SUNFLOWER
The beautiful Sunflower is the emblem and symbol of Spiritualism. For centuries even before the Christian era, the Sunflower was regarded as truth and constancy. The Sunflower was adopted by the women reformers of the 1800’s.The Association of Cassadaga Camp Lilydale, New York In 1892 adopted the Sunflower as their seal. It was adopted in their by-laws and constitution. In 1928 the Sunflower was adopted as the official badge of international Spiritualism.
Picture in your mind the long reach of the Sunflower and vision how it protects the weaker plants and flowers as it shields them from rain storms and strong winds. When the Sunflower matures and is in its harvest so rich from God’s blessings very often like man and woman it become stooped with age.
The Sunflower has great medicinal value as it contains a complete balance of all the natural vitamins and minerals. Spiritualism stresses the value of spiritual and physical healing through proper balance.
One tiny seed is placed in the dark of Mother Earth, it is watered by rain from Heaven, blessed by man and often grows as tall as six feet, just like man. The main stalk is strong which is the life center and often has seven branches or twigs symbolizing the seven days of the week. It has 12 green leaves representing the 12 months of the year. The branches often have three nice sunflowers symbolizing the Blessed Trinity.
Each flower has 52 golden yellow petals, which represents the 52 weeks of the year. In the center of the yellow frame of petals are 365 rich seeds representing our calendar year. These seeds are protected from weather by husks, and contain a sweet meat and oil for the nourishment of our bodies. Even the birds of the air feed on them. Each morning, the sunflower faces the rising sun to the East, as to say, ‘Good Morning to the Great Spirit.
Think about the Sunflower how it rests upon a strong stalk, then think of Spiritualism and how it teaches a strong philosophy Therefore our motto is as the Sunflower turns its face to light of the Sun so Spiritualism turns the face of humanity to the light of Truth.
Rev. Cheri Deyling
THE SUNFLOWER:
Just as in the Bible, where it says Son/Sun, the Sunflower along with the Sun represents the Christ and it’s leaves are perceived as the Sun’s rays of light. Also, people who have been separated from the altar and have taken issue with God, Christ, Religion etc.—the use of the Sunflower silently speaks the name of the Divine. It’s not about standing in the symbolic dogma of the Sunflower as the Symbol of Spiritualism, but that you are to become the Sunflower itself and allow your rays of light to go out into your world—that you are the Sunflower with your light out in front. Thus at this Church, the picture of the Sunflower is placed to the right of the Ministers upon the podium, as a reminder for them to always be the light and aid against their harsh male polarity being out in front. They understand that your controlling harsh male polarity wants to keep you in the past — looking back always remembering how things were or used to be and should continue to be. The harsh male polarity wants to keep you where you are and deny you truth of your wisdom and knowledge. blaming you for the way things are. Whereas your feminine polarity keeps you from losing your wisdom and everything you have learned. Your feminine polarity allows you to trust in the phenomenon And the beauty that’s occurring around you, instead of disparaging it —-saying you just made that up—it is real.
As ministers we are shepherds responsible for taking our flock to greener pastures, to higher ground. We are not to be in control of them but to allow them freedom to feed on the nourishment that we have led them to and not confine them in Dogma —-no matter the Religion. As shepherds we must protect the flock from wolves among us who are stuck in their own historical dogma themselves and want to create others into being comfortable with being stuck. Thus, the picture of the Sunflower is placed low to stimulate the quality or condition of being humble — as the modest sense of one’s own importance etc.—just as the Sunflower becomes full and ripe with seeds, it’s head forces it to bend at the neck into a curve similar to a shepherd’s staff—so this energy is radiating above and below the picture’s placement in a low position reminds us to always the middle path/road and to fully trust in your own light.
Rev. Augustine