Cherry blossoms have a beauty that is ethereal, gentle, feminine and innocent. Delicate as they are, they can powerfully induce a sense of enthrallment when gazing at them. Just being around cherry blossoms can help you to receive a transmission of their healing energies.
Like narcissus, which was talked about in the last post, cherry blossoms are synonymous with spring. They represent renewal, new beginnings, youth and hope.
They are closely linked with Japan, as cherry blossoms (sakura) are their national flower and the celebratory tradition of hanami (flower viewing) has carried on for hundreds of years.
In Japanese culture, sakura represent the concept of mono no aware, which is the wistful acknowledgment of the transience of life. As soon as they bloom, sakura petals fall gently like snow in the breeze. Their existence is fleeting and transient. They therefore also signify how precious life is, and remind us to enjoy it all while we can.
Also like the narcissus, sakura have a connection to the Otherworld. In Japan, the arrival of spring is not only a time to celebrate new life. It is also when the dead are remembered, and the spirits of the land (including the ones in or near sakura trees) are prayed to for abundant crops. Perhaps this signifies how life and death are always intertwined.
It is interesting to note Japan is known as the “Land of the Rising Sun”, as the Sun rises in the East. In some pagan traditions, the East is linked to spring. How appropriate then, that their national flower is connected with springtime! The East is also linked to the element Air, and sakura are indeed light and “airy” flowers.
The popular Japanese anime “One Piece” shows another way sakura are regarded in their culture. They are portrayed as heart-healers. In the story, there is a man who was a thief. He found out he had a terminal, incurable heart disease, and was full of rage and despair over the situation.
But one day in the mountains, he saw sakura for the first time. The sight of it elated him so much that he was miraculously cured. He was then inspired to become a doctor, and his life mission was to figure out a way to make sakura bloom in a kingdom that always snowed. The country was in crisis, and he wanted to heal the hearts of the nation. He believed the sight of sakura would save the kingdom.
He eventually died, but his life work and his legacy was carried out. The miracle of sakura was received by the kingdom, and it was reborn with a new name- “Sakura Kingdom”.
Magical Uses of Cherry Blossoms
The cherry is a fruit that has been corresponded with Venus, so it makes sense that cherries and cherry blossoms are used for romance and love spells.
Scott Cunningham shares: “A beautiful Japanese spell to find love is simple: tie a single strand of your hair to a blossoming cherry tree”.
Tess Whitehurst states in her book "The Magic of Trees" how they can help us to connect with goddess energy: “In addition to being ruled by the planet Venus and sacred to the goddess of love, the cherry tree is a symbol of the Japanese goddess Konohana-sakuya Hime, who is considered a divine foremother of the human race.
Indeed, the cherry tree is a potent powerhouse of divine feminine energy and can assist us in getting in touch with the goddess within..."
Sit or walk near a cherry blossom tree while it is blooming to take in its sweet, gentle, otherworldly, heart-healing and feminine energy. Bring some into your home, in a bouquet or on your altar. Take it as a flower essence, or plant a tree in your garden. Its medicine is gentle, but potent!
Magical Correspondences:
Gender: Feminine
Planet: Venus
Elements: Air, Water
