Today the Rose is my teacher.
She offers me many lessons, and this particular one is about the importance of nurturing, protecting, and sharing our inner self. In her formative days, the Rose begins as a Bud. During this stage, She is a tight, compact structure, similar to a fist that is clenching a valuable treasure. This is a protective phase. She tightens the grip of her petals in order to safeguard her tiny embryonic flower. The petals remain in lockdown as they wait for these undeveloped parts to grow. This protection continues while the sepals, stamens and pistils are all taking form. During this vital developmental process, the Rose depends on her environment for an appropriate mix of nutrients. A combination of healthy soil, water, air and temperature is vital for her growth. When this growth stage is completed, the Bud receives the message that its protective role is finished. Trusting in this directive, she relaxes her tightly held grip, and the outward unfolding begins.
Protection, Inner growth, trust, and letting go…
This recipe for unfolding seems to be a familiar pattern.
In the early stages of her growth, the young Rose hides and safeguards her fragile inner blossom. It is not until she is confident in the growth of her bloom, that she begins to open up and share her gifts with the outer world.
How often do my own insecurities cause me to construct walls of protection?
How long do I continue to hide my own hidden talents and gifts?
Am I still waiting to trust the signal that “now is the time to share my gifts with the rest of the world”?
The Rose reminds me how important it is to care for the unique treasures of our inner being. To nourish and protect them until they are developed enough to share with others. To honor both our emotional and physical environments, and appreciate the role that they play in fostering our inner growth. And finally, the Rose has taught me that inside each of us is a unique array of human potential, and like the Rose, the beauty and purpose in life is simply to blossom and unfold.