The Yoga of Roses

The rose is perhaps the most iconic flower the world over. Our obsession is prevalent throughout recorded history and many myths, legends, and rituals celebrate the flower’s beauty and cement its association with love, divinity and healing. This article will delve into the rose’s rich history and explore ways you can incorporate this little flower into your life to enhance your health & well-being.

Love, Devotion & Divinity

To a modern audience, Roses primarily evoke romance. Though this was evidently the case in history too, the flower’s meaning was somewhat more complex in a historical context. Love was a theme in rose mythology, but it was love in relation to the Gods or extremely holy figures. This married the rose to the idea of religious devotion and spiritual connection.

This is reflected in the theology of The Greeks (and Romans). There are countless Mediterranean legends that detail the origin of the rose but Aphrodite (Venus), the Goddess of Love, takes centre stage most often. Her birth and the birth of the first white rose were said to coincide. The sea foam from which she emerged sprouted bushes upon dropping to the earth, inextricably binding roses, the concept of love and divinity together.

Hinduism echoes these associations. Though it may be the lotus that comes to mind when we consider Vedic religions, Lord Vishnu actually favoured the rose, titling it the Queen of the Flowers. In order to convince Lord Brahma of its beauty, he manifested a bush of 108 roses. So enchanted by the grace of this flower, Brahma went onto create the Goddess Lakshmi from the petals of its blossoms. She is hailed as Vishnu’s divine bride and mother of humanity, linking the rose once again to passionate love but also to the divinity of creation.

The Christian faith is littered with roses too. It is said to be rose thorns that Jesus wears on his path to crucifixion so the flower is again aligned with the concepts of religious devotion and, in this case, sacrifice. However, they are most regularly associated with the Virgin Mary: a rose amidst the thorns of the world from which Jesus and spiritual love are born.

The Science

The ancient associations we have with this world-renowned flower, are perhaps due to its vibrational frequency. Vibrating at a mega 320MHz, the rose has the highest frequency ever measured in the animal and plant kingdom. The energy it stimulates, the energy anything stimulates, has an impact on the atoms that surround it, ie. you, your dog, your home. This is not a mumbo jumbo claim but something that is measurable in modern science and is probably the reason the rose has been linked to love, devotion and healing throughout recorded history. Though the botanists of antiquity hadn’t the technology to measure energy, the rose’s influence on health and mood was undeniable. Being in contact with a rose, or anything vibrating more energetically, will have a positive effect on your cells, your immune system and your emotions. Myths were born out of the feelings a rose does actually inspire. They are not the origin of our association of love with the rose but a reflection of the flowers positive energy.

Yoga & Mindfulness Exercises

As we see in the religions of the world, roses can connect you with the spiritual and science has proven their ability to raise your vibrations. This is conducive to heightened awareness during meditation and helps increase a calm that allows you to connect more deeply with your body during physical practice.

Below are two spiritual exercises that harness the energy of the rose to benefit your well-being.

The Rose Meditation

This meditation is meant to cultivate internal and external awareness. It is best performed with a live rose so a bush outside or a potted houseplant would be the most beneficial.

Step. 1

Take a seat facing your chosen rose. Ensure you choose a comfortable position, whether cross-legged, kneeling or leant against a wall. The spine should be straight and your base stable and symmetrical.

Step. 2

Start by closing the eyes to balance the breathing. Count down 20 breaths. Take notice of the cold breeze in your nostrils as you inhale and the heat on your upper lip as you exhale. Feel the rise and fall of the ribcage. Allow the body’s natural rhythm to calm the mind.

Step. 3

Open your eyes and use this sense to experience your rose. Observe its colour, the shape of its petals and leaves. How many thorns does it have? Does it sway gently in the breeze? Notice how it sits in its environment – if outside, is it dominating the fauna around it or is it a modest part of the landscape? - if inside, is it bulging out of a tiny plant pot or is it swamped in a large vase? Look out for any imperfections it might have or little insects. Does it look healthy?

