Catalysts for Healing, Growth and Transformation:
An Introduction to Flower Essences
by Alexandra Windsong January 2, 2008, Revised 1/4/09

A gentle, yet powerful, healing modality, flower essences facilitate healing at the soul level, promoting balance and harmony within one's energy system(s). They can have a supportive energy during stressful, or challenging, times; serve as catalysts for change, growth or healing; or facilitate awareness of underlying mental, emotional or spiritual issues that need to be addressed as part of the healing process. Many people have found them to be useful tools for facilitating and supporting the healing process; for personal and spiritual growth and development; grounding and centering; focus and concentration; stress relief; clarity and inner strength; life purpose and direction; psychic opening and development; anxiety; depression; and healing from trauma, abuse and neglect.

Developed in the 1930's by Dr. Edward Bach, flower essences are unique in that they are entirely energetic in nature and contain no physical component of the plant or flower from which they are derived. They have no fragrance, and they exert their effect through one's energy field rather than through the physical body itself.

Flower essences are created by harnessing the energy patterns of selected plants and flowers and then imprinting that pattern upon a liquid. The liquid then stores this energy pattern until it is needed, much like a battery stores an electrical charge. When the essence is taken into one's energy system, it resonates with, or activates, the corresponding aspect of one's energy field that is out of balance, addressing issues at the core level of one's being, promoting health, harmony and well-being within the individual.

Essences are selected by matching soul qualities, or traits, within the individual, with the corresponding flower essence(s) and may be chosen in a variety of ways. You may choose them yourself, either intuitively or by consulting a resource such as "The Flower Essence Repertory" by Richard Katz and Patricia Kamininski, and selecting the essences which seem most appropriate for you based on their descriptions, or you may consult a flower essence practitioner. Most people find the services of a flower essence practitioner helpful as deciding which essences are most appropriate for a given individual can be a daunting task to the beginner. In addition to their knowledge of the nuances and subtleties of flower essence use and selection, a professional practitioner is also skilled in recognizing the key patterns and issues that need to be addressed within the individual. If selecting essences for yourself, you may find speaking with a friend or counselor helpful in identifying the key soul issues that are most relevant to you at the time.

An essence, or a combination of essences, is typically used for three to four weeks. Then the situation is reassessed. In some cases, the same essence, or combination of essences, is repeated for another cycle. In others, new essences are selected as new issues and insights come to the surface as shifts occur within the individual. For some people, the effects of flower essences are immediate and obvious. For others, the changes are more gradual and subtle, requiring time, reflection and introspection for their effects to become apparent. The most common experience is for the essences to have their effect over a period of weeks and in some cases months. While flower essences can be used successfully for short term, or acute, situations, they are most effective when used over an extended period to address deeper issues and patterns of imbalance n order to effect more long term and profound changes within the individual.

Flower essences are most commonly used orally, two to three drops directly into the mouth two to three times per day or as needed. They may also be added to a beverage, applied topically to the skin, or added to the bath. It is best to limit the number of essences used at one time to no more than five or six, and to focus on one or two key areas at one time.

A valuable healing tool in their own right, flower essences are even more effective when they are used in conjunction with energy work, affirmations, counseling with a qualified therapist, or self-awareness techniques such as meditation and journal writing. For more information about flower essences and flower essence therapy contact Alexandra Windsong at 301-696-8380 or windsong@thehealingway.com. For more information about Alexandra Windsong, click here.

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©2008 - 2009, Alexandra Windsong