One of the ways I came to know the essences in my collection in the early days was to meditate on one each night. I would put a dropperful of an essence into a glass of water, stir thoroughly, and sip it slowly while noting the thoughts or impressions that came into my mind.

All these years later, the experience of meditating on Sunflower essence is still quite vivid. It brought a gentle, mellow sense of self-love and a very clear message from my friends in spirit.  The message was, “The sunflower is the biggest and the showiest flower in the garden. AND the only thing that really matters about it are its seeds.”

At first I thought these invisible allies of mine were speaking in symbols, as they so often and so eloquently do.  “But of course,” I beamed, “they mean that the show we put on isn’t what establishes our worth, it’s what we nurture and bring into being through our efforts.”

My later research on the sunflower plant showed that the seeds are, in fact, quite valuable. They are high in nutritional content, especially protein and minerals. Not only do birds, animals, and people eat them, but oil can be pressed from them for cooking and margarine, flour can be ground from them, and soap can be made from them.

The tribes of North and South America that first cultivated them found many uses for other parts of the plant, too. They brewed a kind of coffee from the hulls and used the stalks to make cloth and a substitute for tobacco. These sun worshippers loved the plant so much that they made golden images of its flowers, but relied on the seeds and other more humble parts of the plant to serve many practical needs.

That perspective on the sunflower plant, to me, sums up the core lesson of this commonly-needed essence—how to keep a balance between self-love and humility. The essence seems to bring a balanced and mature self-worth, in which we appreciate our own gifts and contributions while giving equal recognition to the gifts and contributions of others around us. We come to feel good about ourselves without conceit or an excessive need for attention, and we can also accept our flaws without shame. That is, we get to that well-balanced state after we have taken Sunflower for a while!

From observing myself and the friends and clients I eagerly suggested Sunflower to, however, the first stage in the process is not always so smooth and gentle, although it  can be a useful corrective. Many of us who take Sunflower seem to go through a phase of being really indignant with people in our daily lives whom we feel put us down.  Touchy, touchy, touchy!

Ultimately, I came to see that #1, I was overreacting, and #2, the people around me were only basing their treatment of me on the low opinion of myself that I projected so clearly. If you don’t think much of yourself, people read that and take it as an estimate of your worth, but if you are confident and believe that you belong, they accept that as well. As your self-esteem improves, so, usually, does the response you get from others.

Sunflower is an especially good remedy for teens and preteens during that painful stage of shyness and of finding fault with everything about themselves. My first year of junior high school, I lived in such a miserable blur of self-consciousness that I could scarcely be present. My frame was larger than most of my classmates, I was frightfully gawky, and I had a lot more chest than the other girls.

Thinking about sunflowers before writing this, I recalled being virtually addicted to sunflower seeds that year. I even ate them surreptitiously in class all day and was more than once—to my utter humiliation—called down to the principal’s office for absent-mindedly leaving the shells behind.

Reflecting on that time, I now suspect that I craved the sunflower seeds because something in my being was intuitively seeking the confidence that Sunflower essence can impart. The flowers, foods, or gemstones we are drawn to are often clues to essences we need, and what a difference it would have made if I had taken Sunflower at that age!

I would have faced my adolescent and young adult years with much more self-worth—everything from friendships to dating to proving myself in a career would have been less of a struggle. If a teenager in your life is suffering from a painful lack of self-confidence, do offer them Sunflower essence!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Donna Cunningham is an internationally-respected author of books, articles, and columns about astrology, flower essences and other metaphysical topics. Along with Dr. Deborah Bier, she has edited Vibration Magazine for the past 12 years.  Her insights reflect her dual background in astrology and psychotherapy. She has a Master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University and over 40 years of experience in working with people. Her ebooks can be found at Moon Maven Publications (http://www.moonmavenpublications.com) Visit her blog at http://skywriter.wordpress.com.

Vibration Magazine has never been exclusively a flower essence journal.  It has always been the meeting place for practitioners and clients of a great variety of the healing arts to explore how multiple forms of healing can combine with essences for a stronger, more effective healing result.

While we have presented articles by makers of many brands of essences, we are more and more are practitioner-based, so that healers on the front lines of human growth can share their experiences.  We also love to hear from essence users who relate what happened to them as they took the essences.

It’s no surprise, then, that this is one of our recurring themes.  Here are links to several articles about ways to combine essences with other healing tools:

Essences and Other Healing Modalities: An Unbeatable Combination
by Donna Cunningham, MSW

Essences and Other Healing Modalities: The Wave of the Future
by Deborah Bier, Ph.D.

Life Coaching and Essences — an effective combination for setting and reaching goals By Jaelin K. Reece

Massage and Essences: Clearing Frozen Feelings Out of the Body by Paul Wyman, L.M.P.

