Lily

What this is

Lily (Lilium candidum). The white Madonna lily, a Moon-and-Venus flower of Cancer sacred to the great goddesses and to Mary, springing, the legend says, from the tears of Eve. The flower of purity, whose whiteness breaks a love that was forced.

What it governs

Lily answers to Moon and the element of Water, with a second hand from Venus. Its seat in the zodiac is Cancer, and its day is Monday, when its virtue runs fullest. It strengthens with the full moon. In the old practice its office is plain: A single lily on the altar for the feasts of the Virgin. Not for pets — cats beware.

Its properties

In the Galenic reckoning lily is cool and moist, and that temperament is the whole key to its work. The part you take is the flower. Its working colour follows Moon, silver and pale blue; its metal is silver, its stones are pearl, moonstone, its number 9, and on the Tree of Life it threads up to Yesod. It is a herb of scent, working through the nose as much as the hand and it is gentle, safe to use as the practice describes.

Where else it appears

Purity and protection everywhere: the flower of the Virgin and of Juno and Hera before her; planted to guard the garden against ghosts and the evil eye; carried to break an unwanted love-charm. Whiteness that wards, one lily, temple and threshold.

Where you meet it on the Oracle

In the Green Kingdom you meet Lily on Today's Herb, Scent of the Hour, Angelic Herb, Moon's Companion, and Herb of the Hour. When it surfaces it counsels you toward its one office: a single lily on the altar for the feasts of the Virgin. Not for pets — cats beware. As the Scent of the Hour its message arrives through the nose, so let its smoke or its smell set the temper of the hour. As the Angelic Herb it stands under Gabriel; read its rising as that intelligence laying a hand on your day, with lunar tides, dream, and feeling. As the Moon's Companion it asks you to do its quieter work by night, or with the turning tide of the moon behind you.

Why it matters

Lily keeps and protects purity. It is for clean intention and for breaking what has been forced on the heart. It asks you to honour your own clear ground and refuse what was never freely chosen.

Correspondences

planet

Moon

element

Water

zodiac

Cancer

number

9

sephirah

Yesod

day

Monday

colour

silver, pale blue

metal

silver

stone

pearl, moonstone

tarot

The High Priestess