Several years ago I shared a story about how I made a flower essence from a rose that grew in our garden, and the whole powerful experience that came with it. About these subtle, healing, and unique essences, I wrote: "In short, flower essences hold the vibratory essence of a flower. The vibration acts as a matrix to remind the body, mind, or emotions, of a certain state of consciousness. When the essences are taken for a period of a few days, or weeks, the imprint that is inherent in the flower usually takes hold. It’s as if our inner being goes, ‘Oh, now I remember this’, and at that point, we usually no longer need that essence."

Flower essences have been a part of our health practices since the 80’s, and we get them from Flower Essence Society (FES), "an international organization of health practitioners, researchers, students, and others interested in deepening knowledge of flower essence therapy." (From the FES website.) The founders of FES, Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz, have conducted years of personal research, and gathered extended findings from practitioners around the world. Their book, Flower Essence Repertory, is an extraordinary compilation with highly accurate descriptions of each flower’s properties.

Rex thought it might be nice to share a few of our favorites that we’ve used for many years with great success. With the holidays coming up fast, the gifts of the flowers can be of great value. This following information is from the Flower Essence Repertory.

Calendula: Healing warmth and receptivity, especially in the use of the spoken word and in dialogue with others.
Hibiscus: Warmth and responsiveness; integration of soul warmth and bodily passion.
Holly: Positive qualities: Feeling love and extending love to others; universal compassion, open heart. (Photo right, holly, bursting with winter berries.)
Madia: Precise thinking, disciplined focus and concentration.
Mimulus: Courage and confidence to face life’s challenges.
Mountain Pennyroyal: Strength and clarity of thought, mental integrity and positivity.
Sunflower: Balanced sense of individuality, spiritualized ego forces, sun-radiant personality.

We also keep Rescue Remedy on hand, a Bach Flower remedy recommended for emergencies, stress, injury, or trauma. Flower essences work beautifully for animals, too. We once were told the most amazing story by a friend who had a pair of cockatiels. The male, Pepita, was treating his mate quite badly, and our friend gave him a tiny drop of sunflower essence. Almost immediately Pepita’s out of balance behavior stopped, and he became loving and attentive. A few weeks later his behavior began to revert, and a second drop was administered. That was all that was needed. He became a devoted companion from that point on.

Choosing that which is for our highest good (whatever that may be), and combining those choices with daily actions and practices is so powerful for moving us forward. This will aid in bringing the highest ingredients and vibrations that life can offer—those for our benefit and for the good of all. And this will forge a mighty path of life and love where even the darkness can be overcome. Our light will shine forth with focus, beauty, and grace, in countless ways to help the world in this time of great change.