Meanings, folklore and uses of jasmine flowers

The meaning and symbolism of the jasmine flower includes love, purity, feminine powers, sensuality, humility, hospitality, community, inspiration and spiritual ascension.

There are over 200 species of jasmine and today the fragrant plant grows in warm climates around the world. With its star-shaped flowers and sweet scent, jasmine is a popular flower for both gardeners and those who just drop in and breathe in its aroma. Due to its cross-cultural popularity, jasmine holds important symbolic and spiritual meaning for many people. In fact, its meanings are one of the reasons Jasmine is a popular girl name.

In this post, you will learn more about the meaning of jasmine flowers, including color and spiritual significance. You’ll also learn about jasmine folklore, usage, and more.

History of Jasmine

Botanists believe that the jasmine plant (Jasmine officinale) is native to the Himalayas in Asia. From there, travelers and traders spread the fragrant flower west to the Caucasus and the Middle East, where it eventually crossed the Red Sea via merchant shipping routes. It was in the Middle East that jasmine got its popular name – jasmine, which means “fragrant flower” in Arabic. (However, some interpretations say that the name means gift of God.) Around 1000 BC. Jasmine was popular in Egypt and then Greece, eventually spreading to the rest of the world.

What does jasmine symbolize?

You can read more details about each of these meanings below, but here is a brief overview of jasmine meaning:

Love purity female powers sensuality modesty hospitality community inspiration Spiritual Ascension

Detailed jasmine meanings

Love

Jasmine is a symbol of love for several reasons. First of all, many would describe its powerful scent as intoxicating, just like the feeling of being in love. In addition, as a meandering tendril, jasmine symbolizes the ups and downs of romantic relationships that can stand the test of time and continue to flourish. While jasmine comes in a few different colors, white jasmine is a symbol of new beginnings. As such, jasmine flowers are a popular choice in bridal bouquets. The beautiful flower also reminds us that old relationships can be new again.

purity

Essential oils derived from jasmine can fight infection. In addition, jasmine tea offers health benefits such as: B. to prevent cancer and diabetes. Because of these properties and jasmine’s ability to freshen the air, the flower is also a symbol of purity. In fact, practitioners of a variety of spiritual faiths, from East to West, place jasmine in temples, churches, and other places of worship as a symbol of spiritual purity and faith.

female powers

Jasmine has long been associated with femininity and motherhood. First of all, jasmine has medicinal properties that can help relieve menstrual cramps and pain during childbirth. Additionally, some holistic healers say jasmine can help with fertility. As a symbol of feminine power, jasmine is often used to honor goddess figures including the Virgin Mary, the Buddhist goddess Tara, the Hindu goddess Shri Durgadevi, and others.

sensuality

Known for its aphrodisiac properties, jasmine is also a symbol of sensuality. Its powerful scent can overwhelm the senses with a euphoric effect, captivating you before you fully realize what you are experiencing.

modesty

Since some types of jasmine only bloom at night, the flower is also a symbol of modesty. (Although “night blooming jasmine” is actually part of another plant family called nightshade familyare the nightshades.)

Jasmine symbolism: hospitality

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry bows to receive a garland of jasmine as he arrives in Colombo, Sri Lanka May 2, 2015. Photo: US Department One State.

Jasmine meaning also includes hospitality. In Hawaii, jasmine flowers are commonly placed in garlands along with hibiscus flowers to welcome visitors. In addition, it is common in Asia to welcome guests into your home by serving jasmine tea.

community

Jasmine plants are known for their multitude of flowers connected by winding tendrils or branches in shrubs. In addition, the strong scent of jasmine flowers overcomes fences and other artificial barriers in neighborhoods. Thus, jasmine is also a symbol of community. The flower reminds us of our connection to others and that together we can achieve much more than we can individually.

inspiration

For some, the powerful scent of jasmine triggers euphoric feelings. It is also known for its antidepressant properties. Due to its uplifting nature, jasmine meaning also includes inspiration. Jasmine plants are prolific in the way they bloom. Therefore, they remind us that starting with a simple idea or even a step can lead us to create or experience something that is deeply meaningful.

Jasmine Meaning: Spiritual Ascension

As a meandering vine, like the clematis plant, jasmine encourages us to explore different spiritual philosophies. After all, there is more than one way to connect with the divine. In addition, jasmine is a climbing plant. It shows us that every obstacle we face is an opportunity to learn and rise to spiritual enlightenment.

