Celtic Tree month of Holly July 8th - August 4th

By Rev. Thomas D. - Hello again! Today we are going to learn about The Celtic Tree Month of Holly. So grab some coffee or tea and lets begin our journey.

The Celtic Tree Month of Holly is the eighth month of the calendar and begins on July 8th and ends on August 4th and is the eighth consonant of the Ogham alphabet - Tinne.

Associations attributed to Holly are the following -

Planet: Mars and Saturn Element: Fire Symbolism: The Sword of Truth, Unconditional love, sacrifice, reincarnation Stone: Ruby, Bloodstone Powers: Protection,

Luck, Dream Magick Birds: Cardinal, Starling Color: Red Deity: Lugh, Tannus, Thor Sabbat: Lughnasa, Celtic festival of the Sun God Lugh, Lammas Death of the God of the Waxing year (Oak King) Birth of the God of the Waning year (Holly King) Folk Names: Aquifolius, Bat's Wings, Holy Tree, Hulver Bush CAUTION: Holly Berries are purgative and often cause nausea and vomiting. They are poisonous to children.

The following are just some of the uses and a bit of the Lore associated with Holly and the Month it symbolizes.

Medicinal properties: The powdered leaves were brewed into a healing tea for measles, and the ashes from burning the leaves in a drink soothed whooping cough. Hot compresses made from the leaves and bark helped ease the pain of broken bones and dislocations. Magickal properties: Holly is a protective herb, it protects against lightning, poison, and evil spirits. When thrown at wild animals it makes them lie down quietly and leave you alone (so it is said I have never tried this as I don't tend to have problems with such.Plus you would usually be better off not bothering an animal.) Sprinkle an infusion made with Holly along a newborn babies crib or room to protect them. Holly is also considered the male counterpart to the female Ivy. Even though Holly's Yule festival greens are traditionally burned at Imbolc, a small sprig is kept for luck and to keep evil away throughout the year. Holly berries were used to predict winter weather. If there were a profusion of berries, that meant it would be a hard winter, because the Goddess was providing extra berries for the birds.

Lammas is the ancient Celtic festival at the beginning of harvest time. Lughnasa is the Irish name for this festival; it was a time of fairs, trading and celebration. Lammas means "loaf-mass" the festival when we honor and celebrate the grain and the food that sustains our life. In a just world, no one would go hungry. All people would have access to good quality food - organic, fresh, local, and truly nourishing.

Now, when the days grow visibly shorter and the sun seems to decline, the crops ripen. So too, when we work for justice, when we have expended huge energies to bring about change, the results often come only when the tides of enthusiasm and urgency seem to be ebbing. When the marching and the shouting die away, public opinion quietly shifts. The grain stands golden in the fields, but has not yet been gathered in. We stand poised between hope and fear. Lughnasa is a time of consequence, when we reap what we have sown. Globally, we are now reaping the consequences of decades of injustice, of neglect and exploitation of the earth. Will we make the change, in time to avert disaster? Will we reap destruction, or harvest a new world based on harmony, balance and love?

Our choices and actions will tip the scales. After midnight, on a Friday, without making a sound, gather nine Holly leaves. Wrap these up in a white cloth using nine knots to tie the ends together. Place this beneath your pillow and your dreams will come true.

I hope that you enjoyed this article and found it informative.

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Text is by Rev. Thomas and from Triple Moons Divinwolff Tradition 1st Degree Course Images Via google.com