Five Remedies No Psychotherapist Should Be Without
by Donna Cunningham, MSW

In addition, several special theme issues and Virtual Booklets have been devoted entirely to ways of combining flower essences with other healing modalities. See them here:

• Virtual Booklet: Astrology and Essences
• Virtual Booklet:  Body Work and Essences
• February, 2007: Essences with Other Modalities
• September, 2000: Essences Used with Other Healing Tools
• May, 2002: Essences and Spiritual Practice

Readers, are you combining essences with another healing modality?  If so, can you mention some that seem to be especially effective with your specialty?

The World Wide Essence Society does not mean to imply any recommendation of nor give certification to any individuals or companies above. This article is provided purely for informational purposes. We ask consumers to make their own determination as to quality of the services and products offered above. This article is not meant to be advice, and the information is not meant to replace medical or psychological treatment. All articles and comments offered by readers do not necessarily represent the views of Vibration Magazine.

The photos I recently unearthed and published on this blog showing evidence of the effects of flower essences on seed germination got quite a bit of notice from around the world! Would you like to give this experiment a try yourself? Found in my files is the below experimental protocol we used during which the photos published a few weeks ago were taken (see http://www.floweressencemagazine.com/blog/?p=979 for the entire series of photos).  It is published here for the first time, both in response to questions about how we carried out this experiment, and with my wish that others will follow it using any essence of their choice to see what results they receive.

Whole Energy Essences — May, 1995
Study of Master Harmonizing Mixture and Scarlet Runner Beans

Question to be studied:
What effect does the use of Master Harmonizing Mixture (MHM) have on the germination and growth of scarlet runner beans (SRB)?

Method:
A single-blind design will be used in which a group of SBR will be exposed to either a dosage bottle of MHM or a placebo (filtered water). Their speed of germination and rate of growth will be recorded for a total of 7 days beyond emergence. A possibility of an extension of 3 days beyond emergence will be considered if the data is inconclusive.

Intervention:
An independent party will label the bottles of placebo and MHM with numbers or other symbols, concealing their true contents.

The experimenter will assign numbers to and plant 10 SRB seeds in 10 identical peat pots at identical depths. Identical potting soil will be used in all pots. The pots will then be divided into 2 groups of 5 each by the
same independent party as above. Separate under-trays for each group will be provided, otherwise, the plants will grow side-by-side in identical light and temperature conditions. The need for water will vary day-by-day,
but an equally-measured portion of water will be given to each plant tray.

Each group will have it’s own separate water measurer (a paper cup marked the same as the bottle it’s associated with).

Beginning the day of planting, the experimenter will treat the 2 groups of plants with either the encoded placebo or MHM. Two drops will be the daily dose. The dose will be given approximately the same time of day in each case. The dose will be added to the water before it is given to the plants.

Measures taken:

• The day of planting will be recorded.
• The day of emergence for each plant will be recorded.
• The height of each plant from soil surface to top growing point will be recorded daily for 7 days. Measures will be to the .25 in., always rounding upwards in cases where the height is greater than .25ths of an inch.
• A single photograph of the entire group will be taken every day from the first day of the first emergence until the last day of the experiment.

Subjective comments about the health of the plants will be recorded daily, as are observed.

After 7 days post emergence, if the data is inconclusive, then the experiment will be permitted to continue an additional 3 days at which point it will end.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Deborah Bier, PhD is co-editor of Vibration Magazine, and a holistic healthcare practitioner in private practice in Concord, MA. She is the author of Flower Essence Practice: For Students, Essence Practitioners & Other Healing Professionals (Windfall, 2008). She is also the author of Healthy Connections: Flower Essences for Better Family, Friend and Work Relationships; The Encyclopedia of Vibrational Essences, and Learning About Vibrational Essences (find all these titles here). She is the maker of Whole Energy Essences, and is the director of the metro-west Boston, MA office of Caring Companion Connections.

Photo Credit: ©2009 Deborah Bier, All Rights Reserved.

The World Wide Essence Society does not mean to imply any recommendation of nor give certification to any individuals or companies whose articles or comments appear on this blog. Articles are provided purely for informational purposes. We ask consumers to make their own determination as to quality of the services and products described. Articles are not meant to be advice, and the information is not meant to replace medical or psychological treatment. All articles and comments offered by readers do not necessarily represent the views of Vibration Magazine.

Sudden upsurges of despair and generalized turmoil like we’re experiencing just now are related to—BUT NOT CAUSED BY—current astrological conditions. As an astrologer who has studied planetary patterns for over 40 years, I’m sensitive to the prevailing cosmic winds. Slow-moving astrological conditions, some lasting as much as two years, shed light on our collective experience and major changes in the world. Astrological insights, combined with pertinent flower essences, can help us make progress despite the stresses and strains.