As you study the sight of the rose, also become aware of any feelings, memories or ideas that arise. Do not allow your thoughts to pull you away from your observations for too long, but acknowledge their existence and consider there connection to the rose. Dedicate at least 5 minutes to this intense visual study.

Step 4.

Close your eyes once again and grasp a blossom gently in your palm. This time experience the rose with your nose and ears. Can you smell a fragrance? Is it subtle or strong? Pleasant or unpleasant. Can you hear the leaves rustling or the petals sliding on your fingertips.

Now become aware of your emotions, just as you did while observing the flower. As before, don't be dragged into a whirlpool of thoughts but notice what comes up. Maybe compare how you feel using these different sense organs; does the effect differ now your eyes are closed? Immerse yourself in sound and fragrance for 3+ minutes before progressing onto the next sense.

Step 5.

Still holding the rose, shift your attention to the sensation of it against your skin. Explore its textures, the stem, the petals, the thorns and the leaves. Be sensitive to temperature, roughness, softness.

Check in again with your mental state. Does each part of the plant inspire a different thought? Are you feeling positive or negative. Which textures do you like & dislike? Why? Take 3+ minutes using the fingers to experience the plant before moving on.

Step 6.

Reopen the eyes and lock them onto your rose. Experience the plant with every sense available to you. Again notice if this makes a difference in the thoughts that come to mind.

Then begin to visualise a white light emanating from the rose. See this light where you hold the rose and feel its warm energy against your hands.

Still maintain complete awareness via every sense but enjoy the feeling that this white light creates. Open yourself up to receiving this energy or any emotions the rose wants to communicate. Maintain this connection and carry on visualising for a few minutes or as long as feels right for you.

Step 7.

To end the meditation, allow the light to fade gently away, release your rose and express your gratitude silently or verbally.

Sit for one more moment with your eyes closed, noticing your state of mind. Be happy with yourself for taking time to get to know yourself and the rose a little better.

The Rose Bath Ritual

Emulate Cleopatra with a healing bath of roses. Any kind of bath is amazing for calming the central nervous system, but the conscious inclusion of the rose into your bathing rituals will lighten your anxieties, support mental and physical healing and help you connect more deeply with your emotions.

Here are a some items or ingredients you could include in your bath. Use as many or as few as you feel. Rose petals are the only necessary element.

• Rose Petals (chemical free)

• Candles (maybe with a natural rose scent)

• Rose Essential Oil

• Crystals (rose quartz is typical but any stone that makes you feel calm)

• Any personal trinkets that make you feel happy

• Rosehip Tea

Step 1.

Once you have drawn a bath to your preferred temperature, arrange your chosen items, light your candles and infuse your oils and petals into the water. It is nice to bathe in low light so your eyes can relax.

Step 2.

Sit up comfortably in your bath. Take a moment to become present. Close the eyes. Follow the inhale and exhale of your breath, relax any tension in the spine and face, and let go of any niggling thoughts. Feel the heat of the water cradling you.

Step 3.

When you sense your mind has slowed, begin to notice your rose petals and the other positive items you have chosen to include in your ritual bath. Use all your available senses to appreciate each of your hand picked items.

Step 4.

Visualise the healing energy that hovers over your bath and seeps out of the petals into your bath. A pinkish glow floats in the water and vaporises around you. Be sure of the roses healing power and begin to connect to its influence.

Step 5.

Gently dip a finger into your healing rose bath and pull that glow towards your chest. Draw a small clockwise circle over your heart centre, imagining the light melting into your skin. Allow the light to inspire a happy feeling in your chest, as you trace another circle on your heart. Know that you love and are loved. Do this all at your own pace.

Step 6.

Draw one more circle and project the light outwards. Allow that feeling of joy to expand. You see the light surrounding you and your heart feels lighter as it grows. Love shines out of you into the atmosphere. Feel the love for yourself, for your loved ones and the world outside. Reach out your healing light all around.

Step 7.

