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Introduction.
Hello and welcome to this weeks blog! I hope you all had a wonderful Imbolc? It was a cold and wet day this Imbolc here in Lancashire, so perhaps the Cailleach was safely indoors by her fireside instead of being out and collecting her firewood? Meaning if the old folklore is to be believed, winter is soon to be over! For it is widely believed that if it is a nice clear day on February first, then the Cailleach is out collecting firewood, because winter will be lasting longer. I for one, am hoping the spring will soon arrive. For me personally, this winter has felt longer than usual. Perhaps because I was pregnant and gave birth in the depths of the cold season. This meant that instead of being out and about in woodlands and tramping over moors, I was grounded at home bonding with my beautiful new son. I do not resent this at all, but it has made the season feel like it’s lasting longer. This sensation of winter dragging it’s chilly heels has me longing to see the garden bloom again. To watch the apple blossom, the rubus decorate the hedgerow with beautiful pinkish-white flowers, and the grass become a blanketed carpet of sunshine from dandelions and buttercups. Most of all though, I long to see my roses bloom again! from May to September, this particular ornamental variety sport the most perfect and delicate flowers that are a pure delight to watch gently dancing in the breeze. It is from this longing to see the rose again, and the vibrant colours of spring and summer, that I bring to you this instalment of the tree and plant lore series. Sharing with you the ways of the rose. So, grab yourself a drink (if you have not already done so), get comfortable, and join me today as we look at the magic, folklore, and folk ways of the rose.
Plant Profile.
Plant: Rose
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Rosa
Species: Rosa gallica
Found: Originally from central Asia, but can now be found throughout Europe.
Season: Blooms from late spring to early summer, usually for 3-5 weeks.
Alternative names: Old Red Damask, The Red Rose Of Lancaster, Apothecary’s Rose, and Official Rose.
Roses Throughout History.
The rose has long been a symbol of love, beauty, loyalty, and even royalty and war here in England. In fact roses are so much associated with England, it’s culture, the monarchy, and it’s people, that we have phrases such as “She is a perfect English rose”, to describe a beautiful English woman. English literature also boasts rose associated fictious characters such as the Queen of Hearts in Lewis Carol’s literary masterpiece, ‘Alice’s adventures in Wonderland’. Anyone familiar with this story will know that the Red Queen has an odd fixation with having her roses painted red. England’s associations with the rose goes back much further though in regards to actual royalty and it’s history, with a prime example being the wars of the roses (1455-1487). In quick summary, this was a war between both the house of York (who sported the white rose) and the house of Lancaster, who in turn used the red rose as it’s emblem. Both these two counties still use their respective red and white roses for county symbolism to this day. One might notice when crossing county lines, seeing signs saying “Welcome to Lancashire” next to a beautiful medieval style red rose. After the War of the roses, the Tudor dynasty united both the house of York and the house of Lancaster and formed what we now recognise as the unmistakable Tudor rose emblem. Otherwise known as the union rose. Roses have been used in heraldic badges since the early medieval period, with one of the first thought to be used by Edward the 1st (1272-1307) who incorporated a gold rose alongside the more traditional sprig of broom that the rest of the house of Plantagenet had been using as part of their emblems.
What is interesting in regards to roses and English tradition, is that most roses, including those used in heraldry (such as Rosa Gallica Officinalis) is a flower from central Asia that was adopted by the Greeks and Romans, which in turn was eventually brought over to the U.K. Although there are a few natural wild varieties of roses here in the U.K and Ireland, in reality, there is not much that is technically ‘English’ about England’s worldwide association with the rose, other then it has been naturalised over the centuries by history, cultivation and culture.
The Red Rose Of Lancaster, Taken from Wikipedia.
The Use Of Roses In Herbalism.
Medicinally speaking, the rose has very little known internal medicinal qualities. Though it should be noted that there are apparently some interesting studies going on at present, in regards to the use of rose in treating some heart conditions. Which is interesting when you consider the roses strong folkloric relation to love or ‘matters of the heart’. As someone who is currently studying medical herbalism, I shall be keeping an eye out for any publications of studies into roses use in herbal medicine, or western medicinal applications.
Apothecaries of old would use rose in tonics, soothing skin washes, and mouth rinses.
Rose has been more favoured for it’s beautiful perfume, garden aesthetic, and flavouring of wines and foods. However, rose does have skin soothing, astringent and microbial properties which means it is a favoured flower in many skin care and cosmetic products. In folk ways, rose is still used herbally, and is often found in relaxing teas, yoni steam blends, herbal plasters, aromatherapy blends, and home made cleaning products.
