Teachings from the spirit of the rose
Last week I was describing to my husband how the stems of roses tend to prefer being cut short when you place the flowers on a vase. He wondered about that, because after all long-stemmed roses have a reputation for being best. As we spoke, I heard the guidance of the Rose Spirit, “Just as rose medicine is wonderful for healing people’s hearts, the rose’s stem itself has the ability to heal immediately after a cut has been made.”
Memories of healing spiritual encounters
I had my first encounter with the plant spirit of the rose while I was studying Plant Spirit Medicine. Something had happened in my personal life and I was feeling stuck and emotionally paralyzed by a heartbreak. After my journey with the Rose Spirit, the whole situation shifted and lifted. It wasn’t an intellectual thing, it was a healing of the heart. My heart just felt resilient again and I felt courageous again in matters of love … or at least willing to remain open. And here we were, on the first week of a new year hearing the message, the reminder of this amazing and generous plant. To me, the timing makes perfect sense — so much is changing within all of us and around us in this cycle in our human story. It is tempting to close off, to close down but the way through to real change and transformation is only made clear when we can open our hearts.
When my mom visited us this summer (she lives in Portland, Oregon), we went to The Growing Place, our favorite area garden center. After walking around, she told me she wanted to buy me a rose plant so that I could remember her after she passed away. I sat on a bench at the garden and resisted the idea with all my might. I thought of many reasons why she should not do that. We really don’t have many sunny spots in our yard, it’s a big expense, sometimes roses don’t “take” in our area, not many of our neighbors have them, and on and on. And all of a sudden, my inner voice punched through and said, “Wait a second, you LOVE roses. This plant wants to go live with you. Are you saying no? Who are you???” And I realized I had closed my heart the moment my mom mentioned the possibility of her passing away. I did not want to “go there,” think about that or even pretend to enter into that drama. But actually the whole episode was another major gift, a healing from the Rose Spirit. A healing of my own attachment to life as I know it … and a deepening of my relationship with my mom.
Today the beautiful yellow rose plant is dormant in our garden. Come spring time, I am sure she will gift us again with her joyful profusion of yellow blooms, her sweetness and yes, her teachings.
Beautiful story Adrilia. What a sweet gesture from your sweet Mom. Hope it grows and last for years and years.
That is so beautiful, I love it! I love how you are always so positive and see the good in things.
What a beautiful tribute to the Spirit that so powerfully expresses love and joy in the form of Rose. Clearly she has found a radiant heart to sing through in you, Adrilia. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Adrilia, for your uplifting message. Love, Angie
Adrilia I love your story. I also have a rose story…My mother loved yellow roses and especially the Peace Rose…There was one that bloomed every year in our garden near the front door of the house I grew up in. When I moved here to Corbett. Oregon..the gardens of the house we rented had been quite neglected..One day I stepped out the back door and saw a beautiful yellow rose with the characteristic pink interior of the Peace rose…I was so surprised I thought it was a plastic rose someone had stuck in the ground. But no it was a survivor..and a reminder of my mama who passed away several years ago..I have tended it with a lot of love and this year it came back 3 times..the last time in November with 4 gorgeous blooms. I have a deep personal connection with this plant and it warms the very core of my being.
Thank you for sharing the uplifting story. It’s a nice reminder that there’s a positive element present in all of our experiences.
Yes, Ann I also hope the plant will thrive and continue to grow and blossom and grace our garden for many years to come. Thank you for your comment.
Thank you, Susan, for your beautiful and kind comment.
Hello, Karla! I appreciate your taking the time to comment and your message. Yes, the medicine of the Rose does sing to us of love and joy and it is very much about relationships. When you think about it, its scent pulls us in … It wishes to be in closer relationship always. 🙂
Dear Angie, Thank you so much for your comment and your love. Right back at you!
Dear Susan,
Your story of the yellow rose and your childhood home and the connection to your mom warms MY heart! Thank you very much for sharing it here. How beautifully magical and what a testament to the medicine of this miraculous, generous plant … and to love that endures forever.
Thank you, Vel. I appreciate your comment very much. Yes, I do believe that is in fact the case. Sometimes it isn’t clear right away but if we are patient we can see there is always a silver lining. Every experience can be an opportunity to grow, and be kind & compassionate towards ourselves and others.
You are a rose Adrilla. The Mother of Pondicherry says that the Rose symbolizes love for the Divine.
Dear Gayatri, what a beautiful comment — thank you! Ah, yes, what you say about the Rose and love for the Divine really resonates with me. Your comment brings me the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, beloved Tonantzin. Juan Diego goes to the bishop with Her request to build Her a temple, but this time She has told him to first gather many, many roses from Tepeyac hill. When he lets the roses fall to the ground, the bishop sees Her image on the cloth and believes. One interpretation can be that the roses helped open and heal his heart so he could really “see.”
Adrilia,
Thank you Adrilia for sharing.
Beautiful….. just like the Rose !!
You are the Best !
Mary
Thank you, Mary, for your very kind comment. Sending you best wishes and rose-scented greetings!