Flower Essences
(See below for healing qualities of individual flower essences)
What are flower essences?
Flower essences have been used in Europe since the 1930s, after they were discovered by Dr. Edward Bach, a medically trained
doctor who spent years searching for and ultimately finding a way to help people heal emotional problems. Dr. Bach’s began his
quest with the goal of helping people to heal from physical ailments. His theory is that in order to heal physical conditions, it is
imperative to treat emotional imbalances and ways of being rooted in unhealthy ways of thinking and feeling. By treating the
emotional state one is able to enter into more effective and lasting physical healing.
Flower Essences are still widely used today for both physical and purely emotional healing. They are available over-the-counter
in Europe and the United States via major supermarkets and health food stores. Flower essences are highly effective, completely
non-toxic and have no side-effects. They can be used safely by adults and children, by women during pregnancy and lactation,
by animals and even by other plants (plants that have been moved or rescued or shocked into a dying state, for example).
Animals are very receptive to the effects of flower essences and often show healing results immediately upon taking them.
Flower Essences are made from infusions of sunlight; they contain the energetic healing patterns of the plant. They are usually
made by placing flower heads in a bowl of water and using sun or moonlight to infuse the energetic vibrations of the flower into
the water. The resulting tincture can then be dropped into water or mixed with other flower essences to create a custom-blended
remedy and taken directly from the mixing bottle, 4 drops at a time.
(See below for a list of healing qualities of each Bach Flower Essence.)
Custom-Blended Remedies
Flower essences remedies can be custom-blended by choosing specific essences to help you harmonize, balance and bring forth
the desired qualities within your self and your life. Flower essences help you to heal in a couple different ways. First, flower
essences minimize the negative experiences when they occur – they make the “negative waves” less intense. Second, they help
you to achieve an internal separation from addictive, negative thought and emotional patterns – they give you a reprieve from
them and allow you to begin to “see this light” sooner than you normally would.
When flower essences are taken regularly over a period of time, they work with you on a deeper level, helping to heal old
patterns – the old mental grooves – and allow you to make new inroads in your emotional and mental ways of being. This will
help you to literally disconnect from new and ancient negative behaviors, thought forms and emotions and create new neural
pathways in the brain. (This is explained so beautifully in the movie “What the Bleep Do We Know?” It’s a must see!)
There are 38 individual remedies in the Bach Flower Essences system, plus many others developed by other companies.
Individual flower essences address a narrow band of energy, emotional patterns, to help with specific issues such as: fear, worry,
torment, guilt, shame, inadequacy, self-doubt, fatigue, indecision, difficulty letting go of past hurts, inability to concentrate, grief,
etc. Your custom-blended remedy will be chosen based on the traits and issues that fit your current life situation and will usually
contain at least 5 or 6 different individual essences.
How do they work?
Flower Essences are very gentle, and their healing comes naturally and gently, never in an overpowering way. They very sweetly
help your energetic/emotional rhythms come back into a healthy balance in a way that you may not even notice. For this reason,
it is good to keep a journal or some kind of “overview” of what it is you want to change, and then check in with yourself periodically
to see how things are shifting and healing. You may be surprised at how easily life begins to transform for you, both within and in
what you begin to manifest.
In Dr. Bach's own words: “The action of these essences is to raise our vibrations and open up our channels for the reception of
the Spiritual Self, to flood our natures with the particular virtue we need, and wash out from us the fault that is causing the harm.”
Flower essences are not intended to solve life’s problems, but they are meant to help you achieve a better sense of balance and
harmony in your life. They are a great supplement to whatever other work you are doing in your life to facilitate healing from
within. Of course, they are not intended to be a substitute for proper medical treatment.
Can the Bach Flower Essences be used for physical diseases or complaints?
There is often no direct correlation between a particular illness or disease and a flower essence, however, once underlying
emotional disorders are harmonized, they body is able to return to its natural healing state much more easily and quickly. This
theory is comparable to the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) philosophy which contends that our organs are vessels that hold
emotions, and unhealthy emotions create unhealthy organs. Fear, for example, stresses the kidneys, unhealthy rumination
damages the spleen, and anger and irritation create a toxic liver. Healing that addresses the unhealthy emotional state will free
the organ to function as it should in its natural, healed state. Contact a skilled practitioner to discuss your situation and develop
an appropriate remedy for your particular physical/emotional state.
How long do I need to take my Flower Essences remedy?
