Decking the halls with Holly

Holly, being that go-to winter holiday decoration, must have some reason besides the nice color of the red berries, or that the evergreen species stands out strong throughout the winter. Of course it would have been a nice decoration in the home during the darkest times of the year.

However, there’s more to the plant than the strong green and red of the winter. While the berries are strongly emetic and laxative and therefore considered toxic, the leaves are diaphoretic and can help with fevers, colds and flu. (another great reason to have it close by during the winter!) They were also used with small pox and topically for skin disorders.

There is an American holly, Ilex opaca, that is native to the southeastern area of the US, but there are many throughout the world. Yaupon, Ilex vomitoria is also native to the eastern US and it’s leaves can be brewed as a source of caffeine. Similar to it’s well know cousin, Yerba mate, Ilex paraguariensis.

While some sources have used the leaves also for the heart. The essence of the holly flower is used for just that.

The flower essence of holly is a specific remedy for issues of the heart- jealousy, anger, hatred, resentment, etc. It can be a foundational remedy for almost everyone to help get the emotional heart in a more happy and open place, so I like to add it to a lot of my general formulas.

I like to think of the doctrine of signatures with holly. This plant, that once deer or something in the environment starts hurting it, it increases it’s defenses by adding more thorns to its leaves. It makes it harder to access because it doesn’t want to be hurt again.

And I think this is also what people sometimes do with their pain- it manifests as jealousy, anger, or any other version of thorns, when really they want to be able to have that open heart. Those thorns aren’t always intended to hurt, often they just want to protect.

With this in mind, I love that people bring holly into the home when they will have family/community gatherings. Of course, I do love adding holly flower essence to the communal drinks, etc. but I also think it can be nice to strategically place small holly decorations where certain people like to sit or at their place setting, or your own. I love keeping the message of this plant spirit in mind as humans gather and come into close proximity of it.

The world needs a softer, more compassionate heart, and we need to be able to let down our defenses at some point, why not try to work on that as we gather in the darkness to welcome in the light.

Holly leaf and flower