Dog-rose – Devotion

This is about devotion to a person or love for a higher spiritual body. This a love that gains strength and power as it grows. There is a pretty and delicate side to it which is sweet and intoxicating, but when you love truly you have to love the sum of things. Here is a mature aspect to this emotion because it enables the giver to receive at the same time. As a symbol sexual love it inspires the vision of the true beauty within the individual. For maternal love it is the bond that feeds, protects but allows room to for the youth to grow and develop his own realm. It is a reciprocal love. So when applied to religious or spiritual devotion it is the true communion with the whole.

There must be as many varieties of Rose as there is of any plant. They are all still grafted to the original and sucker back to this form. Today the wood is still used for maquetry and veneers. The petals and the hips have culinary uses and porduce cordials and teas. The oil is highly valued for perfume. In medicine it's properties are duiretic, tonic and astrigent.

The Rose has been used in both Pagan and Christian mythology to symbolise true devotion. It is the experience of this and the vision it promotes that makes it so magical. The power to divine with the spirit and outside energy forces.