As one astrological signature of our current global crisis, Saturn and Pluto will be forming a difficult connection during much of October 2009-October 2010.  This condition—and the crisis that goes along with it—won’t affect everyone directly, only those with planets, the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, or Midheaven (career point) in the early degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn in their birth charts.

It’s important to understand that the planets don’t CAUSE anything to happen to us, they just correlate with what’s going on in the world. You’ve lived through Pluto transits before. You’ve lived through Saturn transits before. You’re still here. This is the 14^th time in a little over a century that they formed major angles to one another. We’re still here. We’re immortal, indestructible souls, and we’ve lived through times like these in our endless cycles of lifetimes hundreds if not thousands of times over the eons that humanity has inhabited this planet. We’re still here.

Flower essences are a potent healer that can support us in not only getting through this transit in one piece, but also catalyze real and lasting change in how we handle vital issues and patterns in our lives that brought us to this fork in the road.  Today we’ll be looking at some essences that can help you work through issues related to Pluto and Saturn.

Remedies for Saturn Issues:

During a Saturn transit, in some areas of life, you are: Confronting lack or loss; taking responsibility; eliminating dead wood; getting your act together; raising the bar; performing at peak; waiting for the right time; and reaping what you have sown—whether rewards or consequences. Here are some patterns related to Saturn and essences to help you learn to handle them differently:

FEAR VS COURAGE: ROCK ROSE: (Bach/Healing Herbs) Overcoming panic or terror when faced with a serious situation. BORAGE: (FES) Courage, facing challenges with a cheerful attitude. PENSTEMON: (FES) Inner strength to meet times of hardship, especially tough world conditions. MIMULUS (Bach/Healing Herbs) helps with timidity and specific fears.

DISCOURAGEMENT: GENTIAN for those who give up easily due to a history of failures.  GORSE to overcome deep despair and hopelessness. MUSTARD: (Bach/Healing Herbs) Overcoming a pattern of dark despair and black moods that descend suddenly.  OAK (Bach/Healing Herbs) for those who are tired and discouraged after a long, hard struggle.  SWEET CHESTNUT (Bach/Healing Herbs) to lift the dark night of the soul.

Remedies for Pluto:

Under a Pluto transit you are: Brooding on wrongs; delving into causes of pain; unearthing the suppressed or the secret; reacting to your discoveries; accepting your part in it; healing the wounds; and reclaiming your power.  Here are some patterns related to Pluto and essences to help you learn to handle them differently:

RESENTMENT/SELF-HATE/FORGIVENESS: WILLOW (Bach/Healing Herbs) for those who hold onto resentment or grievances. HOLLY (Bach/Healing Herbs) for hate, self-hate, envy, jealousy, spitefulness. SALAL (Pacific Essences) forgiving the self and others.  MOUNTAIN WORMWOOD (Alaska Flower Essences) Forgiveness.

GUILT/SHAME:  PINE (Bach/Healing Herbs) for guilt on the hoof, a neurotic guilt that eats away at self-esteem.  HYSSOP (FES) for actual transgressions.  CRAB APPLE (Bach/Healing Herbs) shame, the sense that you are unclean or somehow disgusting to others. CENTUARY (Bach/Healing Herbs) for those who have trouble saying no, and thus are easily exploited or taken advantage of.

Note: Those who have studied astrology may wish to consult an on-going series on my blog, Skywriter, about this astrological event and ways to use it to better your life. Start with the first two pieces of the series here: The Pluto-Saturn Preparedness Kit—an Overview of the Series and here: The Pluto-Saturn Preparedness Kit—Part 1.

Vibration Magazine Back Issues that Deal with Troubled Times:

• November, 2005: Essences and Intention
• November, 2008: Essences and Deeper Level Healing
• November, 2004: The Light and the Dark
• November, 2001: Essences and the Workplace
• August, 2008: Surviving Stormy Seas
• August, 2003: Essences for Strength; Users’ Stories
• March, 2000: Essences for the Stress of Modern Life
• February, 2007: Using Essences with Other Healing Modalities

Company Websites:

• Alaskan Flower Essence Project http://www.alaskanessences.com
• Flower Essence Society (FES) http://www.flowersociety.org
• Healing Herbs Ltd. UK http://www.healing-herbs.co.uk/ (U.S. Distributor: FES)
• Pacific Essences http://www.pacificessences.com

The World Wide Essence Society does not mean to imply any recommendation of nor give certification to any individuals or companies whose articles or comments appear on this blog. Articles are provided purely for informational purposes. We ask consumers to make their own determination as to quality of the services and products described. Articles are not meant to be advice, and the information is not meant to replace medical or psychological treatment. All articles and comments offered by readers do not necessarily represent the views of Vibration Magazine.

