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.