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Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Holly and Pine Bach Flower Essences for The Holidays

Its now the Holiday Season and time to honor two plants of the season, Pine and Holly. Their green presence throughout the winter make them symbols for the renewal in the dark of winter. They are also two key Bach flower essences that treat two deep and profound negative archetypal states. The negative states that Pine and Holly address are Guilt and Envy.



Clearing Guilt
Pine flower essence to clear feelings of guilt and guilt complexes. By clearing guilt it helps to foster feelings of love and acceptance for ourselves and for others. By clearing the emotional body of guilt and guilt complexes this essence helps us be open to receiving and accepting praise, compliments and gifts without restraint.

Guilt acts as a form of punishment and living free of guilt complexes and fear of punishment offers us greater emotional freedom. Guilt and fear play upon our lower emotional nature. As we free ourselves from the shackles of these guilt and fear we create space that allows a greater flow of life affirming emotions. Which will inevitably have a positive impact on all parts of our life.

Opening to Love
Holly flower essence addresses hard heartedness a condition exemplified by Ebenezer Scrooge. This essence is a heart opening gift. Pointing us towards seeing and feeling the stream of love that we live in and that supports and sustain life. According to Dr. Bach "Holly opens the heart and unites us with Divine love."

Holly Flower Essence softens the heart and eases feelings of jealousy, anger and discontent. Discontent can gives us the feeling that our emotions are poisoned. When this happens holly can help us to get in touch with the warmth in our hearts and help us express this as good will towards others.

These two flower essences are remarkable for fostering Acceptance and Love, emotional gifts to be embraced. Learning to love and accept ourselves gives a gift to the world, for these qualities make us better people. The gifts we truly have and can infinitely give is ourselves and our ability to spread good will.

Happy Holidays to You and Yours and may the Gift of Flowers blossom in your Heart.


Saturday, October 11, 2008

The Magic of the Desert



I spent a few days in Tuscon, Arizona learning about the magic of cactus flower essences with the folks at Desert Alchemy, Cynthia and Camillo. The desert is a rich environment teeming with life, that may not be so obvious at first glance. It is an extreme environment where the temperature difference between day and night can exceed 40 degrees. The blazing sun can often head the desert flower to well over 120 degrees F. The extremes of the environment demand adaptability.

The cactus species have the ability to not only survive but to thrive in the extreme conditions of the desert. Cacti also support a large cross section of life, swollen with fruits and flowers, their nectar sustains birds, bats, bees and humans. The cactus's ability to master the demands of such a challenging environment offers us a great tool. Their ability to optimally manage their resources and adapt to life in the desert can teach us to adapt to the challenging times we all face.

Cactus flowers reflect and display the abundance of light the desert receives, their flowers seem to almost glow with color. There flowers are mainly luminous tones of orange, red, pink and yellow as well as white, green and terra cotta. Their luminosity and brilliance beckons the eye, so magnifigantly contrasedt by the mute earth tones of the land itself.

Cynthia of Desert Alchemy has been co-creating flower essences from plants of the deserts of Arizona for the past 20+ years. Her deep connection with nature helps to bring out the pure healing qualitites found in the desert plants. Desert plants are unique in the sense that they individuate as compared to the plant growth in other regions where the lushness and density of plants are more intertwined. Their individuated growth is a special signature offering much in the way of personal developement and soul evolution.

I highly recommend these essences for their uniqueness in development and thriving strategies carry potent vibrations that greatly support personal development in our own ecology. The cactus essences created by Desert Alchemy cover 8 different families and each family has their unique properties. There are a total of 26 essences in the Cactus Kit, the kit is not advertised on their website but you can visit them at www.desert-alchemy.com and request this set.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Foxglove

Is there sensory capabilities that extend beyond the mind? I am sure we all have heard about seeing with the heart but what does that mean? The heart is a muscle and according to western occult sciences the heart is our actual solar center. Behind the heart is a nerve complex known as the cardiac ganglion which is connected to the sympathetic nervous system. A ganglion is a clump of nerve cells located outside of the brain, these clumps exist in other areas of the body. Totaled up the human body has more nerve cells outside of the brain than in the brain. So this idea that the brain is our main perception organ may not be entirely accurate.

So what does this mean? For one it is evidence that we have the ability to use different areas of the body to perceive with. There is a common phrase referring to that familiar sensation we experience in the stomach when things just ain't right, the gut feeling. This is perceiving without the mind and reflects our ability to sense and perceive with the body. This is very basic stuff here our brain is only one of many 'organs of perception'.

