One of the most beloved wildflowers that grow here along the coast of Vancouver Island, Nootka Rose/Rosa Nutkana, in Hul’q’umi’num’ is referred to as qel’qulhp, referring to the shrub itself and qel’q for the rose hip. This wildflower presented herself as a guide when I was living in a tiny home in West Saanich, doing some deep soul healing with the support of some teachers of the golden variety. I would go on long walks while in these heightened states of awareness and simply sit in her presence, enthralled by her natural beauty and grounding presence. Often found blooming by the ocean, rooted in the wisdom of the land and waters, she invites us into deeper intimacy with ourselves and one another, reminding us that love, like nature, blooms in cycles, with patience, care, and presence. 

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Here’s what I revere most about Nootka Rose:

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• Honored by Coast Salish peoples for its healing gifts, Nootka Rose is a doorway to deeper connection with the land, your ancestors and the ancient ways of listening to nature as medicine.

• With its thorns and blossoms, Nootka teaches the sacred balance between setting healthy boundaries and remaining open-hearted, an important teaching for those learning to trust and love again.

• Though Nootka rose is Indigenous to the lands of the Coast Salish peoples and carries its own unique Earth-based teachings, she resonates with the same archetypal codes found in the Rose Lineage. Her medicine mirrors that of Mary Magdalene, a spiritual teacher often associated with the red rose, as she guides us into the depths of emotional alchemy, remembrance and the return to embodied love.

• Nootka Rose has been used to support women’s reproductive health, easing menstrual cramps and helping regulate cycles when taken as a tea. The energetics of the flower also support emotional regulation during hormonal shifts.

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​Why I serve Nootka Rose in ceremony...

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• Nootka gently supports the release of old heartache, helping to soften grief and ease emotional wounds with the nurturing embrace of its petals, like receiving a warm hug from the great Mother Earth herself.

• Known for its soft yet resilient nature, Nootka carries the essence of the divine feminine, offering tenderness, grace, and strength to help you reconnect with your own inner wisdom and self-love.

• With its thorns and blossoms, Nootka teaches the sacred balance between setting healthy boundaries and remaining open-hearted, an important teaching for those learning to trust and love again. 

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​Nootka Rose Source: *besides wild foraging here on Vancouver Island

Amanita Allies (Nootka Rose can be found within Heart Opener & Mystic Bloom) 

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