Flower Magic
The Secret Language of Flowers
Anastasia Mostacci’s delightful spiritual guide Flower Magic is about enhancing dialogues between humans and nature.
As a child in her grandmother’s garden, Mostacci learned how flowers personify the highest qualities inherent in human life. Tracing the role of flowers in history, legends, and the practices of ancient wisewomen, her book suggests learning the language of plants—living entities that have graced the planet for around 460 million years. Indeed, it argues that a flower’s color, shape, scent, and texture carry messages about its effects. Relating facts about the characteristics and uses of sixty different flower-bearing plants and their blooms, it groups them into six “gardens” according to their legendary and experiential benefits, including enhancing dreams and psychic abilities, healing emotions and relationships, and nurturing one’s inner child.
Its prose poetic, the book focuses on life’s ephemeral beauty, sharing the ancient knowledge that nothing exists in isolation; that beneath the surface lies an interdependent web of existence of which all are a part; and that in the cyclical nature of life, even the brightest and most beautiful beings, after giving themselves, will return to earth to nourish new life. Brief entries for each plant name their locations, preferred climates, characteristics, and uses, accompanied by graceful illustrations in glorious color. Supporting its claims for the ability of plants to comfort, inspire, and heal, the book notes the serotonin-regulating effects of passionflowers, and that infusions made from the calyx of hibiscus flowers are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Such examples appear sans citations, though.
A sensitive and somewhat mystical text, Flower Magic suggests that learning the secret language of flowers can help bridge the gaps between humans, nature, and higher planes of consciousness.
Reviewed by
Kristine Morris
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