Roses In Folk Ways.
Over the years I have sought and collected various folk remedies that incorporate the rose into healing, scenting, ritual, magic, and decoration. Below are some examples of how rose is used in modern folk ways.
Rose bath (ideal for those suffering from grief or severe stress):
For one full hot bath, add the following:
1 head of a fresh rose (breaking off the petals, gently bruising them, and casting them into the water).
1 handful of either dried rose buds or dried rose petals.
3-4 drops of lavender essential oil
3-4 drop of chamomile essential oil
6-8 drops of rose absolute oil.
Allow the person to soak in the bath for as long as needed, adding fresh hot water when required. Where possible, have dimmed lights and candle light as opposed to the bright electric overhead lights. As these can prevent the intended from fully relaxing.
Rose Sleep Pillow To Ease Restless Sleeping:
Into a bowl, cast:
One handful of dried rose petals.
One handful of dried lavender
One handful of dried chamomile
One handful of dried hops.
Gently using your hands, combine and mix the herbs. Then add the mix to a small rectangular pillowcase that you have made by hand. When I was given this remedy by a lady from Surrey, I was told an ideal size for the pillow was from the “tip of the middle finger to your elbow” in length, and “as wide as your hand in width”, as this would make the pillow fairly flat, give the herbs space to disperse and blend, and also the ability to fit comfortably in an almost flat position under the intendeds main pillow. This was so that the pillow could compliment the bedding and not compete against it, and also not accidentally be cast out of the bed when the intended turned over during the night.
Fabric wise, any could be used. From old cast offs and rags, nice and especially bought fabric, or material coordinated to synchronise with colour magic and healing intentions.
On a personal note, one of the things I find absolutely fascinating about both current and traditional British and Irish folk ways, is that there is often a disregard of a strict adherence to measurements. Nearly everything is done by a rough rule of thumb method. This, at least in part, likely stems back to the fact that when many of these ways or recipes were formulated, they were done so by those who had received no formal education, or had means readily available at home to measure ingredients. As such, many recipes are still handed down in the original folk method of our ancestors. Though, this is not always the case. As one folk worker once said to me “who has time to measure everything, when you can tell at a glance how much roughly you need?”. So, as well as a rule of thumb tradition, there is also a reluctance in some at least, to rely on precise formula when one can instead work intuitively.
Rose Garden Ways.
It is said that if one is good at growing ornamental roses and keeps a beautiful garden, that they should also grow rosemary for protection. It is believed that rosemary will deflect the evil eye of jealousy and protect the garden from wilting or going to ruin, as well as protecting the gardens keeper from harm also.
Rose Cleaner For Windows And Surfaces.
This gentle home made cleaning product is ideal for washing windows as well as lightly wiping down surfaces such as shelves or desks. As well as cleaning the home, it leaves a light and gentle fragrance.
Mix 500ml of Rose water to 200ml of lavender water.
Add then 5 drops each of vanilla and ylang ylang essential oils.
Pour the mix into a clean spray bottle.
Shake well before each use to disperse the oils and prevent them clogging the spray mechanism.
Roses And Divintion.
There is not a lot to be found in regards to the use of roses within divination practices, but the lore that I have found does include the casting of a handful of freshly pulled rose petals into a bowl or barrel of water. The one casting then must dip their index finger into the water and swirl the water clockwise three times, and then wait and watch the petals float. Eventually, as the petals naturally slow down and settle, some will apparently join together to form the first initial of the one you are going to marry. This of course shares almost identical methods to apple scrying during Samhain, where young girls would cast the apple peels into water to see the initial of the one destined to become their spouse. Perhaps then, this rose method is a summertime variation of the winter apple ritual?
Another piece of divination (that hails from the midlands) states that if a man gifts his lover a bouquet of roses, and that bouquet withers and dies within only two days, then their relationship is not destined to last. However, if the roses last seven days or more, without the aid of any plant food and so on, then the relationship will be a long and fulfilling one!
Roses And Colour Magic.
Today you can access a vast array of colourful roses, from the traditional red, pinks, whites, and yellows, to specially cultivated or dyed purples and black!
Here I am only going to reference the more traditional and commonly found roses, as there are far too many modern variants to cover.