Our society values the brain and its decision making capabilities , it is an amazing organ that we can't do without. But maybe we don't need to do so much with it or use it as our sole organ of perception. We've done this neat thing with the brain and perception we create our reality. We started doing it so long ago that we don't even know we are doing it. We do it partly through filters which serve to filter and categorize the perceptions we receive. These filters are related to our beliefs and values. But these beliefs and values maybe only remnants of what we learned from an early age and have nothing to do with us now. We pick them up as we go along and we cherish them because that is our proof in a sense, our proof that our perceptions of the world are 'right'.

Pick any of the limiting beliefs you have and observe how you prove them to yourself daily. This whole belief/perception structure is great it is integral in creating our reality but there are times when they may fail us. Fail us in the sense of placing limits upon something truly unlimited, perception. But we need structure you may say and I agree, without structure and limits things won't grow. So all these limits have helped us immensely in getting to where we are now.

But where we are now may not be where we want to be . . . so maybe we need to discard some old beliefs in exchange for some new ones. This is where getting in touch with greater perceptions of the body becomes useful. Learning to shift sensory perception from the mind to the heart is a powerful exercise that opens one up to new vistas. It takes practice and you can do it at any time. Place your attention on your heart and feel how it looks to see from this new perspective. You may feel immense comfort or relaxation flow through you, it also gives your mind a rest. This simple action serves to put us back into our bodies, to function more as whole body being.

This piece was inspired by my recent use of the foxglove flower essence from Blossem Remedies of Holland. Foxglove-digitalis purpurea, contains a glycoside (sugar) that is used by the pharmaceutical industry to treat heart issues. Its use as a heart medicine dates back to the days of 'witches' and folk herbalism. As a flower remedy it is for 'going beyond thinking'. "It eases the mental process so you are able to contact your heart again. Helps you let go of thinking structures and patterns of how we think we should behave. . . . Foxglove opens you step by step to higher realms beyond thinking." I am finding coming out of the mind to access information is easy yet seems unfamiliar because it goes against all that I was taught.

Yet the more I do it the more I learn to accept the value of insights gained from the heart and higher realms. I am learning to value it as one might value a key that unlocks many doors leading to lands and frontiers we never thought we could perceive.

Monday, July 21, 2008

St John's Wort

St. john's wort a special summer herb holds an esteemed place in the world of flower essences. This light filled essences is made from the bright yellow flowers that begin blooming around the summer solstice. The days near the solstice are characterized by early sunrises and sunsets that stretch long into the evening. This abundance of light is a key signature of the action of this essence.

I had my first plant spirit journey with this herb. Plant spirit journeys are one way to gather information on the healing properties of the plant. Two years ago while attending a flower essences course with David Dalton and Kate Gilday I made an essence from this plant. There were many plants flowering at this time and we were instructed to make an essence of a plant we felt drawn to. I felt myself being guided to a bright yellow flowers of St.John's Wort.

After making the essences we reconvened and prepared to journey to the plant spirit to seek information on the healing action of the essence. The journey was led by a drummer and verbal instructions from David. As with most spirit journeys we were told to find a portal near the plant and travel through the portal to meet the spirit.

The journey took me down a portal which led to a garden, it was like and English garden, very neat with rows and a pathway lined with some benches and lanterns. I walked around in this garden looking at the various plants and then sat down on a bench. Soon after sitting down I was greeted by luminous being about 3 feet fall. He told me he was the spirit of St. John's Wort, I asked if he had a name, he said "John", of course. I then asked him "What does St. John's Wort flower essence do?"

The spirit jumped up put his hand on my belly, upon putting his hand on my stomach a light grew and then spread to encompass my whole body in tight field of light. I could feel a brightness and sense of protection and upliftment from this action. He then sat down next to me, we just sat together on the bench and soon afterwards the drumming changed rhythm and we were lead back to body consciousness.

I related my story to the group and David shared that in his research he discovered that St John's Wort strengthens the energy field where it connects to the stomach. What I discovered from this plant is that it has a powerful ability to strengthen the human energy field, it tightens the energy field pulling it closer to the body. David recalled that in his research he found that it 'tightens the filaments of light in our protective field.

