10 ml
In China, the lily is celebrated not only for its regal white blossoms but also for the symbolism hidden within its bulb. Both the flower and its bulb share the same meaning, often depicted in art as symbols of marriage. The lily, in both its form and essence, represents harmony and unity. Its Chinese name, "hundred together," reflects the many overlapping scales on the bulb, a symbol of abundance and interconnectedness. As Terese Tse Bartholomew explains, the word for lily, baihe, is a play on words: bai meaning "hundred," and he meaning "togetherness" or "union."
Lily motifs also appear in ancient art, such as the fresco in the Minoan villa known as the "House of Lilies." The image evokes the strength of the bulb, with slender stalks rising to crown a profusion of lilies. In ancient Greece, the lily was sacred to Hera, Queen of Heaven, and legend holds that the flower originated from drops of her breast milk, which fell to earth during the creation of the Milky Way. In Christian tradition, one of the many titles of the Virgin Mary is "Queen of Heaven and Earth," and she is often symbolized by the lily. So closely entwined is her image with Lilium candidum that it is known as the Madonna Lily.
The Venerable Bede (673–735), a Benedictine monk, wrote of the white lily as an emblem of the Blessed Virgin: "the white petals symbolized the purity of her body, and the golden anthers the beauty of her soul." In Christian symbolism, the lily of mercy balances the flaming sword of judgment, representing purity, innocence, and chastity.
Particularly striking is the calyx, or cup, of the lily, shaped like a trumpet or chalice. It evokes a sense of being called to or drinking deeply from the divine. A stone bust from the 1st century BCE, depicting a goddess emerging from a lily-like flower, underscores the lily’s mythic role as a container of the divine. Carl Jung described the lily as a symbol of psychic integrity, a state of wholeness unfragmented by inner conflict. The alchemical lily is seen as "incorruptible" and "eternal," embodying the highest ideal that human meditation can aspire to.
Folk Wisdom: Use topically to deeply moisturize the skin, a mild astringent, supportive for varicose veins, apply to chest area for coughs and lower back and stomach to support reproductive health, good for swelling and inflammation and mild burns. Plus you are cloaked in a heavenly aroma!
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PART USED ~ Flowers
COMMON NAME ~Madonna Lily
EXTRACTION METHOD ~ Organic Absolute Extraction (Hexane Free)
ORIGIN ~ France
NOTE CLASSIFICATION ~ Middle Note
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