Some negative emotions are transient – fear of a major life transition, for example – and some may have been around for a very
long time – feelings of inadequacy or an inability to stand up for oneself, for example. Flower Essences help with both kinds of
patterns, and can be taken for as long as it takes to transform each. Feelings that are more short-term (and usually more acute
as well), such as the anxiety that comes with test-taking or speaking before a crowd, can usually be resolved fairly quickly. For
these situations, take your remedy every 5-15 minutes until the feeling passes. For patterns that are more chronic, such as a
general feeling of inadequacy or difficulty developing healthy boundaries with another person, you may need to take the remedy
for several weeks or even longer to turn these patterns off and develop new, healthy ones within yourself.
If you find that a remedy that used to work no longer does, you may need a change in the blend that you’re using. At this point, it’
s important to contact your practitioner and discuss the possibility of creating a new formula. It’s very common to need
adjustments to a remedy as you heal. It’s like peeling back layers – as old ones heal, new ones can then surface to be healed as
well. Always be with your own intuition and let that guide you. If you don’t feel like taking your remedy, then definitely don’t, and
when you find that you need to begin again, then do. It is important to allow time for long-term, chronic patterns to change, but it’s
good to do this according to what feels right for you. If you have any questions about this, please contact a practitioner to discuss
your situation in person. (And note: if you’re not using your remedy, keep it refrigerated to help keep the water fresh. It will
probably need to be thrown out after a few months even if kept refrigerated.)
What happens if I take the wrong one?
It simply won’t do anything for you. There are no side effects or causal effects the way there are with homeopathic medicines.
It you feel that nothing is happening, it may be that you need a different (or new) customized remedy (blend of individual flower
essences). It’s very likely, though, that you need to take the remedy on a more consistent basis. Frequency is important – i.e.,
four drops taken four times a day is much more effective than 16 drops, once a day. It’s very often the case that remedies need
time to process and shift the existing energy patterns within you. Remember, it can take time to turn the ship around and begin to
head in a very new and lightened direction…
Recommended Action Plan
When you begin taking flower essences, here are some simple steps to follow that can help you to focus the healing effects of
you remedy:
Written by Kristin Ecklund, CMT, NCTMB, Intuitive Healer, Reiki Master
Healing Qualities of Individual Flower Essences
Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria)
Positive Qualities -- Emotional honesty, allows one to gracefully acknowledge and heal emotional pain and radiate genuine inner
peace
Patterns of Imbalance – Anxiety hidden by a mask of cheerfulness; denial or avoidance of emotional pain, addictive behavior to
anesthetize feelings
Aspen (Populus tremula)
Positive Qualities – Trust and confidence to meet the unknown; sensitive attunement to the spiritual world. Ability to deal with
vague fears, anxieties; perceptive awareness of psychic realms
Patterns of Imbalance – Fear of the unknown, vague anxiety and apprehension, hidden fears, nightmares; easily startled or
frightened. Helps when you feel fearful without knowing why. The fear is vague and unexplainable and may hunt you day and
night.
Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Positive Qualities – Tolerance, acceptance of others’ differences and imperfections, seeing the good within each person and
situation; ability to offer praise to others
Patterns of Imbalance – Criticalness, judgmental attitudes, intolerance; perfectionist expectations of others; hyper-reactive to one’
s social and physical environment due to underlying sensitivity
Centaury (Centaurium erythraea)
Positive Qualities – Serving others from inner strength while nourishing one’s own needs; acting from strength of inner purpose,
saying “no” when appropriate
Patterns of Imbalance – Weak-willed, dominated by others, servile, acting to please; difficulty saying “no;” fatigue and related
problems due to self-neglect
Cerato (Ceratostigma willmottiana)
Positive Qualities – Trusting one’s inner knowing and intuition; Self-confidence, certainty.
Patterns of Imbalance – Uncertainty or doubt of one’s inner wisdom and truth; invalidating what one knows, over-dependent on
advice from others
Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera)
Positive Qualities – Spiritual surrender and trust; feeling guided and protected by a Higher Power; balance and equanimity
despite extreme stress or adversity.
Patterns of Imbalance – Fear of losing control, mental and emotional breakdown; desperate or destructive impulses; acute
tension and rigidity. For those who fear losing control of their thoughts and actions and doing things they know are bad for them
or which they consider wrong. Teaches trust in one's spontaneous wisdom and the courage to follow one's path.
Chestnut Bud (Aesculus hippocastanum)
Positive qualities: Ability to cultivate life wisdom, understanding the laws of karma; intelligence derived from life experience
Patterns of Imbalance – Difficulty observing of one’s experiences, failure to learn life’s lessons, repeating the same mistake.
