Holly is the Ogham Tree for June

 

Holly  Tinne   T

The ancient Celts used the first alphabet in Europe which is called the Ogham script.  Each letter is associated with a tree or an important plant.  The alphabet was used as a mnemonic device to encode knowledge, the Celtic song of the universe, Ceolta na Cruinne (Diana Beresford-Kroeger).  The thirteen months of the year (pre-Gregorian calendar) were each represented by a particular tree.  The new year began on Nov. 1^st with Birch, followed by Rowan in December, Alder in January, Willow in February, Ash in March, Hawthorn in April, and Oak in May.  The tree associated with June is Holly.

Holly can be found worldwide. There are 400 species of Holly worldwide. The Celtic one was Common Holly (Ilex aquifolium). It is a small, evergreen tree and although it is slow growing, it can grow to be 25m tall.  It has simple, alternate, glossy leaves with a spiny-toothed serrated leaf margin. Holly flowers from May to June with small frothy pale flowers gathered abut the stem.  The flowers are small and delicate, greenish white with four petals. with the female flowers showing prominent green ovaries.  The male and female flowers are on separate trees. They are pollinated by insects such as wild bees. 

Many birds and wild animals eat the berries especially after a frost.  However, the holly seeds are toxic to humans. The spiny leaves provide protection for birds from wind and predators as well as food. Rabbits like to eat Holly bark.

Spears and other weapons were made of holly as the wood could be tempered by heat and made stronger. Holly has a dense white wood that has been used to make chess pieces and harpsichord hammers.  It was used as a substitute for ivory on knife handles. It is known as a plant of warriors and protectors. Holly is a tree of protection and was a protected tree.  Many old trees can be found in hedgerows and cottage gardens. It has been used as a plant of protection for millenia and was hung above doors and windows.  Bringing evergreen branches into homes and barns at midwinter predates Christian times. Holly wreaths were used to celebrate Saturnalia Dec. 17 – 23.  Gift giving and feasting were its central features.  This was the precursor to Christmas. With Christianization, holly, ivy and mistletoe became Christmas plants. The old name for Holly is Holm.  But with the coming of Christianity, it became the Holy tree, its thorns symbolizing the crown of thorns.

In the past, boiled holly leaves were used to cure colds, bronchitis and rheumatism.  It has been used for medicine by many past cultures.  The drink mate in South America is made from holly.  The Druids used a tisane of the mature leaves with terminal spines as a tonic and mild diuretic.  It was used to treat fevers.  Recent research has shown that holly protects the integrity of the capillaries of the vascular system.  This allows the improved movement and expansion of the capillaries as they feed and oxygenate the body.  A possible cancer medicine from Holly is being explored. This medicine is made by a fungi that lives in the air spaces of the wood.  This endogenous fungi excretes a compound to keep the tree healthy.

According to Brehon law, Holly was one of the seven chieftain trees. The word tinne means “ingot” or “molten metal”. It burns amongst the hottest of all trees and made good charcoal so it was used by blacksmiths to make swords.  It is also said to be fuel for the life force.

The Oak and the Holly are both kings.  They are locked into an eternal struggle to wed the Earth.  The Holly beats out the Oak at midsummer and rules while the days become shorter until midwinter when the Oak takes over.  This story is told in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight where Gawain has a rod of Oak and the Green Knight a crown of Holly.  It is about fighting with balance and unity.

Glennie Kindred writes that Holly is about unifying strength, restored balance, restored direction, communication, unconditional love and responsibility.  Holly will help unite past actions with present actions and it can untie two sides of an issue, to find a balanced solution. Kindred writes that “Holly will help you communicate more easily, bringing the inner turmoil out into the open so that it can be resolved… Holly brings love and compassion, helping you understand your own pain as well as the pain of others.” (p.29)

Danu Forest writes, “with the assimilation of the oak’s lesson comes the ability to handle responsibility.  With the holly this responsibility is seen to continue through a span of time…” (p. 110)  She adds, “the holly’s fierceness and energy enables the seeker to find solutions and track down new possibilities and resource.” (p. 110)

This is a compilation of information taken from the following sources:

Diana Beresford-Kroeger (2019) To Speak for the Trees. Random House: Canada.

Danu Forest (2014) Celtic Tree Magic: Ogham Lore and Druid Mysteries. Llewellyn Worldwide: Woodbury, Minnesota.

Glennie Kindred, (1997) The Tree Ogham. Glennie Kindred: UK.

Liz and Colin Murray (1988) The Celtic Tree Oracle. Connections Book Publishing: London, UK.

Jacqueline Memory Peterson (1996) Tree Wisdom: The definitive guidebook to the myth, folklore and healing power of Trees. Thorsons: London.

Elen Sentier (2014) Trees of the Goddess. Moon Books: Winchester, UK.