LadySlipper, Venus' Shoes

Fairy Queen of the Woods

Ladyslipper, Venus' Shoes

I had a magical sublime morning woods walk the other day, where I was greeted by a large stand of Lady Slippers.  In my area, these special flowers are endangered, protected and a rare sighting.  I have NEVER seen a full field of them like I did on this day.  Usually there are on or maybe two together.  They are elusive.  An encounter is rare and special.  After my own sighting, and posting a picture on Facebook, I had so many friends contact me with similar sightings.  So many people have seen LadySlippers this June around here!  And many have commented on how many there were together, unusually high numbers.  

I have been doing a bit of research about why or how this is happening this spring.  Was it the long cool wet season we had that made just the right conditions?  Maybe.  But you know me, I like to dig a bit deeper and uncover any spiritual or energetic significance as well.  When I saw my field of pink beauties, I had an immediate stellar feeling.  Like they were a constellation, like the Pleiades or Seven Sisters.  Like they were a sign or a message for me somehow.

The art and skillset of reading the signs is called decoding.  Reading and interpreting the codes, the signs you are presented with on your path is a huge exciting thing.  Following that proverbial trail of breadcrumbs is an exciting adventure.

The color and the shape and the overall signature of the Ladyslipper is certainly reminiscent of Venus.  The juicy lush rich pink of the goddess.  Since we are in a strong time of Venus Codes and in an important layer of the 8 year Venus synodic cycles (layers of 8,  13, 584 and 5 - pentagram as Venus dances with the sun and earth) - I had a contemplation, a feeling sense that maybe the strong showing of the Ladyslipper this spring was associated with the Venus energy.

How do I confirm or "back up" an inner knowing and a hunch like this?  With a little online research, I had a jaw drop amazed confirmation moment yesterday.  

Another name for Ladyslipper Flower is Venus' Shoes.
Well alright alright....how much more of a confirmation would I need than THAT?? Woo Hoo!

Cypripedium reginae, known as the showy lady's slipper, pink-and-white lady's-slipper, or the queen's lady's-slipper, is a rare lady's-slipper orchid native to northern North America. Although never common, this plant has vanished from much of its historical range due to habitat loss.
Names: The genus Cypripedium is derived from several Greek words that mean "Venus's shoe" - the slipper. The species name reginae is Latin for "of a queen". Common names also include fairy queen, white wing moccasin, royal lady's slipper, nervine, and silver-slipper.

"The greatest prize of the swamp is our state flower, the showy Cypripedium, the pink and white Lady’s-slipper, a member of the orchid family. No flower, wild or cultivated, is more magnificent than this. The plant is the tallest of the genus and has the broadest leaves and the largest and most beautifully tinted flowers, often bearing two on one stalk. Only North American Indian ladies wear slippers of this style, and the precise always call them moccasins. Goddesses, also, must have approved of this kind of footgear, for the scientific name, Cypripedium, means Venus’ shoes." Published June 18, 1911, Sunday Minneapolis Tribune

A Native Legend - A Chippewa brave had a beautiful sister who always wanted to go along on hunting trips with him. He always refused and if she followed he would send her back. At last, as he was leaving on a lengthy trip, she hid on the trail until he was out of sight, then she followed. In the woods she became lost and could not find her way back. When her brother returned, he and the village set out on a search for her. Villagers started fires to send smoke signals, but a strong wind fanned the flames into the woods and burned a large area, including where the maiden was lost.
When spring came and the snow melted the people found a new flower of pink and white on the hill side, shaped like a shoe or moccasin. The flowers led in a path into to the woods where the remains of the maiden were found. Where ever she had stepped, a flower had formed and they have continued to bloom since.

Thank you sweet Ladyslipper for showing me so much!  You are pure magic and delight! Fairy Queen INDEED!!  I am off to go frolic in the woods and encounter more...if they so chose to bestow upon me their grace.