ODE OF ORIGIN: THE FIVE ELEMENTS AND THE LOVING EMBRACE OF THE SENSES

I was born in the heart of the Valley of the Roses in Bulgaria - home of the most rich (and one of the most expensive) scents in the world. There, Nature created perfection - the way only Nature does. The Earth, the potent soil there, is the coziest womb for the gorgeous aromatic plants. The sun carries just enough Fire in its warm embrace to make the roses feel loved even during the snowy winter. The Water showers the summer afternoons with its lavish life-giving kisses, yet it mindfully shares the joy of being a sustainer with the loving sun.

Here, one can hear, and almost see and touch, the crispiness of the morning Air, when the rose buds are still peacefully asleep, and generously holding space for the honeybees before their busy day begins at dawn. The Valley, silently guarded from all directions by proud mountains, breathes that delicious crispiness, taking in the forests’ exhale and selflessly giving it back to the ancient trees to purify and create a new nutritious breath. When the sun kisses the roses, they tremble with jubilant anticipation and open their fragrant crowns to the world. The dew drops, like tiny mirrors that reflect and amplify the aromatic beauty of the shy plants, willingly give themselves away as a delightful nectar. The bees stretch and yawn, restful in their luxurious beds of soft rose petals; they smell the roses for breakfast before surrendering to their daily gracious dance. 

Once the sun covers the Valley with its glistering gold, the precious rose elixir knows that it is time to escape the parental snuggle and begins its sweet-scented journey. Mesmerized by the buzzing vibrations, the rich, flowery fragrance will take one last sip of the invigorating rose pollen, and in their sensual, weightless togetherness, they’ll fly away from the waving rose plants, above the guardian mountains, and beyond the noisy human vanity. The invisible air will carry this ethereal bundle of senses higher and higher. They’ll know when their journey is complete when the Ether greets them with an all-embracing OMmmmm. 

Shanti, Shanti, Shanti, they’ll reply, before dissolving into the oneness with the pure and luminous cosmic awareness.