Week 3 Spring Renewal 2021

The third week of this year's Spring Renewal ended yesterday. I trust that it was filled with many transformative and light-filled experiences for all of you as it was for me. It is always a marvelously magical experience to observe and embrace the gifts showered upon us when the work we do in the invisible realms shines through into the visible planes. Photos of your artistic journal entries have been so inspiring to see last week! I feel so blessed to read your reflections and to know that the journey and the work offered through it is bringing sparks of light and joy into small and big moments for you and yours. My week was deeply intertwined with the wisdom of The Rose Spirit.

Wild Roses, as well as many old-fashioned garden roses, are opening their blooms and dance dressed in their flowery gowns. Their beauty during this time attracts attention for so many but stopping to listen, ask, feel, and open heart and mind to adventures they are inviting us on, reminds me often that magic and wisdom are in the eternal cycles during, before, and after the weeks their blooms dance in the sun. Their blooms this year feel like both, a celebration of the eternal wisdom -

... wisdom we can learn and grow through that lives in the cyclical rhythms within which the dimensions of spiritual realms meet and dance with those of the physical realms

... a celebration of life's joys, the beauty surrounding us, the beauty we create, the compassion we extend to others and inspire in and through the heart of hearts

Garden mornings and late afternoons have been filled with the song and whisper The Spirit of the Rose is calling the hearts to hear. One of those afternoons brought through and to heart and mind, the song of our bright, fragrant, yellow old-fashioned garden rose. Every morning she seems to open a few more 5-petaled sunny blooms. That unusually quiet sunny afternoon, she sang a lively upbeat song that unfolded in the heart through the words,

"Calm - Peace - Joy ... Experience Joy - Know Peace - Be Calm ..." and whispered, "The water waves rock in the rhythm of calm when the heart is filled with love. Let air swell the sails and while basking in the sun, know peace within no matter where your adventures take you. Share the joy that elates the heart bathed in gratitude." This old friend gifted her fragrant sunny petals and through her whispers reminded me to make this year's rose petal honey. Finding a jar of honey in our cupboards, I carefully cleaned and trimmed the petals she gifted and covered them with a sweet gift of the bees. The little glass jar holds within it now not just the petals and the honey, but a magically healing and empowering gift of the Rose.

Rose Petal Honey uses and recipes can be found in just about all parts of the world. I had made it only a few times so far. Each time, the rose which gifted her petals whispered a message that returned to my heart and mind whenever the jar was opened or a spoon of honey tasted. This year, the message is one of embracing what is and staying on the heart's path of joy through loving compassion and gratitude. It sounds like a dreamy path, yet in practice, it is filled with moments that range from experiences of elation and simplicity in giving and creating to the moments of practicing humility, feeling ancient wounds in self and others, and vulnerably opening the heart to compassion for self and others. Today, one of her lessons came through an experience of learning inner strength in

receiving gracefully while releasing the weights of ancient guilts and fears.

The Rose is a powerful, loving, yet very strict teacher. She shows the way, prepares it, but expects us to do our work to the fullest. Being loving as she is, she gives the remedy for all that we encounter along the way, too. Her gift of honey infused with rose petals is one of those remedies. As a parting note, below you can find some traditional uses for this gift bestowed by the spirit of the rose and the spirit of the bee.

Rose Petal Infused Honey

- uplifting the mood, assisting in moving through moments of sadness, supports one's journey through detaching from anxiety

- strengthening one's defenses during early cold or flu-like symptoms

- adding a drop of magick to a cup of tea or a fresh strawberry

Please remember that this special gift is truly a blessing - make a small amount, and use it sparingly and with gratitude and reverence for the ancient presence of the rose and the tirelessly generous work of the bees.

Healing Spring Blessings to all.

Create Beauty. Experience Joy. Inspire Compassion.