I received an email recently from an essence customer who purchased a Whole Energy Essences Recovery Essence set and couldn’t find a description for Pussytoes in the book we  sent along with it (an earlier edition of The Encyclopedia of Vibrational Essences).  That was because Pussytoes was a late addition to complete this set, and I never got around to writing an entry!

But suddenly, I felt the urge to write it.  Looking through my research notes, I could see why: it is actually a “fleur du jour” — a term used by my Vibration co-editor, Donna Cunningham. This expression refers to any essence that keeps being indicated again and again across many people because it is a reflection of a larger cosmic, impersonal need of the moment. (See her article about this concept here: http://www.essences.com/vibration/june98/fleurjour.html)

Our Recovery Essences are meant to help us return to the vibrance of life and living while recovering from any type of trauma, be it an old or a recent one. They help us reconnect with our strengths and abilities, qualities which often get forgotten or disconnected from our awareness when we’ve been hurt. Once firmly back in place, these strengths help us heal our wounds and move forward from the trauma.

Pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta)

Slogan: “Recover Surrender”

Indicating Statements:
Since this trauma, I can’t let down my guard and relax.
Since this trauma, I’ve become rigid and stiff.
Since this trauma, I seem to be locked in a fight or struggle.

Complimented by: Calendula, Coradylis

Description: Trauma can create a sense of being “on guard” all the time, waiting and ready for the next “bad thing” to happen. This is natural and understandable; we want to “see it coming” and not be caught by surprise.  But such an attitude can result in a habit of hypervigilance, which can bring about states of rigidity, over-reaction, stiffness — even controlingness, as we seek to make our environment safe.  The emphasis of Pussytoes’ action as an essence is of surrender, introducing the guardedness of trauma to openness and release.

When we walk knowingly into the lion’s den we certainly do want to be on full alert.  But the normal human tendency to tense up in expectation of a blow is exactly the polar opposite of the attitude that allows us to stay safe and recover from our wounds, be they emotional or physical.  Study any form of martial arts and we find that the best fighting form requires relaxation, slightly bent and unlocked knees, steady and full breathing, and an emotionally neutral state of ready attention. It is only by being relaxed when we meet “the enemy” that we can escape their grasp and emerge victorious. Hypervigilance simply gets in the way of responding in the moment, allowing us to become locked in the grip of battle — incapable of winning, unable to withdraw.

Pussytoes helps us to unwind an expectation that the next disaster is just around the corner, and that we’d best be in a state of anxious rigidity to meet it.  We become more aware that we are habitually anticipating being on the painful end on a blow — even with no opponent in sight! We start to realize that it’s our fear of being hurt has become a real source of chronic trauma, making us shy away from human contact, new situations, and surrendering to the great mystery of the void which surely is beyond our influence and control.   It is in our helplessness that we both most want to control everything we can — and when we can truly most benefit from an attitude of surrender.

Surrender allows us to enter into a state of open, relaxed readiness — to receive, to give, to be challenged, strengthened, delighted, surprised, angry, grieving… whatever is called into our sphere by the great vortex of Life itself.  It implies a trust that we will somehow be all right, even though we cannot imagine what might unfold before us. Surrender places us “in the flow” where inspiration, creativity, ease of control, play, and spontaneity are waiting at our service.

In 12-step recovery programs, surrendering to our powerlessness over an addiction is actually the first step.  Without such surrender, instead of growing through our past traumas we will always be locked in battle with them.  Surrender isn’t an easy state to enter into, but it is one that is vital to attain if we are truly not be controlled by our past.

The pussytoes plant (Antennaria neglecta) is a low-growing, native US wildflower with fuzzy silver-gray leaves and white fluffy antenna-like blooms that, when dried, remain on the plant a long time. It grows in dense masses, even across the face of solid rock, forming a dense mat. It dislikes competition from other plants, and can grow in soil so poor that it has few other competitors.  In this way, the plant helps control soil erosion.

This plant’s signature tells us that we cannot surrender just a little, that we have to let go all the way.  By fully surrendering in the face of hardship, we can — seemingly paradoxically — overcome our struggles. By letting go in this way, we come back to our essential self — which was never truly lost, only misplaced.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Deborah Bier, PhD is co-editor of Vibration Magazine, and a holistic healthcare practitioner in private practice in Concord, MA. She is the author of Flower Essence Practice: For Students, Essence Practitioners & Other Healing Professionals (Windfall, 2008). She is also the author of Healthy Connections: Flower Essences for Better Family, Friend and Work Relationships; The Encyclopedia of Vibrational Essences, and Learning About Vibrational Essences (find all these titles here). She is the maker of Whole Energy Essences, and is the director of the metro-west Boston, MA office of Caring Companion Connections.

