Petals & Thorns

Bliss and pain, glory and downfall, petals and thorns. These are the dualities that the rose has symbolized for centuries. This is the spirit of Rosaspina—the rose together with its thorns.

The image comes easily to mind: Sleeping Beauty, known in the Grimm version as Briar Rose, lying in an enchanted sleep while Prince Phillip cuts his way through walls of brambles to reach her.

“The fateful slumber floats and flows
About the tangle of the rose;
But lo! the fated hand and heart
To rend the slumberous curse apart!” 

Beyond fairy tales, the rose has long represented the journey of human aspiration itself.

In Christian symbolism, roses were said to have grown without thorns in Paradise.

Only after the Fall did they acquire thorns, becoming symbols of suffering and the fallen nature of the world.

The Virgin Mary, by contrast, was often called the “rose without thorns,” a symbol of purity untouched by sin. She is at times portrayed within a thornless rose garden, reflecting this association.

But we do not live in Paradise. We live here, in a world of challenges, victories, setbacks, and transformation.

Those who pursue a vocation, a dream, or a calling know that no meaningful path is without obstacles. We understand that, like the prince in the tale, we must carve our own way through the brambles. No one is coming to awaken us into a better world. The journey belongs to us.

At Telling Roses, we chose to reinterpret the legend of Briar Rose. Our roses do not wait to be rescued; instead, they climb upward through the thorns, reaching toward a golden destination. They remind us that in pursuit of our purpose, softness alone is not enough. We need both petals and thorns. Grace and determination. Beauty and strength.

The Artist of the Roses brought this symbolic Rosaspina to life through her embroidery.

Deep red roses—the colour of passion and devotion to one’s vocation—bloom among thick, thorn-covered stems. Intricate and winding, the bramble ascends across the garment, creating a path that is both beautiful and untamed.

Rendered in black and gold, black and silver, the stems possess their own elegance. Yet it is the thorns that command attention. Fully visible and unapologetic, they are not hidden flaws but symbols of resilience.

For every rose that seeks to bloom, there must also be thorns.

Discover more about the Rosaspina symbolic collection in the link below: