What are flower essences?
It’s a funny thing, offering a modality of plant medicine that does not often have household recognition (at least in the US)… there often are plenty of misconceptions around what flower essences are and what they can do! So sit down and join me for a moment as we go into a brief introduction of what on earth I’m crafting up over here at Castilleja.
Let’s start with what they are not… Flower essences are not essential oils (highly concentrated compounds of plants/fruits/etc that are often used for topical & aromatic use). Flower essences are not herbal tinctures (concentrated extracts of roots/herbs/berries/leaves/etc that are soaked in alcohol or vinegar to pull out the active physical properties of the plant). Both essential oils and herbal tinctures contain physical parts of that plant, which can manifest in physical and mental shifts in response to being exposed to them and impacting our well being.
Flower essences are vibrational remedies that carry the energetic (highly diluted) imprint of a plant, and the energetic essence of that plant can facilitate deep emotional healing and the release of limiting beliefs. Flower essences are crafted by floating blooms in purified water under the sun’s rays, and then preserved in alcohol (or a NA preserving agent). The mother essence made from the initial creation is then further diluted used to make stock essences then dosage bottles to be taken in drop dosages (often internally). Targeted at bringing balance to our spiritual & emotional well being, we can witness essences effect on our mental and physical health as well (everything is interconnected!).
In the same way that being physically among nature can help us gain perspective on our day to day experiences, flower essences encourage to release blockages that prohibit us from connecting to our true, benevolent nature. Through each intentional drop of the essence, we surrender our tight grasp on negative beliefs and programs that limit our growth and potential. Can you remember a time you were among plants and nature and felt clarity not previously found?
Upon working with the essence, while some individuals may notice an immediate effect/release/activation/integration, often essences fall into the subtle but powerful category. I liken it to progressive energy work where you often turn around after a time and go “Hmmm, things have certainly shifted in my relationship with that part of myself!”
A great place to start with flower essences can simply be a plant you feel drawn to! There often is medicine hiding in our intuitive guidance! Descriptions of stock essences and pre-made essence blends can also guide us when we have already identified an area of life we would like more support with (stress, anger, anxiety, creativity, self-expression, etc.) or personalizes session a practitioner can offer you a blend of essences tailor made to your specific needs.
What questions do you have about essences you’d like for me to answer?