Photo Credits: Top right, courtesy of WikiMedia Commons. Others: ©2009 Deborah Bier, All Rights Reserved.

The World Wide Essence Society does not mean to imply any recommendation of nor give certification to any individuals or companies whose articles or comments appear on this blog. Articles are provided purely for informational purposes. We ask consumers to make their own determination as to quality of the services and products described. Articles are not meant to be advice, and the information is not meant to replace medical or psychological treatment. All articles and comments offered by readers do not necessarily represent the views of Vibration Magazine.

In Vibration’s 11 years of publishing quarterly issues of our flower essence ezine, there were certain topics that came up over and over. One of them was children and how they respond to flower essences.

Many of our authors found that children seemed to instinctively love them and that they often responded more quickly and positively to essence work than adults do. They hadn’t built up as many layers of defenses and of encrusted negative behaviors as wounded adults had done.

We dedicated several special issues of Vibration to children and eventually collected them into one of our Virtual Booklets. Below are links to some articles on this topic that we especially liked:

• Special Consideration in Essence Work with Children, Patricia Kaminski
• Infants and Essences, Gretchen Lawlor
  Flower Essences for Cildren’s Self-Esteem, Isha Lerner
• Mother and Child Bonding, Sally Smith
• Children, Essences, and the Family System, Deborah Bier
• Larch: A Help for Students with Confidence Problems, Barbara Mazzarella

Look for more articles about Essences and Children here:

Special Theme Issue: Essences for Children and the Inner Child: May, 2004

Because children’s difficulties are so often connected to the dynamics of the family, you may find useful information in our Essences and the Family theme issue.

And the virtual booklet itself is at: Children and Essences

Readers, have you given essences to children?  Share the results in our comments section.

The World Wide Essence Society does not mean to imply any recommendation of nor give certification to any individuals or companies above. This article is provided purely for informational purposes. We ask consumers to make their own determination as to quality of the services and products offered above. This article is not meant to be advice, and the information is not meant to replace medical or psychological treatment. All articles and comments offered by readers do not necessarily represent the views of Vibration Magazine.

The way blogs work, early readers of a newly-posted article have no idea that a juicy discussion had unfolded after they finished the piece. And often readers don’t get around to looking at any comments even when they’re present — which means in Vibration’s case, you’re missing half the content! It’s like seeing just the first act of a two-act play. Yes, that act was fine, but what happened after intermission was even better!

To try to remedy <ahem> this, every so often we’ll collect and re-publish some of the really through-provoking comments on a one or more recent articles. We’ll also provide a link to the original article and the rest of the comments it received, so you can more easily reach the entire range of added information our readers contributed.  Below is our first entry in this category.

Buying Essences at the Stock vs. Dosage–Which are You Getting?
By Pat Davis, Flower Essence Practitioner
http://www.floweressencemagazine.com/blog/?p=848
(originally posted October 16, 2009)

Darla:
I feel that either may be appropriate depending upon the individual, HOWEVER, anyone selling essences ought to make it abundantly clear whether the bottle is a stock essence or a dosing essence as I feel strongly that there IS a difference. Personally, I won’t buy single essences EXCEPT as STOCK essences.

Marti:
I believe there is a synergy that takes place when folks mix their stock into a dosage bottle. Flower essences are wonderful in that they are general, but also very specific, and the intent is made much more clear when mixed in a dosage bottle. I try to remember that the essence is only a suggestion to the body to react in a particular way, but the body does the work. So, when I mix for myself or for others, I always do a dosage bottle. I personally always look for stock, and mostly use FES/Bach/Pegusus for that reason.

Andrea Mathieson, Raven Essences:
Wow! This is a lively discussion. As a producer, I automatically sell all my products at the stock level which then gives the practitioner opportunity to make dosage bottles for their clients, and for lay-people to extend their essences by making their own dosage bottles.

I give instructions about doing this and feel this is part of the appropriate spirit of generosity that should come with all flower essences. To hear that this protocol is not standard is distressing because I, like some of the other writers, do not want to move into arbitrary legislation. Again, I appreciate Vibration’s education in making people aware of these issues.

Again speaking as a producer (Raven Essences) I also agree that practitioners do put a ’spin’ in their creative use of my essences within the context of their practice. The versatility or adaptability of essences to many creative variations (some with sound, radionics, on-the-body, with affirmations, or in combination with a wide variety of modalities) is something I have learned to appreciate rather than attempt to control! I am always intrigued and delighted when I hear about a new approach to using the essences. This creativity within the healing paradigm is a healthy sign, in my view.
Good conversation!

Kerie Redgate:
I have been working professionally with commercially available flower essences from around the world since 1986. During that time I have created 90 stock formula combinations and use them mostly as the basis for dosage-level bottles for my astrology clients.

