Emerging from the Cave … & Flower Essences

I knew it was coming. I could feel myself growing more and more scattered, my energy splitting up into such tiny fragments that there wasn't enough in each piece to accomplish much of anything. Overflowing inboxes, unfinished projects, and a dining room floor I didn't want to walk on. Questions keeping me up at night: Do I leave Lucas in preschool or pull him out? Should I get a part-time job? Do I want another baby? Where do I find the melodies to all those Waldorf verses? What was it again that I was supposed to be writing? How do I fit in the freelance copywriting work I've been hired to do? At what point might I be willing to put forth an iota of effort toward promoting my other book?


I needed to pull my energy back together. Refocus. I really could have used a weekend away at a spa, or a writing retreat in Sedona, or even just a bit more sleep. What I got instead was a sinus infection. Hey, whatever works.


And it did. Work, that is. 


One way or another, I needed to slow down and regroup. I had noticed the signs, but was doing nothing about them, so my body did it for me. It's not the most comfortable way to go, and I don't recommend it, but for the stubborn types, or those of us a little slow on the uptake, it seems the only way to get our full attention sometimes. All I can say is I hope I catch on sooner next time.


Actually, that's not all I can say. I have a lot more to say. I have something to say about the healing properties of flower essences and the emotional healing that can occur when we are willing to do the work. I have something to say about listening to what's keeping us awake at night. And mostly, I have something to say (again!) about the power of meditation and journaling. So those will be the topics of these first few posts in almost a MONTH. Today's topic:

Flower Essences and Emotional Healing

A number of years ago, I began to get a hunch that my recurring sinus infections were related to my emotions. Specifically, they seemed somewhat related to a buildup of anger. 

When I was teaching and railing against a failing system, I got sinus infections almost continually. Once, during my last and most miserable year of teaching, I had recently recovered from being sick. An issue arose with the administrator, which, to me, felt stupid and unfair, and it had me shaking-mad. By 3pm that day, the post-nasal drip had begun burning my throat, and I was sinking into the next bout. That was when the light bulb went on.


Luckily, that very week I met a medical intuitive who introduced me to flower essences. Arcana Pharmacy, where I get them, describes them in this way: 

Flower essences are liquid, potentized plant preparations which convey a distinct imprint, or energy pattern of specific flowers…
Flower essences expand our understanding of health, recognizing a relationship between body and soul, and the interweaving of spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical aspects of wellness.

Okay, so in other words, they support you in doing the emotional work that underlies the physical problem you're facing. If you know which emotion is being tripped, you can choose a flower essence yourself. You don't necessarily need a medical intuitive to find the right ones for you, but I enjoyed that kind of support and through it, discovered layers of emotions that were affecting my physical health. Oh yeah, and I would get over a sinus infection in like, three days.


Since that time, I'd say I get about one sinus infection per year. It's a big improvement! Flash forward to the last few weeks which I described at the beginning of this post. At the first sign of that post-nasal drip, I was on the phone to the good people at Arcana, asking for flower essence recommendations. All I said was that I was starting to get sick with a sinus infection. Tiffany sent me Mycena, (technically not a flower, but a mushroom essence) which is a cleansing essence to help restore my aura, deal with unresolved emotions, and help with coming to an important decision. She also sent me one called 5 Corners, which promotes love and acceptance of self, and more joy. Sounded good!


I began taking the drops and getting as much rest as I could. I suddenly had a lot I needed to write about in my journal, a practice I'd, not surprisingly, let slide over the past month or so. I called Tiffany back five days later after a journal-induced, rage-y sort of catharsis which resulted in near-suffocation levels of stuffiness. Crying and sinus infections are a bad combination, but apparently it was a necessary step. She asked if the rage was tied up with resentment. Oh boy, was it ever! (Those details are coming up in the next post about what was keeping me awake. I don't want to distract from my point about the fleurs.) So she sent me Dagger Hakea, a flower essence that helps resolve resentment. Over the next two days, my anger and even the need to forgive simply vanished and I was able to let it all go. The basis for all that rage suddenly became a non-issue. It seems so hard until it's suddenly that easy. My sinuses began to clear up after that.


For me, the flowers absolutely support this emotional work. Mind you, I still did the emotional work. I meditated. I journaled. I went to the dark places. But the difference was that I was able to move through the dark places quickly and gain the insights I needed to put them behind me. I didn't stay stuck (in my stuff or in my sinuses). 


And let me tell you, getting out of that stuck place launched me into some huge realizations I couldn't have reached before. Decisions were made. Emotions were resolved. I felt lighter, happier, more joyful and more focused than I had in months. New ideas were flowing, and I felt capable of implementing them all.


This is the power of flower essences. 


Have any of you used flower essences? What's your experience with them? Why do you think they work? I'd love to hear from you in the comments! It's good to be back!


Cheers!

Alexis