The Holly Moon

The **Holly**
**moon** period runs from the **8th of July** to the **4th of August** and is the eight month in
the Tree Calendar.

Alternatively known as the Hollen moon, Weeping-holly moon,
refering to the Weeping Yaupon holly (L. illex vomitoria ‘pendula’) while its
Gaelic name is ‘An ré cuileann’.

The Hollen moon is often mistakenly translated from
its ogham name of ‘Tinne’ instead of cuileann.

**Symbolism of the Holly Tree**

In the context of the Tree Calendar the Holly-king
fights the Oak-king each year, the Oak-king rules the summer while the Holly-king rules the winter
months. This is marked when the Oak loses its leaves and the Holly stays evergreen. The Hawthorn is often seen as 'the-maiden' whom they fight over, or the 'May-queen'.

Since Hollies have hard, sharp evergreen leaves it shows people who may come
across as abrasive, course or rough but who are loving and
compassionate on the inside, they are similar to the sign of Cancer the Crab as they have a hard shell on the outside, but are also 'soft' and caring on the inside.

A
younger Holly person may not be as kind or caring as an older person as they
tend to become less ‘sharp’ as they get older as with the tree itself which if allowed will grow tall and lose it's spiny leaves.

The
Holly tree is the only evergreen tree, apart from the Ivy, that appears in the
tree moons, hence these types are stable and seldom put off by the changes
around them making the Holly person a very calm, if somewhat defensive, and
collective sign.

It is hard
to get close to the Holly person as the tree in the wild it is sharp with not
much growing around it. This tree makes the soil unfit for other trees to go
near to it and the Holly person will have a personal charm that is first
noticed from a distance.

If
the Holly person does really well one year then the next may not be as
rewarding as the Holly tree will produce a good crop of red berries one year
and then rest the following. In Ireland its tough wood and prickly evergreen
leaves shows strength, championship, protection, purification and power.

**The Hollen Person**

The Holly is astrologically ruled by the
Moon and inwardly by Saturn.

Holly people are dependable, loyal and
hard workers, like the zodiac sign of Cancer who
symbolically has hard shell with a softer interior, the Holly protects itself with it's serrated evergreen leaves.

It is hard
to get close to the Holly person as the tree in the wild it is sharp with not
much growing around it. This tree makes the soil unfit for other trees to go
near to it and the Holly person will have a personal charm that is first
noticed from a distance.

They
have an independent and defensive or hidden nature but mature very well, so older Hollen people may be more desirable than the younger personality types. The Oak person can be
best friends or worst enemies with a Holly person.

These
personalities are seldom ruffled by the unexpected. They have
the steady energy and endurance to get almost any task completed using all available
resources.

They
will keep people at a distance only letting them close when they are known for
a while. The longer that you know the Hollen person the more likely they are to
let down their defensive barrier.

It
is a good idea that the Holly person does get stuck in certain a pattern of
behavior, become to rigid in their views or to get overly defensive. When times
are tough the Holly person will often see others down and sustain themselves
through difficult times.

**Keywords:** Capricious,
motivator, adaptable through consistency, very independent,
systematic, ardent, spiritual growth, self-assured, polite, dignified,
obstinate, objective, frank, factual, open, truthful, loyal, honor, intellectual, **Can be**:
egotistical, vain, selfish, jealous, suspicious, unchanging, self obsessed

**Associations**

**Fixed-planet**: The Holly-tree is ruled by the Moon. Its secondary
planet is Saturn giving a saturnine personality to this sign.

**Opposite Signs**: Elder and Ash

The Holly
overcomes the Elder but is overcome by the Ash

**Gemstones**: Metalic-stones, Moonstone, Planets gemstone: Moonstone

**Genus**: Ilex

The Holly (L. ilex
aquifolium, Irish, cuilleann) is the most commonly used tree in this month. The
terms Common European Holly and English Holly all refer to the same tree,
however many different Holly trees are used.

**Image/Symbols**: Iron-bar, ingot of metal, dart

**Ogham few**: Tinne (Iron-bar, a defensive guardian/warrior)