The Inspiration Behind the Wild Rose

The wild rose has been a powerful symbol of love and adoration for eons and a source of inspiration for many, including us. After all, we did make an entire collection of wild roses! Here, we shall briefly explore this little flower’s powerful and romantic symbolism that inspired us to create the Wild Wild Rose collection.

In ancient mythology, the wild rose is associated with the Greek deity of love and beauty, Aphrodite, who is often depicted with a crown of roses on her head.

There is a myth that claims that a rose bush grew within the pool of blood that had spilled from Adonis,  Aphrodite’s lover, which can  be interpreted in several ways - the most common  one being that the rose symbolises an immortal love or a union that will never fade - even through time or death.

The Romans adopted the Ancient Greek deities and called the deity of love Venus. The Romans attributed the rose to Cupid, Venus’s offspring. Legend has it that a bee stung Cupid while he was shooting arrows in a garden of roses. When Venus was walking through the garden, she pricked her foot on a thorn left by Cupid, turning the roses red.

Roman Emperors used to dump tons of rose petals on the guests of their dinners and orgies (now make of that what you will). Moreover, the term ‘sub rosa’ means ‘under the rose’, stemming (no pun intended) from the Roman practice of hanging roses above meeting tables. It is said that whatever is uttered under the rose shall not be repeated elsewhere, attributing the rose as a symbol of secrecy.

Roses became a symbol of power in medieval times and in Christian lore, a rose bush was said to have grown at the site of Christ’s death. Serving Christ’s blood is often associated with a red rose and its thorns, symbolising the ultimate sacrifice.

The Tarot considers the rose as a symbol of balance, promise, new beginnings and hope. The rose is seen in tarot cards that hold strong meanings of balance and equilibrium.

Different coloured roses hold different meanings. For example, the pink rose like the Statement Rose Ring and and others in our Wild Wild Rose collection symbolises first love, romance, innocence and healing.

Interestingly, to many western Native American tribes, wild roses are a symbol of life. The Paiute, Nez Perce, and Interior Salish people believed that wild roses kept ghosts from causing harm to the living, so they were often placed in the homes or clothing of people who were in mourning or felt haunted. Wild roses were also sometimes attached to cradleboards to bring vitality to infants.

So, what does the rose mean to you? It’s intriguing how such a simple, yet beautiful flower can make a bold statement to the world and mean different things to different people.  The wild rose wears delicacy as its mask. But we know that looks can be deceiving, as the rose’s delicacy holds spellbinding power, reminding us that it is not to be underestimated.

So, are you a wild rose too?