Ivy Moon
30th September - 27th October

Ivy is a group of hardy, evergreen climbers, with attractive, lobed leaves that come in colours ranging from light yellow, to silver or green. Some leaves are smooth-edged and some are notched. Some are shiny, and some are dull. In the Spring, leaves start out shiny and red, which may help keep insects away. In the Summer, leaves are usually green. In Winter, leaves change colors with the trees. They can turn yellow, orange, and red before they drop off. The Ivy grows, spreads and flourishes in many conditions, cultivated land and wasteland, in light or in near darkness, in fertile soil or on rubble and stones. It will push its way through tiny cracks and crevices to reach the light and it is strong and difficult to destroy. Since ancient times, the Vine and the Ivy have been regarded as enemies. If the Vine, through intoxication, releases prophetic powers, the Ivy, in contrast, puts you in touch with your own inner resources, giving you the ability to see through the eyes of the soul beyond the everyday world.

Ivy is considered to be a form of Vine rather than a tree, and it must depend upon a host for support. A member of the Ginseng family, the Ivy can grow in such profusion upon its host that the host tree smothers and dies. Ivy travels everywhere, it spreads happily and thrives in many places where no other greenery could survive. Its determination to reach through obstacles toward light and nourishment is well known. The plant is an evergreen and bears leaves which are dark green and somewhat waxy in texture. It can grow to be 100 feet long in Beech woods and around human habitations, where it is widely planted as ground cover. The Ivy has thin tendrils that attach themselves to surfaces and are strong enough to penetrate bricks and plaster. Its greenish flowers appear on short, vertical, shrubby branches. To some, it is a pernicious weed that smothers the natural form of trees and on which constant war must be waged. To others, it is an essential part of the wildlife habitat, providing shelter and food for a diverse range of different organisms. In reality, it will all depend on where and under what circumstances the tree is growing. Ivy is extremely hardy and can live to be a great age.

The berries of the Ivy can be used for medicinal purposes, but must be administered by professionals only as they are poisonous if taken in large quantities. A powder made from the dried leaves and berries can be used to clear a stuffy head and was once believed to be a curative for a hangover. Among its one-time medicinal virtues, some of them being thought to heal headaches, muscle cramps and assist in the art of prophecy, are not very highly regarded today. Roman agriculturists once recommended Ivy leaves as cattle food, but they are not relished by Cows, although Sheep and Deer will sometimes eat them during the Winter. The broad evergreen leaves of this plant afford shelter to Birds during the cold months and many species choose to build their nests in Ivy, preferring it to other shrubs, but it is much valued in the modern world as an ornamental covering for unsightly buildings. Ivy is said to be the only plant which will not make walls damp. Homes were decorated with Holly and Ivy. The Holly and the Ivy represented the male and the female, hence wreaths were made with both entwining as a symbol of family harmony in the home. In contrast to the Vine, Ivy is evergreen, and it represents the perennial aspects of the human psyche.

Poison Ivy is one of the best-known, and probably the most-hated, plant in America, because most people are allergic to its sap, Poison Ivy can cause a nasty rash and blisters on the skin. It is most easily recognized by it's leaf pattern. Although it's color varies with the seasons, it always has clusters of three leaves.

The Celts believed that Ivy can bridge the gap between worlds and associated Ivy with their lunar goddess Arianrhod and their ritual to her marked the opening of the portal to the Otherworld, being the dark side of the moon. . This door symbolizes an entrance to the world of the Faery People. The Butterfly is the the symbol of the Faery Faith, because of this, the butterfly was assigned to the ivy by the Druids. Thus Ivy represents the mysterious and the mystical. The Celtic fairy folk, the Sidhe, were said to have once walked the Earth in the realm of mortals. Since their retreat to the fairy kingdom in the Otherworld they are now only seen on Earth as butterflies.

The descendants of the Mayans in Guatemala strongly believe in the ethereal nature of butterflies. The little creatures are thought to symbolise a connection between two worlds in their culture. A butterfly's wings represent the 'real world' and the 'dream world' connected by its heart. Native Americans also associated the butterfly with sweet dreams and would sew them unto children's garments to bless their sleep. Ivy was consumed by the Druids to stimulate dreaming, a true insight to the future. Dreaming was a very important oracle, revered nearly to the level of human sacrifice. It is an important symbol of mediation and communication, and is a sign of peace and balance

The ancients held the Ivy in high esteem. Its leaves formed the poet's crown as well as the wreath of Bacchus (Roman God of Wine), to whom the plant was dedicated, possibly because it was once believed that to bind the brow with Ivy leaves prevented intoxication. The Ivy is also sacred to Osiris. In parts of England, the last harvest sheaf to be carted in any parish was bound around with Osirian Ivy and called the Harvest May, the Harvest Bride, or the Ivy Girl: whichever farmer was the latest with his harvesting was given the Ivy Girl as his penalty, an omen of ill luck until the following year. Ivy is ruled by the planet Saturn and is often linked with horned gods such as Pan and Dionsus, and as such is a plant of protection, sexuality, property and faith.

If you were born under the Ivy Moon, your networking abilities will further both your personal goals and the purposes of your "cause" , whatever that might be. It's important that you use this talent to reach out, like the ivy, in a productive way. Don't allow yourself to bind others to you, or to be bound by guilt, worry, or fear of the future.
Ivy people, however, do have a tendency to be somewhat indecisive and their success rate has a propensity to swing between two extremes which will set the pattern of life accordingly. They radiate a successful image all the time, even while suffering a reverse of fortune. These people are generous providers, but can be shrewd when it comes to their financial resources and income. They can also be extremely manipulative and liable to use any position of power in a ruthless manner.

Ivy Fact File

Scientific name: Hedera Helix
Height: Ivy can grow up to 30m, and can reach altitudes of 610m.
Leaves: Three or five pointed lobes which can b e green or yellow.
Flowers: Greenish, yellow flowers bloom around September to November. Ground ivy has mauve flowers.
Fruit: Black fruits provide a source of food for pigeons. It is pollinated by flies and wasps.
Distribution: This climbing plant can survive in most climates. It is abundant throughout the British Isles, although it is not found in some parts of the Scottish Highlands.

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