"The Sacred Flower Garden of Arbonne"
Flowers are much more than beautiful, natural works of art to the world. They actually have meanings, uses and act as symbols. Here you will find some flowers that serve as sacred symbols to the people at Arbonne. Click on the flower to get a close-up version of each .
The Chrysanthemum...
The chrysanthemum gets its name from a Greek word meaning "golden flower", although it is a sacred flower to the Asian cultures. It is known as the greatest honor of all to obtain the Order of the Chrysanthemum in Japan. As a matter of fact, it is Japan's national flower. In China, this flower's petals are eaten in salads to increase longevity. The Chinese serve Chrysanthemum tea as a cure for headaches or depression. The Koreans boil the flower's roots to make a tea to cure vertigo.
The Hellebore...
The hellebore is often known as a "Christmas Rose", "Black Hellebore", or "Black Nisewort". The ancient Greeks associated it with demons or possession. All species of this flower are toxic. Often they were used to create poison tip arrows. The odd thing is that this flower is known to provide protection. It is said that a vase of hellebore brought into a room will drive away an unpleasant atmosphere and replace it with tranquility.
The Lotus...
The lotus is the most sacred to all Oriental and Asian cultures. You will find the lotus in many works of Oriental art. However, it is found in many other cultures as well. The blue lotus was sacred to the Egyptians because it was associated with the sun god,"Ra". Its petals open at morning and close at night.The lotus grows like a waterlily, with its roots in the mud and the bloom floating atop the water. The Chinese eat the roots and seeds, but only when making a love potion.
The Lady's Mantle...
The lady's mantle is also known as "Lion's Foot", "Bear's Foot", or "Dewcup". This plant is associated with the females' womb. Wherever the stem branches, it is encircled protectively by a leaf. When an Alchemist needed water for an experiment, he used this flower by collecting the dew each morning from its leaves.
Tea can be made from dried leaves or stems. This tea is known to help with female gynecological problems. In the seventeenth century, herbalists prescribed to women who were pregnant 2 cups of Lady's Mantle Tea every day and for 10 days after childbirth. Lady's Mantle is a powerful feminine flower. It is recommended that when a female feels her femininity threatened in any way, bring a vase of these flowers into the house until the feminine spirit feels strengthened.
The Myrtle...
Myrtle leaves and stems are very fragrant when crushed and made into oil. If your spirits need lifting, add a few drops of myrtle oil to your bath or burn the oil in a lamp.
The myrtle is known as "the flower of the gods." It is said that if you dream about a myrtle, it means good fortune and long life.
It has also been said that if you grow a myrtle bush on either side of your door, it will bring love and peace to the household. The Greeks and Romans often drank Myrtle Tea to keep their love strong. The myrtle is associated with chastity, therefore, it is worn by brides-to-be. For the same reason, it is worn by girls attending their first Holy Communion.
The Narcissus...
The narcissus is most commonly known as the "daffodil".
The name, narcissus, comes from a Greek word meaning "to numb".
It was given this name because if you are enclosed in a small space with the flower, the scent will induce a headache. Both the Greeks and Egyptians related the flower with death. The Egyptians often hung wreaths of narcissus during funerals. In medieval Europe, it was believed that if a daffodil drooped when you looked at it, it was an omen of death. The Arabians, however, viewed this flower as an aphrodisiac. It is the national flower of Wales because it blooms on March 1st, the feast day of the patron saint of Wales, St. David.
The Morning Glory...
The Aztec priests used the seeds of morning glories, mixed with tobacco and insects, to rub on their bodies before performing sacrifices. They believed that the morning glory would guarantee the victim would pass through death and be reborn. Today the morning glory is also symbol of death and rebirth. The morning glory opens in the morning and dies the same evening. The seeds are hallucinogenic and were also used by the Aztecs in drinks when communicating with spirits from the world of the dead. Commercial morning glory seeds are coated with poison and are extremely dangerous to pregnant women. They can cause an abortion. Morning glories are easy to grow in a pot in a sunny spot if you don't have a garden.
The Passion Flower...
The passion flower is a symbol of Christian faith. It is often seen in a church's stained glass window because it symbolizes God summoning converts to his church. The passion flower has a crown of spindly filaments inside its petals that represents the "crown of thorns". The circle of darker markings in the center represents the halo around Christ's head. It is a climbing plant that will cling to just about anything. This too symbolizes Christ holding firm to his purpose and love for God. The flower bears a rich, sweet, golden-colored fruit. It is a good plant to focus on during times of suffering. It is a traditional cure for insomnia caused by worry or nerves. To make passion flower tea, drop about 1 oz. of dried flowers & leaves into 2 cups of water. Heat slowly and allow to boil for about a minute.Turn off the heat and let sit for 10 minutes. Strain the tea before drinking.
The Violet...
The violet is known as the flower of modesty because it hides its flowers in the heart-shaped leaves. The ancint Persians and Greeks used the violet to heal the heart and the head. An infusion of voilets in hot water helped to ease a broken heart. This remedy is still in use today. You can also use violet tea to cure dizziness. Even now, the violet symbolizes purity and charm against evil. This beautiful flower has been used since 500 B.C. to cure skin cancers and are used to this day as a gypsy remedy to purify the body and rid it of tumors. I have a recipe for a violet infusion if you are interested. Email me and I will send it to you.
All flower pictures were courtesy of Time Life Encyclopedia.
Return to The Main Hall...
This page hosted by 
Get your own Free Home Page