Milkweed

Asclepias

Butterfly Milkweed

Scorpio

Creation, Power

Milkweed is a perennial plant that has small, star shaped flowers that grow in clusters. Bloom time for most varieties is from late spring through summer and flowers can be pink, purple or orange. The plants grow from two to five feet and most varieties of this plant produce seed pods in the fall that split open to spread many seeds. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds love Milkweed. The plant and flowers bring the vibrations of creation and sustainability. 

Milkweed is not a weed, showing us that everything is not always as it seems. The milky sap that the Milkweed produces is toxic to people, pets and livestock if eaten in large quantities, although most animals do not like the taste of the sap or plant.

Monarch butterflies lay their eggs only on the Milkweed plant and Monarch caterpillars only eat the Milkweed plant.  The eggs are laid on the underside of the leaves. If they lay their eggs on any other type of plant they will not have a food source and will die. Milkweed, along with Monarch butterflies, bring to us the energies found along a direct path of creation from plant to egg to caterpillar to butterfly. It shows us the beauty that can be created by a simple yet dependent process in nature. These energies can also be called upon to assist us with transformations of all kinds, for example with taking a concept and creating a product or service.  It can also be called upon by those who are undergoing metamorphosis by making large changes in their lives, such as major career changes, moving from one location to another or changing family status through marriage, divorce, children, grown children becoming independent, becoming grandparents or retirement.

The dependency of the Monarch butterfly on Milkweed is symbolic of the relationship of soul to person - humans are born from the soul or creator or God and remain intertwined and dependent on this relationship throughout their lives.  Being aware of this connection allows people not only to live but to thrive. If you resonate with Milkweed plant or flowers, you were likely born with a level of intuition or knowing that is more developed than others. While some may seek out psychics to see into the unknown or seek to learn to connect with spirit, you walked into this lifetime with these abilities.  Know and trust your own inclinations and know and trust the signs you receive and other synchronicities in your life are there to support you and move you forward on your path.

The relationship with the Monarch butterfly is also symbolic of the ability to take flight or to journey from one realm to another. It can help us see from the physical to the spiritual, or through the physical to the truth of a matter. The image of a butterfly emerging from a cocoon to butterfly to flight can be used as a jumping off point in your imagination to journey into other realms.

The different types of Milkweed common in the United States require different soil and growing conditions.

• Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) likes average soil.
• Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) likes hot conditions and will only grow as a perennial with warm weather.
• Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) likes dry conditions.
• Whorled Milkweed or White Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) grow best in dry conditions, in sun to part shade, and tolerates poor soil.  It produces clusters of up to 20 white flowers near the top of each plant, has skinny leaves and grows from 1 to 3 feet tall. This variety reproduces by sprouting from underground stems called rhizomes.
• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) prefers wet conditions, grows up to 5 feet and blooms in July and August.

Native cultures in the United States and Canada have used Milkweed for rope fiber, food and as a natural remedy.

Lily of the Valley

Convallaria majalis

Gemini

Celebration, Connection with Spirit

Lily of the Valley plants and flowers bring to us the celebration of life.  The small fragrant white flowers are bell shaped, symbolic of bells that ring in honor of festivals and celebrations. The flowers are also symbolic of church bells, and when lily of the valley is incorporated in weddings or other church-related celebrations, can bring additional fun to the events.

Lily of the Valley likes shade and moist soil and is a perennial plant in temperate zones in North America, Europe and Asia.  The plant likes cool winters when it becomes dormant.  In comparison to the small groups of white flowers, the green leaves are from 3 to 5 inches wide and up to 8 inches high. When the flowers are pollinated, they produce a red berry containing up to six seeds.

Lily of the Valley blooms in spring for three to four weeks and is the birth flower for the month of May. The flowers are fragrant and have been used to make perfume and skin care products. showing us the sweetness in life.  As an essential oil, it is used to uplift emotions. The scent of the flower can be used to enhance and uplift your vibration and to help you connect more securely and fully with your higher self, angels and the world of spirit.

The plants spread to fill any available land. It reproduces by sprouting from underground stems called rhizomes.  Once established, it may be very difficult to remove from landscaping.  This aspect of the plant is worth consideration: how are you at setting boundaries?  Setting your personal boundaries is very healthy, both so that you can live and act according to your ethics and beliefs and so that you don't allow others to either overrun your beliefs or fall short of them.    

Lily of the Valley leaves and flowers have been used as an herbal remedy for hundreds of years to help regulate the heart and to help with high blood pressure. This should be done by an experienced herbalist; all parts of the plant are also poisonous if eaten.

Lily of the Valley is also called Mary's Tears, from the concept that the plant grew from where Mary cried at the death of Jesus, May Bells, Jacob's Ladder, and Ladder to Heaven.