The Rose. A regal flower used for centuries to attract love, enhance femininity, and assist in seduction. Such exquisite beauty is made even more profound due to its impermanence. A few days of heightened refinement surround your space when the flower is at its peak. However, like all life, such delicate beauty is temporary and will eventually fade. With roses, the artistry of decay haunts the passing of this beauty. I keep my roses in their vase as I watch the petals shrivel and the color dim. A most exquisite momento mori expressing our connection to the cycle of life.

Still, us humans desire to hold on to our beauty. We grasp at it, reluctant to give up its power. As such it's only natural that we have a long history of preserving rose petals and incorporating them in our lives. These delicate, yet beautiful dried rose petals permeate our homes, championing our control over decay.

I use rose petals in a variety of ways in my Pagan practice. I lay them atop my altar during Ostara to welcome spring. I might covertly carry a pouch filled with red petals in my purse during a date to enhance my desirability. Additionally, ground-up rose petals feature as a common ingredient in many of my spells.