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Hearts of A Rose
Candace A. Croft, Ph.D.
Valentine’s Day List Sentimental card. Check. Dinner reservations. Check. Champagne chilling. Check. Chocolate strawberries. Check. Scented bubble bath. Check. Mood music. Check. Candles and lighter. Check.
Hands limbered for massage. Check. Hmm. Only a romantic klutz would imagine a bouquet of chrysanthemums as the high note in a well-orchestrated declaration of love. That is because red roses, especially the coveted dozen, have come to symbolize undying love and romance. Have you ever wondered why? Why not six Shasta daisies or nine red tulips? The explanation lies in the spiritual meaning of three symbols: the rose, the number twelve, and the heart chakra. Persia is the birthplace of the rose and the tulip. In that culture, the red rose has long been a symbol of heartfelt joy. But, it is the red tulip a young man offers to his beloved. Our culture, however, adopted the Egyptian-Greek influence that associated the red rose with Venus, the goddess of beauty and love, and her son, Cupid. Accordingly, perfect love is symbolized by a red rose and being shot with Cupid’s arrow means having one’s heart opened to love’s bloom. A word of caution: Declaring one’s love with roses should not be attempted by the weak of heart. According to green lore, the rose is the botanical Holy Grail and placed under protection of the wee folk. Charged with preventing it from defilement or falling into undeserving hands, they apparently assume their responsibility quite seriously. Any person who picks a rose without first receiving permission risks having a hand or foot amputated. Yes, the price of love can be high. Twelve is the universal number for “completeness.” Twelve hours complete a day and a night. A dozen cycles complete a year. Twelve tribes comprise the human race. Hercules had twelve labors, Mount Olympus a dozen gods, and Christ a dozen apostles. Correspondingly, the heart is depicted in the esoteric sciences as a twelve-petaled flower, a twelve-petaled lotus blossom, to be exact. Setting an example to be emulated, the lotus floats with its beauty uncorrupted atop the muddy waters of an earthly world. Ancient Egyptian-Greek influences substituted the rose for the lotus and—voila—giving a dozen roses promises one’s pure and complete love. It is not surprising that Cupid shoots his arrow into our hearts since the heart chakra is the seat of enlightenment and love is the source of its illumination. From this center, we experience emotions that give life its depth. We connect with others, lovingly accepting them without judgment. Of course, unconditional love is an ideal rarely achieved and virtually impossible to maintain when it is. In a complementary universe where every blessing contains a curse, every rose has its thorns. Living in a world filled with muddy waters, even those with the best of lotus-like intentions find it easy to lose their grip, slide down the stem, and become prickly on occasion. February 14th is the chance to re-commit to raising the vibration of our energy and returning to our bloom. It provides a reminder that enduring love is not celebrated one day, but every day of the year. The day exposes our obligation, not merely to give a rose or twelve, but to be the rose—complete love and beauty—for the rest of the cycle to come. You don’t have a partner? No problem. Romantic love is only one type of love held by the heart. There is also the sheer love of beauty, the love of good friends and companions, the love of family, and the love of giving to others. All are petals on the rose awaiting expression. Here are a few tips for raising your vibration and opening your bloom:
At the core of Self, you are perfect love reflected by the rose. Open to heart, lives unfold with joy and compassion. When you scatter rose petals to the wind, the love you give will come back three-fold—maybe not immediately or from that very person or in the same form, but it will happen. The question is whether or not you will recognize it when you receive it, but that is a different column. This Valentine’s Day, commit to the rose. You can be traditional and give a dozen roses or a purist and offer tulips. You can even be unconventional with orchids or gardenias, but the promise remains the same: To offer complete love and beauty, not for one day, but for the entire cycle. Be a living rose some way, every day, and— KEEP YOUR HEARTLIGHT SHINING
Candace Croft holds a doctorate in Health & Human Development, is a certified Family Life Educator and an aromatherapist. A professor and, most recently, an academic Dean, she specializes in lifespan development, transpersonal psychology, and integrative health. She has authored numerous articles and been involved with energy work for over a decade. Candace lives in southwestern Wisconsin and is available to give presentations or to consult with your organization. Her books and aromatherapy products may be found at her website, www.HeartLightShining.com .
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