The Genius of Flowers

— I am Hettani, one of the Spirits who preside over the formation of flowers, over the diversity of their perfumes. It is I, or rather, it is we, for we are thousands of Spirits, who adorn the fields, the gardens; who give the horticulturist the taste for flowers. We could not teach him the mutilation he sometimes carries out; but we teach him to vary their perfumes, to embellish their forms, already so graceful. Nevertheless, it is chiefly upon the flowers blossomed naturally that all our attention is turned; upon them we lavish still more care: they are our favorites. As all that is alone has the greater need of aid, that is why we tend to them best. We are also charged with spreading perfumes. It is we who bring to the exile a remembrance of his homeland, making a perfume of the flowers that adorned the paternal garden enter into his prison. To the one who loves, and loves truly, we bring the perfume of the flowers offered by his betrothed; to the one who weeps, a remembrance of those who have departed, making the roses and violets that recall their virtues blossom upon their tombs. Which of you does not owe us these gentle emotions? Who has not trembled at the contact of a beloved perfume? You are perplexed, I think, hearing us say that there are Spirits for all this, and yet it is the pure truth. We have never incarnated and perhaps shall never incarnate among you. Nevertheless, some have already been men, but few among the Spirits of the elements. Our mission, on your Earth, represents nothing; we progress as you do, but it is chiefly on those superior planets that we are happy. On Jupiter our flowers reproduce melodious sounds, and we form the aerial dwellings, of which only the nests of hummingbirds can give you a faint idea. For the first time I shall give you the description of some of these flowers, not merely magnificent, but sublime and worthy of the elevated Spirits to whom they serve as dwelling. Farewell. May a perfume of charity animate you. The virtues themselves have their perfume.

QUESTIONS ON THE GENIUS OF FLOWERS.

(Society, December 30, 1859. – Medium: Mr. Roze.)

(To Saint Louis) The other day we had a spontaneous communication from a Spirit who said he presides over flowers and their perfumes; are there in fact Spirits whom we may regard as genii of flowers?

Answer. – This expression is poetic and applies well to the subject. But, properly speaking, it would be faulty. You must not doubt that the spirit presides, throughout all Creation, over the work that God entrusts to it. It is thus that this communication is to be understood.

This Spirit says he is called Hettani. How can he have a name, if he has never incarnated?

Answer. – It is a fiction. The Spirit does not preside, in a particular manner, over the formation of flowers. Before passing through the animal series, the elementary spirit directs its fluidic action toward the creation of vegetables. This one has not yet incarnated and acts only under the direction of more elevated intelligences, who have already lived long enough to acquire the knowledge necessary for their mission. It was one of these who communicated. He has made for you a poetic mixture of the action of two classes of Spirits that act in the vegetable creation.

Not having yet lived, even in the animal life, how can this Spirit be so poetic?

Answer. – Read again. [the answer above].

Remark. – See the remark made after question 24 [of the article on Miss Indermuhle].

So the Spirit who communicated is not the one that inhabits and animates the flower?

Answer. – No, no. I have already told you very clearly: he guides.

This Spirit who spoke to us, was he incarnated?

Answer. – He was. [Pay attention to the phrase: “It was one of these who communicated” in answer no. 2.]

Does the Spirit that gives life to plants and flowers have a thought, the intelligence of its self?

Answer. – No thought, no instinct. [see in Genesis: Spiritual Principle; and in The Spirits' Book: The minerals and the plants and The animals and man.]