Oh, the first time I made flower essences was last spring, and it was such a powerful, emotional experience. A beautiful, warm, sunny day and I was in our yard full of dandelions and violets bursting with blooms. I incorporate these beautiful, medicinal flowers for many different uses from salves and oils to cooking. But never have I made a flower essence before, yet here I am getting ready to do just that. The flowers are calling me and I happily follow that call.
What Are Flower Essences?
Flower essences are dilute, potent herbal infusions prepared from wildflowers or pristine garden blossoms. The flowers are grown in areas that haven’t been sprayed or fertilized with chemicals. They are made directly in nature, where the elements of earth, water, air, and fire are found in harmonious balance. To this is added the fifth element, the awareness and attunement of the preparer. Flowers are a physical manifestation of the universal presence which is omnipresent in everything. Every flower embodies a specific lesson or theme to be learned.
How Do I Make A Flower Essence?
Gather the fresh blossoms in the early morning on a clear, sunny day before the dew has dried. Flowers float on the surface of a bowl of water, warmed by the sunlight for several hours. Do not touch the flowers, use a stick or leaf to place the flowers on the water. This process creates an energetic imprint of the vibrational energy pattern of the flower in the water, embodying the healing of the plant. This is the mother essence which is preserved with alcohol and then further diluted and concentrated to form the stock. They contain no scent or perfume and should not be confused with essential oils.
Supplies:
- Two, two-ounce dark glass dropper bottles. The extra bottle is for breaking the stock bottle into a dosage bottle if desired.
- Small glass funnel.
- Clear glass or crystal bowl that is dedicated for making flower essences.
- A glass jar with four to six ounces of fresh spring or well water. Do not use distilled water as the ionization process used to distill it destroys the water’s life force.
- A leaf, such as a cabbage or lettuce leaf to place flowers on before adding to the water.
- Brandy or vodka as a preservative.
- Garden shears or scissors used specifically for gathering flowers.
- Labels. Be sure to record the time, date, location as well as the essence(s) contained.
How to Make Flower Essences
When you gather your flowers, take the water from the glass jar and add it to the crystal bowl. Spend some time communing with your chosen flowers. Explain to the plant what you plan to do and ask for permission. This may seem unnecessary, but plants are living, breathing beings! Your energy flows into each essence you make. It’s very important to take time communing with the flowers.
- Gather flowers that are near maturity. Follow your intuition, clipping just the flower heads without touching them and let them fall onto the leaf.
- Add the flowers to the surface of the water, face-up so that they are not touching. Let the bowl with the flowers sit undisturbed in the sun for approximately three to four hours.
Make a Stock Bottle
- To create a dosage bottle you will need a 1 ounce amber glass dropper bottle filled nearly full with spring water and just about a teaspoon of brandy or vodka. To this add 2-4 drops to your completed dosage bottle.
How To Use Flower Essences
Whether you choose to take your flower essence directly from the stock bottle or make a dosage bottle, the amount you use is the same. You place four drops under the tongue or in a small glass of water, four times a day. Do not take directly with food. Be sure to store out of light and heat.
There may be a temporary increase in symptoms until negative patterns are released. If needed, increase the frequency of the essence, not the dose size. Engage in activities that work with the flower essences, such as journaling, meditation and positive affirmations that will help recharge your subconscious.
This kind of herbal medicine is extremely gentle and is used by anyone, from small children to adults. Flower essences are very powerful medicine because of their dilution. The saying “less is more” is very true with this. Flower essences work at ones emotional level, releasing negative patterns to make room for more positive patterns. They help you heal yourself on a deep, emotional, spiritual level.