Remember the story of Sisyphus, the Greek king whose trickster escapades annoyed the gods so much that he was condemned to forever push a rock uphill, only to have it tumble back down to the bottom each time he got close to the peak?

Does it ever seem like you’re forever striving to attain a goal, and consistently falling short?

Whether it’s selling your house, landing a job, or finding your soul mate, this pattern can get pretty disheartening after a while.

I’m talking things like always making it to the final round of interviews but never getting hired. Or deals falling through. Or getting passed up for that big scholarship. Or finally getting to meet that important person and putting your foot in your mouth. Or coming home disappointed from that hot date and realizing you had a booger hanging out your nose. Or funny accidents happening that keep you from being where you want to be at the right time.

If it’s just a short-term pattern, don’t worry – it’s probably just a phase, and the tide will turn soon. Just keep taking baby steps towards your goal, and you’ll get there.

But if you can look back at your life and see this as a recurring pattern (whether or not you suspect self-sabotage), that’s a sign there’s something up that needs healing.

If you can relate to this, you might want to consider spending some time with one of my favorite plant totems: the flower Gardenia.

Gardenia Flower Meaning: Self Love to Counteract Self Sabotage

The Gardenia flower deva  has amazingly beautiful and powerful Divine Feminine energy that can cut right through this pattern. She’s all about Love, but not just any love. We’re talking deep, deep levels of self love.

You see, Gardenias are amazingly beautiful when they bloom. But they won’t do it without impeccable care.

Any little thing that’s off – too hot, too cold, too much water, not enough water, sunlight too bright- and they will drop their blossoms. So if you want them to bloom, you have to lavish them with love.

And you know what? It’s SO worth it. A Gardenia in bloom will fill the room with heavenly fragrance and is beautiful enough to invoke the angels.

And that’s YOU. Your soul, when you reach that point of blooming.

Gardenias only come in white, the color of purity. And that is a big part of Gardenia flower meaning. If this dreamy plant totem is coming forward for you, consider what you need to reduce out of your life that is not serving you. (Hint: look for people and things that have a harsh or unpleasant effect on you.)

Realize this, too: the gardenia isn’t typically grown for its fruit (although it does have one; its fruit is sometimes used to make a yellow dye. Yellow, the color of joy.) It’s grown for its heavenly blooms.

Gardenia flower symbolism reminds us to focus not on the goal (landing that job, making the money, finding the soul mate), but on allowing yourself to blossom, to give yourself the support and encouragement and nourishment you need to flourish.

And it’s not just for you. Because when you do, your blooming will raise up everyone around you. Just like a flowering gardenia makes everyone in the room feel amazing.

But remember – YOU are the gardener of your soul, no one else.

Gardenia says, “It’s OK to be a hot house flower. Give yourself the time you need to dream. Nourish yourself with uplifting thoughts. Lavish yourself with love. And recognise what a joy and a miracle you are, even before your flowers manifest.”

If this resonates with you, you might like to check out my latest YouTube video to hear more about Gardenia flower meaning – and to learn my favorite ways to connect with this beautiful, benevolent flower angel. 🙂

Watch Gardenia Flower Meaning Video Here

Gardenia Flower Symbolism:

• Love
• Peace
• Dreams
• Intuition
• Divine Feminine
• Compassion
• Joy
• Purity