My research has indicated to me that it matters little whether an application of essences is from stock or dosage, as what we are really talking about here is the quantity of brandy and water. as the “carrier substances” for the vibrational frequencies, being the literal “thought-forms/consciousness”, of the flowers, the spiritual emanation of the plant.

Whereas there is a limit to the effectiveness of flower essences in large bodies of water (7 drops applied to the ocean, for example would be overwhelmed by the multitudes of frequencies the ocean contains), as long as we are working within a reasonable ratio of essences to carry substance, the essences will be effective in altering brain circuitry. I also agree with Marti that our intention in the dispensary is important and does affect the essences (I use Buddhist mantras).

A major issue in buying flower essences is that stock level bottles contain a higher percentage of brandy etc as preservative and simply have a longer shelf life. And, yes, of course we have a right as consumers, to know whether are buying stock or dosage bottles.

Steve Johnson, Alaskan Essences:
This is a great conversation and we need more like it. As a producer perhaps I can shed some additional light on the subject. It is actually a legal requirement in the U.S. to state whether an essence is being sold at the stock or dosage level.

Most of the older essence companies are in compliance with this and other label requirements. While it is legal to sell dosage bottles, they must be clearly labeled as such. And there is a bit of responsibility on the customer to check the labels of the essences they want and if they are not labeled correctly, notify the producer, or quit buying them.

The Alaskan Essences have always been sold at the stock level of dilution, even though it does require the customer to go through a few steps to prepare a dosage bottle. As a practitioner, I very much enjoy and value this process. Again, thanks for the conversation!

Kathrin Woodlyn Bateman, Fox Mountain Essences:
This is a great forum for conversation! I would also like to mention a point I didn’t see in other comments. There is a wide difference between companies on how they create their stock and dosage essences. for instance I use 3 drops of mother essence per 2 dram (1/4 oz) of stock.

I used to sell 2 dram with 3 drops of mother essence and 1 oz stock with 12 drops of mother essence. I have switched my bottle size to 1/2 oz and they are made with 6 drops of mother. I keep the proportions the same. There are some companies that use the same number of drops of mother essence no matter what size the stock bottle.

Some practitioners feel the difference and others claim no difference. There is also at least one producer whose method adds 2 more layers of dilution and still call their essences “concentrate”. I wouldn’t want to do that and yet, there are plenty of satisfied customers of that line and that’s all good.

I do also want to point out from the viewpoint of a producer that even when I make the same variety of flower essence as someone else, the essences can be quite different between the different producers. The variety is like a bouquet! It seems that no matter how much we keep ourselves out of the process of essence-making, our energy, our healing beliefs, etc. are all a part of the essence. I’ve come to realize that that’s what draws us to particular lines….they just “feel right”.

The World Wide Essence Society does not mean to imply any recommendation of nor give certification to any individuals or companies whose articles or comments appear on this blog. Articles are provided purely for informational purposes. We ask consumers to make their own determination as to quality of the services and products described. Articles are not meant to be advice, and the information is not meant to replace medical or psychological treatment. All articles and comments offered by readers do not necessarily represent the views of Vibration Magazine.

Every year I make a new essence for the upcoming year, my intention being to connect with Nature and ‘capture’ the energetic impulse of the upcoming year. I’ve been making Annual Essences since 1998. Looking back over previous essences, I realize there were often prophetic elements that I could not have anticipated. These essences assist people to be conscious of what is emerging within the universe. Setting personal goals for the new year, while helping us to focus our intentions, can be short-sighted. The shifts into each new year invite us to be aware of what the universe is calling forth from within us. In a daily ritual of meditation with breath-work, using the essence allows for a deeply personal harmony between ourselves and the universal energies, the forces that intimately shape our personal and collective destiny.

Creating the Essence: Timing is everything. I wait for the right day, grounding myself and setting aside any personal bias by being as open and receptive as possible to the wisdom of Nature. From the three hundred essences in the Raven Essence repertoire, I then intuitively test for the essences. This part is easy. The challenge lies in reading the pattern through the various definitions to get a clear sense of the evolving World Soul.

This year’s essence was relatively simple, only four essences, though the themes are large and significant. St. Johnswort (photo at left) affirms the thread of our life-focus which alters in expression at different stages of our lives. By supporting discernment through a compassionate heart, Golden Glow gives us stamina at the end of a cycle. Clematis helps with creating sacred space and employing the power of prayer. The only combination essence was from the Destiny Kit. Preparing to Receive the Holy Fire has a very erotic poem with the definition. Clearly 2010 is not about hanging on and praying in the face of life-challenges! This essence helps us open to the fiery pulse of life, to stand in our destiny and not shy away from true fulfillment.

