Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs - Scott Cunningham 1985

Rose
The Herbs

(Rosa spp.) Petals: G Greens: X

Gender: Feminine

Planet: Venus

Element: Water

Deities: Hathor, Hulda, Eros, Cupid, Demeter, Isis, Adonis, Harpocrates, Aurora

Powers: Love, Psychic Powers, Healing, Love Divination, Luck, Protection

Magical Uses: Roses have long been used in love mixtures, owing to the flower’s associations with the emotions. A chaplet of roses worn when performing love spells (remove the thorns), or a single rose in a vase on the altar, are powerful love-magic aids. Rose water distilled from the petals is added to love baths. Rose hips (the fruit of the rose) are strung and worn as love-attracting beads.

A tea of rosebuds drunk before sleep induces prophetic dreams. To discover their romantic future, women used to take three green rose leaves and name each for one of their lovers. The one that stayed green the longest answered the question of “which one?”

Rose petals and hips are also used in healing spells and mixtures, and a rosewater saturated cloth laid to the temples will relieve headache pain.

Roses are also added to fast-luck mixtures and, when carried, act as personal protectants.

Rose petals sprinkled around the house calm personal stress and household upheavals.

Roses planted in the garden attract fairies, and are said to grow best when stolen.