The rose family, Rosaceae, has a deep connection to the heart — simply inhaling their perfume strengthens it. The Rosaceae family includes strawberries, apples, raspberries, cherries, plums, blackberries, hawthorn, peaches and pears, all of which have five-petaled flowers. Many of the Rosaceae are recommended for toning the heart and circulatory system. Hawthorn is especially effective, but even the aroma of apples stewing is said to lower blood pressure. Rosaceae’s fate has been closely connected with mankind’s since that irresistible apple in the garden of Eden.

Other legends tell of how the original Rose was awoken from its slumbers by the first ray of the rising sun in the great garden of Persia. It is also said that only as many rose blossoms bloom as there are human souls living on earth. Various traditions agree that when it is a soul’s time to leave this material world, the only thing she can take with her is a rose.

The Turkish say they were told via dreams that the first rose sprang from the blood of Venus. Rose water is called the Dew of Paradise and is sprinkled over their food as a condiment and added to their yogurt or candy. It is no surprise the rose is connected with love and Valentines day or even with funerals and death. It warms and supports the heart in times of loss or in times of passion. Another very interesting connection between the heart, the rose and Venus is that Venus creates a five petaled rose pattern as she rotates around the earth.

The spring is good time to detox and to clean out the metabolic waste created from the digesting of the years events that take place in the winter. In our modern world, our digestive systems are dealing with many foreign elements, released into our water, air and food. We are also digesting, on another level, energetic frequencies which effect us in ways we do not understand, the rose, both petals and hips provide very gentle digestive, circulatory and nervous system support that help process these energies.

The smell of rose is being used more and more as anti-stress aromatherapy. I think of rose in conjunction with meditation and other community movements that are shifting focus to the heart. The Heartmath Institute, for example, has developed the Global Coherence Initiative which is a project to unite millions of people in heart-focused care and intention, in order to shift global consciousness from instability and discord to balance, cooperation and peace. The rose is also connected to the legend of Shambhala.

We are currently in the middle of one of Venus’ 8 year cycles. Venus passed across the sun in June of 2004 and is set to do so again in June of 2012, forming one of the five petals of the rose. I sure hope my heart is beating coherently before then and helps to bring peace to our world. Walking down quiet roads lined with cherry trees, the sweet bubble gum aroma and the pink candy-land world of spring, goes a long way towards helping that to happen.

More info: Rose Hips on the Tree of Life