Roses and love share more in common than Valentine’s Day and other romantic celebrations.
One of the stories on the origin of the rose flower suggests that the Greek goddess Aphrodite cut herself on a thorn in her haste to save Adonis. Her blood turned the flowers red.
Millions of this iconic flower go out in expressions of love each year. Their symbolism, nature, and history have so many qualities we associate with healthy relationships and true love if we look closely.
Here are seven things we learn about love from roses.
1. Permanence
The rose is said to be one of the oldest flowers and endures to this day. On one side, some people say love is forever, and on the other hand, some say it changes and is easily lost. Both sides are right, but the bottom line is that it will always be there to be found and enjoyed even when it ends somewhere else.
Among lovers, it is not uncommon to hear people say that they feel like they have known their partner forever. It is also centre of many stories, entertainment, and influential figures.
2. Enriching
Their petals can be eaten and used in salads or desserts. There’s a reason poison ivy is not the international floral symbol of love.
Love in healthy relationships is nurturing and nourishing, for good emotional, mental, and physical health. The unconditional care, attention, affection, trust, and confidence that are found in true love can be the best thing anyone could ever get to experience.
3. Purpose and beauty
Perfumes are one of the most common gifts. The beautiful twist is that roses are used in their production. Receiving a gift of your favourite perfume or any other body fragrance is heartwarming and will keep someone in our minds whenever we use it.
No wonder love has the same effect, it adds spice and something to look forward to in our lives. It is also not uncommon to find lovers who are so in tune with their partner’s scent or associate that scent or their perfume with positive feelings and experiences.
4. Accept various forms of love and expressions of love
Love comes in all types and sizes. Although we try to make love conform to our definitions and beliefs about it, we don’t really know the extent of it. Love is also varied and individualistic as much as it is shared.
Colours
- Red roses symbolise love and romance
- Pink roses symbolise gratitude, grace, joy and admiration.
- Orange roses symbolise enthusiasm and passion.
- Yellow roses symbolise friendship.
- White roses symbolise innocence and purity.
Numbers
- One rose symbolises love at first sight.
- Two roses symbolise shared and deep love.
- Three roses say “I love you”.
- Six roses say “I want to be yours”.
- Seven roses say “I’m infatuated with you”.
- Nine roses symbolise eternal love.
- Ten roses say “You’re perfect”.
5. It’s worth finding and keeping
The most expensive rose was sold for millions of dollars. Love is priceless, but we would do anything for it. It can be the most valuable thing that makes you reconsider your priorities, change your life, give up on certain things, and give your best qualities. Love brings out the best in us.
6. Safety
In ancient Rome, the Romans would hang roses from ceilings during feats to indicate that anything said under the influence of wine was to remain confidential.
Love is mutual trust, enjoying privacy without needing to hide. The one who loves you can see you at your worst and never treat you less. Love is a safe haven.
That being said, this privacy should not be abused to hide bad treatment and lies.
7. Inspiring
The rose symbol is used on tarot cards to inspire action in the right direction. On the Fool card, the rose symbolises purity and is a reminder to cleanse the mind, on the Magician card, it signifies unfolding wisdom, on the Strength card, it represents balance, and on the Death card, it is a reminder of purity, clarity, and transparency of intention.
Just like the rose on tarot cards, love is gentle but firm. It is healing and kind even with the worst parts of us.
Takeaway
Roses have been used in different ways and most of them are tied to the qualities that we most associate with love and healthy relationship. However, it also depends on what we understand by love. Our experiences and definitions of love shape what expressions of love we accept and those we shun.
