Roses are wonderful energy tools the plant people have gifted to us. In their flower form, they absorb negative energy and are an effective visualization to protect you from negative energy in dense energy places, such as hospitals, doctor's offices, and even government agencies.
Even removed from their flower form, the rose vibration is the highest vibration you can include in your baths, rosewater, oils, lotions, and body butters. Commercial, distilled rosewater is rather expensive, but you can grow your own and make your own. And who doesn't like the scent of a rose bush in their back yard?
Drying the Rose Petals
- Once they're starting to show some wear, before tossing out the stems pluck the petals / flower heads and store in an open container. Make sure the container is open otherwise they'll mold.
- If you live in a dry climate like I do in Colorado, simply toss them by hand like a salad until all the petals are dry.
- If you live elsewhere you may want to either put them through a dehydrator on low or in a cool (like 100 F) oven to dry. Remember to toss in there as well.
- You can also rack dry them if you've been working with your own herbs to the point where you have racks and space.
Using the Rose Petals
- Rose Petal Bath
Sprinkle the dried rose petals in a bath for a soft rose scent on your body - Make your own Rosewater
Rosewater is the most gentle astringent and an excellent toner for fair or dry skin. This is a bit more involved than the other options if you do it the "right" way by making a home still with a firebrick, large pot, bowl, and ice but you can do a simpler version just by soaking the petals in pure water --- just barely enough to cover them --- over low heat. Make sure they're covered with a lid. After heating for several hours strain out the petals and store for use later. You can use the rosewater in any number of things for the scent, as tone for skin, in home made lotions & body butters, and even in food, but if you're going to use it in food please make certain the roses were organic. :) - Make your own Rose Infused Olive Oil
Make a rose infused olive oil just as you would make marigold / calendula infused olive oil only use your rose petals instead. (You can also do it some other oil if you prefer, like grape seed.)
You can do this several ways but for the small quantity you have from a dozen roses probably the easiest way is to put the petals in a glass quart container --- recycle a jar, a mason jar for canning, or whatever glass jar you have handy --- and cover the rose petals with olive oil. Sit them a sunny window sill for several weeks and shake it when you pass by. My kitchen faces south, so that's where I do this and since I'm in the kitchen a lot (like most of us) it's easy for me to remember to shake it when I walk by. :) After several weeks, strain out the rose petals and bottle the rose-infused oil for use later. Again, use this like your would other infused oils --- as a night moisturizer for the eye & neck area, as part of a body lotions & body butters, or even lip balms.
Now you can enjoy those Valentine's Day roses all year long, lift your spirits, and lift your energy and vibration!