Red Roses: love, romance, desire, and passion. Typically given as a romantic gesture, and can be used in both healing and harmful workings. In the case of harmful workings for example, the red rose could be utilised in love and obsession spells where the intended is filled with false adoration and infatuation, as opposed to genuine love. The red rose is a county symbol for Lancashire and is used in some regional folk magic workings. One of which I shall be sharing with you in the grimoire series, next month.
White Roses: Peace, purity, innocence, loyalty and remembrance. In recent years, the white rose has become a popular symbol for peace, especially amongst those who are conscientious objectors against war (the white poppy is also used in such a way). White roses are often used in wedding bouquets to complement red or pink roses, and within the bouquet they symbolise the hope of a peaceful marriage, and of course, purity.
White roses are often carried by young Catholic girls, alongside their bibles, on the day of their first holy communion or holy confirmation as a sign of purity and willingness to devote their life to god.
The white rose is a county symbol for Yorkshire, but unlike the red rose of Lancashire, I know of no folk ways or customs that utilise the white rose of York in magical workings. Though this does not mean that they do not exist…
Yellow Roses: Friendship, family love, admiration, joy, and encouragement. Yellow roses are an ideal flower or plant to gift a dear friend, as a symbol of your lasting friendship. The gifting of yellow roses to a family who has just moved homes is said to bless their home with joy. Those who grow yellow roses in their garden will invite joy and happiness into their lives, and yellow roses can be gifted to those who are sick or recovering from illness to help raise their spirit and restore them to health. Yellow roses are also believed by some to symbolise transition and life rites. This is owing to it’s colour correspondence with the sun and sometimes the moon- both of which appear to have (from earth at least) seasons and cycles. Therefore, some people associate the colour yellow with moving from one chapter in life to another. For example, a young person coming of age, a woman going through menopause/queening, and so on.
Orange Roses: Energy, hope, and gratitude. Magically speaking, the orange rose has little recorded use, but looking at this rose from the aspect of colour magic alone, orange is a colour of raised energy and hope. I have used orange roses to brighten up my home during periods of low mood, or when recovering from the loss of a loved one. Therefore, the orange rose could be viewed as having the ability to uplift ones mood, and could be potentially gifted to someone who is struggling with stress, grief, or depression.
Pink Roses: True love, love that passes fleeting romance and infatuation. Marriage, motherhood, and the sacred feminine. The pink rose is one of the most common roses found throughout the U.K, both grown intentionally and found in the wild. The pink rose, in it’s various shades represent true love. A love that rises above the trivialities of romance and flirtatious interactions. The pink rose symbolises the best forms of love, the love between a married couple or parent and child. Due to the feminine look of the rose in general, the pink rose has become synonymous with both the sacred feminine, the goddess, female genitalia, birth, and the cult of the virgin Mary. Pink roses are an ideal choice in any healing workings, goddess connections, fertility workings, relationship healings, and remembrance. As a birth Doula and infant loss support worker, I have in the past been asked by women how they can plant memorials, or respectfully bury babies lost to early term miscarriage. Babies lost before 24 weeks in the U.K are not deemed ‘full term’ and therefore not legally recognised as needing a birth certificate, death certificate, or even a funeral. This often leaves parents with a deeper grief from the inability to have the closure of a funeral. In these circumstances, I have recommended that parents bury their beloved baby beneath a pink rose bush in the garden. I have been told by clients that this has been a very healing act, and that whenever they see the rose in bloom, it eases their grief and brings a sense of peace. It also provides a sense of closeness, knowing that their child is not far away, and rests in the beauty of the garden.
Roses In Magic.
When it comes to roses and acts of magic, it’s very clear cut. The rose is either used for:
Invoking Or Summoning Love– either love of the self or love of another.
Healing Workings– By invoking pure love to bring about comfort and healing.
Destructive Workings- Used for cursing’s and fouling’s, usually of an ex lover, or in the breaking up someone else’s relationship.
Below are two examples of rose workings in modern folk witchcraft.
Loves Lost Healing Poppet.
This salt dough based poppet is used to help initiate a healing journey for someone who has experienced a broken heart. Perhaps through a break up or a more complicated divorce. This poppet working is not designed to be made by the one who is suffering with the broken heart, but rather by someone like a mother, father, friend or community elder. This is because the poppet is designed to be ‘mothered’. This means the poppet is looked after and cared for, while the broken hearted heals. A bed is made for the poppet where it can rest and recover, an act of sympathetic magic. Prayers and affirmations can be spoken over it to aid in recovery, and whispers of love and encouragement can be said over the poppet while it is gently rocked in a comforting way. This working is designed to be used for about a month, before it is finally laid to rest in the deep nourishing soil, representing the conclusion of the working, and the laying to rest of the heartache.
