The Rose & Thorn
🌹 The Ancient Wisdom of the Rose
The rose is the most phenomenal plant! She is unequaled in a variety of ways. The Rose is here to serve humanity. She has graced our planet for more than 35 million years, revealing herself through fossil records that speak of her timeless presence. She has inspired and touched millions of lives along the way, documented across North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Her energy is sublime. She is honest, she is fragile and simultaneously robust.
✨ Why The Rose Path Called Me Home
I was inspired to call these sacred women's gatherings The Rose Path because her essential oil called to me—invited me to feel her, to marinate in her quintessence when the opportunity rose for me to step into this divine facilitation again. The medicine of Rose has been touching my mind, body, and soul for more than two decades. The Rose essential oil is beyond words. This 'Deva' has been helping me heal my broken heart more times than I can count!
💔 The Questions That Changed Everything
Why does our heart break? Why do we allow unspeakable things to take place in our lives? Why do we feel broken and shaken? Why do we give our power away? Why do we verbally—in our thoughts and deeds—abuse ourselves?
Before my spiritual awakening, I had no concept of even asking myself any of these questions. I believed then that life was just oppressive and unforgiving. I felt that I was CONSTANTLY swimming upstream in many levels of my existence. It was depleting, shaming, and demotivating for the most part. I just kept putting one foot in front of the other throughout most of my life, celebrating wins in between the struggle.
🕊️ But There Was Always a Whisper
And yet, at the same time, there was an inner voice that would sparkle. There was a knowing that things could and would be different. I kept trusting the subliminal voices from deep within. My higher self was and IS relentless, thank the Goddess! My ancestors would whisper guidance and superb advice uninterruptedly. Through my spiritual awakening, I began to grab, catch, and finally embody their love in action via their communication and emotionally intelligent guidance.
The rose has been part of that journey for me. She has showed me the way to myself. She teaches strength and wisdom. She is sovereign—she is the queen of flowers in my eyes and heart.
🌵 The Day I Met the Thorns (Or Should I Say, Prickles?)
The thorns of roses are scientifically called 'prickles.' I remember being 4 or 5 years old and having thorns prick my hand. We were visiting relatives in a lovely country town surrounded by farms and huge mountains. And yes, there was a mighty river in Itaocara, one of my favorite places.
We were walking through the cobblestone streets when I spotted a house with phenomenal rose bushes. I was mesmerized by their transcending allure. I automatically went to take a huge red rose in my right hand.
Ouch!
It was then a painful and traumatic experience—the blood streaming down my hand, my family frantically working on removing the thorns from my tiny hand.
🪞 When the Thorn Becomes Teacher
Decades later in my life, I realized that the thorn may symbolize much more. I have pricked myself—guided by my ego—millions of times in this lifetime alone. I have done years of shadow work to understand the minutiae of self-mutilation, the self-induced lack of boundaries with myself. The self-punishment that was a daily occurrence, filled with unkind thoughts. The monkey mind is relentless and creative with no borders.
I cannot imagine my life without the years of deep work utilizing a variety of techniques and modalities to come to a crystal clear understanding of my inner workings. I voraciously learned to save myself from myself. Never imagining that I would be doing the same for others. That shadow work is now a recognized modality and can be applied in creative ways with compassion to provide sustainable transformation. I am honored to serve in this way.
👑 The Sovereignty of Protection
When I see the rose now, I have a very different view of the thorns. I see how they are there to protect the beauty, the innocence, the sovereignty of the rose. They don't have to be used. The Rose does not use the thorns to torment or hurt herself. They are, however, there if needed. They are protective. They are a necessary appendage.
In this powerful New Moon, we have the audacity to embrace a dose of healthy boundaries and embrace nutritious Self-Care.
🌑 Grace in Space: Finding Balance and Harmony in Libra's New Moon
A Write-Up of Tuesday's New Moon Gathering by Barbara Baughman
When we embody Astrology, each New Moon offers us Lessons and Blessings. Come join us at The Hive, where we explore how Venus—the Goddess of Pleasure, Love, Beauty, and Art—influences Libra Season.
⚖️ The Gift and the Shadow
Libra brings us balance, harmony, peace, and fairness in our relationship to others and to ourselves. And of course, there is also the shadow side, which often shows up as over-giving, keeping silent to keep the peace, or seeking impossible perfection.
🍯 What We'll Do Together
We will gather in circle, ground and center, and then move into ceremony to open to the lessons of Libra on this New Moon. This is a beautiful chance to look honestly and deeply at where we are out of balance. As we unburden, we clear space for grace—for ourselves and for each other. We drop our masks and allow ourselves to be seen.
To honor this mask dropping, we shift into playful mode to receive Libra's blessings and give each other a delicious honey facial. All supplies and directions will be provided.
💎 What to Bring
We will ask you to come dressed in your most comfortable loungewear or PJs, and bring:
A long, wide scarf
A piece of your jewelry that gives you a feeling of authenticity—that reflects your true self
Don’t wear makeup! Bring a face towel
Spill proof water bottle
journal and pen
If you wish, you may bring a yummy treat to share!
🐝 Come Dance With Us
Come dance and play with us, and find balance in the Mystery and Beauty of the Libran New Moon!
Join Barb and me, if you dare to play HUGE, to connect with your true self honestly, and to embrace sisterhood how it was meant to bee... Authentic, kind, and compassionate.
See you at the hive, smelling of honey and roses!
With radical compassion and fierce tenderness,
Your fellow black sheep 🖤🌹
