Celtic Month of Ivy

“Oh, a dainty plant is the Ivy green,
That creepeth o’er ruins old!
Of right choice food are his meals, I ween,
In his cell so lone and cold.
The wall must be crumbled, the stone decayed,
To pleasure his dainty whim:
And the mouldering dust that years have made
Is a merry meal for him.
Creeping where no life is seen,
A rare old plant is the Ivy green.”

Charles Dickens: The Ivy Green

IVY LORE

The Celtic Month of Ivy / Gort/ Gwinwydden runs from Sept 30- Oct 27

The ancient Celts and in particular the Druids, held ivy in high regard. In Wales ivy was related to the goddess Arianrhod, and was used in her ritual of opening a portal into the Otherworld, also known as the dark side of the moon and the Realm of Faery. This realm is symbolized by the butterfly and gives ivy a mysterious and mystical aspect. (If you look closely, ivy leaves resemble butterfly wings) Persephone is also associated with this month, this begins the time when she departs for the underworld for the dark half of the year. This month is time of settlement and reconciliation as it relates to karma. This month also corresponds to the Hunters Moon (aka Harvest or Blood Moon) which is this month’s full moon. It relates to female hunting animals wolf (Brigid), boar (Garbh Ogh), Lioness (Sekhemet)

Ivy is associated with the Goddess because it grows in a spiral. It is also sacred to the God Dionysus and during the Bacchanal people would run around waving the thyrsus which was actually fir branches that were wrapped with ivy, and the ancient Greeks would give a wreath of ivy to newlyweds as a symbol of fidelity.

PLANT INFORMATION

This “super vine” has great strength because of it’s ability to force it’s way into solid rock and it was powerful enough to kill a full grown oak tree. Ivy is another “Celtic tree” that is not a tree, and depends upon a real tree to give it support. It is a member of the Ginseng family although it is considered an evergreen. It also represents the ever blooming aspect of the human psyche. It develops yellowish flowers in October and then black berries.

Ivy is a POISONOUS plant and while it is said to have been used for medicinal purposes (like curing hangovers and cleansing wounds) I would highly recommend AGAINST it , as all parts of this plant are poisonous.

IVY IN MAGIC

In it’s magical role ivy protects against evil spirits negativity and all forms of disaster, it is used in healing rituals and is a symbol of loyalty and longtime friendships. It can be used in love charms to promote fidelity. As a magical name Ivy denotes strength and to give someone ivy as a gift state’s “attachment” and be mine forever.

IVY PEOPLE

People born in this month have great stamina and talents that can bring them great public honors. Ivy people also tend to radiate success even when they are not so fortunate. They are colorful and unique individuals who can be manipulative and use their power ruthlessly to get what they want. The key for Ivy people is not to abuse this power.

Deities: Dionysus, Artemis, Ariadne, Bacchus, Osiris, Arianrhod, Danu, Hel, Persephone, Rhea, Frey, Ogma, Cerrunos

Sacred Stones: Opal, Chrysoberyl, Alexandrite

Colors: Blue and light brown/tan

Animals: Butterfly, swallow, mute swan, lark

written by CatSister 2010 sources:
The New Book of Magical Names by Phoenix McFarland
Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
Whispers from the Woods by Sandra Kynes
dutchie.org
controverscial.com
crystalforest.com