Our Heart is the Ruler that sits on our inner throne and ensures harmony in our world.
Summer is the season of the Heart and the emotions. And right now, all our Hearts could use some support. Recent events have stretched us to feel beyond our old thresholds, leaving us many in a raw and tender place. The Heart in Chinese medicine is likened to our inner empress or emperor. Just as in ancient China, when it was rare to actually glimpse the revered Emperor, our own Heart Ruler is a behind the scenes presence that rules not through force, but gently, effortlessly, through the quality we refer to as Wu-Wei. Thus, we approach the Heart Ruler gently and reverently. For this reason, the Heart channel and Heart Back Shu points were classically forbidden to needle. The approach is too direct. Approaching the Heart Ruler requires refinement and reverence.
When we think of herbal treatments for the Heart and emotions, we may also wish to consider a more subtle approach. One way we can do this is with flower essences. A flower essence is an energetic imprint of a flower captured in water. Unlike essential oils or tinctures, which use vast amounts of raw plant material and are extremely strong and concentrated, a flower essence is subtle and delicate. It is created through the alchemy of sunlight, pure water, and freshly picked blossoms.
Flower essences speak to our spirits and are wonderful for balancing all kinds of emotions. They can be used to help settle fear and anxiety, treat insomnia, lift us out of sadness, calm us down in anger, and provide grounding and support during acute stress, trauma and ptsd, and more. Whatever we are feeling, flower essences can support our process. The energetic imprint of the flowers in water communicates with our own emotional waters. Because our bodies are 2/3 water, we can actually create profound shifts with flower essences and attune ourselves to a more balanced, harmonious state.
Flower essences are easy to use: just put a few drops in your water bottle and sip freely throughout the day. This allows the crystallized energy of the flower in water to speak directly to our own water, to remind us of our own beauty and harmony.
Flower essences are also simple to make. All you need is light, water, flowers, and a crystal bowl
HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN FLOWER ESSENCE:
You will need:
a small crystal bowl
pure water (spring water or rain water is best)
a sunny day
brandy to preserve your essence when finished
a glass jar or bottle
Because you are making a delicate energetic medicine, it is important to meditate and center yourself first.
Tune in with the plant you wish to work, offer your thanks, and ask permission to use its’ flowers as medicine. You may receive messages from the plant about how it can be used.
Fill a small crystal bowl with water. (copper, silver, gold, or other gems or metals work too- but they each impart a different energy to the essence, so choose carefully). Pick the flowers and place in the water. (some people use tweezers, rather than their hands, to pick the flowers so the energy stays absolutely pure). Cover the entire surface of the water with flowers.
Let the flowers and water sit in bright sunlight for 2-4 hours. You will see little bubbles form in the water. You may wish to continue to meditate with your essence during this time.
When finished, strain out the flowers and pour the water into a glass jar. Leave half the jar empty and put in an equal amount of brandy, to preserve the essence. This is the Mother Essence. To make a Stock Essence for everyday use, take 10 drops of Mother essence and put in 1 mL bottle. Fill the bottle 50/50 with spring water and brandy. To use- simply put 5-10 drops of stock essence in your water bottle and sip throughout the day. Flower essences act immediately and are best taken regularly over a period of time for best results.