Flower Essences
Reordering Our Understanding and
Approach to Illness and Health

by Machaelle Small Wright

Chapter 1:
What Are These Things Called Flower Essences?

In 1978 a chiropractor recommended to me that I use something called "flower essences." I had absolutely no idea what they were or what they did. He gave me a quick thumbnail description plus an address for the Bach Flower Essences. I still didn't have much of an idea of what these things were, but something rang right inside. So I ordered a set of the Bach Flower Essences from England and got on with the chore of figuring out how to use them, why, and when.
    Since then, I have used, studied, and experimented with many essences, and even developed my own flower essences. In the process I have grown to respect them beyond words for their role in health and balance. I've felt what they can do. I've watched what look to be miracles being pulled off in routine ways with the essences. I've had the honor of using essences to help others through illness or other difficult times. And since incorporating them in my life, I've been in a continuous, personal-awareness education program that mirrored back to me who I am, how I react and respond to life, and where my strengths and weaknesses lie.
    Needless to say at this point, I am enthusiastic about flower essences. Now I find myself saying to others, "You should be using flower essences." They look at me funny and say, "What are they?" And then I give them the same kind of dumb thumbnail sketch I was given in 1978. Sometimes it clicks with them, sometimes it doesn't. When it doesn't, I have this overwhelming urge to grab them by the neck, shake them silly, and shout, "Don't you understand that these things could be one of the most important things you'll ever incorporate in your life!?" Well, instead of running around and accosting everyone, I've decided to use a different approach. I thought, What if I took the time to explain all that I know and have experienced about the flower essences, including what they are, how to use them, and when to use them. What if I went beyond that thumbnail sketch and gave people real information. Surely this would do the trick.
    Hence, this book. Whenever appropriate, I will be including information and insight from the higher intelligences who are associated with the essences and health. I feel that although modern flower essences have been around since the mid-1930s and have been used by professionals and laymen alike with terrific results, we really have only begun to scratch the surface as to what the essences are and how they may be used. I look to these higher intelligences to move me along in my understanding and knowledge—and it is in this spirit (pardon the pun) that I offer their input throughout this book.
    One other thing. I have written about flower essences both in the Perelandra Garden Workbook and in the Perelandra Essences Guide. For the sake of clarity and convenience to you, I am including that information here. For those of you who have read the Workbook and/or the Guide, you may think you are having a déjà-vu experience every once in a while as you read along. Don't get excited. It's probably just one of the sections you've already read.

Now, with all that said, let me alleviate your curiosity and give you the typical introductory thumbnail flower essences sketch. To set this up, you have to ask, "What are flower essences?" Then I say something like, "Flower essences are liquid, pattern-infused solutions made from individual plant flowers, each containing a specific imprint that responds in a balancing, repairing, and rebuilding manner to imbalances in humans on their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual or universal levels."
    Why we who love the essences think that the above is an easily comprehensible answer is beyond me. But this is the kind of answer one gets hit with. As a matter of fact, this is the opening sentence in the Perelandra Essences Guide. The problem is, it's accurate—just intellectual and a little out of reach. So let me try again.
    I have learned from the nature intelligences I work with that specific healing and balancing patterns that are vital to humans have been incorporated in the makeup of plant life. These patterns are usually found in the flower petals of the plant. When the petals are placed in water and allowed to sit in the sun for a period of about three hours, that specific healing and balancing pattern is released into the water in a highly condensed form. The water is now what can be called a "tincture." The tincture is diluted, preserved, usually in brandy, and is then ready to be taken orally a few drops at a time whenever needed.
    How does this link in with the human body? We humans borrow from the three kingdoms in nature what is needed for an appropriate physical form. It stands to reason. Everything that is of form on Earth is derived from nature. We draw from the animal kingdom for our physical form and from the mineral kingdom for the building and stabilizing process in our cells. And for our central nervous system, we draw from the plant kingdom. Because of their close relationship, the central nervous system responds easily and favorably to input from the plant kingdom. Hence the wisdom of making healing and balancing patterns available to us through plants. It's like a direct telephone linkup. From one direction you have the direct link with healing and balancing patterns as a result of the plant/central nervous system relationship. And from the other direction, because the disorder and dysfunction we experience first impact our bodies within the central nervous system, you have the early warning system. The two—the easy accessibility to the healing patterns held within plants and the early warning when the body dysfunctions—meet right at the central nervous system.
    One result of disorder and dysfunction is that the corresponding electrical circuitry along the spinal column breaks, short-circuits. If nothing is done to rectify the situation, the related network of nerves receives weakened electrical impulses rather than the usual strong impulses. These weakened impulses travel through the nerves to their related areas of the body, especially the endocrine system. Immediately, there is physical weakness in that area which, if not addressed, results in illness or disease.
    Another result causes what can best be described as "system overload." Disorder and dysfunction impact the central nervous system along the spinal column, causing the electrical circuitry to unbalance in such a way that the normal flow of electrical impulses dramatically increases. If the overload is not addressed, the body will physically respond with symptoms such as hyperactivity and twitching.
    Because of the unique relationship between the plant kingdom and the central nervous system, flower essences, in a most efficient and dramatic manner, are able to reconnect the broken circuitry and rebalance the electrical overload along the spine. This, in turn, stops the weakening domino effect that ultimately leads to illness. If a person is too late in using the essences, and illness has already set in, the essences still reconnect and balance the circuitry and hold that balance while the body heals.
    To help you with a basic understanding of the flower essences, I include a session on the subject from the Perelandra Garden Workbook. It was translated from the nature intelligence identified as the Overlighting Deva of Flower Essences. (A definition and explanation of devas is given later in this chapter.) Since this was part of the Workbook, the deva also relates flower essences to the co-creative energy gardening process that is described in the Workbook.

