Eucalyptus – Awakening

Genus: Eucalyptus – Family: Myrtaceae

The idea of being struck by lightning in order to awaken and face life’s challenges is what the eucalyptus spirit brings. It encourages us to break through the obstacles that prevent us from moving forward. This is a time of stripping away our fears and the illusion that we are not capable or good enough to achieve our goals.

The name Eucalyptus, meaning “well-concealed” comes from the Greek words eu “well” and kaluptos “conceal”.  This was inspired by the protective cap that covers the sensitive male stamens until they are ready to burst forth into beautiful, tassel-like flowers. All Eucalyptus species also regularly shed their outer bark.

Rainbow Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus deglupta, sheds ribbons of bark in hues of blue, purple, orange, maroon and green. This ability to conceal and release encourages us to embrace our vulnerability as a strength so we can reveal our core truth and move forward with courage. The Eucalyptus spirit helps us strip away our fears in order to embrace our truth.

Most eucalyptus trees are evergreens whose leaves are covered in highly flammable oil glands, if caught on fire they can literally explode causing catastrophic firestorms. This destructive force is both scary and purifying. We are reminded to use our strength and power wisely as we act on our newly awakened truth. If we do not act we will remain safe and protected, but growth will be restricted as our fears hold us in check.

There are over 700 species of eucalyptus trees, most are native to Australia while others are native to Indonesia, New Guinea and the Philippines. They are now cultivated throughout the world in tropical and warm temperate regions. Eucalyptus regnans, also known as “swamp gum”, is the tallest flowering tree on Earth. Centurion, the tallest of this species reaches 327.5 ft. It resides in Tasmania, an island state of Australia. Fossils found in Patagonia date eucalyptus to 50 MYA and the supercontinent Gondwana.

By revealing ourselves and awakening our core truths and fears we are able to take action. This inner “reckoning” helps us become a person of integrity and truth as we move through the obstacles we felt were insurmountable.

Message: The spirit of eucalyptus wants us to awaken to our true power and visualize a new way of being. Now is the time to draw on our inner resources and challenge ourselves to overcome the obstacles that lay in our path. The element of fire, associated with eucalyptus, provides the strength and purification we need to make dramatic changes in our life. It reminds us to cleanse our space of any clutter (physical, emotional, etc..) which may be holding us.

Challenge: Not attempting change, fear of failure prevents us from making change, which in turn blocks us from moving forward. This can feel as if we are trapped in a situation that is impossible to overcome. Now is a time to see through the illusion of feeling hopeless and helpless by taking action to improve our self.

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