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| "Magic Man." Medium: Colored Pencils. ©Dayna Winters. All Rights Reserved. |
Flower magic … it's the practice of using flowers and
plants for healing, and involves understanding the symbolism of flowers Flower magic also includes embracing an understanding of the physical and metaphysical components of
the plants and flowers you choose to use for healing, gift giving, or decorative purposes … The blooms correspond with
meaningful symbols, and the symbolic meaning often determines where you might see them,
particularly in works of art, or when used to convey a special message. For a simple example, a red rose means “I
love you,” while a yellow rose conveys “friendship,” but roses are also symbols
of the Feminine Divine and the odor of sanctity (which happens during or following Marian apparitions, the death of saints, the stigmata, and other miraculous events). In a similar vein, the Iris is another plant
with a goddess association and means “a message for thee …”
I have always loved irises, particularly the purple
variety. A friend of mine was narrowing
down the flowers in her own flower bed, had pulled up and divided some iris bulbs because the area was becoming overcrowded with the lovely blooms, and she kindly gave them to me so I could plant them in my own yard.
When she did, we were kind of caught up in conversation talking about
other flowers too, including daffodils, which is what I originally thought she
had given me … then came the purple flowers, much to my surprise and delight.
I had no idea whatsoever that the irises she gave me were
actually called “Magic Man” irises … let’s just say I was impressed with the
synchronicity (perhaps it’s just a bit of flower magic) …being Wiccan, I find
the flower’s name perfectly suited for a witch’s garden. Better yet, we used to have a gray cat named Magic
who passed a while back, and of course, I often called him little “Magic Man.” 😊 Now that I reflect on the words, I have an
earworm playing in my head of Magic Man
by Heart…lol; I love that song, even though it has absolutely nothing to do
with flowers or irises!
In regard to basic flower symbolism, this beautiful plant is
a symbol for eloquence, and it’s not hard to understand why. The purple flower
is associated with wisdom; the yellow symbolizes passion; the white represents purity, and the blue signifies hope and faith. The shape of the flower makes some people associate the flower with the Fleur-de-lis, while others associate the
lattermost with the lilies or lotuses. Irises are named after the ancient
Greek messenger Goddess, Iris, who is also the Goddess of the Sea,
Skies, and Rainbow. The understanding of
the rainbow as a bridge reflects how Iris brings the worlds of the Gods and
humankind together: This is not a far stretch to understand since the flowers are absolutely beautiful making them easy to connect to the Divine.
This Bearded Iris I've drawn is based on one that grew in my yard a few
years back. I used a photo as a reference while drawing, and loved the opportunity
to use my Prismacolor pencils (a set that is a virtual rainbow of colors) for
completing the piece (I highly recommend them to anyone looking for pencils
that blend easily). I used mineral
springs to smooth out any roughness. If interested, I plan to make it available
in prints soon. Feel free to contact me
at daynawinters@gmail.com or
message me on Facebook
if you are interested in buying a print.
Up for discussion: What’s
your favorite flower? Why does the
flower you choose hold special meaning for you? Please share your thoughts in the comment area below. I'd love to hear from you!
Oh, and one more thing … The title of the piece I've shared today is none other than "Magic Man," of course! 😉
©Dayna Winters. All Rights Reserved.
This image cannot be
used or duplicated without expressed, written permission from the artist.
