Traditional Herbalism Information

Traditional Herbalism

Parts Used & Their Applications

Petals:

• Gentle astringent tea for emotional support and “heart opening”²⁰
• Skin washes for inflammation and minor irritation
• Rose water for cosmetic and ritual use
• Mood support and grief processing

Hips (fruit):

• Exceptional vitamin C source for immune support, historically used to prevent scurvy²¹
• Winter wellness teas, syrups, jams
• Nourishing food source rich in vitamins and minerals

Leaves:

• Mild astringent tea (less commonly used in modern practice)
• Can substitute for other tea leaves in some preparations

Roots:

• Traditional strong astringent for severe diarrhea
• Rarely used in contemporary herbalism due to higher alkaloid content

Preparation Methods

Rose Petal Infusion

1-2 tsp dried petals per cup boiling water. Steep covered 5-10 minutes (longer steeping increases astringency and bitterness). Use for gentle mood support, sore throat gargle, or as cooling skin wash²⁰ ²²

Rose Hip Decoction

Simmer dried rose hips 15-20 minutes to extract vitamin C and nutrients. Strain well (internal hairs can be irritating). Best brewing temperature 84-86°C for 6-8 minutes to preserve vitamin C while maximizing phenolic extraction²³ Sweeten with honey for traditional immune support syrup

Rose Petal Glycerite

Macerate dried petals in vegetable glycerin 4-6 weeks. Shelf-stable and naturally sweet. Use for emotional support and heart-centered work²²

Rose Water

Steam distillation of fresh petals produces fragrant hydrosol. Use as skin toner, ritual spray, or culinary ingredient. Solar-infused rose water is less concentrated alternative

Rose-Infused Oil

Dried petals (or wilted fresh) in jojoba or sweet almond oil. Solar infusion 2-4 weeks or gentle heat method. Always use dried/wilted petals to prevent mold. Use for facial oil, massage oil, or salve base²²

Traditional Applications

Heart tonic (emotional): Perhaps rose’s most honored traditional use – supporting grief processing, heartbreak recovery, and opening closed hearts. The “signature” of the thorny stem protecting the tender blossom reflects its protective yet opening nature²⁰ ²²

Heart tonic (physical): Traditional gentle cardiovascular support, though primary use remains emotional/spiritual

Respiratory support: Rose hip syrup for coughs and upper respiratory complaints. Gentle expectorant while soothing inflamed tissues²¹

Skin inflammations: Cooling astringent wash for irritation, rashes, minor wounds. Rose water particularly soothing for sensitive skin

Digestive support: Mild astringent for loose stools, gentle enough for children in appropriate doses

Sore throat: Petal infusion as gargle for throat irritation

Immune support: Rose hip preparations for vitamin C supplementation, particularly during winter months. Historical use during WWII to prevent scurvy in British children when citrus unavailable²¹

Grief and loss: Cross-cultural traditional use for processing grief, heartbreak, and emotional pain

Traditional Uses: Digestive Support, Eye Wash, Grief/ Heartbreak, Heart Tonic, Immune Support, Skin Inflammation, Sore Throat

Magical Correspondences Information

Magical Correspondences

Planetary Ruler: Venus – planet of love, beauty, harmony, pleasure, and attraction¹

Element: Water – emotions, intuition, fluidity, the subconscious, healing²

Gender: Feminine (traditional classification)²

Deities: Aphrodite/Venus (love, beauty), Eros (desire, passion), Adonis (beauty, rebirth), Virgin Mary (Christian syncretism – rose without thorns symbolism), Isis (ancient Egyptian associations)³ ⁴

Magical Intentions

Love & Romance:

• Attracting romantic love and deepening existing relationships
• Self-love and self-acceptance work
• Healing from heartbreak and opening closed hearts
• Friendship and platonic bonds
• Drawing love of all kinds into one’s life¹ ²

Beauty & Glamour:

• Enhancing physical attractiveness and confidence
• Beauty magic and self-image work
• Cultivating inner and outer radiance
• Presence and charisma enhancement²

Emotional Healing:

