The Ritual Master Hello, friends ! How are you doing at the end of February ?
After an unusually warm but terribly grey winter, the sun has returned for the past few weeks here in Paris, and with it, a sort of lightness of spirit. The sun is awakening the plants, the bees and the people, so I’m gently letting myself go with the flow. Still, an hour walk in the sun feels like a whole day at the beach, so I’m taking it easy. But being indoors doesn’t mean we’re disconnected from nature.
My bulbs are slowly making their way out of the darkness as well, with the promise of radiant colours just around the corner. In the meantime, a short trip to Ikea brought me the delicate perfume of grape hyacinth right on my coffee table, and my beloved Omara, a three year old gardenia that I pamper and cherish all year round, is preparing for an explosion of blossoms. I cannot wait for it to perfume the entire living room with its heady and sophisticated scent.
So yes, as you can tell, I’m in the mood for flowers. One of my favourite quotes comes from Antonio Gala’s El manuscrito carmesi, and says : Flowers are the smile of God, the best proof of his goodness; the beauty that, by being superfluous, is doubly beautiful. They are the only indisputable testimony that we can have hope.
With that in mind, I’m making everything floral. Starting with my cup of tea : a tea lover’s novelty, that I received as a gift a few years ago, and that has the merit of creating a perfect moment of meditation. Not to mention that it is, in fact, a jasmine green tea, so the floral theme is complete.
The wonderful thing is that I have the perfect book for my mood. Don’t you just love it when everything aligns ? It’s not a miracle, every aspect of my floral inspired moment in February is a result of my conscious choices, and it makes me so happy to know that I can create these moments of joy for myself, contemplating beauty or reading about it.
It was time for Vanessa Diffenbaugh’s novel, The Language of Flowers. I’ve been waiting to read this one for a while now, not sure if I could get around the greyer part of the plot, in order to enjoy the whole. This is the story of Victoria, an orphan girl that has experienced the foster care system at its worst, and who, at the age of 18, naturally finds her way towards floristry thanks to the knowledge acquired from one of her foster mothers. Her natural flair, her passion for the meanings of flowers and her subtle observations on human nature, balanced the vibe of the book just enough so that I did not focus on the drama. The book alternates chapters from her past and from the present, as a gradual reveal of all the little things that brought her to her destiny. And even if my sensitive nature tends to avoid stories that have the potential of bringing me down for long after I’ve finished reading, I do believe that the novel would have lost some of its power if the contrast wasn’t there.
The passages describing floral arrangements and the meaning of so many different species were fascinating. But what was better still, was the bigger picture of the human mind. The idea that offering a red rose or a lilac blossom was not only wishful mystical thinking, as if the floral love potion would bring Prince Charming. It was the intention put into manifestation, taking action towards an ideal and having faith that your action had meaning. Just like this quote :
“It wasn’t as if the flowers themselves held within them the ability to bring an abstract definition into physical reality. Instead, it seemed that… expecting change, and the very belief in the possibility, instigated a transformation.”
― Vanessa Diffenbaugh, The Language of Flowers
Just as Victoria discovers in the novel, there are many dictionaries of floriography, with the Victorian language of flowers being one of the most romantic. My choice was S.Theresa Dietz’ Complete Language of Flowers, for its charming retro illustrations. This is a book to keep close for any special dinner or event where you would like to make a memorable flower arrangement, or for gardeners that wish to vary their Spring planting around a theme or intention for the season. I could spend hours looking up flowers in here, than searching online for pictures and inspiration. This is a treasure for any floral enthusiast.
I’m happy I could share this flowery ritual with you today and hope that I’ve inspired you to create your own moment of contemplation for the early spring, be it around flowers, birds or anything that sparks your enthusiasm. I also wanted to share my heartfelt thanks to the wonderful friends that I’ve met here, visitors or fellow YouTubers. I don’t often make tag videos, but I didn’t want that stopping me from expressing my gratitude to some wonderful ladies that have mentioned my channel in recent videos and have shown me nothing but love and support ever since I started.
MJ from Reading this Life
Jolene from Bookworm adventure girl
Kelly from Books I’m not reading
Deea from Novel iDeea
Julie from In my potting shed
Jack from Spread Book Joy
THANK YOU !
Until next time, enjoy your reading and your flowers !
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