based states of cynicism and contempt – both of which originate from a false sense of self-righteousness, or at best a failure to accept other people’s views as valid.
The emotions and passions are helped to quieten, increasing generosity to others and calms agitated or bad-tempered states.
Weeping willow will help to ameliorate the contempt that arises because one fears that one is perhaps wrong, or that a personal world-view is not unassailable and may, indeed, be invalid. It brings on new creative freedom and the strength to accept to accept another point of view.
The etheric body is given support, particularly to those areas where there is some belief system difficulty with that body part or system. Thus the essence can help to mend the underlying breaches in all-accepting love and compassion that can allow serious disease to manifest.
Useful in situations of emotional hurt and sense of loss, it helps re-establish one’s true worth and value within creation : equal to all, but superior to nothing.
Signature: Open branches that reach sunwards and are happy to cascade down to earth. The cascades of leaves forms a safe curtained space – a flexible border or barrier to the outside world. A fountain of force expressing the strength and flexibility of water.