Mystical Roses

Some of the great mystics were just too close to insanity for me to understand their lifestyles. Take for example Cure d'Ars who refused to smell a rose for fear of sinning. Pergation of the senses through exaggerated asceticism that would deny a rose just seems a little too self-consumed to me. Yes, I know that the mystics were supposed to be looking to commune directly with God, but they remind me of people who miss the forest for the trees. Unlike St. John of the Cross, I don't want to "be filled with a burning fervour full of anguish" nor do I want to "renounce all those things" St. John of the Cross waxed on about. As an artist and poet I believe that one of the closest experiences I will ever have of God in this lifetime is savoring a rose.  The mystics would likely say that this is not the direct experience they seek.  Perhaps not, but it's close enough for me. 

The rose in the photograph is Zepherine Drouhin, a gift I received from a person I have never met in person.  Around 2001 or so while at Kent Krugh's web site, A Woodland Rose Garden,  I e-mailed him to see if he knew where I could buy the Zepherine which seemed to be sold out everywhere I looked.  This generous man sent me two from his home in Cincinnati, Ohio.   Check out Kent's web site.  He has some of the best historical reference material I have found anywhere.

Every time I look at the Zepherine I am reminded of the kindness and generosity of strangers.  If that isn't experiencing God, I don't know what is.