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Positive Qualities – Selfless love given freely; respecting the freedom and individuality of others; emotional containment
Patterns of Imbalance – Possessive or manipulative behaviors disguised as love, demanding or emotionally needy; getting
attention through negative behavior; self-centered behavior
Clematis (Cichorium intybus)
Positive Qualities – Awake, focused, centered; Manifesting inspiration in practical life; conscious embodiment and interest in the
world
Patterns of Imbalance – Avoidance of the present by daydreaming; other-worldly and impractical ideals; fuzzy or vague states of
floating consciousness
Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris)
Positive Qualities – Cleansing and restorative; a sense of inner purity
Patterns of Imbalance – Feeling unclean and impure, needing to release physical or psychic toxicity; obsessed with imperfection
or cleansing rituals
Elm (Ulmus procera)
Positive Qualities – Joyous service, faith and confidence to complete one’s task; ability to shoulder tasks effectively
Patterns of Imbalance – Overwhelmed by personal or work obligations, feeling unequal to the task required; dysfunctional or
scattered response to responsibilities and commitments
Gentian (Gentiana amarelle)
Positive Qualities – Perserverance, confidence; faith to continue despite apparent setbacks
Patterns of Imbalance – Discouragement after a setback; doubt; depression due to a sense of failure
Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
Positive Qualities – Deep and abiding conviction and hope; equanimity and light-filled optimism
Patterns of Imbalance – Pessimistic attitude, unable to trust or imagine a positive outcome for future events
Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
Positive Qualities – Inner tranquility; emotional self-sufficiency; positive solitude
Patterns of Imbalance – Talkative, self-absorbed or over-concerned with one’s problems; unconscious usurpation of other’s
psychic energy
Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
Positive qualities -- Loving and inclusive gestures to others; heartfelt compassion; ability to express gratitude to others
Patterns of Imbalance – Social isolation; jealousy, envy, suspicion, anger
Honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium)
Positive qualities -- Being fully in the present; acceptance of current life conditions
Patterns of Imbalance – Overly nostalgic; emotional attachment to the past, longing for prior condition seems more appealing
Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
Positive qualities -- Dynamic involvement in life's tasks; steady state of energy
Patterns of Imbalance – Unexplained fatigue or weariness related to daily tasks or responsibilities that do not fully engage soul
commitment and interest; “Monday morning blues” feeling
Impatiens (Impatiens glandulifera)
Positive qualities -- Ability to flow harmoniously with time and daily rhythms, patient embrace of life events and the pace of others
Patterns of Imbalance – Impatience, irritation, hypertension, intolerance; pain due to tension and resistance in the body
Larch (Larix decidua)
Positive qualities -- Self-confidence, creative expression, ability to be spontaneous and take risks
Patterns of Imbalance – Lack of confidence, expectation of failure, self-censorship, unable to find one’s voice or speak one’s
conviction
Mimulus (Mimulus guttatus)
Positive qualities -- Courage and confidence to face life's challenges; radiant light that shines outward to the world
Patterns of Imbalance – Over-exaggerated concern for daily life events; extreme apprehension of new thresholds of experience;
difficulty overcoming known fears. Helps when you feel fear, the type of fear that you can put a name on, such as, fear of dogs,
spiders, being alone, losing a job, illness etc. Also fear of speaking freely of it to others or shyness.
Mustard (Sinapis arvensis)
Positive qualities -- Emotional equilibrium, ability to integrate suffering and joy into a positive whole
Patterns of Imbalance – Overly susceptible to depression or despair due to fluctuating life events; bouts of mania followed by
depression
Oak (Quercus robur)
Positive qualities -- Balanced strength, accepting limits, knowing when to surrender
Patterns of Imbalance – Iron-willed, inflexible; over-striving beyond one’s limits; taking on more than one can inwardly sustain
Olive (Olea europaea)
Positive qualities -- Rejuvenation of life force; energetic depth and longevity; sense of wellbeing; ability to cultivate the conditions
for deep rest and renewal
Patterns of Imbalance – Complete exhaustion or physical collapse usually due to extreme demand on one’s physical forces;
resistance to deep rest
Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Positive qualities -- Self-acceptance, self-forgiveness; freedom to move forward despite past mistakes
Patterns of Imbalance – Melancholic obsession with past events; over-emphasis on guilt or self-blame, paralysis due to excessive
self-criticism
Red Chestnut (Aesculus carnea)
Positive qualities -- Compassionate and trusting awareness of others; calm and serene disposition when considering the situation
of others or life events
Patterns of Imbalance – Obsessive fear and apprehension for well-being of others, anticipation of problems accompanied by
mental agitation or repetitive worry. Helps when you find it difficult not to be anxious for other people, you are afraid that some
unfortunate things may happen to your loved ones.
