July 8 to August 4

Tinne

Gaelic Name: Kati (Approximate pronunciation: ka-Chi.)

Pronunciation: CHIN-yuh

Magickal Associations: Protection, prophecy, magic for animals, sex magic. New guidance from the spirit world, a new familiar. This tree has a powerful link to the spirit world. A symbol of the points between life, death, and rebirth, on both the physical and emotional planes. Holly may bring on some disorientation, for you are working with the Otherworld. Invoke Holly for help with finding a familiar.

Key Word: Balance

Animal: Cat

Ruling Planet: Earth (Abred)

Key Words: Creative, Sensual, Nobility

Holiday: The Fire Festival of Lammas

Celtic Symbols: The Unicorn And The Flaming Spear- The Unicorn represents a horse with a horn that resembles the flaming spear

Zodiac Degrees : 15º00` Cancer - 11º59` Leo

Medicine: Holly medicine may be used with difficulties in sleep and to ease the passage of death.

Color: Dark Grey

Class: Peasant

Letter: T

Tarot Key: The Emperor

Meaning: Energy and guidance from problems to come

Polarity: Feminine

Gods

Greek : Gaia, Ceres, Persephone

Celtic : Danu, Tannus/Tannist and Nuada

Hindu: Indra

Norse: Thor

The Holly-Oak, not Holly, is the original tree of Tinne and is the evergreen equivalent of the Oak. It is called  a kerm-oak and the word "Tinne" means "Evergreen" in both the Celtic and Norse languages. The Holly is a small evergreen tree. It only grows about 15 m. or 45 ft. tall and is native to the British Isles.

The Holly-Oak is associated with the death and rebirth symbolism of winter in both Pagan and Christian lore. With the Ivy and the Mistletoe, the Holly has always been regarded as a potent life symbol, both for his year-long foliage and for its winter fruits. Holly-Oak may be used in spells having to do with sleep or rest, and to ease the passage of death. The beautiful, white wood has an almost invisible grain that looks very much like ivory. It can be used for engraving, inlays and walking sticks and was also used in ancient times for arrows and spear shafts because it is a balanced wood. This is best evidenced by the verses of the 'Song of Amergin', chanted by a chief Bard as the landed on the shores of Ireland, is the line "I am a battle-waging spear" - the wood of the Holly was used in fashioning spear shafts.The Holly has many other uses, as well,  from making a dye from its berries to being used as an aphrodisiac. Its twigs also yield birdlime and it is actually very good firewood even when green, though burning holly is seen to be sacrilegious to some religious groups. It should also be noted that the berries are poisonous, though used as an emetic.

Holly is associated with the death and rebirth symbolism in both Pagan & Christian lore.The Oak rules the light part of the year while the Holly rules the dark part. For instance:

Both the Oak and Holly are symbolized with the Summer Solstice and the White Horse of the Oak becomes the The Unicorn of the Holly in transformation.   The Fire Festivals that took place during this time were usually in honor of the Earth.  Therefore, the Holly also represents those eternal, ever-green aspects of mother earth.

In Arthurian legend, Gawain, representing the Oak King of summer, fought the Green Knight, who was armed with a Holly club to represent winter. In Arthurian legend, Gawain (representing the Oak King of summer) fought the Green Knight, who was armed with a holly club to represent winter.Trees were pollard and used for winter deed especially in the North and West of England.

The holly is associated with Christ in Christian mythology. The Celtic symbol of the Flaming Spear is associated with the Celtic month of Tanist because the Celtic T is shaped like a barbed spear.

Holly means "holy". Holly symbolizes holiness, consecration, material gain, physical revenge, beauty, and immortality. Holly is said to help with someone's ability to cope with a death, and help him or her to sleep or rest.

Some stories tell that when winter came druids advised the people to take holly into their homes for it would shelter elves and fairies. There was a warning however to remove the holly entirely from the house before Imbolc eve because just one leaf in house would spell misfortune.  The Holly always has been associated with mid winter festivals. Holly was given as gifts during the Roman Saturnila and later mixed with the Celtic traditions celebrating the sun gods birth a winter solstice.

It is felt to be unlucky to fell a holly tree or burn the green skinned holly. Yet luck was increased if a small branch kept from a Yule decoration was hung on the outside of the house where it would protect against lightening.

Scottish Traditions says that no branch should be cut from a holly tree, but rather pulled free in a method considered fit from sacred tree. Holly does not grow in Western Scotland.

Celtic Astrology

Holly people have a strong sense of personal integrity and a firm set of values. They are also affectionate, loyal and trustworthy with ad eep devotion to family.  They are known to have abilities that help them in work involving protection, shape shifting and sensitivity to the other world. People born under this sign are less inclined to take risks of any kind until they have carefully checked the odds for and against. They have a strong blend of personal qualities that denote great integrity of character. This relates to a highly practical down to earth quality of character, with the ability to solve difficult problems through simple logic.

People born during the first two weeks of the sign are associated with the new moon and are more inclined to become involved in other peoples dreams and ambitions by providing both financial and emotional support. While this reveals an unselfish and sympathetic nature, the negative aspect is a blind optimism which can be personally damaging.

Full moon people, born in the last two weeks, are more committed to their own dreams and ambitions. They will become the founding members of societies or great business corporations, though holly tree people generally have a great sense of history and tradition. The negative aspects of the full moon character is their hypersensitivity to personal criticism which may force them to retreat periodically from the world.

Holly people are often very religious. They come alive at winter and delight in the cold that most of people dislike. Holly people are very balanced in a fight if the cause is just. They are bearers of truth and demand truth from their friends and associates. Holly people may not be the biggest tree in the grove but they are honest, hardworking and very tolerant of situations. They tend to see both sides in an argument but will choose a side if they have to. They tend to be spiritually advanced and yet may be clueless to being that way. They can be showy at times.

Celtic Tree Month of Holly