Spirituality of Flowers: What Flowers Do for Us

By Bríd Kennedy and Niamh Brennan

As a child, Brid Kennedy was fascinated with the beautiful scents, colors, and shapes of flowers. They stirred something deep within that she could not name. The mystery and beauty of flowers sparked her curiosity to develop her research question: Is flower appreciation a participation in a Divine-human transformation process, and if so, how is it being expressed? Through a practice of authentic interiority striving towards beauty, intelligibility, truth, goodness, and love, the author now realizes how interdependent humans are with all creation.

Flowers are an essential part of creation bringing in wisdom and healing. Appreciating them is a participation in a Divine-human transformation process expressed through our acknowledgement of the scent, color, shape, and any changes in these through deeply knowing that something sacred is within them. Taking precious moments to stand and smell flowers enriches the soul as it reminds people of who they are as humans and to care for Mother Earth.

Drawing on science, spirituality studies, psycho-spiritual perspectives, and historical and cultural literature awakened Kennedy's appreciation of "beauty within." Flowers are evidence of the purpose in the universe. Consider and contemplate them in depth, as this book invites and initiates. The well-being of one's body is not possible without the well-being of the planet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Release date: Oct 24, 2024
• ISBN: 9798385226801

Bríd Kennedy

Bríd Kennedy has an MSc in community health and a BA (Honors) in theology. Following a career spanning almost four decades leading programs that addressed poverty and responded to natural and man-made disasters in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, she completed an MA in applied spirituality and a diploma in personal and business coaching. Her thesis Spirituality of Flowers: What Flowers Do for Us has awakened her to the “beauty within” each person.

Book preview

Introduction

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature

—Gérard De Nerval, 1854

As a child, I was fascinated with the beautiful scents and shapes of flowers such as primroses, daffodils, and lilacs. It stirred something deep within me that I could not name. I learned about nature while growing up on a farm as I experienced the cycle of life, through the new growth and harvest of crops, and appreciating God’s Garden, which grows wildflowers such as daisies, dandelions, and buttercups.

I now reflect on my lived experience since my childhood to make sense of our world. My career spanning four decades, witnessing poverty and gender-based violence amid the destruction of soil, forests, water, and air, with more frequent famines, floods, and conflicts has led me to believe that an impoverishment of the soul exists.⁶ During COVID-19 lockdowns, I found working directly with the soil in my garden, growing wild and cultivated flowers—talking to them and seeing some as if responding to me, blooming beautifully—spiritually nourishing and stirring all my senses.

When writing my spiritual autobiography, I recognized the great joy, peace, and healing I receive from seeing flowers of all shapes, smells, and colors grow and blossom. Over time, many children and adults have shared the joy they experience from flowers with me. COVID-19 lockdowns were the first time that I had the opportunity to spend quality time in my garden, which proved therapeutic as I shared various miraculous, magical, and mystical experiences of flower growth and blossoming with my family and