We had a few weeks of warmer than average temps in our part of the country early last month, so plants that would otherwise go dormant or wither away were given a reprieve. Toward the very end of the season, I was especially taken with this solitary Firewheel. There were a few of these colorful flowers scattered around the yard, but this one stood taller with a stance that suggested determination and endurance.
I snapped the above photo during the warm spell with the idea of including it in one of my blog posts, but soon decided it merited a tribute of its own. This flower was obviously speaking to me in a quiet voice that said something like "look at me, I'm a proud holdout, bravely standing alone, regal and autonomous." If you take another look at the picture, she is even bringing forth several offspring, new buds that appear to have the firm intention to eventually bloom on their own.
It occurred to me that this spirited flower had more to offer than just its attractive and impressive appearance.
Firewheels grow very easily throughout the summer in our dry, central Arizona climate as well as in many other parts of the country. They were included in the packet of a locally designed wildflower mix that I seeded about seven years ago.
Although they are considered annuals, they reseed themselves, much like Marigolds and California Poppies, flowers with similar warm, autumnal colors. They have shown up in different parts of my wildflower garden every year since. Here's a group photo taken much earlier in the season. Other than that, I really didn't know much about them, so I took a deeper look into their folk history and significance.
Because it grows en masse, this plant also goes by the name Indian Blanket or Blanket Flower, easier references to recall than the botanical name Gaillardia pulchella.
While doing some research, I came across lots of information from a useful website: foliagefriend.com where I discovered a few things I never would have known, like how these striking blooms have been mentioned in the poetry of Emily Dickenson as a metaphor suggesting the enduring human spirit. They also caught the eye of southwest artist Georgia O'Keefe who portrays them in this vibrant painting:
I hadn't really thought of these wildflowers as having medicinal properties, but of course they do! After some research, I found that the flowers and leaves of this plant have anti-inflammatory compounds. Native American tribes have used them to treat a variety of issues such as fevers and digestive problems.
As far as their spiritual significance goes, I quote my source at foliagefriends.com as saying that : "...encountering blanket flowers can be a powerful experience. Given their symbolism of courage, passion, and transformation, seeing blanket flowers in the wild can inspire a sense of awe and wonder, and can help connect the viewer to their own inner fire."
They go on to recommend cultivating Indian Blanket flowers in one's garden or sacred space as a way to invite "the transformative power of the fire element" into one's life.
I decided to experiment with making a flower essence to help me capture its vibration and keep this connection accessible during the seasons when these plants are not readily available.
Energy medicine healers suggest several ways to create a plant essence. The method I used this time involved placing a bowl of purified water next to this particular Firewheel on a sunny day along with a request that the water is infused with the plant's energetic frequency. After about an hour, I saved the infused water in a clean jar and dropper bottle for those times when I may need to affirm my own autonomy. You can ingest a few drops of such an essence, spray it in your surroundings, or even add it to bath water.
Astrologically speaking, I discovered that the Firewheel is associated with the sun sign of Leo which happens to be my sign. Well, that says it all. Not only is this single flower a teacher and role model, but a kindred spirit as well!
As always, thanks for letting me share my thoughts and journey with you. I welcome your input, so if you want to submit a comment, scroll down to the bottom of this post. If you are interested in booking a personal session, you can do this here:
You can also contact me via email at: my.plant.allies@gmail.com
For now, here's wishing you wellness, wisdom and bloomin' vibes!
(photo taken after several nights of freezing temps...still standing!)
Beautiful flower and a strong signal.