Flower essences are made by calling in the spirit of the plant, and floating the flowers in a clear glass bowl of spring water. This is left to sit in the sun (or moon) energy for a few hours. The essence is strained, and brandy and/or glycerin is added to preserve the essence. The flowers that were used in the essence are returned to the earth.
WHAT MAKES YOUR FLOWER ESSENCES DIFFERENT?
Sacred ceremony & intuitive guidance is an integral part of every aspect of the creation process. From before the essence is even created, it starts by listening to the call of the "Wild Benevolence of Nature" instructing as to which flowers are to be used & when an essence is to be made. The spring water that we use is gathered in amber glass jugs, then placed in a vessel, which acts to implode & structure the water. It is my understanding that structured water holds information better ~ it is also more alive. I work with sacred geometry, orgonite, pyramid energy & sound frequencies throughout the creation process at various stages to further activate, enliven & anchor in the healing qualities of the flowers and bring a multi-dimensional quality to the essences.
FLOWERS: Although all of the cultivated flowers that are used to make our essences may not be certified organic, they are grown without the use of herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, etc (they just don't have a certification). They are lovingly grown by Julie, and also in the gardens & on the properties of friends & family. We also ethically wild harvest some of our flowers as well.
SPRING WATER: We source our spring water from Triple Springs. "Derived from our own protected springs on the property, the water source has remained free from impurities since 1918, making Triple Springs one of New England's oldest water companies. Our water is ozonated to insure your protection against any bacterial intrusion. Quality tested on a regular basis, our water meets all FDA and EPA standards."
ORGANIC BRANDY (COGNAC) - Produced at an estate in the Cognac region of France that has been producing Cognac since the 1700s, this Organic VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) Cognac is delicate floral-fruity & woody with raisin, apricot & oak notes and a mellow finish.
BRANDY: The brandy that we use is vegan friendly, as there are no animal products used in the processing & filtration process (such as isinglass & gelatin), as is often the case.
ORGANIC VEGETABLE GLYCERIN: We use a sustainable & carbon neutral certified organic vegetable glycerin, derived from naturally fermenting organic corn (starting with batch 1831 - prior to that, we always used organic vegetable glycerin, just not from the same source). The company we source this from recycles the all-natural byproducts of the creation process as nutrients for the very farms that grow the corn, and to farms raising organic livestock. "We start with certified organic corn, which is processed into starches and sugars. Husks, cobs, processing liquids, enzymes, and other biomass byproducts of this process are sent to an organic farm to be fed to animals. The manure and biogas from the animal farm are then sent back to fertilize the organic corn farm. The starches and sugars from the corn then undergo our special, patented natural fermentation process, resulting in pure, clean USP grade organic glycerin. Even the water used during the final refinement process is purified and recycled back into production."
ARE THE ESSENCES GLUTEN FREE?
Yes. The brandy that we used is distilled from grapes. The glycerin that we use is sourced from fermented corn - previously we used an organic vegetable glycerin sourced from soy.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FLOWER ESSENCE, AN ESSENTIAL OIL AND AN HERBAL TINCTURE?
FLOWER ESSENCES
While plant medicine has many applications, flower essences are the most gentle and subtle, both in their vibration and the creation process. There is no plant material detectable in a flower essence, rather it is just the energetic & vibrational qualities of the plant. Flower Essences, unlike essential oils, have no aroma. Generally you would use a flower essence for the emotional/energetic/spiritual component to a physical issue or ailment.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Essential oils are obtained through a distillation process whereby the volatile oils in the plant are released by the secretory sacs of the plant. Essential oils are used in aromatherapy for therapeutic purposes, are highly concentrated & aromatic and have a variety of chemical components that create the individual profile of each essential oil. It is advised that you do not ingest essential oils unless you are working with a qualified aromatherapist. Flower essences are safe to ingest. Essential oils bridge the gap between the energetic, emotional, spiritual & physical realm of wellness, as they often address all 4 aspects.
HERBAL TINCTURES
Herbal tinctures are made by macerating/infusing either fresh or dried plant material in alcohol. This is left to sit for weeks. Upon straining, you have a potent medicine, often taken internally, and sometimes topically as an antiseptic or liniment. Tinctures are most often used for their affinity with the physical body. This is not to say that tinctures do not offer emotional/spiritual balancing, just that often the healing focus is more geared towards the physical.
HOW DID YOU DETERMINE WHAT EACH ESSENCE IS FOR?
We have long gotten away from getting our information directly from nature, but it is my experience that if you listen, the wisdom that is revealed is profound. There is so much that goes into developing a single flower (or group of flowers, in the case of a flower essence) that determine the specific & dynamic personality present in each essence: The land where it was grown, the soil, the climate, the energy of the people that live nearby, the person’s intention who was creating the essence, the astrology of the day, what was happening in the world at the time of its germination & flowering, what did the bee whisper to the flower as it nuzzled & rolled around inside and gathered pollen? What was the story that blew in on the breeze, or the information contained in the raindrops that landed on the petals the day before harvest? Was it sung to by crickets at night? Did it grow through cracks in the sidewalk in the city? Did it grow under overhead power lines, near an airport? Where and under what conditions was the water sourced that is being used?
