Flower and Vibrational essences provide us with a gentle and

profound way of tuning into and working with the healing energy of nature, wherever we are .

What are vibrational essences?

The word essence is defined as:

1.a) The real or ultimate nature of a being or thing, esp. as opposed to its existence or its accidental qualities.

b) the properties or attributes by means of which something can be identified or categorised.

2. An extract possessing the special qualities of a plant, drug, etc in a concentrated form or a preparation containing such a substance.

Vibrational and flower essences encapsulate the energetic patterns,

or energy signatures, of elements of the natural environment.

These can include flowers, trees, minerals or crystals as well as

actual places within the landscape.

It is now commonly understood, as well as scientifically proven, that water retains a cellular memory of anything that is has come into contact with. (I recommend reading the work of Japanese researcher Masaru Emoto if you would like to know more about this fascinating topic.) So what is really happening when an essence is made is that the pure life force of the plant becomes imprinted in the water. I use only pure local spring water in the making of the essences.

Once made, the essence is preserved by bottling it with good quality alcohol. This is the 'mother essence'. To prepare a 'stock level essence' a few drops of this mother tincture are placed in a bottle of pure spring water with at least 50% alcohol, which acts as a preservative giving the essences a long shelf-life. Essences are sold at stock level as either drops or mist sprays. They can now be used as they are, or diluted again by putting a few drops into a glass of water.

Dr.Bach and the Bach Flower Remedies.

Flower essences were re-discovered in Britain in the 1930s by Dr.Bach who innovated a set of 38 flower remedies, used to heal the underlying emotional causes of disease. These essences were prepared by two methods: One of infusing the petals of the flower in a bowl of pure spring water placed in direct sunlight for a period of at least four hours, thus allowing the subtle energetic vibration of the plant to be retained by the water. (It is preferred by many to make the essence when the plant is in flower, because the flower is considered to be the ultimate expression of the life force of the plant.) The other method used by Dr.Bach was that of boiling the plant parts in pure spring water to make the essence, this method is somewhat akin to the preparation of a herbal decoction. Dr.Bach mapped out his flower remedies into distinct sets and clearly defined personality types and states of dis-ease and their partner states of well-ness. His work set the path for the many wonderful and varied vibrational essences produced today.

Essences today.

The work of vibrational essences is not a new thing.

Since ancient times humanity has worked with the elements and the spirits of the plant kingdom in search of healing, self-awareness and wisdom. Nowadays the production of essences has diversified greatly and each producer has their own unique method of preparing their essences. Always crucial, however, is the ability to enter into and maintain a clear connection to the plant spirit; the ability to separate the universal awareness from the everyday thinking mind; and a sensitivity to the natural world and it's many denizens. Meditation is an invaluable tool in training ones awareness and in learning to transcend mind and connect to the energy of all that is, be it for one's own or the collective evolution. It seems that all opaths eventually lead to the same place.   

How do they work?

Each individual plant has its own unique energy, rather like each person having their own unique feel or way about them, each has their own take on things and their own unique attributes. In a general sense you can see how this applies to plants, rocks and, in fact, everything that is. So a good vibrational essence producer will work closely with the land  to produce essences of viable use to others, encapsulating the purest energy signature of each plant (or rock or place etc, the principle is the same). When you use an essence on a regular basis the energy which it holds merges with your own, correcting imbalances and negative patterning and enhancing your own creative and regenerative energies. This practice has been found to enhance intuition aswell as triggering the body's natural self-healing processes.You do NOT need to believe in it in order for it to affect your energy body. However, I have found that those who have identified what it is they want to change and are open and willing to make that change do usually experience deeper and faster effects.

Each essence has specific tendencies but the exact effect that working with that plant will vary from person to person, and indeed can vary for you too depending on when you take the essence. Essences are working on your subtle energies and layers of consciousness, many of which you may not be aware of on a daily basis.

What can I use Vibrational Essences for?

Flower essences merge the healing energies of the natural world with our own, bringing increased self-awareness and empowerment by helping to bring out our innate strengths and break negative patterning which holds us back.

Vibrational Essences are often used for:

Some of the areas that can be helped are:

How to use Vibrational Essences.

Some guidelines for using essences are detailed below. But do feel free to intuit which method works best for you. The effect of essences is felt more profoundly with regular use. So, please take your chosen essence regularly for at least a week before discerning results.

Most important is to take a moment to feel the energy. Simply relax and take a few deep breaths each time you use your essence - surrender yourself to the experience. Keep an open mind and be sure to leave behind all preconceived concepts of what you think ought to happen. You will be surprised how much you can feel the energy of the plants as you do this.

• A few drops under the tongue (dont touch the dropper)
• A few drops in a glass of water
• A drop on each wrist pulse point
• Drop onto hands and rub together
• Place about 5 drops in a bath (no scented bath products)

Using essences will facilitate changes in how you feel and how you perceive things to be. Find your intuition. Through practice and play you will discover the best way for you.

Why use Vibrational Essences?

Flower and vibrational essences are keys to allow us to work with and experience the many elements of the natural world. In many modern lifestyles there is little or no genuine contact between humans and the natural world upon and within which they live. A sense of 'connectedness' is essential to both our wellbeing and health, and to our creativity and inspiration.

Next time you walk down your street, take a closer look at the flowers and plants which are growing there. The more you look, the more beauty will reveal itself to you. Have you ever felt the calmness envelope you when you walk through the woods? Or how peaceful it can feel to simply sit and watch the sunset. How all your daily concerns, stresses and worries suddenly dont seem quite so important? No matter what happens during the rest of the day, it is in these precious moments that we step outside of our habitual mindset and just be, we find a moment of peace. It feels good. If you take a deep breath and stop just for a moment you have already begun to let go, to connect with the energy of the landscape. It is healing, it is balance, it is peace and, ultimately it is the way to find harmony within ourselves.

Through using essences we are bringing feelings of serenity and acceptance into our lives when we most need them. Finding a clearer way to do what we want in life and be who we truly want to be.

Essences are a profound tool for health, well-being and healing; the development of self-awareness and perception training; and of course for learning to genuinely perceive and connect to the kingdoms of the natural world.  And I am sure they have many more applications yet to be discovered!

(Page updated 19.5.2010)