• Heartbreak recovery and grief processing
• Opening emotionally closed or defended hearts
• Forgiveness work (self and others)
• Healing emotional wounds
• Releasing old pain and resentment¹ ⁵

Divination:

• Rose petal scrying (floating in water)
• Dream work and prophetic dreams
• Psychic opening and intuitive development
• Love divination (will they/won’t they questions)²

Protection:

• Especially white roses for psychic protection
• Creating sacred space and boundaries
• Warding negativity while maintaining love
• Protecting the heart while staying open¹ ²

Peace & Harmony:

• Calming household tension and conflict
• Promoting cooperation and understanding
• Soothing anger and resentment
• Creating peaceful environment
• Family harmony work²

Luck & Blessings:

• Rose hips carried as luck charm
• Drawing positive opportunities
• General blessing and good fortune
• Abundance work (combined with love focus)²

Color Correspondences

Red Roses:

• Passionate romantic love and sexual desire
• Courage, vitality, and life force
• Deep commitment and devotion
• Strength and willpower
• Used in passionate love spells and attraction work¹ ²

Pink Roses:

• Gentle love, affection, and tenderness
• Friendship and platonic bonds
• Self-love and self-care magic
• Emotional healing and heart opening
• New love and romance (softer than red)
• Most versatile for love work¹ ²

White Roses:

• Purity, innocence, and new beginnings
• Psychic work and spiritual protection
• Peace, calm, and blessing
• Spiritual love and devotion
• Purification and cleansing
• Luna/Moon magic associations²

Yellow Roses:

• Joy, happiness, and celebration
• Friendship and platonic love
• New beginnings and fresh starts
• Mental clarity and communication
• Caution: Some traditions associate with jealousy or infidelity – use with clear intention¹ ²

Ritual Uses

Rose Water:

• Cleanse ritual tools and sacred objects
• Anoint candles for love, healing, or peace work
• Add to ritual baths (especially Venus day/Friday)
• Spray to clear and bless space
• Use in floor washes for home blessing² ⁶

Petal Baths:

• Self-love and beauty magic
• Preparing for romance or important social events
• Venus day (Friday) rituals
• Full moon emotional healing baths
• Draw bath, add fresh or dried petals, soak with intention⁶

Rose Hip Charms:

• Carried in pocket or purse for luck and protection
• Love attraction sachets
• Prosperity work (combined with other herbs)
• Protection during travel
• Strung as beads for love rosaries²

Dried Petals:

• Love spells and attraction sachets
• Dream pillows for romantic dreams
• Loose incense blends (burn on charcoal)
• Altar offerings to Venus/Aphrodite
• Sprinkle in corners of home for peace
• Paper love letters or spell papers² ⁶

Rose Thorns:

• “Pins” for protective magic and boundary setting
• Banishing unwanted attention or energy
• Binding spells (use ethically and carefully)
• Protecting love from interference
• Use with respect and caution – powerful tool for defensive magic¹ ²

Fresh Roses:

• Altar offerings to Venus/Aphrodite and love deities
• Decorating ritual space for love/beauty work
• Relationship ceremonies and handfastings
• Anniversary and commitment rituals
• Gift to beloved as magical act³

Sabbat Associations

Beltane (May 1):

• Peak bloom time in many temperate regions
• Fertility, love, and passion magic
• Sacred to May Queen celebrations
• Weaving into May crowns and garlands
• Love divination traditional this night⁷

Litha/Midsummer (June 21):

• Wild roses in full glory
• Love, abundance, and solar energy
• Rose petals scattered for blessings
• Peak time for gathering petals for year’s magic⁷

Mabon (September 21):

• Rose hip harvest begins
• Gratitude and abundance focus
• Preserving love and beauty for winter
• Gathering hips for protection charms⁷

Venus Days (Fridays):

• Any Friday auspicious for rose magic
• Venus hour calculations for precise timing
• Weekly rose offering practice possible¹

Traditional Lore & Folk Magic

Planting and Home:

