The Victorian Language of Flowers was used for decades to relay feelings that people had a hard time expressing or were too embarrassed to share. The first flower we will be looking at is Queen Anne’s Lace. The flower has a spray of little white buds and is the parent of the modern carrot. Native to Europe and Western Asia, the plant would be used as a medicinal herb. Its uses include treating skin conditions, diabetes, and blood disorders. In the Victorian Language of Flowers, Queen Anne’s Lace symbolizes sanctuary.
One common thing I’ve noticed through conversation is that everyone has that place: a place that they can go to feel utter peace, even in the worst of times. It may be your room, a library, or even a certain person or item. Everyone has their sanctuary. For me, my sanctuary is friends and family. Leaving my home was hard for me; I’m not good at saying goodbye. Plopped in a new world, I felt like I lost my safe place. Luckily, I had reminders of home — my baby blankets, pictures of home, and the same air freshener. While they reminded me of somewhere I used to feel safe, I realized I had to find comfort in my new life. Here. I had to find my sanctuary that would catch me in a net of blossoms and give me a push to keep going.
It is still early in the semester and my time here at Stevens, but I’m happy to say that I have found a new group of people to call my sanctuary. We have “family breakfast” each morning before everyone’s 8 a.m. classes in Pierce. We take walks throughout Hoboken, exploring and ranking the coffee shops, record stores, and book stores. Then there are the times where we lounge around over some card games, like “Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza”. These seemingly mundane traditions provide me a safe haven from any stressors I may be experiencing, whether it be family, school, or environmental. In these people, I find my sanctuary.
Queen Anne’s Lace should be joined with cattail or apple blossom and then gifted as a housewarming gift. The message of this flower is meant to ease the mind and almost create a safety net. It is a way of showing a deeper, more intense connection with the receiver — one that asserts a desire to surpass the mere bounds of casual small talk. Gifting such a flower would be indicative of wanting to serve as one’s sanctuary.
Finding a sanctuary is hard, but it is one of the best things you can establish for yourself in a new place. It provides a cushion for any struggles you may encounter. So, find your safe haven. Put yourself out there. Chat with the random person next to you. Explore new places. Find your favorite hangout spot on campus. Try a new activity. Join a club. Do something or find the thing that is your sanctuary.
