The Rose has long been associated with the feminine. The five petals of the single Rose, form a pentacle, symbol of the Goddess. Isis. Aphrodite.
In Rome she was known as the Flower of Venus, and was the sign of her sacred prostitutes. Things spoken 'under the Rose' were oft secret mysteries of Venus. The red Rose represented full blown maternal sexuality, while the white Rose, that of the virgin. Christians transferred both of these flowers to the virgin Mary and named her the 'Holy Rose'.
The Christian 'Rosary', a portable prayer wheel, also has roots in pagan practices. The Hindu japamala 'rose-chaplet' called the 'Rosary of the Mantra's' was worn by Kali Ma, Goddess of Creation and Destruction, in India. Its alternate red and white beads also symbolised her Mother and Virgin forms (she wore a rosary of skulls at times). Arab poets called their rosaries wardija "rose garden". The same word in Latin, rosarium, described early rosaries devoted to the virgin Mary.
I came to appreciate Roses, and Geraniums, later in life. My Grandmother, Alice, grew both by the sea, in her garden, which she (and I) loved dearly. Sitting in her favourite chair, or walking, with her small dog beside her, Alice would look 'down the garden' to see who was flowering that day. She made her own potpourri from her Roses and had it in bowls around the house. Petals featured in handmade paper alongside letters, fragments of words, from the recycled phone books and newspapers she used for the base pulp.
I have two large Rose Geraniums growing, which are blended with or used as an alternative to Rose essential oil, because it takes so many petals to make. About 5000kg to produce just 1/2 k oil. I am as yet to grow a Rose here in the coastal subtropics. The wild Rose found in Australia is usually Rosa rubignosa (aka eglanteria), who's hips can be worked with to make tea, and are a main source of the Rosehip 'carrier' oil. She is known as a weed in high rainfall areas of the south east, escaping gardens and reverting to her uncultivated form (as you do). My Mum tells me she's used as root stock to graft less sturdy Roses on to. The late Isabelle Shipard, herbalist and nursery owner described her as 'a vigorous grower to 2 metres, bright pink flowers with a strong fragrance, which can be smelt at quite a distance' (scent indicating medicinal properties). She says Roses will grow in the subtropics, simply flowering less profusely than when in cooler climates, speaking well of trying Rosa rugosa, or 'Japanese Rose', because of her disease resistance. Roses have tendencies to mould and mildew, which the subtropics would perhaps inflame.
While they do grow on the red clay soils of the hills around us, I have only seen one Rose, cultivated, on the sandier soils of the coast and she didn't look real stoked. Pots mayhaps. Until then, dried Rose petals are on my list of the herbs I buy in, Rosa centifolia so far. To double infuse in almond oil as an ingredient in the face cream I make, because of her fabulous affinity with the skin.
The more I learn about this flower, the more I see her as a stand alone medicine for easing inflammation of the skin. Now I find through the experiences of herbalist Kiva Rose working in her Gila home with the wild Rose there, Rosa woodsii, that she uses a vinegar of the Rose petals (diluted with water) applied as a compress for sunburn, and brewed in honey for burn dressings.
I blend Rose Otto water with Witch hazel flower water, delicious on a hot day, or after time spent in the sun, to mist on to cool down red places. This mix generally takes heat out of the skin and is astringent.
"Honey of roses is used in gargles and lotions to wash sores, either in the mouth, throat or other parts, both to cleanse and heal them."
Culpepper
When I open the jar of dried Rose petals to make tea and breathe in deeply, with the inhalation of her scent I can easily imagine why she has so long had associations of touching places of sensuality, spirit and the heart. This is where Rose is perhaps most familiar, for the easing of heart soreness or tenderness, leaning into grief and mild depression. I add her to Oatstraw for a sweet nourishing and mood lifting combo, or brew her with Motherwort, for anxiety, and the courage to face it when present.
I have recently been making a tincture from Rosa centifolia which I made (gleefully) from a stash of dried pink petals and grain alcohol. I find her gentle but potent touch, good heart chakra healing, and having a flower essence like energy. I feel she works to help heal past wounding and scar tissue that may be triggered in the now, whilst encouraging one to 'take heart'. I have been taking 5 drops twice a day. A friend I gifted a bottle to feels she's having less regular heart palpitations, so if you have any experiences around this I'd love to hear from you.
Resources:
'Australian Weeds : A Source of Natural Food and Medicine' by Gai Stern. Harper & Row. 1986.
'How can I use Herbs in my Daily Life?' by Isabelle Shipard. David Stewart. 2003.
Article on Rosa species by Kiva Rose http://animacenter.org/rosa.html
'The Herb Tea Book' by Dorothy Hall. Pythagorean Press. 1980.
'The Women's Book of Myths and Secrets' by Barbara G Walker.
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