By this time of year, the berries on holly—a traditional symbol of winter celebrations—will have turned red. Having been raised in Millville, New Jersey, (one of) the holly capital(s) of the US, I chose holly as one of the two plants on my personal totem. Two majestic holly trees flanked the entrance to the driveway of the home in which I grew up. Holly has a rather slow growth rate; those two trees had been there for approximately fifty years. In Celtic mythology, holly is revered and rules over half of the year, as a companion to the oak.

Should you be lucky enough to have a holly tree or bush on your property, this is the perfect time to prune it and use the trimmings as winter holiday decorations. Remember to thank the holly and cleanse it with burning herbs or a saltwater mixture before bringing it in your home.

Chant:

Holly, whether a bush, tree, or wand,

Protect this home from unwanted

entities, poisons, and lightning.

As you make room for the oak,

We rejoice in your arrival again soon.