Healing Flowers

With all of the extreme fires that have been happening all around the state of California there has been a feeling of emergency throughout much of the summer. Even though the fires are at a distance from our lovely place, the heaviness of the destructive, cleansing forces of fire linger around us frequently. Just knowing that people, animals and nature are going through such a sudden and extreme change brings a combination of sadness, anxiety and anticipation.

This type of change is also an opportunity to rid ourselves of old patterns and to take steps towards a new way of being. I look to nature for support during such times and find that Flower Essences are a phenomenal form of therapy to soothe away these challenges. I’ve chosen just a sampling of the flowers that may be useful during this stressful summer/fall. Some of these flowers will help in the immediacy of the traumatic moment and others will address the effects of a trauma that can linger over time.

Bleeding Heart –  Intense feelings of brokenheartedness and loss often  occur with the loss of a loved one, including a place or animal that has been dearly cherished. The response can be an emotional dependence that is unhealthy and extreme. Bleeding Heart will help these people fill themselves from within by connecting to their own spiritual strengths and learn to love and honor others from a place of openheartedness and fullness.

Borage – Another wonderful remedy for the heart is Borage. I especially love this one in the garden as well as in my flower essences! It pulls up a feeling uplifting joy and courage, particularly during challenging circumstances. Borage will assist you in overcoming deep feelings of grief, heavy-heartedness and depression. Feel the lightness and optimism that fills you when Borage is your friend!

Calendula – When we are under a great deal of stress, our spoken words can become cutting and sharp. Impatience and self-protection influences our communications. Calendula will allow for a more balanced way of interacting with others through speaking. This flower will bring forth feelings of compassion, warmth and healing into verbal communications, especially within our personal relationships.

Clematis – This flower helps us become more fully present in life. When tragedy strikes, it is easy to escape by moving our awareness into a dreamy state, another world where life is better. Clematis can support the strength of the inner self to allow a deeper experience of being connected to ourselves as physical beings, the physical world and those around us.

Cosmos – Cosmos is another wonderful communication flower for times of crisis (or every day) when the thinking becomes overwhelmed and disorganized.  When we feel overwhelmed by circumstances and unable to process everything quickly enough the mind goes into overload; speech becomes rapid and unfocused. Cosmos will bring together the speaking and thinking aspects of the nervous system for fluidity and clarity in communication.

Goldenrod – During times of extreme change we can discover that deep inside there is the desire for something different than what we have been living. Our lives are often profoundly influenced by those around us, through community or family ties. This can be difficult to break away from in order to create the true life that is desired. Goldenrod develops a more complete sense of Self, bringing into awareness the unconscious choice to conform. Individuation becomes possible with the help of Goldenrod. As a result, social pressures are not felt so deeply and balance is achieved between the needs of the individual and the group.

Love Lies Bleeding – The experience that comes to a community when disaster strikes is often surreal. Love Lies Bleeding can pull us from the depths of despair into a place of consciousness that transcends the personal and offers a larger context for understanding suffering. This overpowering experience brings into focus the awareness that one’s personal pain is an expression of the human condition. When using Love Lies Bleeding flower essence, we can discover a heartfelt bond with all of life and feel the deep-seated compassion that is hidden in our hearts.

Mariposa Lily – Traumatic events exacerbate the patterns that we have developed for self-preservation. Many of us have never developed a clear bond with the essence of Mother. This can be experienced as a separation from Gaia (the Earth and environment), from our own feminine aspects, and from personal relationship with human females. Mariposa Lily is a flower that manifests feelings of nurturing that heal the broken bonds of mother and child. Being embraced by the maternal gives us a strong foundation for forgiveness that results in the ability to move forward in a state of grace.

Tansy – The chaos of a sudden, dramatic life change can trigger feelings of intense overwhelm, instability and confusion. When faced with this situation, many people withdraw to cope and are unable to take meaningful action to move forward in life. Tansy stimulates self-awareness which creates the ability to respond differently. The energy of Tansy brings forward decisiveness and purposeful action to reach goals.