After answering a question I received in my email, I started to think about what has become my main approach to creating flower essence formulas. I, of course, use many of the standard practices flower essence practitioners are taught to do. That is more of an intellectual exercise in choosing based on the symptoms the person is asking for help with first. And that works much of the time, but I also check in with my internal guidance using dowsing. . . and that is way better when it comes to either narrowing down the choices OR getting insight that might take us in another direction. When I get insight like that I always check with my customer and have them check their gut and share their first reactions. And then we go from there. The thing they ask for help with initially is not always the most important thing going on.
But there is also something else that I do when I create flower essence formulas for my shop without a specific person in mind. I set my intention in a specific way because I don’t know and can’t predict who will buy a particular formula and whether they have a lot of experience working with flower essences. So first I intend that they will be helpful for most people who are looking for that kind of help. But, in addition to that, there is something going on in the background for me which is also being addressed:
Sometimes flower essences don’t instantly make you feel better without acknowledging and releasing the feelings underneath. But, unfortunately, we live in a drugs-will-take-my-pain-away culture and many people think flower essences work the same way. But they do NOT work like a drug. If you are trying to push your feelings aside so you can keep thinking what you have been thinking and doing what you have been doing, they won’t let you. Flower essences attempt to replace negative mindsets and emotional habits with more positive ones—and when that happens and corresponds to what you want on a more conscious level, you will often have what seems like instant relief. But if you are unaware of what’s contributing to your pain or in resistance to making change, the essences create more awareness by making the feelings worse for a little bit or by bringing up hidden feelings you might not have been aware of before or even old memories. If you can work with that by crying or hitting a pillow or otherwise releasing the feelings, the flower essences will then do what you would expect them to do most of the time—help you shift into a better state of being!
But here’s my dilemma as a person selling these formulas. As I said before, I don’t know who is buying them and what THEY expect. So I do a lot of education here and on my listings and handouts. But I also intend that my formulas address the pain underneath the presenting symptoms in the most beneficial way possible. For example, anger is usually a reaction to hurt and pain and that usually includes the emotions of grief and fear. (“How dare you do that to me! How dare you make me feel like that!”) So my Soothing the Angry Heart formula includes flower essences for grief and fear as well as anger. My experience is that most people have fewer problems using flower essences under these circumstances because the feelings underneath are addressed as well as the feelings on top. So when I dowse, that is part of my intention: that the formula address what is best for most people under normal circumstances, including the driving issue typically underneath if needed. Then I add Reiki to the mix with the intent that the formula assist in what is best for all concerned.
Does this work all the time? I think so . . . but I also know that flower essences are not a one-size fits all modality and they are not the best approach in all circumstances. And sometimes feeling emotions and releasing them is just what you have to do. Still, most of the time, I don’t have to go through that when I use them and I do experience relief.
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A Legal Note:
Mama Love products are intended to add to a person’s sense of well-being. They all have worked for me and many of my customers. But nothing I make is a one size fits all magic pill; neither are they drugs of any sort. In other words, flower essences may not be effective for everyone. Individual results may vary. Claims made by me are my opinions based on personal experiences and the evidence of years of case notes and writings by Dr. Edward Bach as well as Healing Herbs and Flower Essence Services (the companies who make the ingredients I use in my products). This is not, however, accepted “medical” evidence. I am not a medical doctor or licensed healthcare practitioner.
Statements made have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information provided on my blog, websites or by this company are not a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with a health care provider, and should not be construed as individual medical or mental health advice. Consulting with a health care provider is a must for anyone taking medications or working with a medical or mental health condition, and highly recommended before using any herbal product. Please consult your doctor or health care provider for any possible contraindications and/or interactions with current medications. I trust you to seek the medical guidance you need to use my products healthily at your own risk.