Rock Rose (Helianthemum nummularium)
Positive qualities -- Transcendent courage when facing adversity; ability to assume control in catastrophic situations by remaining
grounded and present
Patterns of Imbalance – Gripping terror, panic, fear of death or annihilation; lack of embodiment and presence for the immediate
situation. Helps when you experience fears, such as, terror or fright that makes you feel frozen and unable to move or think clear.
Rock Water
Positive qualities -- Flexibility, spontaneity, and flowing receptivity; apprehending the spirit rather than the letter of the law
Patterns of Imbalance – Rigid standards for oneself or others, asceticism, self-denial; bound by rules, regimens or regulations
Scleranthus (Scleranthus annuus)
Positive qualities -- Decisiveness, inner resolve, ability to weigh choices and make judgments
Patterns of Imbalance – Hesitation, indecision, confusion and ambiguity; wavering between choices or values
Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum)
Positive qualities -- Unity with deepest part of the Self; sense of inner divinity and wholeness
Patterns of Imbalance – Shock or trauma, either recent or from a past experience; need for healing and comfort from the spiritual
world
Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa)
Positive qualities -- Spiritual depth, faith derived from encountering adversity; solitude rooted in spiritual communion
Patterns of Imbalance – Pronounced despair and agony; feeling of aloneness or abandonment due to a “dark night of the soul”
Vervain (Verbena officinalis)
Positive qualities -- Ability to practice moderation, tolerance, and balance; “the middle way;” passionate and embodied idealism
Patterns of Imbalance – Nervous exhaustion from over-striving; overbearing or insistent behavior regarding one’s beliefs’ intensity
bordering on fanaticism;
Vine (Vitis vinifera)
Positive qualities -- Selfless service, recognition of the individuality of others; inner authority derived from connection to higher
spiritual identity
Patterns of Imbalance – Domineering; Forcing one’s will onto others; need to subjugate others in order to gain ego strength
Walnut (Juglans regia)
Positive qualities -- Freedom from limiting influences, making healthy transitions in life, inner strength to follow one's own path and
destiny
Patterns of Imbalance – Overly influenced by the social expectations or values of family or community, past experiences or beliefs
that inhibit the soul’s evolution
Water Violet (Hottonia palustris)
Positive qualities -- Dignity and inner composure balanced with social connections to others; ability to share one’s gifts with others
Patterns of Imbalance – Difficulty being around others and prefers to be alone; aloof, withdrawn, disdainful of “lower”
relationships; making distinctions based on class, race or social status that ensure separation from others; false pride;
White Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
Positive qualities -- Tranquil disposition, spacious mental state that transcends personal or petty thoughts
Patterns of Imbalance – Worry-bound repetitive thoughts, chattering mind; restless and agitated mental condition; insomnia
Wild Oat (Bromus ramosus)
Positive qualities -- Work as an expression of inner calling; manifestation of one's true goals and values; work experiences
motivated by a clear life purpose and conviction
Patterns of Imbalance – Confusion and indecision about life direction; trying many activities but chronically dissatisfied or restless,
lack of commitment or focus; work for survival rather than service
Wild Rose (Rosa canina)
Positive qualities -- Will to live, joy and commitment to life despite trials or pain
Patterns of Imbalance – Resignation or apathy; inability to embrace life; pain or suffering that paralyzes body and soul; lingering
illness which does not resolve itself
Willow (Salix vitellina)
Positive qualities -- Acceptance, forgiveness, taking responsibility for one's life situation, adaptable to changing fortunes and
circumstances
Patterns of Imbalance – Feeling resentful, inflexible or rigid emotional memories which turn to bitterness; tendency to blame
others or see oneself as the victim
Source: www.fesflowers.com
(See below for healing qualities of individual flower essences)
What are flower essences?
Flower essences have been used in Europe since the 1930s, after they were discovered by Dr. Edward Bach, a medically trained
doctor who spent years searching for and ultimately finding a way to help people heal emotional problems. Dr. Bach’s began his
quest with the goal of helping people to heal from physical ailments. His theory is that in order to heal physical conditions, it is
imperative to treat emotional imbalances and ways of being rooted in unhealthy ways of thinking and feeling. By treating the
emotional state one is able to enter into more effective and lasting physical healing.
Flower Essences are still widely used today for both physical and purely emotional healing. They are available over-the-counter
in Europe and the United States via major supermarkets and health food stores. Flower essences are highly effective, completely
non-toxic and have no side-effects. They can be used safely by adults and children, by women during pregnancy and lactation,
by animals and even by other plants (plants that have been moved or rescued or shocked into a dying state, for example).