After the flower essence is made, I sit with & connect to the Mother Essence and ask it why someone would want to work with that particular essence & what it is for. The information comes through like an energetic signature that I read/decode and translate into words. The descriptions of the essences were given to me from the essence itself. I am just a conduit for the information. I do not change any of the verbiage, it is written exactly as it came through. There are many facets to a single plant’s personality, some may be revealed as it interacts with your own personal energy. These descriptions are a starting point. I invite you connect with the essences as you use them and see what is revealed to you.
HOW DO I KNOW WHICH FLOWER ESSENCE TO CHOOSE?
There are various ways to choose an essence. Before doing anything, sit with yourself for a minute and think about what it is that you are seeking to rebalance, look at, let go of, transform, heal, or embody. Reading the descriptions of each essence and seeing if it speaks to your particular situation is a good place to start. Sometimes just the name of the essence will jump out at you, and you’ll feel drawn to it. Look at the photo of the plant and let it speak to you, sometimes it is just the name of the plant itself – you read it and you just have a knowing that you need that particular essence. Above all, trust your own internal guidance system. You know what is best for you. There is no danger in choosing a “wrong” essence. The worst that will happen is you will notice little effect when using it. If you believe in the power of divination and would like to see what flower essences the universe chooses for you, try our Flower Essence Oracle.
CAN I TAKE FLOWER ESSENCES WITH OTHER MEDICATIONS AND SUPPLEMENTS?
Yes. Because flower essences are vibrational in nature, they do not interfere with herbal, homeopathic or allopathic protocols.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM USING THE ESSENCES?
Flower essences are subtle and powerful. They are catalysts of change, on an emotional & energetic level. Often they work by what is referred to as the “Peeling Effect”. It is like peeling layers off of an onion; as you bring up, explore and resolve an issue or pattern, the next one arises. Flower essences can provoke old patterns, triggers, emotions, repressed feelings, fears, etc. to arise. Be gentle with yourself during the process, and keep taking the essences, you will move through this phase, and feel lighter on the other side of it. Flower essences are free from side effects, because they do not contain any actual plant material. However, be aware that if you have some anxiety arise from what you are experiencing, this anxiety can manifest physical symptoms. On the other hand, many people experience clarity, a sense of calm in an otherwise stressful situation, some gain deeper alignment within themselves and feel more grounded in who they are and why they are here.
HOW SOON WILL I NOTICE A DIFFERENCE?
That depends on you. Some people are more sensitive & receptive and feel things immediately. Some patterns/issues require deep rebalancing at the subtlest levels, this could take a couple of weeks.
WHAT IS THE SHELF LIFE?
We recommended that you use essences within 1 year of opening, if they contain glycerin. Flower Essences in a base of brandy have an indefinite shelf life, unless contaminated. It is recommended that you keep the dropper away from your mouth. If the dropper becomes contaminated, run it under hot water & return it to the bottle. It is best to store essences in a cool, dry place, and away from essential oils or aromatic substances, as the aromas can permeate the dropper and the essence can take on the taste/aroma of the oils.
CAN CHILDREN AND PETS USE FLOWER ESSENCES?
Flower essences are safe for children and pets. Reduce the adult dosage by half for children. Apply the essences topically to the child’s pulse points on their wrists or feet. If you prefer an alcohol free version, the essences can be made in organic vegetable glycerin instead of brandy (Please contact us if you prefer this option, or order a custom blend here). You can add a couple of drops to your pet’s water bowl, or apply it to their fur.
CAN I COMBINE ESSENCES?
You can work with more than one at a time, but you want to be sure that they all support a similar focus, and don’t contradict each other in function. I find that choosing 3 essences ~ one to support the issue or pattern from the past that is at the core of what I am focusing on at present ~ one for what I’m working on in the present moment with regard to the same issue ~ and one for the future; for where I want to be within myself when I am complete with the process. It is almost like a timeline or a road map. I take the essences individually, though I will take them one after the other. Trust your gut & your own intuition.
CAN I OVERDOSE ON FLOWER ESSENCES?
Flower essences are non toxic, however, brandy is used as a preservative at 13% vol. Please keep essences out of the reach of children.
CAN I USE ESSENCES IF I AM SENSITIVE TO ALCOHOL
Depending on your level of sensitivity, there are a couple of options. You can add 3-4 drops of the essence into a large glass of water, or you can drop it into hot tea to evaporate the alcohol. You can apply the essence topically, in a bath, or room spray. If you don’t feel comfortable using alcohol at all, there is the option of having glycerin as a preservative available (please contact us if you are interested in this option).
HOW DO I WORK WITH FLOWER ESSENCES?
Add a few drops to your favorite beverage or under your tongue.
Add them to a bath, body lotion, aromatherapy blend, essential oil diffuser or room spray.
Apply topically to chakras, pulse points or any areas where you are holding energy that you would like to shift.
Work with them in your creative process ~ add them to paint, or to the water that you use when you paint, to infuse your work with a specific intention & energy
Integrate them with the healing work that you do ~ whether energy healing, massage, breathwork, acupressure, intuitive readings, tarot, meditation or EFT for profound, multi~dimensional shifts and growth.
Anoint sacred objects like crystals, mala beads, wands or any magical tools that you use in ceremony for a subtle yet powerful way to incorporate these essences into your spiritual practice.
