At first glance this flower said ‘compassion’, ‘sacral chakra’ then ‘Quan Yin’.

I’m not so great with the names of flowers so when I asked my green fingered mother to help me out she pointed out that this was a Rhododendron and it genetically originated from China.

It would be fitting as the flower seems to express the energy of Ascended Master quanyin who is a Buddhist deity that emphasises the energy of compassion and mercy. Her level of compassion demonstrates the fierce instinctual energy of motherhood, when a mother knows exactly what to do for her child to protect it so that it can survive.

This fierce motherly protective reaction is really connected with the sacral chakra where we feel our ‘gut instincts’, so this flower has the capacity deepen our awareness of this energy centre and bring it into balance. The expression of compassion released through the heart becomes pure when we connect more deeply with these drives because we instinctively understand what needs to be done for ourselves or others in order to feel nurtured and survive. This enhances our sense of connection with others and deepens our quality of relationship.

In meditation I feel the rhododendron develops our compassionate instincts, deepens our experience of connection with others and offers us a motherly sense of protection in the process. It can support us through difficult cycles as it understands that aspect of cyclic feminine wisdom that with life also comes death and that release is fundamental to growth. It knows how to help us like a midwife instinctively guides a mother through the process of giving birth.

The following is not a remedial suggestion but I do feel that working with its it’s energy has the capacity to ease the psychological drivers behind female fertility issues, hormonal imbalances and challenging female cycles, as well as all aspects of the birthing process and caring for the child. These are all aspects associated the sacral chakra and the female process. It’s energy also reminds me of the Empress in the tarot, who is forever fertile, motherly and abundant.