Linden

What this is

Linden (Tilia cordata). The lime-tree, the linden, a Jupiter-and-Venus tree of Sagittarius, sacred to Freya and the lovers' and lawgivers' tree under whose heart-shaped leaves the village met and judged. Its blossom-tea calms the anxious evening and steadies the nerves.

What it governs

Linden answers to Jupiter and the element of Air, with a second hand from Venus. Its seat in the zodiac is Sagittarius, and its day is Thursday, when its virtue runs fullest. It strengthens with the waxing moon. In the old practice its office is plain: Tilleul tea with a little honey — the French household's answer to anxious evenings.

Its properties

In the Galenic reckoning linden is warm and moist, and that temperament is the whole key to its work. The part you take is the flower. Its working colour follows Jupiter, royal blue and purple; its metal is tin, its stones are emerald, blue topaz, its number 4, and on the Tree of Life it threads up to Chesed. It is gentle, safe to use as the practice describes.

Where else it appears

Love, justice, and calm everywhere: the council and lovers' tree of the German and Slavic village; the blossom brewed for sleep and the nerves across Europe, the French tilleul of the anxious night; the bark in protection charms. Sweet justice and rest, one heart-leaf, court and cradle.

Where you meet it on the Oracle

In the Green Kingdom you meet Linden on Today's Herb, Angelic Herb, and Herb of the Hour. When it surfaces it counsels you toward its one office: tilleul tea with a little honey — the French household's answer to anxious evenings. As the Angelic Herb it stands under Sachiel; read its rising as that intelligence laying a hand on your day, with Jupiter's expansion and good fortune.

Why it matters

Linden calms and judges fairly. It is for rest and for love met with an even hand. It asks you to come to the matter, and the evening, with a quiet and balanced heart.

Correspondences

planet

Jupiter

element

Air

zodiac

Sagittarius

number

4

sephirah

Chesed

day

Thursday

colour

royal blue, purple

metal

tin

stone

emerald, blue topaz

tarot

The Hierophant