The human energy or aura, can be damaged or compromised by stress, ill health, drugs and negative thoughts and feelings. When our field is compromised we may feel tired, unable to focus, experience unexplained fears, disturbed sleep and nightmares. Research by the Flower Essence Society recommends it for people who are overly expanded, thus making them more suseptable to outside influence. This essence has also been used to treat depression related to Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Saint Johns Wort's unique actions make it a useful essence to have on hand when we need extra support in maintaining the integrity of or energetic field.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Delta Gardens Vibrational Amulets

Welcome to Essence Alchemy our aim is to offer you high quality well researched flower essnces as well as to deliver to you products that fit the wide spectrum of a vibrational healing. Essence Alchemy now proudly features 10 new Vibrational Amulets from Delta Gardens, a leading researcher in the field of flower essences and vibrational health.

The Delta Gardens Amulets are small glass vials (1/32 oz.) which contain gemstones, flower essences and essential oils. Each amulet is fitted with a titanium cap to be worn around the neck on a cord or chain. Each has been designed and created to hold a specific vibration which is transmitted to the wearer in a steady pulse. All amulets are infused with specific energies of the sun, moon or elements to bring forth the unique frequencies required for each one.

These amulets work as both enhancers of the human energy field and as jewelry. Elegant and sturdy enough to be worn daily, each amulet has been carefully designed, formulated and tested, to provide and support energetic protection, boundaries, grounding, strength, meditation and spirituality. Because of their tasteful design these amulets compliment the wearer both aesthetically and energetically.

What's great about the amulets is they are functional pieces of jewelry, created with a purpose in mind, to use the vibration of crystals, oils and essences for today's needs. Wearing of gemstones for their energetic benefits has been well known and documented by cultures around the world. The use of gemstones to assist with protection, strength and angelic support is gaining renewed interest, quartz crystals are even widely used in the computer and electronics industry. A key component to the vital function of many electronic devices because of their ability to hold and transmit electrical vibrations. By working on a vibrational level they are also able to interact with humans and the human electrical system.

They are also charged with essential oils and flower essences, here is a quote from a customer in Brazil: "These amulets are an extraordinary compliment to vibrational medicine. It is like the feeling of having living support with you all the time."
- Rene Clotier, Brazil

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Sunflower: One Remedy Three Views

When investigating an essence it is not uncommon to find different definitions of the same essence by different companies. In this post we will take a deeper look at Sunflower, an essence produced by Delta Gardens, Alaskan Flower Essence Project and Flower Essence Services. All three companies are respected for their integrity and comprehensive research methods. They also all hail from diverse geographical regions, New England, Northern California and Alaska and offer an expanded perspective of Sunflower.
The sunflower is part of the plant family known as composites, this includes daisies, tansy, chamomile, and echinacea, they are the second largest flowering plant species in the world. They consist of a round flower head, surrounded by by petals. There are some daisies with no petals and they are known as class two composites, such as tansy, moxa and wormwood. Back to class one composites, the circular nature of the flower resembles the sun, the way a child may draw. Lets look at the different definitions by the 3 producers:
Delta Gardens- “This essence enhances the ability to project energy outward. Will forces are strengthened along with a persons sense of his or her ability to do things. This essence helps treat fear of success and fear of failure.”
FES- “Balanced sense of individuality, spiritualized ego forces sun radiant personality. Sunflower heals disturbances or distortions in the soul’s relationship to the masculine, often associated with a conflicted or deficient relationship to the father in childhood.”
Alaskan-”The essence of Sunflower strengthens the quality of individuality and brings balance to the process of soul activation on the physical plane. Sunflower helps attract and activate one’s unique spiritual potential in a centered way through the establishment of a grounded, nurturing connection to the earth.”
The language used by each producer is different, which in a sense reflects their personality and interpritations of the energies of this flower remedy.  A common theme is sunflower essence affects and works with the will/ego/ individualized consciousness.  The will/ego is our solar force which is related our  masculine side. The sun projects its energy, the earth  receives it and growth is activated, life flourishes.  Sunflower helps us with our own capacity to activate the solar energy within us through our solar plexus also known as the 3rd chakra.
What can we glean from all three definitions?
Sunflower essence: Is a strengthener, activator and harmonizer of will forces and helps to balance our relationship to the masculine and solar forces within us
Some areas of use are, treating low self esteem or an over inflated sense of self, manifesting our desires in a tangible way on the earth plane, activating inherent potential, healing disturbances with the masculine and our own difficulties with our father or father figures, building confidence stemming self sabotage.