THE STORY OF THE ROSE

Sun.  A seed, vibrant in its completeness, solid in its identity and purpose, all knowing and all being, yet restless.  So the seed takers on nutrients and water, and seeks to go beyond its shell.  Moon.  The seed sends out tendrils, both up and down.  Down to consolidate roots, up to explore possible futures.  A little green shoot breaks the surface.  Mercury.  The shoot accelerates into rapid skyward growth, the adolescence of the plant.  Venus.  The bud forms at the top of the plant, with the protective leaves revealing just the first sign of the luscious leaves inside.  Mars.  The rose explodes into a fiery, vibrant and pungent ball of sensation.  Jupiter.  The flower expands, and becomes overly showy.  Saturn.  The rose loses its petals and leaves, naturally or through pruning.  Chiron. The plant knows that in one way it is dying, so prepares for metamorphosis.  Uranus.  The rose bush crumbles in the winter.  Neptune.  The body of the plant dissolves into dust.  Pluto.  Somewhere, the seed lives on, burying itself in the dark until the light of next year's sun and the whole cycle starting again.  Wonderful thing, nature.