Why "Thistle and Iris?"
Thistles and irises have deep meaning for me, personally and professionally.
The thistle is the national flower of Scotland, which is my ancestral home. The thistle is both fiercely self-protective with its sharp spines and hardy stems and leaves, as well as a valuable and prolific pollinator that many birds and insects rely upon in ecosystems where flowers are scarce. Thistles, in many cultures and religious traditions, represent devotion, determination, resilience, and strength. They are also widely used for medicinal purposes and are sometimes known as a symbol of protection.
The iris is one of two state flowers of Tennessee, where I was raised and now live and work. The iris is named for the Greek goddess, Iris, who personified the rainbow and acted as messenger between the gods and mortals. Irises often need thoughtful cultivation, but in good conditions can survive many pests, harsh sun, and drought. In literature and mythology, they often represent valor, trust, and hope.
Both thistles and irises grow in shades of purple, which in poetry, folklore, and some religio-cultural traditions is the color of wisdom, power, protection, harmony, and dignity.
These two flowers and all they represent embody my hopes and goals for birthing people--that they will be determined, resilient, and strong, be treated with dignity and devotion, and be guided by trust, wisdom, power, protection, and harmony.
Birthing often requires us to be like thistles, hardy and resilient in difficult conditions, and birth itself is much like Iris, a messenger between our reality and the miracles that lie beyond it.
