Flower

In dreams, a single flower typically alludes to the mandala motif (centre, soul, etc.), while multiple flowers more often symbolize emotions, receptivity, allure, and attraction.

The Passive Principle

Although different kinds of flowers have their own symbolic qualities, they generally express “the passive principle.” They rise quietly from the earth, reaching towards sunshine and rain. Flowers possess a distinctly receptive and feminine character, often described similarly to young, beautiful women—they are delicate, lovely, and so forth. (See also Earth.)

Development

The motif of flowers expresses development (see Growth); it unfolds its petals and becomes receptive. The chakras in yoga are symbolized by lotus flowers with varying numbers of petals, illustrating the development of psychological states.

Death and Resurrection

The image of flowers awakening in spring after the long winter symbolizes the dead spirits rising from the earth. In particular, red and purple flowers carry this symbolic value as they represent the colors of blood, life, and the soul. After the battle at Landen, a sea of red poppies grew the following summer, and the poppy has become a modern symbol for those who fell in World War I. The countless soldiers who died and vanished in the mud returned as red flowers.

In Athens, a flower festival was held in spring as a memorial ceremony for the dead. When the death god Hades abducted Persephone, she was picking flowers. Thus, flowers are associated with death and the souls of the deceased. The body is buried in the earth, and the soul resurrects in another form, much like a flower.

The delicate flower that blooms in spring symbolizes youthful life and rebirth. Its star-shaped or even mandala-like petals associate it with the sun, the world, or the center (like the lotus flower in Southeast Asia, “the golden flower” in Chinese alchemy, and “the golden flower of alchemy” in Europe); it sometimes represents the Self in dreams. It symbolizes innocence, vitality, and joy of life, but also the transience of life.

Feelings

More generally, flowers express emotions, and they are still used for this purpose today. If one wishes to convey feelings—participation, love, appreciation—one does so with flowers.

Eroticism

Flowers can have a sexual meaning in dreams. Some flowers, such as violets, represent chastity on one hand, while others, like the rose, can have a distinctly erotic quality. The flower itself on the plant may remind one of genitalia. (This distinguishes the symbol from plants in general.) Note that Persephone, as mentioned, was picking flowers when Hades assaulted her. There is a clear connection between flowers, sex, violence, death, and rebirth that “is apparent everywhere” (Stevens 1997, p. 170).

Colors

The color of the flower always carries significance, with the white flower linked to purity (but also death), the red to vitality, blood, and sexuality, the yellow to the sun and gold, and so forth.

Coniunctio

According to Edinger, the “miraculous” emergence of flowers and other vegetation is a sign of the proximity of coniunctio, with the addition that “it is not unconditionally favorable, as it may indicate inflation for the immature ego” (1994, p. 220).

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