Proving the Essence: To directly test the essence, I took a few drops and went into meditation. Immediately I experienced a strong opening in my heart and third eye, and a powerful current of alignment between these two chakras. I took the essence again, seeking to go deeper. Listening, I then heard I was to observe the effects of the essence on the collective humanity. I had never done this before and was curious to see what would happen. Step by step, I saw (and felt in my body) what the essence would do with children, adolescents, adults, and elders. Then I considered animals, and finally Gaia, the living earth. In each scenario, the effect of the essence was different, subtle yet highly specific.

Affirmation Through Image: Looking for some external confirmation of my perceptions, I then selected a card from Deborah Koff-Chapin’s beautifully evocative SoulCard deck. I wanted an image for the essence. The card (pictured below) confirmed the powerful third eye opening, the flowering of radiant intuition.

The mysterious element in the image is on the upper lip. What is coming out of the mouth? A flower? Two tongues? As I pondered this, I realized this strangeness held a vital clue. When we are most deeply in touch with our intuition, we are open to the ‘other’, that which wants to speak through us. In this state, we do not determine with our egos what should be said. Poised and deeply surrendered, we become transparent to Self.

Kirlian Photographs: Within days of creating the essence, I attended the annual Therapeutic Touch Conference where I met Linda Woznicka, a psychic from Calgary who also does Kirlian hand photography. She agreed to take a photo of the essence to see its energy-field. After I slipped the essence into the black glove, she took the photograph (in the montage below, top left). As I have little understanding about how to interpret the images, I rely mostly on her comments.

The essence’s aura is mostly white light with a narrow background of purple. Interpreting this, Linda saw a tremendous amount of spiritual healing energy, love and purity. Though it is not clear in this copy of the photo, she also saw two lovers shimmering in the white light.

My curiosity was piqued. What would appear if people held the essence? How would it affect their energy fields? Unfortunately, I did not set up proper scientific parameters. In hindsight, I should have taken photos of their hands without the essence, then repeated the experiment as they held the essence. However, the four-photo montage below is still interesting.

Individual Experiences: I asked each person to be open to the energies of the essence as it supported them in a shift into 2010. The photo on the top left is the essence by itself. The other three photos are taken with three different women within a space of ten minutes. Linda gave brief interpretations of each photo, all of them indicating a strong healing energy and spiritual expansion. I felt I was seeing the person’s intention and desire manifesting in the images, as though the essence was assisting this to become more real, more actualized.

In my experience, this is exactly what essences do. They never impose their blueprint or energies upon us. Rather, they hold a very specific energetic field of possibility. According to the intention of the combination, each essence invites us to become more fully ourselves, in very specific, finely-tuned ways.

The rather ‘blank’ template of the essence by itself becomes a rainbow of actualizing possibility as each individual interacts with the essence. It is very challenging to describe what essences do for their effects are utterly unique with each individual.

The Definition for the New Year 2010 Essence: This year marks a blossoming of intuition throughout humanity, as a gently sustained explosion of Life reveals the undeniable oneness of all creation. Our heart connection with the Soul of the World is being called to the fore. No longer can we insist on separation from Life’s pulse. In the stillness of our hearts, we hear Life’s call. Through our intuition, rooted in our hearts, we understand our souls’ voice, guiding us lovingly and purposefully within Life’s design. In 2010, as we hold all we have gathered with clear intention into a vessel of stillness, our dreams, desires, and talents prepare to burst open like a swollen seed in spring’s warm earth. Willpower alone can never open a seed. Only the pulse of Life itself knows our timely release. Honoring Eros, the primal Life-force and source of body-wisdom, the essence helps us intuit when to rest and wait, and how to open joyously when Life compels us into action.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Andrea Mathieson is the producer of the Raven Essences. Created in her garden in Maple, Ontario, Andrea has produced nearly 300 of these essences. Taking people through a co-creative process, she makes specialty blends for practitioners. Her books, A Love Affair with Nature and Gaia’s Invitation — Poems from the Sacred Earth, are used as divinatory tools to connect people to the wisdom and beauty of Nature. Andrea would welcome your questions and feedback about this area of research. She can be contacted at the Raven Essences Website, or by email at info@ravenessences.com.

The World Wide Essence Society does not mean to imply any recommendation of nor give certification to any individuals or companies whose articles or comments appear on this blog.  Articles are provided purely for informational purposes. We ask consumers to make their own determination as to quality of the services and products described. Articles are not meant to be advice, and the information is not meant to replace medical or psychological treatment. All articles and comments offered by readers do not necessarily represent the views of Vibration Magazine.

August 5:

August  12:
Hi Deborah – So sorry for the delay in my response.  It’s that drop-in summer guest time of year!   I do very much think of Thyme as a toning agent and also a source of amplification pertaining to a group of essences to be used in combination.  This trait seems especially prominent when thyme serves as a bridge for other essences that feel/seem disparate in their vibrational and healing signatures.   Do you have experience with Lemon Verbena?  I have found that it has similar properties.