Animals are very receptive to the effects of flower essences and often show healing results immediately upon taking them.
Flower Essences are made from infusions of sunlight; they contain the energetic healing patterns of the plant. They are usually
made by placing flower heads in a bowl of water and using sun or moonlight to infuse the energetic vibrations of the flower into
the water. The resulting tincture can then be dropped into water or mixed with other flower essences to create a custom-blended
remedy and taken directly from the mixing bottle, 4 drops at a time.
(See below for a list of healing qualities of each Bach Flower Essence.)
Custom-Blended Remedies
Flower essences remedies can be custom-blended by choosing specific essences to help you harmonize, balance and bring forth
the desired qualities within your self and your life. Flower essences help you to heal in a couple different ways. First, flower
essences minimize the negative experiences when they occur – they make the “negative waves” less intense. Second, they help
you to achieve an internal separation from addictive, negative thought and emotional patterns – they give you a reprieve from
them and allow you to begin to “see this light” sooner than you normally would.
When flower essences are taken regularly over a period of time, they work with you on a deeper level, helping to heal old
patterns – the old mental grooves – and allow you to make new inroads in your emotional and mental ways of being. This will
help you to literally disconnect from new and ancient negative behaviors, thought forms and emotions and create new neural
pathways in the brain. (This is explained so beautifully in the movie “What the Bleep Do We Know?” It’s a must see!)
There are 38 individual remedies in the Bach Flower Essences system, plus many others developed by other companies.
Individual flower essences address a narrow band of energy, emotional patterns, to help with specific issues such as: fear, worry,
torment, guilt, shame, inadequacy, self-doubt, fatigue, indecision, difficulty letting go of past hurts, inability to concentrate, grief,
etc. Your custom-blended remedy will be chosen based on the traits and issues that fit your current life situation and will usually
contain at least 5 or 6 different individual essences.
How do they work?
Flower Essences are very gentle, and their healing comes naturally and gently, never in an overpowering way. They very sweetly
help your energetic/emotional rhythms come back into a healthy balance in a way that you may not even notice. For this reason,
it is good to keep a journal or some kind of “overview” of what it is you want to change, and then check in with yourself periodically
to see how things are shifting and healing. You may be surprised at how easily life begins to transform for you, both within and in
what you begin to manifest.
In Dr. Bach's own words: “The action of these essences is to raise our vibrations and open up our channels for the reception of
the Spiritual Self, to flood our natures with the particular virtue we need, and wash out from us the fault that is causing the harm.”
Flower essences are not intended to solve life’s problems, but they are meant to help you achieve a better sense of balance and
harmony in your life. They are a great supplement to whatever other work you are doing in your life to facilitate healing from
within. Of course, they are not intended to be a substitute for proper medical treatment.
Can the Bach Flower Essences be used for physical diseases or complaints?
There is often no direct correlation between a particular illness or disease and a flower essence, however, once underlying
emotional disorders are harmonized, they body is able to return to its natural healing state much more easily and quickly. This
theory is comparable to the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) philosophy which contends that our organs are vessels that hold
emotions, and unhealthy emotions create unhealthy organs. Fear, for example, stresses the kidneys, unhealthy rumination
damages the spleen, and anger and irritation create a toxic liver. Healing that addresses the unhealthy emotional state will free
the organ to function as it should in its natural, healed state. Contact a skilled practitioner to discuss your situation and develop
an appropriate remedy for your particular physical/emotional state.
How long do I need to take my Flower Essences remedy?
Some negative emotions are transient – fear of a major life transition, for example – and some may have been around for a very
long time – feelings of inadequacy or an inability to stand up for oneself, for example. Flower Essences help with both kinds of
patterns, and can be taken for as long as it takes to transform each. Feelings that are more short-term (and usually more acute
as well), such as the anxiety that comes with test-taking or speaking before a crowd, can usually be resolved fairly quickly. For
these situations, take your remedy every 5-15 minutes until the feeling passes. For patterns that are more chronic, such as a
general feeling of inadequacy or difficulty developing healthy boundaries with another person, you may need to take the remedy
for several weeks or even longer to turn these patterns off and develop new, healthy ones within yourself.
If you find that a remedy that used to work no longer does, you may need a change in the blend that you’re using. At this point, it’
s important to contact your practitioner and discuss the possibility of creating a new formula. It’s very common to need
adjustments to a remedy as you heal. It’s like peeling back layers – as old ones heal, new ones can then surface to be healed as
well. Always be with your own intuition and let that guide you. If you don’t feel like taking your remedy, then definitely don’t, and
when you find that you need to begin again, then do. It is important to allow time for long-term, chronic patterns to change, but it’s
good to do this according to what feels right for you. If you have any questions about this, please contact a practitioner to discuss
your situation in person. (And note: if you’re not using your remedy, keep it refrigerated to help keep the water fresh. It will
probably need to be thrown out after a few months even if kept refrigerated.)
