Nature's Angels Heal the Soul
by Isha Lerner
"Astrologers, those who have studied the stars, and herbalists, those who have studied the plants, have ever been searching those remedies which will help us to keep our health and joy."
- Edward Bach
In the glorious light of summer the warm fiery sunlight illumines the colorful angels of nature; the multi-colored flowers that paint the earth with rainbows. Summer is a time to rejoice and receive the gift flowers have to offer humanity. Therefore, I am pleased to share information about the healing essences of flowers and their uses.
For those who are not aware of the healing properties of flowers, or, the healing modality called Flower Essence Therapy, this article will provide a brief explanation and information on the various ways flower essences may prove beneficial and useful. I will extend the information to include a section on flower essences for children.
What are flower essences and how do they work?
A flower essence is a living energetic medicine made from the biological imprint of the living plant. It is water based, preserved in pure spring water and brandy, and taken orally under the tongue or applied to the body. Not to be confused with aromatherapy a form of plant therapy that uses the aroma of the plant to stimulate brain communication with the body to promote healing and balance flower essence therapy is an oral treatment that has a profound effect on correcting physical imbalances, impurities, fears, and disease.
To understand the therapeutic uses of flower essences, it is important to ask some basic questions about the nature of health and illness. What is the goal of health care? What causes illness? What is the relationship between mind and body? Our answers to these general questions will determine whether we have the understanding and insight to use flower essences in their full capacity as catalysts for mind-body wellness.
Flower essences seek to heal the whole person. If we are out of balance in one area of our life there is a high chance this imbalance will eventually cause discord in the entire system. Flower essences are used as a preventive measure and as a healing model that can offer a gentle way to restore, maintain, and create better health conditions for all beings.
One of the great names in the field of Vibrational Healing and Flower Essence Therapy is Edward Bach, the founding father of Bach Flower Remedies which he brought to the attention of the medical establishment in the 1930's in England. Dr. Bach was a sensitive and contemplative man who dedicated his life to humanity, tirelessly seeking ways to alleviate human suffering and to bring joy to the human spirit. A medical doctor steeped in the world of homeopathy, Dr. Bach began to case study the healing effects of flower essences which he had discovered while collecting dew drops from plants at dawn. Theorizing that such drops contained the energy pattern or signature of the plant from which it was derived, he further supposed that when ingested by human beings, the essence of the flower would match the vibrational patterns stored within the genetic coding of the human body.
Each individual has a unique pattern and energy field. Edward Bach noted, for example, that an illness was not curable by the same means for each individual. Some people would heal and others would not, even though the same application or treatment was used.
Bach committed himself to the task of healing the whole person, not just the illness. He therefore sought to identify the character, complexity, and inherited genetics of each person. In his extensive case studies, Bach observed the different ways in which people respond to illness. He noted blocks and obstacles that serve as barriers to wellness, such as fear, loss of hope, despair, exhaustion, etc., as well as pinpointing the positive traits of a person that could be emphasized and reinvigorated. The flowers proved to be gentle, non-threatening and subtle, yet, extraordinarily potent and helpful.
Flower Essences and Children
"Blessed be the children for they shall inherit the Earth"
Using flower essences as a way to enhance the physical, mental, and spiritual wellness of your family and friends is a not only a progressive means to better health, but, a gentle and life affirming choice. Flower essences are used extensively with babies, children, and animals and have proven to be highly successful. Therefore, I would like to offer some remedies that are well documented, highly effective, and safe for use with children in everyday life. The remedies I have selected are obtainable in most health food stores. For complex cases I suggest you contact a skilled practitioner to prescribe appropriate remedies for individual use.
Please note: Flower essence therapy is a balanced healing choice involving many factors, mainly, a careful study of each individual, including their living environment and overall character. When preparing essences for children it is especially important to note the living conditions of the child including the relationship to parents, siblings, and nature.
Eight Flower Essences for Your Medicine Bag
Buttercup: Also known as Goldcup, the Buttercup is a dazzling yellow flower covering spring meadows with vibrant color. The translucent yellow light emanating from the Buttercup blossom transmits a tender message of love to humanity. Its essence carries a blessing of quiet surrender, beckoning one to "ride the magic carpet" of blissful love into the inner regions of the Essential Self. Buttercup helps one to recognize and remember the creative gifts we carry into this world and helps to restore self worth and esteem. I love this essence and have used it readily with many children.
