Stop and smell the roses
The Lenon family flower shop, Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, 1940
I am exploring 12 words this year - one every month to savour. You can think of each blog post in this series as a mini-guide, connected to the season and full of both the magical & the practical. This month’s word is ROSE.
My dad gifted me with his love of flowers.
It was given to him by his father Amby who created a successful family business growing and selling flowers.
My first scent memory is of the roses in the Lenon family flower shop. I remember sitting on the floor and inhaling the sweet scent that filled the flower shop.
Perhaps this experience was the seed for my long love affair with roses - the Queen of Flowers.
The scent of rose calms the mind, opens the heart and restores a sense of well-being.
Besides their soothing scent, what I love most about roses is that they possess both velvety, soft petals and sharp, protective thorns, serving as a beautiful reminder that wholeness embraces both/and rather than either/or.
They are ancient and resilient - you’ll hear one incredible story of the Rose in this month’s rest circle!
And they remind me of my dad.
When the roses speak, I listen, writes the poet Mary Oliver.
This month, I invite you to stop and smell the roses…and listen.
What do they have to say to you?
Nourish yourself
A poem, some prompts, and a rest practice
When the Roses Speak, I Pay Attention
“As long as we are able to
be extravagant we will be
hugely and damply
extravagant. Then we will drop
foil by foil to the ground. This
is our unalterable task, and we do it
joyfully.”
And they went on, “Listen,
the heart-shackles are not, as you think,
death, illness, pain,
unrequited hope, not loneliness, but
lassitude, rue, vainglory, fear, anxiety,
selfishness.”
Their fragrance all the while rising
from their blind bodies, making me
spin with joy.
-Mary Oliver, 2006
Prompts for deeper reflection
Take some time to reflect on these questions.
What personal memories or experiences do you have that involve roses? How have these shaped your perception of this flower?
If roses could talk, what kind of personality would they have? What message would they have for you?
If you were to name a rose variety after yourself, what would it be called? What would it look and smell like?
A Rest Practice: Rose Petal Bath
Create your own rose petal bath salts for a pleasurable rest practice. Here's a step-by-step guide:
Ingredients:
2 cups of Epsom salt
1 cup of sea salt or Himalayan pink salt
1/4 cup of plant oil (jojoba oil is great for all skin types)
1/2 cup of baking soda
1/2 cup of dried rose petals (crushed slightly)
10-15 drops of rose geranium essential oil
Instructions:
Prepare the Rose Petals:
If you’re using fresh rose petals, ensure they are pesticide-free. Spread them out on a clean surface and let them air dry for a few days until they are completely dry. Alternatively, you can use pre-dried rose petals from a reliable source.
Mix the Dry Ingredients:
In a large bowl, combine the Epsom salt, sea salt (or Himalayan pink salt), and baking soda. Mix well to ensure they are evenly distributed.
Add the Plant Oil & Essential Oil:
Add the plant oil and the 10-15 drops of rose geranium essential oil to the salt mixture. You can adjust the number of drops based on your scent preference. Mix thoroughly to ensure the oil is evenly distributed throughout the salts.
Incorporate the Rose Petals:
Gently fold in the dried rose petals, mixing them throughout the salt mixture. This will give your bath salts a beautiful, natural look and infuse your bath with the soothing properties of roses.
Store the Bath Salts:
Transfer your rose petal bath salts to an airtight container, such as a glass jar with a lid. Store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve their fragrance and freshness.
Using Your Rose Petal Bath Salts:
To use, simply add about 1 cup of the bath salts to warm bathwater. Stir the water to help the salts dissolve and the rose petals to disperse. Then, soak in the bath and enjoy the relaxing, aromatic experience.