What happens if I take the wrong one?
It simply won’t do anything for you. There are no side effects or causal effects the way there are with homeopathic medicines.
It you feel that nothing is happening, it may be that you need a different (or new) customized remedy (blend of individual flower
essences). It’s very likely, though, that you need to take the remedy on a more consistent basis. Frequency is important – i.e.,
four drops taken four times a day is much more effective than 16 drops, once a day. It’s very often the case that remedies need
time to process and shift the existing energy patterns within you. Remember, it can take time to turn the ship around and begin to
head in a very new and lightened direction…
Recommended Action Plan
When you begin taking flower essences, here are some simple steps to follow that can help you to focus the healing effects of
you remedy:
- Get a journal or notebook with plenty of blank pages.
- Write about what led up to your needing this remedy – what things have been troubling you – emotions, thought patterns,
feelings, behaviors, experiences, etc. What do you wish to change within yourself or your life? Note which things are
recent (i.e., more short-term) and which have been bothering you for a long time (specify how long it’s been if you can). Be
as specific as you can with this step. - Research the healing qualities of the individual essences that comprise your remedy (see below). Keep in mind that these
are generalized descriptions of an essence, and it doesn’t have to apply perfectly to you. Take from the descriptions what
you feel is relevant and then be with it intuitively. Remember, too, that the cumulative effect of your custom blended remedy
is greater than the sum of the parts, the individual essences. There is a magic with the intention inherent in your unique
blend. - Define in your own words what each individual flower essence in your remedy is intended to do for you. Make a list of your
goals with it. Be specific, but also let your imagination and intention guide you in describing what you hope to get from your
remedy. Write specific examples for based on each essence in your remedy (for example, be less fearful towards life, or
come to a decision with respect to my career choices) and include the big picture change(s) you wish to experience (for
example, be able to embrace life more fully and find more joy in each new day). - Over the next few weeks, take time to reflect on what you feel. What do you notice changing? Is there anything that’s still
hanging on – is it getting better or not? (If not, you may need an adjustment in your remedy.) Are there new things coming
up that you also wish to heal?
- The purpose of this step is to gain awareness about how you’re transforming. Because they work on a vibrational (energy)
basis, flower essences are subtle and gentle, and their healing effects can be easily missed. This step will help you gain
insight into these changes so that you can validate this beautiful part of your healing and play a more powerful role in this
process.
Written by Kristin Ecklund, CMT, NCTMB, Intuitive Healer, Reiki Master
Healing Qualities of Individual Flower Essences
Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria)
Positive Qualities -- Emotional honesty, allows one to gracefully acknowledge and heal emotional pain and radiate genuine inner
peace
Patterns of Imbalance – Anxiety hidden by a mask of cheerfulness; denial or avoidance of emotional pain, addictive behavior to
anesthetize feelings
Aspen (Populus tremula)
Positive Qualities – Trust and confidence to meet the unknown; sensitive attunement to the spiritual world. Ability to deal with
vague fears, anxieties; perceptive awareness of psychic realms
Patterns of Imbalance – Fear of the unknown, vague anxiety and apprehension, hidden fears, nightmares; easily startled or
frightened. Helps when you feel fearful without knowing why. The fear is vague and unexplainable and may hunt you day and
night.
Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Positive Qualities – Tolerance, acceptance of others’ differences and imperfections, seeing the good within each person and
situation; ability to offer praise to others
Patterns of Imbalance – Criticalness, judgmental attitudes, intolerance; perfectionist expectations of others; hyper-reactive to one’
s social and physical environment due to underlying sensitivity
Centaury (Centaurium erythraea)
Positive Qualities – Serving others from inner strength while nourishing one’s own needs; acting from strength of inner purpose,
saying “no” when appropriate
Patterns of Imbalance – Weak-willed, dominated by others, servile, acting to please; difficulty saying “no;” fatigue and related
problems due to self-neglect
Cerato (Ceratostigma willmottiana)
Positive Qualities – Trusting one’s inner knowing and intuition; Self-confidence, certainty.
Patterns of Imbalance – Uncertainty or doubt of one’s inner wisdom and truth; invalidating what one knows, over-dependent on
advice from others
Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera)
Positive Qualities – Spiritual surrender and trust; feeling guided and protected by a Higher Power; balance and equanimity
despite extreme stress or adversity.
