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Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica)
Atlas cedar comes from the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco in North Africa. It has been planted in Britain since 1844 but the largest number of trees are now blue Atlas cedar, a natural variation that is found growing amidst the more common dark green variety in the wild. The tree grows to 35m. (110 ft.) and has slightly ascending, sweeping branches. (The three main cedars planted in Britain can be identified thus : Atlas cedar has Ascending branches, cedar of Lebanon has Level branches, Deodar has Descending branches).
The bark of Atlas cedar is a smooth dark grey with fine fissures. Needles grow singly on new growth and in rosettes on mature stems. Like all cedars, the Atlas cedar flowers in autumn. Male flowers are upright, cone-like and pink, turning yellow when heavy with pollen. Small green female flowers become large pot-shaped cones with a sunken top that disintegrates after two years to leave the central spike.
Atlas cedar, also called African cedar or satinwood, gives a distilled oil that used to be known for helping bronchitis, catarrh, arthritis and skin eruptions like acne.
The Essence.
Keywords: “Resilience”; removal of out-of-date patterns; clearing the way to do what is needed; achieving a personal Path; resilience to cope with change and adversity; confidence and self-sufficiency for those feeling isolated and unsupported; cleansing of stresses and a smoothing of subtle energy to encourage the body to better use healing energy; determination to pursue personal fulfilment; understanding and flowing with the constant changing state of creation.
Atlas cedar essence is of great benefit for those who feel they lack a worthwhile direction in their life, or who face opposition to their chosen way of life. By giving the impetus to follow a personal path it allows the growth of personal power and clarity of awareness. Our lives are often a compromise between what we really want to do and what we feel we must do. Layers of conflict and resentment build up that drain away energy, enthusiasm and optimism. This turbulence can be reduced when all a person’s energies start to move smoothly in the same direction.
Atlas cedar helps those who feel unsupported and who lack the encouragement of others. It provides the energy to take full advantage of every opportunity and the practical initiative to make something from nothing. Self-confidence increases so there is less need to seek the approval of others. The energy of this tree can be extremely supportive where there is isolation from others. Its energy allows acceptance of one’s situation without denial. It can provide the means to escape the feelings of isolation, or it can offer new viewpoints where the benefits of the situation can be acknowledged. Self-sufficiency is encouraged.
All the chakra system is brought to a better state of equilibrium and this encourages a return of emotional stability. The overall balancing effect also helps the system to remain centred during times of change. It creates a calm receptivity that allows healing energy to move effortlessly through the whole of the body.
Atlas cedar helps to clear the etheric body of old, unwanted patterns of energy. These subtle scars can act as focus points for physical problems and reduce the flexibility of the body’s systems to deal with new stresses.
There is a greater organisation and flow of information that calms and clarifies deep levels of personal energy patterns. Fears and anxieties are reduced and it becomes easier to see what needs to be done to get the best out of each situation in life.
Finally, Atlas cedar brings the ability to experience the underlying creative patterns of the universe. It becomes easier to see the constant flow and change in all things, the continuous re-patterning and re-capitulation of the infinite creative urge without repetition. Sensitivity to these flows makes it easier to deal with beginnings and endings and to plug oneself into a place where the maximum life energy can be accessed. Patterns from the past are also more readily available and can inspire new ways of using ancient technologies.
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The cones take two or three years to ripen and remain even when seeds have been dispersed (resilience).