A lot is written about the rose, its symbolism, description, use in legend and in history. My musing over the rose is about what is going on in my mind when I think of it. For anyone who wants to be educated about roses, I suggest they read educational botanical material.
When we invoke the imagery of a rose, we do so primarily for its beauty. Roses stand out among flowers for their elegancy and fragrance (although new breeds of roses have hardly any fragrance). In some cultures, roses are symbolic for love, purity, romance, and passion. Roses are also known to symbolize confidentiality. For example, “sub rosa inspections” implying happening or done in secret. The phrase “sub rosa” comes directly from Latin meaning “under the rose.”
Beyond their aesthetic appeal, roses have practical uses as well. Rose oil, extracted from the petals, is used in perfumes, cosmetics, and aromatherapy. Some species of roses have fruits rich in vitamin C and are used in herbal teas, jams, and skincare products.
Growing roses is next to growing orchids among flower gardeners for the care and maintenance they need to come up into beautiful bloom. Roses hold a special place in human culture and continue to captivate us with their beauty and symbolism.
While the beauty and fragrance of roses are beyond dispute, yet they are transient. They may last longer than the morning glory flower but still one can use them as a symbol of how life can be short however enjoyable it may be. Tie in the thorns and you have a good picture of what life can be. Full of challenges and tribulations but with beauty and pleasure as well. One would not use an orchid to symbolize life beyond the beauty of the flower. Orchids do not have thorns as roses do. Orchids are therefore one-sided coin of life.
While the beauty and fragrance of roses are beyond dispute, yet they are transient. They may last longer than the morning glory flower but still one can use them as a symbol of how life can be short however enjoyable it may be. Tie in the thorns and you have a good picture of what life can be. Full of challenges and tribulations but with beauty and pleasure as well. One would not use an orchid to symbolize life beyond the beauty of the flower. Orchids do not have thorns as roses do. Orchids are therefore one-sided coin of life.
The beauty of roses can come with strife, pain etc. A rose is a plant that gives the rose flower. A bed of roses is, therefore, not necessarily a bed of rose flowers but could be a bed of rose plants which are thorny.
The idiom of bed of roses is very often used in negation: “Such and such IS NOT a bed of roses (rose petals)”. Among Robert Louis Stevenson quotes is: “Marriage is like life – it is a field of battle, not a bed of roses”. I found expressive the following statement: “Marriage is a bed of roses. Mainly thorns with beautiful, fragrant flowers on top. Endure the thorns, enjoy the flowers”.
Religious preachers use Roses as symbolism of sacrifice and redemption. Christ’s pain during the trial, walk to Golgotha and crucifixion symbolized by the thorns on a rose stem and the most common colour of roses, red, representing the blood he shed for our sins. They go further and relate the fragrance of roses to sacrifice and devotion. I bet they will tell you that a white rose signifies purity or such human character. You may want to ask what a pink rose with no scent can signify in your spiritual life.
In Christianity, the rose is often associated with the Virgin Mary. The “rosary” (from Latin “rosarium,” meaning “rose garden”) is a traditional Roman Catholic devotion to Mary, in which prayers are counted on a string of beads, with each decade represented by a rose. The rose is seen as a symbol of Mary’s purity and beauty. Additionally, in Christian art, the rose is sometimes depicted as a symbol of the Resurrection, as its beauty emerges from thorns, mirroring Christ’s triumph over suffering and death.
In Islamic tradition, roses are believed to be one of the flowers of paradise, where believers will be rewarded with eternal gardens filled with fragrant roses. Within Sufism, a branch of Islam, the rose holds deep symbolic meaning. It is seen as a symbol of divine love and the unfolding of spiritual beauty with its imagery used to describe the soul’s journey towards union with the divine.
While the rose as we know it today is not native to the lands of the Bible and would not be expected to be mentioned in ancient Hebrew or Greek texts, there are instances where some versions of the Bible use the word “rose,” probably in reference to a different plant with a beautiful flower. Writers of the King James Version of the Bible mention the rose specifically. For example: in Isaiah 35:1 “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.” In this verse, “rose” is, most likely, used to refer to a flower or a plant that blossoms beautifully rather than the modern rose. The English Standard Version also uses different wording, such as “flower” or “blossom,” to convey the intended meaning without specifically mentioning the rose. For example, Isaiah 35:1 (ESV) is “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus.”
In Song of Solomon 2:1 “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.” This verse is often interpreted symbolically, with “rose of Sharon” referring to a beautiful flower, although it is uncertain which specific flower is being referred to. The English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible states it as “I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.”
I did not know that the Biblical names Rhoda and Susanna mean “rose” in their original Greek and Hebrew respectively. Susanna is now commonly spelt as Susan.
Across different faiths and cultures, the rose has been filled with meanings related to purity, beauty, love, and spiritual enlightenment. The rose is used, I think, because if one wants to focus the reader, or listener to a specific flower, it is easily identifiable and specific rather than using a generic name such as lily.
One of the famous quotes from William Shakespeare’s plays is “What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet” from Romeo and Juliet signifying the insignificance of names. The quote is used to underscore that the names of things do not affect what they really are. This resonates with the meaningless titles given to people as they are introduced during functions. This quote brings to my mind reflections on legacy. It is not what you are called that is important but what you do. The life-prints left as you go through your life’s journey.
The line from Romeo and Juliet is about names, but what about fragrance? A flower called a rose with beautiful colours but devoid of aroma, what kind of a rose is that? In Luganda it is well put: “Rose eterina kawoowo, rose nabaki?” Do not be drawn by physical beauty alone, you may end up with what could easily be an artificial, valueless object. The caution extends to choosing partners or companions where character or personality is equivalent to the fragrance of a flower!
Thank you for being part of the Fork in the Road Blogs: Reflections on Life. Be sure to look out for the next episode when I will be writing about IF. If you gathered something useful, please feel free to share the blog. My books, Fork in the Road: Creating a future of value starting from where you are and A view round the bend. Setting goals for your life’s journey are available for purchase at Aristoc bookshops in Kampala, Uganda and online at Amazon.
Your comments on my musings are most welcome and let me know whether there is a topic you would like me to muse over.