Flower essences – a path to unfoldment

‘Is it like aromatherapy?’ I am always asked when I say that I work with flower essences. The answer is ‘no’. Neither are flower essences like homeopathy.

Flower essences are made from the energetic and vibrational essence of flowers captured in water. Most essences are made by floating flowers in a bowl of water in sunshine, but some essence makers choose not to harm the flowers and make the solution by bringing the water and flowers close together for a period of hours, allowing the flowers to energise the water.

Although there are historic precedents, the first recent examples of flower essences were the Bach flower remedies, famously created from wild flowers in the mid 20^th century by the British physician, Dr Bach. Dr Bach intuitively understood the properties of the flowers and also the ‘doctrine of signatures’: the way in which the physical properties of the plant and the flower symbolize its innate action as a remedy.

Since the creation of the 38 Bach flower remedies and the widely used combination for states of shock and crisis, known as Bach ‘rescue remedy’, a world of flower essences has been created. They are produced across the globe, from every type of flower, vegetable, orchid and tree. Their qualities are gentle yet speak deeply to our spiritual centre. Many of them have real physical effects but legislation often prohibits any claims. Most of all, the essences provide an emotional support and stairway into new territories.

Over time, essences have been created that move us emotionally, with, for example, Australian Bush Flower Essences providing a powerful range of healing resources. One of my favourites is Bottlebrush, which can be relied on to sweep out old thinking and bring change.

Increasingly, newer essences are not remedies but resources for spiritual growth and awareness. Living Tree Orchid Essences, produced on the Isle of Gigha in Scotland, have beautiful and uplifting qualities The orchid Paphiopedilum Armeni White is used to make the essence Purity of Heart whose qualities embody the understanding that there is enough time to do anything. This has certainly helped me to relax under pressure and act more gracefully in the world.

I could argue the case for the effectiveness of flower essences which are used to effectively treat animals as well as people and are used in hospitals in some parts of the world.

However I would simply urge anyone with an open mind to investigate for themselves and try whatever essences you are drawn to – by name, by flower or by picture. These beautiful infusions are a huge resource which nature offers us, to heal and revitalize and provide all the qualities we can use.