About Flower Essences
From the beginning of life on earth, plants have played a vital healing role in every culture. In the 1500’s Paracelsus encouraged his patients to drink the morning dew, nature’s rudimentary essence. In the 1930’s Edward Bach developed our current method for producing essences. To me, flower essences are both subtle healers and wise teachers.
What are flower essences?
Flower essences are liquid extracts created with the life-force of plants. Taking a few drops orally has a gentle balancing effect on our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. The art of creating an essence involves working in deep communion with Nature through a well-developed intuition to ‘hear’ and articulate the particular properties of each plant. Meanwhile, the physical process is elegantly simple. When a plant is in full bloom, its flower petals are placed in a bowl of pure water and left for several hours in the sun to transfer the flower’s vibrational blueprint to the water. This “mother tincture” is preserved with brandy and later diluted into solution bottles for sale. These can be further diluted (only one more time) into dosage bottles.
What makes Raven Essences unique?
In addition to gathering the energies of the plants, I was guided to ‘bring myself to the creation process.’ As a musician, I did this by using sacred sound with overtone chant, Tibetan bells or singing bowls.
How do essences work?
Each flower essence comes with an intuitively discerned definition that describes its unique restorative properties. Through our bodies’ electrical system, flower essences can serve as a first-line of defence during times of major stress, personal or environmental pressures, or the dynamic challenges of personal growth. While little scientific research has been done to prove the subtle energies of flower essences, there is extensive anecdotal feedback about their healing properties. Having worked with flower essences for nearly thirty years, my respect for the many ways their alive intelligence can guide and support us remains one of life’s fascinating mysteries.
What makes Raven Essences unique?
When I listened to the flowers, they ‘spoke’ to me in poetic metaphors. This living language took me deep into the heart of Nature and gives the essence definitions many shades of interpretative resonance. For example, altering the language from third to first-person turns the definition into a powerful affirmation!
How are essences used?
Flower essences are often recommended by holistic practitioners in conjunction with other healing modalities as an effective energy-medicine that adults can safely self-administer. Typically, a flower essence is taken orally, two to three drops at a time, once or twice a day for several weeks—unless otherwise prescribed by a practitioner. When taken orally, it is helpful to make time to breathe and be present to any subtle shifts and to review the definition as a form of resonant affirmation. Note: Flower essences can be highly effective with children and animals without concern for side-effects. If you are sensitive to alcohol, cider vinegar can be substituted as a preservative upon special request.
What makes Raven Essences unique?
The Raven Essence definitions also serve as a comprehensive earth-based divinatory system. Without using the actual essences, many people draw daily wisdom-tips from the library of 350 definitions for personal insights and to deepen their connection with Gaia, the living earth.