A few words on the humble crocus. First of the flowers (at least around here in my neck of the woods).
Though diminutive, crocus pack a big punch because they bring with them the first hints of the colors of spring. Some years they arrive with the last passing snowstorms, other times they bloom out of last year’s rust-colored grasses. Sometimes they burst forth out of muddy March ground like a startling lotus.
Always they arrive. At the right moment.
To me, crocus carries the energy of Right on Time. This makes some sense to me as they are connected with both the planet of Venus (as a five-petaled flower) and Mercury (through Hermes and the Greek mythos of him and his human-lover Crocus). Crocuses are a reminder of the ephemeral nature of spring for they rise from the ground, sometimes no matter the weather, and yet are so easily felled by frost, rain, or heat. They are a wellspring of hope but one that must be captured quickly or remembered.
Crocuses are best used in magic by their colored associations. Use a white crocus for the purity of springtime and the idea of new beginnings, a yellow crocus for happiness and joy, or a purple crocus for psychism and power. They can be picked fresh or pressed and dried for future use. Note: Please do not confuse the common Crocus, also known as the Spring Crocus (Crocus vernus) with the Autumn Crocus (Crocus sativa) from which saffron is harvested. The common Crocus is VERY toxic and should not be consumed under any circumstances.