By the Seed SistAs
In our practice of magic and spacecraft—we respect and work with a quiet, often overlooked power – secrecy. The intentional silence that protects energy, intention, and transformation. In spiritual traditions across time and cultures, this kind of secrecy is adhered to, to both potentise and protect, magical intentions. It creates a container where charms and alchemy can grow without disturbance, judgement or disorder.
The plant totem of this principle is the rose—a flower super rich in stories and layered in mystery. Often thought of as a flower of beauty and love but the rose for secrecy in magic also invites us to care for what is hidden, to treat the unseen with respect, and to trust in the process of transmutation.
What Does the Term Sub Rosa Mean?
The phrase sub rosa—Latin for “under the rose”—is associated with confidentiality in the ancient world. Long ago in Rome, roses were hung over meeting tables to indicate that everything spoken there was to remain private. The rose became a living agreement of trust and silence. Ceiling roses in medieval architecture were often decorative covers for ventilation or candle fixtures, their floral design lasted well into Tudor and Stuart times. They symbolise confidentiality adopted in political and royal contexts, where sensitive discussions were said to occur sub rosa to ensure discretion. During the Wars of the Roses, a dynastic conflict between the houses of Lancaster and York, secrecy, betrayal, and covert alliances were central, often negotiated behind closed doors—literally, under the ceiling rose.
This concept of confidentiality and secrecy carries into esoteric traditions, where the rose represents the unseen currents beneath the surface, unspoken words the potency of withheld energy. The intentions held in silence are often the most powerful.
Reflective Practice
Bring a fresh rose flower to your altar space. Let the bloom serve as a visual reminder that some parts of your practice—your intentions, dreams, and spells—are strongest when nurtured in quiet and kept away from unnecessary exposure. Allow yourself to feel the power of a rose for secrecy in magic.
Why Keeping Intentions Private Strengthens Your Magic
The energy behind your spells is shaped by your intention. When you speak your intentions out loud or share them widely, you may inadvertently diffuse their power. That energy, once focused, can become scattered, subject to others’ opinions, doubts, or energies. Our magical workings often benefit from being kept quiet—hidden in the heart, away from the noise of the world.
Practical Tip for Secrecy in Magic
When setting an intention or casting a spell, try keeping a small written version tucked away—within a sealed envelope with a dried rose petal. Let that secret act of magic remain just between you and the universe until it blooms naturally.
The Rose as a Guardian of Your Sacred Work
The rose doesn’t only conceal beauty; it protects it with thorns, sharp and unapologetic, and reminds us that boundaries are essential in magic. Just as a spell requires intention, it also requires safeguarding. Not everything sacred needs to be shared—or even understood by others.
When we keep our workings quiet, we create a protective field around our magic. The rose’s thorns represent this energetic boundary, helping keep your intentions free from distraction, criticism, or counter-energy.
Practice in Action
If you’re crafting a spell or charm, build in a moment of intentional protection. You might visualise a rose blooming around your spell, thorns out, guarding it as it develops.
Why a Rose for Secrecy in Magic?
In a world that demands constant sharing, shouting, and showing, keeping your magic quiet is a something akin to beauty and a radical act. Secrecy is a refusal to fall into the performative . Every time you choose to keep your spell private, your intention unwitnessed, you’re moving away for the need for approval and the dilution of your own power.
Rose blooms gently and gorgeously in her own sweet time, guarded by thorns.
Guard your craft. Protect your energy. Build something wild, unseen, and absolutely unstoppable—under the rose….
These blog articles are herbal education resources, produced by the Seed Sistas. Gain insights and join us in the evolution of healthcare, please do leave a comment or question. Wellbeing empowerment for all…
Reading this was pure magical 🙂 thank you!