When you're ready, pull the healing light back into your chest. Close your eyes and relax in your rose bath. Feel gratitude for the roses, feel gratitude for the love you have for yourself. Bathe in your happiness for as long as you wish.

Medicine: The Rose Salve Recipe

As we’ve discovered, their frequency will affect your body positively in a very general way, but roses are also employed to treat more specific ailments.

In traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine the rose is valued most for its psycho-spiritual properties, as in it’s ability to improve your mood and stress levels. An unhealthy mind is a primary factor in many physical illnesses so the rose’s positive influence cannot be under-estimated.

The plant is also considered an emmenagogue, which means it stimulates blood flow to the pelvic area and is particularly useful in regulating the menstrual cycle. It has been used in ancient medicine to alleviate the symptoms of PMS, irregular periods, and works to maintain a healthy uterus. Due to its ability to uplift mood, a rose tea would be the perfect thing to calm the anxiety or irritation caused by hormonal shifts.

The rose has been identified as anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. This makes it ideal for treating coughs and some digestive issues, as seen in Native American medicinal practices, but it also works wonders on the skin. It has been used effectively to treat acne, rosacea, burns and minor wounds, which accounts for its long use a primary ingredient in cosmetics. Not only is it fragrant and colourful, it actually has a direct impact on the health of the skin.

The Rose Salve

This recipe is oil-based so is not suitable for acne but it will have a positive effect on scar tissues, dry rashes like eczema, and skin abrasions. It will maintain the elasticity and vitality of the skin, so could work beautifully to compliment your daily skin care routine as well. The addition of daisies will help address blemishes, bruises and broken veins, balancing blood flow. This salve is safe to apply on any part of the body.

Before beginning your salve, you will need to infuse the two oils this recipe requires, Rose Petal Oil and Daisy Oil.

Find Your Flowers

It is best for you to harvest your own rose petals to ensure they are chemical free. Make sure to collect the blooms gently and don’t completely strip the shrub of its flowers. Most of the world has a species of wild rose local to them, in the UK we have the Sweet Briar Rose (Rosa Rubiginosa), but any healthy rose will do.

Equally you can find a variety of daisy growing as a weed almost anywhere. They can often be found on roadsides, hedgerows and meadows in large patches. We need the flower head for this recipe.

Dry Your Flowers

The most simple way to dry your rose petals and daisy flowers is to leave them on a sheet of tissue paper in a warm, dry room for a few days. If you want to speed up this process you can place one layer of petals/flowers on a baking sheet and place them in the oven set at at the lowest temperature. Keep the door ajar to allow excess moisture to escape. The petals should take about 30 minutes to dry, while the daisy flowers may take a little longer so monitor both closely to avoid burning.

Infuse Your Flowers

Once dried, both flowers can be infused into oil the same way. Fill 2/3 of a sterilised jar with either your rose petals or daisy flowers. You’ll need a bigger jar for the roses as our salve recipe requires 100g of Rose Petal Oil and only 14g of Daisy Oil. Pour over enough of your oil to completely cover the dried herb. Place the jar into a pan of water and heat over a low temperature for 3 hours. Set it aside to allow the oil to cool. You can store it away for further infusion (up to a week) or immediately sieve out the plant matter with a cheesecloth or paper filter, then seal it tight until you are ready to create your salve.

Make Your Salve

Ingredients

- 100g Rose Petal Oil

- 14g Daisy Oil

- 14g Beeswax Pastilles (Candelilla wax as a vegan substitute)

Place all of your ingredients in a heat proof container. Sit this container in a pan filled with a few inches of water, as you did in the infusion phase.

Heat the pan over a medium temperature until the wax has melted. Transfer the liquid into your preferred container and leave aside to set. It's as easy as that!

As we have seen, roses are a magical aid for meditation practice and a gentle medicine to ensure your mind and body remain happy and healthy.

Get in touch to let me know how these exercises effect you, or recommend me your favourite rose recipes.

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