• Plant roses by your door for home protection and to invite love
• Rose garden attracts love and beauty into life
• Tending roses mindfully is act of self-love magic⁸

Blooming Omens:

• Rose blooming out of season signals significant change approaching
• Unseasonable bloom can indicate coming love or major life shift
• Pay attention to which color blooms unexpectedly⁸
• *Victorian Language of Flowers:**⁹
• Red rose = passionate declaration of love (“I love you”)
• Deep red = mourning, grief for lost love
• Pink rose = grace, gentility, admiration
• Light pink = joy, gratitude
• White rose = innocence, purity, “I am worthy of you”
• Yellow rose = friendship, joy, caring (or jealousy in some traditions)
• Rose with thorns removed = love at first sight
• Single rose = simplicity, “I still love you”
• Dozen roses = complete love, “be mine”

Symbolism Across Cultures:

• Wild five-petaled rose = natural pentacle symbol, used for protection magic²
• Rose hips kept in pocket attract luck and good fortune
• Dried rose petals under pillow promote prophetic dreams of future love²
• Rose water sprinkled in home promotes peace and harmony
• White rose on grave shows remembrance and eternal love
• Red and white roses together = unity, joining of opposites, balance³

Historical Magical Associations:

• Ancient Greeks and Romans associated rose with Aphrodite/Venus – created from sea foam or Adonis’s blood (myths vary)³
• Egyptians associated with Isis and used in love magic and embalming⁴
• Medieval era: rose used in love philtres and divinations
• Renaissance: rose essential oil considered powerful love attractant
• Rose gardens considered places where veils between worlds thin
• Sub rosa (“under the rose”) = in confidence, secrets kept – rose hung above council tables⁸

Divination Practices:

• Rose petal scrying: Float petals in bowl of water, read patterns for love questions
• Rose leaf oracle: Write yes/no on two rose leaves, place on still water, whichever sinks first is answer
• Midsummer’s Eve: Sleep with rose under pillow to dream of future love
• Counting petals: “They love me, they love me not” – ancient divination
• Rose hip divination: Number of seeds inside hip said to predict number of children (folk tradition)² ⁸

Astrological Timing

Venus Rulership:

• Work rose magic during Venus hours for amplification¹⁰
• Friday (Venus day) most auspicious
• Venus retrograde: introspective love work, healing past relationships
• When Venus in Taurus or Libra: particularly powerful for rose magic

Lunar Phases:

• New Moon: new love, fresh starts, planting seeds of love
• Waxing Moon: drawing love, increasing beauty and attraction
• Full Moon: culmination of love work, charging rose water, emotional healing
• Waning Moon: releasing old love, banishing unwanted attention, cleansing heartbreak¹⁰

Spell Components & Combinations

Rose pairs well with:

• Lavender: for calming love, peace in relationships
• Jasmine: for sensual, passionate love
• Yarrow: for lasting love, marriage magic
• Damiana: for sexual attraction, desire
• Honey: for sweetening, attraction
• Cinnamon: for quick action, passionate results
• Vanilla: for comfort, gentle love
• Violet: for humble, modest love² ⁶

Common spell formats:

• Love sachets: dried rose petals + intention herbs in pink/red cloth
• Attraction oils: rose-infused oil base + essential oils
• Bath rituals: rose petals + salt + intention
• Candle magic: anoint candles with rose oil, surround with petals
• Honey jars: rose petals in honey to sweeten specific situation⁶

Modern Adaptations

While traditional rose magic focused heavily on heterosexual romantic love, contemporary practice recognizes:

• Self-love as primary and most important rose magic
• Love in all forms: platonic, familial, romantic (all orientations)
• Beauty magic as self-acceptance rather than conforming to standards
• Emotional healing and therapy support (rose as gentle ally)
• Relationship magic for all relationship structures

Rose’s essential energy remains: opening the heart, attracting love in its many forms, healing emotional wounds, and celebrating beauty and pleasure as sacred.² ⁵

Planetary Rulers: Venus

Magical Intentions: Beauty, Divination, Emotional Healing, Love, Peace, Psychic Work

Elemental Associations: Water