Patterns of Imbalance – Fear of losing control, mental and emotional breakdown; desperate or destructive impulses; acute
tension and rigidity. For those who fear losing control of their thoughts and actions and doing things they know are bad for them
or which they consider wrong. Teaches trust in one's spontaneous wisdom and the courage to follow one's path.
Chestnut Bud (Aesculus hippocastanum)
Positive qualities: Ability to cultivate life wisdom, understanding the laws of karma; intelligence derived from life experience
Patterns of Imbalance – Difficulty observing of one’s experiences, failure to learn life’s lessons, repeating the same mistake.
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Positive Qualities – Selfless love given freely; respecting the freedom and individuality of others; emotional containment
Patterns of Imbalance – Possessive or manipulative behaviors disguised as love, demanding or emotionally needy; getting
attention through negative behavior; self-centered behavior
Clematis (Cichorium intybus)
Positive Qualities – Awake, focused, centered; Manifesting inspiration in practical life; conscious embodiment and interest in the
world
Patterns of Imbalance – Avoidance of the present by daydreaming; other-worldly and impractical ideals; fuzzy or vague states of
floating consciousness
Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris)
Positive Qualities – Cleansing and restorative; a sense of inner purity
Patterns of Imbalance – Feeling unclean and impure, needing to release physical or psychic toxicity; obsessed with imperfection
or cleansing rituals
Elm (Ulmus procera)
Positive Qualities – Joyous service, faith and confidence to complete one’s task; ability to shoulder tasks effectively
Patterns of Imbalance – Overwhelmed by personal or work obligations, feeling unequal to the task required; dysfunctional or
scattered response to responsibilities and commitments
Gentian (Gentiana amarelle)
Positive Qualities – Perserverance, confidence; faith to continue despite apparent setbacks
Patterns of Imbalance – Discouragement after a setback; doubt; depression due to a sense of failure
Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
Positive Qualities – Deep and abiding conviction and hope; equanimity and light-filled optimism
Patterns of Imbalance – Pessimistic attitude, unable to trust or imagine a positive outcome for future events
Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
Positive Qualities – Inner tranquility; emotional self-sufficiency; positive solitude
Patterns of Imbalance – Talkative, self-absorbed or over-concerned with one’s problems; unconscious usurpation of other’s
psychic energy
Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
Positive qualities -- Loving and inclusive gestures to others; heartfelt compassion; ability to express gratitude to others
Patterns of Imbalance – Social isolation; jealousy, envy, suspicion, anger
Honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium)
Positive qualities -- Being fully in the present; acceptance of current life conditions
Patterns of Imbalance – Overly nostalgic; emotional attachment to the past, longing for prior condition seems more appealing
Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
Positive qualities -- Dynamic involvement in life's tasks; steady state of energy
Patterns of Imbalance – Unexplained fatigue or weariness related to daily tasks or responsibilities that do not fully engage soul
commitment and interest; “Monday morning blues” feeling
Impatiens (Impatiens glandulifera)
Positive qualities -- Ability to flow harmoniously with time and daily rhythms, patient embrace of life events and the pace of others
Patterns of Imbalance – Impatience, irritation, hypertension, intolerance; pain due to tension and resistance in the body
Larch (Larix decidua)
Positive qualities -- Self-confidence, creative expression, ability to be spontaneous and take risks
Patterns of Imbalance – Lack of confidence, expectation of failure, self-censorship, unable to find one’s voice or speak one’s
conviction
Mimulus (Mimulus guttatus)
Positive qualities -- Courage and confidence to face life's challenges; radiant light that shines outward to the world
Patterns of Imbalance – Over-exaggerated concern for daily life events; extreme apprehension of new thresholds of experience;
difficulty overcoming known fears. Helps when you feel fear, the type of fear that you can put a name on, such as, fear of dogs,
spiders, being alone, losing a job, illness etc. Also fear of speaking freely of it to others or shyness.
Mustard (Sinapis arvensis)
Positive qualities -- Emotional equilibrium, ability to integrate suffering and joy into a positive whole
Patterns of Imbalance – Overly susceptible to depression or despair due to fluctuating life events; bouts of mania followed by
depression
Oak (Quercus robur)
Positive qualities -- Balanced strength, accepting limits, knowing when to surrender
Patterns of Imbalance – Iron-willed, inflexible; over-striving beyond one’s limits; taking on more than one can inwardly sustain
Olive (Olea europaea)
Positive qualities -- Rejuvenation of life force; energetic depth and longevity; sense of wellbeing; ability to cultivate the conditions
for deep rest and renewal
Patterns of Imbalance – Complete exhaustion or physical collapse usually due to extreme demand on one’s physical forces;
resistance to deep rest
Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Positive qualities -- Self-acceptance, self-forgiveness; freedom to move forward despite past mistakes
Patterns of Imbalance – Melancholic obsession with past events; over-emphasis on guilt or self-blame, paralysis due to excessive
self-criticism
Red Chestnut (Aesculus carnea)
Positive qualities -- Compassionate and trusting awareness of others; calm and serene disposition when considering the situation
of others or life events
Patterns of Imbalance – Obsessive fear and apprehension for well-being of others, anticipation of problems accompanied by
mental agitation or repetitive worry. Helps when you find it difficult not to be anxious for other people, you are afraid that some
unfortunate things may happen to your loved ones.
