Rose: Sacred Flower of Beauty & Love
- Linda Crider
- May 16
- 3 min read
Who doesn't love or at least greatly appreciate ROSES? As I walk my neighborhood daily, I can't help but notice the many different colorful Rose bushes lovingly cultivated by those who live minutes away. Often I catch a whiff of their sweet, captivating scent even before I can see them.
The Rose is considered the goddess Aphrodite's sacred flower of love and beauty. It is associated with all things feminine in nature and therefore connected to the the energy of both the Moon and the planet Venus. As I was composing this post, I came across a tribute to the Rose from one of my favorite herbalists, Rosemary Gladstar. "Some plants seem especially devoted to walking alongside women throughout their lives, she says,"Rose is one of those plants."
But her healing magic speaks to the feminine in both women and men. According to Costa Rican herbalist Adriana Ayeles Roses encourage all of us to make time to consider how we can increase and express more love in our lives: "Roses represent all aspects of the goddess, the all-mighty creatrix: the ability to love, nurture, experience joy, and see the beauty in all things."
There are numerous kinds of Roses including many hybrids, but the one pictured on the above card is the Wild Rose, often found growing naturally in fields, meadows, woodlands and sometimes along the side of roadways.
Dr. Edward Bach included this variety of the Rose flower in his 38 remedy emotional healing system. Bach scholar Mechthild Scheffer refers to the Wild Rose as the "Zest for Life" flower. This essence is meant for those who have lost their love of living, sometimes to the point of apathy and total resignation. I've personally seen people bloom with new found joy and enthusiasm after working with the vibrational essence of this flower.
As a topically healing agent, the hip of the Wild Rose contains greater concentrations of Vitamin C compared to the more cultivated varieties. The high content of this curative vitamin is why the oil that is extracted from Rose hips is often found in skin care products.
On the other hand, the essential oil of Rose used in perfumes and aromatherapy comes from gathering many fragrant petals and can be quite costly. The Damask Rose is used to produce the essential oil of Rose Otto. All Rose products are known for their ability to in some way lift the spirit, balance the emotions and heal the body, but this oil is considered to be the most exquisite. It takes 10,000 pounds of Damask petals to make one pound of Rose Otto oil via the process of steam distillation. .15 fl oz of this oil costs around $115, depending on the brand. You can see why it is often referred to as "liquid gold"!!
A less expensive and more convenient way of enjoying the topical and emotional benefits of Roses is by regularly misting with a Rose water (hydrosol) spray. You can find this online or at any natural product stores, and there are many books and websites that provide recipes for making your own. A quick spritz on your face and/or body will boost your mood and leave a hydrating glow.
I also found this recipe for a Rose water mocktail that looked especially unique and yet simple to prepare:
This would be a lovely way of honoring the spirit of the Rose and showing gratitude for her many gifts.
Community herbalist Emily Ruff shares the following insight on this very special flower:
“Rose comes with her own protection plan. The thorns that she carries are not for decoration. They remind us that staying open-hearted doesn't mean that we're defenseless. She really teaches us that softness and fierceness can exist at the same time.”
I like this quote since it expresses another message from the plant world on the importance of acting with compassion and kindness, but at the same time maintaining the necessary boundaries that lovingly safeguard one's sense of self and sovereignty.
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!
I love this article and how it explores how beneficial plants are on many levels of healing. I look forward to making the drink when my roses are in bloom and sharing this story with my loved ones. Thank you so much. I am excited to find out what plant I may need to tend or introduce into my garden next! -Lynn