Rose, Thorn, Bud, Fruit
"this too shall pass," of spot turns, and noticing...
Give me your thorn.
Give me your rose.
Give me your bud.
Give me your fruit.
Metaphors for life are best borrowed from the flowers.
When our God-kids were just a few years old, we were having dinner at their house. And as we sat around the table, their parents asked them what the thorn of their day was, and what the rose of their day was. A brilliant way to spark meaningful conversation and connection with anyone- of any age.
Roses start as short stubby sticks with thorns. They push forth stems that have packed morsels of leaves, that then unfurl and push out buds. We know what happens when these buds open. The array of color and fragrance and sheer timeless, ageless delight. And then the petals fall making a beautiful mess of the ground. We can prune the stems and hope for another flush, and maybe even another. But at summer’s end the rosehips come. Plump balls of fruit. A symbol of the future, even while the air gets colder and the abundance of summer fades, as the landscape preps to go inward for the winter.
The life cycle of a Rose is the life cycle of each day, if we’re lucky enough to notice it. I love the Jewish phrase (originating from King Solomon), Gam Ze Ya’avor, “this too shall pass.” In each moment, each hour, each day, each week, each month, each season, each year… regardless of how stuck or stagnant or chaotic things may seem- we are always in motion. And because there is inherently this motion, we can choose what to notice, what to water, what to prune, what to cherish for its fleeting joy, and what to nurture as a painful- yet inevitably fleeting- challenge. There’s something powerful about acknowledging the good, the difficult, the possibility, the moments of fruition. It proves that in each day, all these parts are possible at the same time. Many things can be true at once. This is not just a bad day. The binary falls apart. The spectrum of what is, expands to be witnessed so we can care for it accordingly.
I find that any practice that increases whole-system noticing is one that can create balance in our mad world. And the Rose, Thorn, Bud, Fruit practice is a great one to share with the household. Maybe today my thorn is feeling sad or uninspired, and maybe tomorrow’s bud will be the beginnings of a creative renaissance.
In the garden, the metaphors of Rose are literal.
The first flush of Roses came early this year. I’d stare at the peach colored roses on one bush and simply be in a state of awe considering how many blooms it had and how beautiful it looked against our vintage camper. I also felt anxious, like I wasn’t ready to process the roses and start my first batch of hydrosol. I would go out each morning and take in their beauty, and then get stressed about the passing of time and how I needed it to slow down. Gam Ze Ya’avor. These blooms won’t last forever. Of course, time didn’t slow down and when the first flush became falling petals, I realized this bush had a ton of black spot on its leaves. This is a fungal infection that is easily spread by spores and each leaf must be meticulously removed so as not to spread it further. After hours in the garden, I decided I need to prune the entire bush down to the sticks once more. Gam Ze Ya'avor. Sometimes it’s like that. Sometimes a system can’t be saved by little detours are trims- the whole thing needs to be cut down so that the base can have a chance at growing back healthy again. And this morning when I went to check on the very shorn rose bush, I noticed a new burgundy stem of leaves coming out of the bare root. Hope.
These days with so many challenges in our macro and micro worlds, it’s like we’re spinning through endless concern, grief, fear, anger. These are all justified and these are all necessary. But I think of when I was learning about the spot turn in dance. You can do spins in a dance, but the spot turn helps orient your eye on one spot so that you don’t get too dizzy to continue.
If we don’t pay attention to the thorn it can fester and become infected and cause even worse systemic problems. But if we don’t pay attention to the rose we miss the balm- of hope and love and joy that is just as necessary for our system to survive.
Rose is a friend for life. From cradle to grave, this flower is easily the most recognized one in the world. They ramble through thickets, bloom in almost any landscape. They are brought to bedsides of new mothers, given in recognition at dance recitals and graduations, ubiquitous at engagements and weddings. And often at funerals, too. The circle of life is the pinnacle example of Gam Ze Ya’avor, yet Rose is here for all of it. Each moment that passes, all the way through. In the moments of most-obvious joy we say “this too shall pass,” so we appreciate the gift that it is- knowing it can’t be this way forever. And also in moments of most-obvious struggle we say “this too shall pass,” so we know not to cling to despair because joy will find its way back again.
Rose is a symbol of love and beauty and care. It is also a caregiver for grief and transitions and all the tough moments. Rose is good for the skin, tastes and smells heavenly, helps tether us to the earth, and also helps people transition to the beyond. It is a common practice to rub rose oil on the feet of people who are dying to accompany them. Rose is said to have the highest vibration of all flowers when it comes to scent. A literal link between heaven and earth.
It is magical.
It is transformative.
Rose is part of my every day. It is the most ubiquitous botanical in my vast line of products. My Rose Face Serum is generally the most popular product in my shop. Made from oil infusions of my own garden roses, it has cleansed and hydrated thousands of faces. My Rose Mist is the product that makes me feel most like a chemist. I pull out my copper still and enjoy the long process of turning garden petals into steam that then becomes water again- to mist your face for as long as the batch lasts.
Rose in skincare:
Rose has been used in beauty products for thousands of years. Anti-inflammatory properties help soothe out irritation, dullness, and even out skin tone- it’s great for sensitive or rosacea-prone skin. The astringent properties of Rose help tighten and support skin, tonifying and preventing wrinkles. And while it’s a natural astringent which keeps acne at bay, it also is a super hydrator due to Rose being made up of a pandora's box of natural oils.
Roots & Crowns products that contain Rose in skincare:
Rose Facial Serum, Rose Facial Mist, Cedar & Rose Body Oil, The Rose Facial Kit,
Rose in herbal medicine:
Rose is a great plant for emotional regulation, soothing, bringing gentle balance and uplifting energy to all phases of life. Rose is good for grief, self love, love for others, and feeling attuned to a broader spectrum of frequencies while being protected.
Roots & Crowns products that contain Rose as an herbal element:
Heart Tonic, Beloved Bitters, Beloved Tea, Take Care Nighttime Tea, Tulsi + Rose Tincture,
Rose as a fragrance:
Rose in scent is a whole other level. The first essential oil perfume I made (Beloved), featured Rose. But so have many others since. As I mentioned earlier in this post, Rose is said to have the highest vibration in scent of all flowers. It is elevating on a spiritual level, for lack of a better term. If you don’t like the synthetic “grandma-rose” scent, and that’s what you associate Rose with, I encourage you to try some of my Rose products!
Roots & Crowns products that contain Rose essential oil:
Rose Face Serum, Rose Facial Mist, Beloved Line, Cedar & Rose Line, Pink Line, Grief Line.
Rose as a guide:
If you’re wanting to work with Rose on an energetic level- to tap into their magic of Thorn, Rose, Bud, Fruit. If you’re wanting to work on whole-body self love and and reconciling both grief and joy in your life….Rose Essence is my annual flower essence that could be helpful.
Rose Flower Essence comes with a sample of vial of my newest fragrance, Rose: a photorealistic fine fragrance of this beloved flower.