In any event, I have worked with thyme most usually on behalf of clients who are very hypersensitive at a vibrational level.  The remedy can be especially useful if they are suspicious of blends or synergies that contain more than three essences.  The thyme signature seems to help them “sort” the various inclusions in a way that leaves them feeling more knowledgeable and confident rather than anxious or preoccupied by the possibility of energetic bombardment.

August 12:
Acey, thanks for the reply.  Peach is also a toner, as are a few others. You might have caught Vibration’s article on the topic.

Good to have the info about the sensitive folks — they certainly do have suspicions for good reasons, though some take it to the level of never taking anything at all.  Yes, this mixture I made that called for it had two separate threads running through it, so sorting might have been called for! Thanks.

Editors’ Note: So many of our readers are wonderfully wise. This is one of many excellent comments received about “Rescue Remedy: A Faithful Friend in Crisis”. Read the original article and all the comments related to it here: http://www.floweressencemagazine.com/blog/?p=940

Your story touched on a very important and alchemical potentiality relative to flower essences, one that literally takes us into the realm of quantum physics. Lynn McTaggart, author of The Field and The Intention Experiment: Using your thoughts to change your life and the world, talks about a phenomenon called retro-intention where intentions in the future actually influence our present experience.

She outlines a fascinating experiment undertaken by an Israeli doctor who wanted to debunk new age medicine. He selected a number of patients with blood sepsis, a very debilitating condition, and had half of the group stay on their normal medication while the other half also had prayer offered to them. Lynn says the doctor may have been dismayed when the results indicated that those who had received the prayer were better in every way. They had shorter time in hospital and fewer side-effects, etc. To those of us working with alternative medicine, this is an affirmation of what we already know, nothing radical or new. However, and this is where it gets really interesting, the prayer was sent to the patients in 2000, while the patients he was affecting had been in hospital years earlier, between 1992 to 1994!

This brings me back to flower essences. What if they really do, in their typically alchemical fashion, work with a completely different reality of time, one that includes not just past elements but future possibilities? How does this affect the way we might work creatively with the essences? Clearly, we would need to open our minds and imaginations to a whole new level of possibility.

Occasionally I’ve made ‘preparatory’ essence combinations for people to assist them to open to the future. For instance, if someone is making a major change in their life, instead of contracting with fear or trepidation — as is our habitual tendency in the face of the unknown — the personal combination would assist them to soften and expand into the expansive possibilities coming toward them from the future. In many case studies, I’ve observed people being more fully present to the opportunities that did present themselves, with greater receptivity to be able to recognize and take advantage of the possibilities. When we are contracted and fearful, we tend to replicate the known frequencies, and then complain that nothing different is happening… but in reality, as Lynn McTaggart is suggesting, the future IS impacting our present reality.

This sheer expansiveness of this ‘hovering reality’ resonates with me in the multi-dimensional experiences I’ve had making and using flower essences. In that sense, I feel those of us who work in this vibrational world of receiving Nature’s blessings through the flowers are well positioned to comprehend healing in completely new ways, far beyond the ’cause and effect’ models that are still part of a more traditional construct.

Thank you for sharing your story so openly. I’m sure others can relate to the effectiveness of creatively working with essences during times of considerable stress. And I completely agree that essences are ALWAYS working on issues in a non-local, non-linear, out-of-time fashion. The missing link is our ability to focus our intention into the wider field of these possibilities and to stay grounded and present as the shifts occur.

This sheer expansiveness of this ‘hovering reality’ resonates with me in the multi-dimensional experiences I’ve had making and using flower essences. In that sense, I feel those of us who work in this vibrational world of receiving Nature’s blessings through the flowers are well positioned to comprehend healing in completely new ways, far beyond the ’cause and effect’ models that are still part of a more traditional construct. Thank you for sharing your story so openly. I’m sure others can relate to the effectiveness of creatively working with essences during times of considerable stress. And I completely agree that essences are ALWAYS working on issues in a non-local, non-linear, out-of-time fashion. The missing link is our ability to focus our intention on these possibilities and to stay grounded and present as the shifts occur.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Andrea Mathieson is the producer of the Raven Essences. Created in her garden in Maple, Ontario, Andrea has produced nearly 300 of these essences. Taking people through a co-creative process, she makes specialty blends for practitioners. Her books, A Love Affair with Nature and Gaia’s Invitation — Poems from the Sacred Earth, are used as divinatory tools to connect people to the wisdom and beauty of Nature. Andrea would welcome your questions and feedback about this area of research. She can be contacted at the Raven Essences Website, or by email at info@ravenessences.com.