Like many people, I highly value good communication with those around me. Honesty and openness in conversation -- about feelings, intentions, needs, etc -- is a huge asset to a mature and fulfilling relationship with anyone; be they family, friend, or lover. Almost every time I have had an argument with someone, it has been due to one or the other of us not being clear about our wants or our emotions.
However, communication is not just serious adult conversations about life, the universe, and everything. In the Victorian era, young men and women used flowers to communicate, picking white clover and red roses to suggest a promise of true love, or buttercup and yellow poppy to infer a wealthy suitor. The Japanese used a similar flower language called hanakotoba, although theirs also included herbs, trees, and even printed paper to deliver subtle messages along with their letters and poems. Both the Victorian and Japanese flower languages were ways of communicating not just intent and interest, but also an appreciation for natural beauty.
Communication, therefore, can also (and should!) be fun. Expressing love or telling a story through flowers is an entertaining and picturesque way to communicate with your friends and loved ones. Flowers can also serve as a reminder to yourself to be more compassionate (elderflower), have hope (snowdrop), or to work toward your goals (hollyhock). Mix it up, and fill your home this week with gorgeous communication!
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