Edelweiss

Leontopodium nivale

Strength, Reflection

Edelweiss produces star-shaped, white flowers. Plants grow at high altitudes, reflecting the stars back to the cosmos and representing the stars on Earth. Edelweiss is for people who feel a strong affinity to the cosmos or if you look at the night sky and you feel you are part of or connected to universal energy. Edelweiss flowers represents the earthly symbolism of the cosmos, an energy that may help with defining your truth, your core beliefs, within your musings and meditations. 

The plants are well-adapted to harsh environments, showing the strength of the people of the Earth and our ability to survive in difficult conditions. Edelweiss has woolly, white flowers and leaves covered in dense, tiny hairs that protect it from cold, drought and intense sunlight. Plants grow low to the ground, from 3 to 8 inches in height. It forms a compact, mat-like cluster of stems and leaves, allowing it to thrive in rocky, high-altitude environments. This plant shows us how to gather ourselves into the core of our being to survive difficult external conditions as well as the glare of the opinions of others. People who work in public jobs can reflect on this energy to gather themselves into the strength of their own truth, to move forward, while those them may offer opinion and speculation on what they think that truth means. 

These small, perennial alpine plants are native to the mountainous regions of Europe, particularly the Alps and the Carpathians. Edelweiss grows in rocky, limestone areas at high altitudes, often above 5,900 feet (1,800 meters). Flowers bloom from July to September. 

What appears to be a single Edelweiss flower is actually a cluster of small, yellowish florets surrounded by several leaf-like bracts. The plant's leaves are narrow, lance-shaped, and also covered in a silvery, woolly texture. This adaptation helps the plant retain moisture. Edelweiss tolerates strong winds, low temperatures and poor soil. It shows us that we too can bloom no matter where are we are planted and can thrive in difficult or harsh living conditions.

Edelweiss can be propagated from seed.  Seeds respond best when kept cold for a period of weeks before planting and take from 2 to 6 weeks to germinate.

While once picked almost to extinction, Edelweiss is now a protected species in many areas. In traditional herbal medicine, Edelweiss has been used for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The flower is also used in cosmetics. 

Edelweiss is the national flower of Austria, Bulgaria, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland. 

Sedum

Sedum

Sedum

Gemini

Strength, Steadfastness

Also called Stonecrop, Sedum refers to a variety of  perennial plants that have thick, succulent leaves that store water along fleshy stems and grow flower clusters in pink, red, white or yellow in summer and fall.  The plants very from 3 inch tall creeping sedums that are frequently used as ground cover to tall sedums that grow up to 3 feet in height.

As flowering plants, Sedum attracts birds and butterflies. The plants are deer and rabbit resistant.  Sedum can be easily divided for propagation into more plants. Once established, Sedum is drought tolerant and requires very little watering. Sedum will grow in rocky soil.

Sedum plants have thick stems and leaves that are symbols of strength.  Sedum bring to us several concepts of strength.  The first is the concept of inner strength.  Call on the energy of sedum when you need to fine tune your inner strength or to shore up the strength you need to carry a project to completion.  These energies can also be used to remind us of our own strength when surrounded life challenges.

Tall sedum plants have many stalks bearing flowers.  Think of these stalks as a group of people who are like minded who are standing together.  They can also represent your family group or friend group.

The strength sedum brings also carries the energy of steadfastness.  If the family of sedum is of interest to you, you likely have beliefs that have evolved over time into a solid base of who you are.  You use this base of beliefs to make sense of the world around you and the world of spirit and can use that base to navigate both easily. Sedum energy also introduces the question of whether your beliefs are too firmly based.  Can you see the perspective of someone else introducing a new idea or are you willing to discard old beliefs that no longer serve you? 

Sedum points out the choices we have in how we progress through life. What do you prefer?  The relative safety of growing close to the earth, safe from the wind, or taller and more visible, yet vulnerable to more risks? Or do you choose a combination of both?

• Creeping Sedum - produce clusters of star-shaped flowers in yellow, pink or white.
• Tall Sedum - grow up to 3 feet with succulent leaves along the stems with flower clusters in summer or fall.

Snowdrops

Galanthus nivalis

Aquarius

Strength, Determination, Accomplishment

Snowdrops are one of the first flowers to appear in spring, often pushing up through snow, bringing us the aspects of determination and strength. The plants grow from bulbs and thrive in regions with cold and moderate winters.The flowers are fragrant, white bell-shaped blossoms. Different varieties grow from 6 to 12 inches tall. 

Snowdrops are not attractive to deer and small animals and are poisonous to cats and dogs. Snowdrops are native to Europe and the Middle East and now also grow in North America. These plants do very well left alone, although they can be divided as they spread.

Snowdrops will multiply with offsets - bulbs that grow from the mother bulb. Even when dormant, snowdrops like shade. Snowdrops symbolize strength of character that doesn't need to be in the limelight to thrive. Think of snowdrops when you know where you are going and need to joyfully focus on accomplishing tasks to move a project forward to completion. You may look at those who need to have the spotlight focused on them to acknowledge accomplishments but know that your accomplishments are recognized by others and that you are living and working from the very steady platform of self awareness that is more significant because it comes from within rather than others. Like the first signs of spring, you are welcomed by others for yourself and your accomplishments.

Crocus

Crocus Vernus

Sagittarius

Renewal, Determination, Strength

Crocus are one of the earliest blooming signs of spring, with purple or white blossoms showing up in early spring, even pushing up through snow.  These perennials are grown from a bulb.  Flowers bloom for about three weeks.  These early bloomers can be blue, orange, pink, purple, white and yellow.  Each bulb produces several blossoms. The leaves continue to grow a few weeks after flowering to gather energy for the next season, then they yellow and fade. They multiply to produce more flowers each year.

The primary aspects crocus bring are those of determination and strength. These flowers grow from 2 to 6 inches, yet are the first to show in the spring (some of the variety bloom in fall).  The energy of crocus is for those who go through what they may perceive as a long dark night, and are ready to emerge into the light.  This energy also shows us what it's like to be first - to jump from the concept into the realization of it quickly. The difference between those experiencing the long night and the quick jump is perception: if you are ready to make the next jump into the next positive step of your life, crocus lets you know that any time you choose is a good time.

Crocus also brings to us the concept of right timing. After a long winter, the light of the crocus flowers is a welcome one. Trust you'll also have right timing in your life - that people you need to see will be available, that the income you want will be available, and all things you perceive will make you feel better for having them will be available at the right time. 

Crocus likes full sun to part shade and will tolerate clay and sandy soil. It is very tolerant of it's growing conditions. We too need to be tolerant of the conditions we were planted in to grow. Out of each scenario is born a desire to do better. Are you looking at  your family or other conditions as a positive springboard to your present or do you otherwise? Know you were planted exactly where you needed to be for your growth, and celebrate the many colors that growth brings to you each day.

Crocus is Latin for saffron, a spice derived from the stigma of the flower of the saffron crocus (crocus sativa) or autumn crocus, as this species blooms in autumn. Thousands of crocus are needed to make an ounce of saffron, one of the worlds most expensive spices.  This small flower with a short bloom cycle has great inner value. Are you letting your value show? Do you need to meditate on what characteristics you have that will turn to gold?

Crocus spends most of the time in dormancy. Look to this benefit: use this time to gather all needed aspects of a project or idea before it blooms.