Rock Rose (Helianthemum nummularium)
Positive qualities -- Transcendent courage when facing adversity; ability to assume control in catastrophic situations by remaining
grounded and present
Patterns of Imbalance – Gripping terror, panic, fear of death or annihilation; lack of embodiment and presence for the immediate
situation. Helps when you experience fears, such as, terror or fright that makes you feel frozen and unable to move or think clear.
Rock Water
Positive qualities -- Flexibility, spontaneity, and flowing receptivity; apprehending the spirit rather than the letter of the law
Patterns of Imbalance – Rigid standards for oneself or others, asceticism, self-denial; bound by rules, regimens or regulations
Scleranthus (Scleranthus annuus)
Positive qualities -- Decisiveness, inner resolve, ability to weigh choices and make judgments
Patterns of Imbalance – Hesitation, indecision, confusion and ambiguity; wavering between choices or values
Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum)
Positive qualities -- Unity with deepest part of the Self; sense of inner divinity and wholeness
Patterns of Imbalance – Shock or trauma, either recent or from a past experience; need for healing and comfort from the spiritual
world
Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa)
Positive qualities -- Spiritual depth, faith derived from encountering adversity; solitude rooted in spiritual communion
Patterns of Imbalance – Pronounced despair and agony; feeling of aloneness or abandonment due to a “dark night of the soul”
Vervain (Verbena officinalis)
Positive qualities -- Ability to practice moderation, tolerance, and balance; “the middle way;” passionate and embodied idealism
Patterns of Imbalance – Nervous exhaustion from over-striving; overbearing or insistent behavior regarding one’s beliefs’ intensity
bordering on fanaticism;
Vine (Vitis vinifera)
Positive qualities -- Selfless service, recognition of the individuality of others; inner authority derived from connection to higher
spiritual identity
Patterns of Imbalance – Domineering; Forcing one’s will onto others; need to subjugate others in order to gain ego strength
Walnut (Juglans regia)
Positive qualities -- Freedom from limiting influences, making healthy transitions in life, inner strength to follow one's own path and
destiny
Patterns of Imbalance – Overly influenced by the social expectations or values of family or community, past experiences or beliefs
that inhibit the soul’s evolution
Water Violet (Hottonia palustris)
Positive qualities -- Dignity and inner composure balanced with social connections to others; ability to share one’s gifts with others
Patterns of Imbalance – Difficulty being around others and prefers to be alone; aloof, withdrawn, disdainful of “lower”
relationships; making distinctions based on class, race or social status that ensure separation from others; false pride;
White Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
Positive qualities -- Tranquil disposition, spacious mental state that transcends personal or petty thoughts
Patterns of Imbalance – Worry-bound repetitive thoughts, chattering mind; restless and agitated mental condition; insomnia
Wild Oat (Bromus ramosus)
Positive qualities -- Work as an expression of inner calling; manifestation of one's true goals and values; work experiences
motivated by a clear life purpose and conviction
Patterns of Imbalance – Confusion and indecision about life direction; trying many activities but chronically dissatisfied or restless,
lack of commitment or focus; work for survival rather than service
Wild Rose (Rosa canina)
Positive qualities -- Will to live, joy and commitment to life despite trials or pain
Patterns of Imbalance – Resignation or apathy; inability to embrace life; pain or suffering that paralyzes body and soul; lingering
illness which does not resolve itself
Willow (Salix vitellina)
Positive qualities -- Acceptance, forgiveness, taking responsibility for one's life situation, adaptable to changing fortunes and
circumstances
Patterns of Imbalance – Feeling resentful, inflexible or rigid emotional memories which turn to bitterness; tendency to blame
others or see oneself as the victim
Source: www.fesflowers.com
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
MoonWater Healing Center
Integrative Physical Therapy & Wellness Services
Heal your body...Heal your spirit.
Integrative Physical Therapy & Wellness Services
Heal your body...Heal your spirit.