New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
| Today we commemorate Saint Alban the Martyr, who was carried through rose bushes before being put to death. While that image is disturbing, I like to think that Saint Alban died happy, surrounded by the intoxicating scent of roses.
Many varieties of roses are blooming now, their sweet, succulent smell addictively uplifting. Walk through your neighborhood, looking for a rose bush. Church gardens and civic buildings are great places to look. Choose a small bloom, still budlike, but mostly open. Grab the stem and feel the thorns prick your fingers. "Life is filled with pain." Gently snap the bud off the stem, and hold the flower to your nose. Inhale. "Life is filled with pleasure." Repeatedly smell the intoxicating scent as you walk home, being careful not to prick your fingers, consciously choosing pleasure over pain. Place the rosebud on your altar, and remember you always have a choice. |