Chamomile: Many are aware of the uses of chamomile as an herbal tincture or tea. Chamomile is a heavenly essence from nature that calms the emotions and hyperactivity in children. It is very good for a fussy, colicky baby or for little ones who are not sleeping well. A sweet white flower with tiny yellow centers, chamomile offers a sun-like disposition and restores emotional balance. Chamomile essence also helps to release tension from the stomach and solar plexus areas as it subdues the many small emotions that vex the soul.
Chicory: This is a soothing remedy for children who demonstrate emotional neediness in excess. This can include children prone to tantrums, a demanding nature, negative behavior, and a clinging tendency. The blue flowers express freedom and tolerance and the essence allows a child to more readily express love freely and naturally while respecting the individuality of others. Chicory is a very important remedy for emotional congestion and misdirected love forces. Those in need of this essence must learn to care for others and release manipulative patterns brought on by an overly possessive or desirous nature.
Mimulus: This yellow flower adorned with red spots helps one to face life's challenges with courage and confidence. Mimulus is one of Edward Bach's fear remedies and is especially wonderful for use when one is aware of the fear such as fear of the dark, being alone, heights, dogs, etc. If these fears are not soothed and brought to resolution within the soul one may become introverted and withdrawn. Mimulus helps the soul to contact the strength and purpose of its Higher Self, and thus sets it free to experience life with greater clarity, exuberance, and joy. This is a fantastic remedy for children and adults alike.
Aspen: Like Mimulus, Aspen is an essential fear essence used readily and successfully by many. This essence helps one to have trust and confidence as they meet the unknown, drawing strength from the spiritual world. This flower essence is very helpful for children who are oversensitive to unseen and unknown influences, and can also be indicated for those who may have prematurely opened their astral bodies due to a need to protect themselves from a harsh environment, or, a need to survive parental or sibling abuse. A child in need of aspen may have many nightmares, hidden fears, and high anxiety. The essence allows the soul to incarnate and balance forces with the physical body. A wonderful essence for individuals faced with sudden illness who may be frightened of the unknown outcome.
Shooting Star: The beautiful little flower of Shooting Star resembles a star or comet zooming to earth hence its name. As a flower essence, Shooting Star is beneficial to those who feel alienated from numerous aspects of earthly existence and suffer deeply for it. They may feel an inordinate connection to plant spirits and /or other worldly communications. This is a wonderful remedy for children who are having a difficult time incarnating into the physical world. It is helpful for one who has had a difficult birth due to a fear of not being accepted or received as the individual they hope to become. This essence helps people remember the special gifts they have to offer the world and encourages them to pursue their own unique talents and character traits.
Walnut: Walnut is called the transition flower or the "link breaker". The human soul is akin to the plant world in its patterns of growth. It grows slowly from day to day, but there are moments when it makes radical metamorphic changes. Walnut is a flower essence that helps to balance the soul life of an individual who is undergoing a sudden shift or transition in life. Thus, this is a wonderful remedy for babies who are teething or children who are losing teeth. It is useful during times of transformation when the individual is moving toward a new level of consciousness and evolution, and therefore, it is indicated for those moving through puberty and body metabolic changes. Very useful for adolescence.
Rescue Remedy: This is a must in every medicine cabinet and hand bag. Called Five Flower Formula or Dr. Bach's Emergency Formula, Rescue Remedy is composed of Star of Bethlehem, Rock Rose, Clematis, Cherry Plum, and Impatiens. This remarkable combination is the best known of all flower essences and has convinced many skeptics of their tangible results. It provides broad based emergency support and helps the soul "find its ground" during times of emergency, transition, and crisis. This remedy should be used for any first aid emergency, in times of critical panic attacks, fears, or nightmares, for chronic pain, and for hysteria.
The plant seeds are quickened
In the night of the Earth,
The green herbs are sprouting
through the might of the air,
And all fruits grow ripe
through the power of the sun.
So quickens the soul in the shrine of the heart,
So blooms spirit-power in the light of the world,
So ripens man's strength in the glory of God.
- Rudolf Steiner
Isha Lerner is the co-author of The Inner Child Cards: A Journey Through Fairy Tales, Myth and Nature and The Power of Flower Cards: An Archetypal Journey Through Nature.
She is an international astrologer, writer, teacher and tarot consultant having studied the mystic arts for over twenty-five years. She dedicates her work and inspiration to her three daughters, Gabrielle, Katya, and Sophie. She is available for personal consultations with the flowers, astrology, or tarot. Check her website at www.ishalerner.com for many articles and free Inner Child Card readings on-line.
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