This working does not miraculously cure a broken heart, but it has been observed to help instigate a healing journey, comfort the intended, and help them in moving on in their life.
For this working, you will need:
1 cup of flour (any flour will do, but I prefer oat flour as oats are soothing and used in other healing workings).
A cup of bentonite clay.
1 cup of salt (ideally, pink Himalayan salt, but any salt with do)
A cup of water
2 fresh rose heads- ideally pink or orange.
2 spoons of dried jasmine flowers.
2 heads of a purple flower of choice (purple is a power colour and used to enable others to be independent and confident)
1 tsp of pink food colourant (pink for the healing aspect of love, friendship, family etc).
- Add all of the dried ingredients to a bowl, and gently combine using a fork.
- Next, hold the rose in your hand and charge them in a way you feel is best. This can be a prayer, affirmation, a song, or you calling aloud to sprit of the plant to help in he healing of the one you are doing the working for.
- Remove each petal from the rose and gently cast them into the bowl of dried ingredients.
- Repeat step three, but now with the purple flowers. Charging them with your intention, then remove the petals and gently cast into the bowl of flour, salt, and jasmine flowers.
- Add the teaspoon of pink food colourant. As you do so, say aloud:
“True love is free of pain, it envelopes you, holds you,
nurtures, and sustains you. You are loved by your family
and friends, and in time, others will love you too. Feel the love
lasting affection of all who hold you dearly. - Next, gently add the water to the mix, a little at a time, using the fork to combine the mixture. Do not pour all of the water in at once. As you take time to slowly add in a little water, and then mix, you can ay any additional prayers or intentions you have for the one you are doing the working for.
- Once all of the water has slowly been combined, take out the salt dough and create a healing poppet. Take your time to carefully mould and create this, it is a representation of the one you are helping. I like to use this period of creation to sing any healings songs, chants, or use humming magic over the poppet, as this is a potent way of adding in intention.
- Once the poppet is made, leave it to air dry.
- When the poppet has fully dried, let it rest upon a little specially made bed, nest, or pillow- ideally upon an alter in a dry room. Do not leave this working outside in case it is destroyed by the weather or animals.
- Take a little time each day to whisper prayers and intentions to the poppet These could be spontaneous or scripted. such as:
“You are loved”.
“You are healing”.
“You’re heart is mending”.
“Love surrounds you”
As you ‘mother’ (or ‘parent’, if you prefer a gender neutral term) the poppet over the coming weeks, you might like to add little cloth blankets for the poppet, crystals, offerings of food, flowers etc. - After one month, it is time to release the Poppet. You can choose to do full moon to full moon period, four calendar weeks, new moon to new moon etc. Bury a small hole in the ground of somewhere beautiful like a garden, woodlands, or by a stream. Layer the bottom of the hole with either some unbleached organic cotton, straw, or grass, and gently lay the poppet down to rest.
say aloud:
“It’s time to move on from your grief now (name).
Release your grief and lay it to rest.
It’s time to start anew. I will hold your hand
and walk with you. You are not alone”. - Although there is salt in this poppet, it should not be damaging to the soil. That being said, it would be prudent to not make a regular habit of burying or scattering salt upon, or in the earth.
Rose Curse To Break A Relationship.
Being a thorn plant. the roses application can be used for good or for ill, and where the rose is heavily associated with love and the sacred feminine, the stemmed thorns can be used for causing strife in love and relationships.
One such working involves gathering a bouquet of roses, snipping off each head and then dividing the stems into two grotesque bundles bound by long stems of nettles. Once you have done this, one of the bundles is left on one lovers doorstep, the other bundle on the second partners. The end result of this is said to cause the couple to quarrel and break up.
Please be aware that I do not add this working with the intention of encouraging anyone to use it, or as a ‘how-to’. It is included for academic purposes only.
I hope that you have enjoyed this weeks instalment of the tree and plant lore series. I hope that it has inspired you to look more closely at this beautiful and powerful plant. I can attest from experience that she makes a wonderful plant ally, and has both a gentle but powerful energy.
From the time, mists, and the distance between us, blessings from me to you.
By ZBK, Lancashire, 2023.
Diary of a Folk Witch 