Meaning of jasmine flower color

While the first color that springs to mind when you think of jasmine might be white, these beautiful flowers actually come in a range of hues. While the meaning of flower color can be a matter of personal preference, traditionally they can symbolize different intentions, feelings, and occasions. Here are some general meanings applied to different jasmine colors:

White jasmine flower meaning

White jasmine flower meaning includes purity, beauty, innocence, new beginnings and angels. White jasmine is often used in wreaths and bouquets for weddings. It is also used to welcome a new baby or as a housewarming gift. White jasmine is also appropriate for funeral services as it honors a loved one’s passage into the spiritual realm.

Pink jasmine meaning

Light pink jasmine flowers are a symbol of new love, platonic affection, femininity and modesty. Pink jasmine is a beautiful gift for girls, female relatives and friends or men who love the color pink.

Red Jasmine

Some jasmine plants come in shades of scarlet, fuchsia, pink, or fiery red. The color red symbolizes passion, romantic love and primal energy. It can also symbolize good luck and wealth. A windswept vine, red jasmine symbolizes romantic love’s ability to withstand the test of time, despite the twists and turns that life can take. Red jasmine can also symbolize the euphoria of being head over heels in love.

Orange Jasmine

Orange jasmine varieties that come in shades of yellow with red spots, fiery red-orange, and striped shades of orange and red. There is also a type of jasmine flower called orange jasmine simply because it smells like fresh oranges.

The color orange symbolizes health, wellness and vitality. It is also the color of your second or sacral chakra that determines your zest for life and creativity. Orange jasmine is therefore the perfect plant if you want to liven things up or need creative inspiration. Like the scent of fresh citrus fruits, orange jasmine has a stimulating effect!

Yellow jasmine meaning

Yellow jasmine symbolizes affection, joy, friendship and prosperity. In Victorian England, it also symbolized victory as its hardiness could withstand cold temperatures.

Yellow jasmine is a feel-good flower. Therefore, it makes a lovely gift for anyone whose spirit you want to lift, or as a cheerful addition to your garden or table.

Blue jasmine meaning

Blue jasmine flowers symbolize trust, integrity and loyalty. In addition, blue jasmine indicates spiritual ascent. As a climbing plant, blue jasmine makes a beautiful gift for someone on a spiritual path. It is also the perfect flower or shrub to plant in a meditation or prayer garden.

Purple jasmine meaning

The purple jasmine color symbolizes peace, harmony, royalty, wealth and spiritual enlightenment. Mixing the cool shades of blue with the warm shades of red, purple represents the coming together of opposites to create something beautiful. Purple is also the color of the seventh chakra, which governs our superconscious and spiritual enlightenment. Therefore, purple jasmine meaning involves elevation and striving for something better than ourselves.

Spiritual meaning of jasmine flowers

Jasmine flowers have spiritual meanings in a number of religions and spiritual beliefs. Considered a cleansing plant, spiritual healers use jasmine flowers, including jasmine essential oil, to cleanse a space of negative energy. The scent of jasmine is also believed to help cleanse and clear the chakras, particularly the 7th or crown chakra, which governs spiritual enlightenment.

Jasmine meaning in Hinduism

Jasmine garlands, Hindu festival in Kerala India.

In Hinduism, jasmine symbolizes love and spiritual ascent. In fact, jasmine is one of the five arrows of Manmatha, the Hindu god of love. According to Hindu mythology, Manmatha had an arch made of sugar cane. And as Cupid shoots his darts of love, Manmatha shot darts of jasmine, the lotus flower, and others
.

Jasmine is so precious in Indian culture that Hindus honor their gods and goddesses with the flower by adorning their statues with garlands of jasmine flowers and planting them in temple gardens.

A Hindu prayer to the goddess of knowledge, music, art and healing mentions Jasmine:

“Goddess Saraswathi who is as beautiful as a jasmine flower, the moon or a snowflake, dressed in white and whose hands are adorned by Veena seated in a white lotus, to whom Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara pray please protect us. ”

Buddhism

A pillared stupa and meditation room in the Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra, India. Artworks in the caves showed princesses with jasmine in their hair. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg.

In Buddhism, jasmine symbolizes purity and devotion. In India, the birthplace of the…