Ogham Tuesday: Holly/Tinne

I’ve seen holly my whole life, but it wasn’t until recently that I learned it could grow to full tree size instead of the little shrubberies I was used to. Also, that only the leaves on its lower branches have the prickly edges – to protect from the ravages of deer and other grazers – while leaves on the upper branches have smooth edges. 

Holly berries are an important source of food for birds and many wild animals, particularly after winter freezing tenderizes the fruits, though toxic to humans and domesticated animals like cows. (Unfortunately, children are attracted to the bright red berries.) As an evergreen, its branches also provide shelter and protection from predators and the weather. 

The survival mechanisms of the holly have served it well: the fossil record shows evidence of these trees being widespread by the end of the Cretaceous period. Its vigor is something of a double-edged sword, though, because it’s considered to be invasive in some areas (such as the US Pacific Northwest) where its ability to thrive in shady areas is crowding out less competitive, native species. 

That very double-edged nature often surfaces with Holly in a reading. Holly is associated with air and has a lot in common with the suit of Swords in a tarot deck. Intellect and discernment are the mindset.

As a tool, it’s less of a sword and more of a scalpel. Holly reminds us that we can’t always have it all, but we can be proactive about deciding what we’ll edit out. I don’t often subscribe to binary thinking, but Holly offers a sharp reminder that choosing one thing means not-choosing another thing. 

Keywords include: Discernment, direct, air, justice, balance, precision, sharp, cutting, clarity, essentials, excision, swiftness, certainty, ownership, double-edged, toxic, testing, prune, bias

Guidance might be: 

• A decision is needed. You might be able to change your mind later, but not choosing right now is ultimately making a choice for you. 

• Consider whether your actions distribute pain and benefit equitably.

• Bias often creeps into our decision-making, even if its unintentional. Look for opportunities to trim away any bias that clouds your judgement.

Cautions and questions might be:

• Can you isolate the factors that are most critical in this situation? What can you safely disregard as a distraction or “too much” in some way?

• How would you define justice in this circumstance?

• Is there toxicity in your life that needs to be excised in order for healthy growth to happen?

What connections do you see? 

Blessings,

Nicole

~ Nicole (Nikki, sometimes Saffron Hare) is founder and general manager at Nine Fires Press. Her Druidic practice has included solitary, small-group, and congregational worship, with a focus on liturgy and seership. She is studying for her Master Gardener certification, rehabbing an underground home in the Midwestern US, and loves to fall in love with bad ideas.