Exercise of the Blossoming of the Rose by Roberto Sagioli,
MD.
So just get in a comfortable seated position,
Closing your eyes,
Taking a few deep breaths into your body.
One more deep full belly breath.
Imagine a rose bush with many flowers and buds.
Now turn your attention to one of the buds.
The bud is still enclosed in its green leaves or sepals,
But at the very top a rose-colored point can be seen.
Focus on this image,
Holding it in the center of your awareness.
Now in a slow movement,
The sepals start to separate,
Turning their points outward and revealing the rose-colored petals,
Which are still closed.
The sepals continue to open until you can see the whole bud.
Next,
The petals also begin to unfold,
Slowly separating,
Until a fragrant,
Fully opened rose is seen.
Smell the perfume of the rose with its characteristic and unmistakable scent.
Now imagine that a ray of sunlight shines on the rose,
Giving it light and warmth.
Take a few moments to experience the sunlit rose.
Look at the very center of the rose.
You will see appearing there the face of a wise being,
Full of understanding and love for you.
Talk to him or her about whatever is important in your life now.
Feel free to ask questions about what is meaningful to you.
Life issues,
Direction,
Or choices you may need to make.
Take the time you need to communicate in this way.
If you like,
You can press pause at this point and write down the dialogue.
After communicating with this wisdom within,
Now identify yourself with the rose.
Imagine that you become the rose.
Be aware that the rose and the wise being are always within you,
And that you can get in touch with them and draw on their qualities whenever you choose.
Symbolically,
You are this flower,
This rose.
The same life that animates the universe and has created the rose is enabling you to awaken and develop your innermost being and all that radiates from it.
Now imagine you have become the whole rose bush.
Be aware that you are firmly planted in the earth,
Drawing nourishment from it.
Your leaves and flowers are growing upward,
Nourished by the energy and warmth of the sun's light.
Become aware of other rose bushes,
Other plants and trees,
All animated by the same life energy,
All part of the same planet of the greater whole.
Just breathe into this ecosystem of which you are never separate.
Feeling your roots in community with all that is.
Taking another deep breath into your body.
And slowly,
Slowly opening your eyes.
You may want to write about what happened or draw a picture,
Paying special attention to your dialogue with the sage,
To any insights that this exercise brought you.