OVERLIGHTING DEVA OF FLOWER ESSENCES
I am part of what might be called "the healing devas," in that I am a part of a group of overlighting intelligences in nature who focus specifically on the various healing dynamics within and throughout the kingdoms of nature on planet Earth.
    When the human soul chose to inspirit physical matter on the planet, we of nature consciously accepted a partnership with humans that related to the development of their physical form and all matters relating to what may best be described as the upkeep and maintenance of that form in every way. In present-day terminology, you may say that we have a "contractual agreement" with you humans which was initiated prior to the human soul coming to the planet and was fully activated the very instant the first souls entered the planet's atmosphere. Nature has been completely at your disposal as you took on matter and developed your form. All that comprises human form is extracted from the three kingdoms of nature.
    But form development and its maintenance through food, shelter, and clothing is only a part of our agreement. In light of the universal law of horizontal healing, we also took on the responsibility to balance the human form during times of dysfunction. So in these areas we have overlighting healing devas who establish the patterns in nature that respond to human form in healing ways and integrate those patterns into the specific blueprint of individual plants, animals, and minerals to be recognized, unlocked, and used appropriately by humans when needed. I will say to you now that there is contained within nature a pattern of healing that responds and relates to every specific dysfunction within mankind. It is an ever-changing area of service, in that when specific diseases or dysfunctions are eliminated or released as part of the human experience, we devas who work in this area release the complementary healing pattern that has been held in custodianship within nature. Conversely, when humans introduce and take on a new dysfunctional pattern, we respond immediately and infuse the appropriate balancing pattern within the blueprint of one or more members of the kingdoms of nature.
    What you call the "ecological problems" that you now face play directly into the very area of service of which I have been speaking. Simply put, we devas infuse the specific healing patterns in nature on their corresponding devic level. Those patterns are fully integrated. As humans have disassociated themselves from the life balances of nature and moved into a consciousness of manipulating nature solely for their own ends, they have interfered with the successful fusion of that blueprint into its form. Consequently, the healing patterns, although still available, have become cloudy, unfocused, and less accessible to humans.
    This brings me full circle to the enormous benefit that lies before those who consciously work to create a garden environment with the attitudes and intent as described in this book. [the Perelandra Garden Workbook] By working the garden with a mind-set of co-creation rather than manipulation, one establishes an environment that is raised to a level of life above and beyond the ecological messes surrounding it. This, in turn, allows for the healing patterns to be fully present and a part of the specific forms within the garden environment. The unlocking and understanding of those patterns will be clear and complete, and the appropriate form in which the patterns are released will be developed.
    It is not an exaggeration (although many will perceive it to be) to say that at some point in the future, the medical world will look to those who have established co-creative gardens to supply the pattern-infused solutions to be used within their own medical arena. These solutions will be recognized for their power, potency, and their ability to quickly get to the heart of a matter in order to return the human to balanced form. Do not underestimate the power and clarity that will be released from each co-creative garden as it establishes its position of balance.
    To address the issue of flower essences: We healing devas look to the plant kingdom as the primary recipients for the infusion of specific healing patterns. This is because the plant kingdom responds to and resonates with the central nervous system in humans. All disorder and dysfunction are reflected in the nervous system, thus making accessible the problems to the plant kingdom. The scope of the nervous system in its various levels of function is no smaller than the universe itself. It is, in the body, the bridge that directly connects and fuses the soul to its form. Since the soul is linked to the universe at large, it is essential that the nervous system have, in form, the same capacity. Eventually, as soul and form balance, the nervous system will operate co-equally with the soul and translate all that is accessible to the soul into and through the body. There will be no separation between the human soul and his body.
    As I stated earlier, humans borrowed from the three kingdoms in nature that which was needed for an appropriate form. For the central nervous system, he borrowed primarily from the plant kingdom. And, as I have also stated, it is the plant kingdom that we primarily utilize for infusing into the blueprint human healing patterns. As can easily be seen, it is most appropriate for mankind to look to the plant kingdom for these healing patterns.
    It is especially appropriate for the individual and his family to draw from the garden environment flower essences from those specific plants that are useful in aiding and assisting their physical balance. Consider the following: It has been said that the co-creative garden environment shifts, balances, and enhances all that its energy envelops. This includes, of course, those individuals connected with the garden. As it reaches new levels of balance, the garden literally shifts and raises all that it touches to a level relative to that which it is now on itself. The process is continued, but in a different manner, when the food is eaten. Now those connected with the garden are being affected by its energy from without and within. The physical form is receiving an enormous amount of input from this environment. Aside from the heart influence of the individual, it is the overriding healing impulse received by the body. To continue that impulse in the form of flower essences derived from the very environment of which I speak, is to move along the healing path without missing one step, one beat.
    I bring another consideration to your attention. The individual is drawn at specific times throughout his life to live in the location that best serves his higher purpose. This is a truth. It does not discount human free will which allows him to override his inner knowing and establish himself in an environment based on willful desire. When the soul fuses into form it implants its own higher pattern into the nature energy in the body. At this time, like a computer readout, the individual takes on an awareness as to what environment he must be a part of in order for his higher purpose to be fully stabilized and supported in form. This includes the environmental conditions and the food he must have as well as the healing patterns contained in specific members of the nature kingdoms which must be made accessible to him. At various times you will observe individuals, or sense within yourself, a compulsive drive to move or change locations. This is that inner awareness coming into consciousness and, quite often, you will feel the healing power of the new location as soon as you enter it.
    Do not misread what I am saying to mean that in a highly mobile society, the individual must strive for permanent roots or a series of long-term roots, or he will lose his opportunity to have needed access to important healing and stabilizing patterns. Remember that I said it is the higher purpose of the individual that fuses with nature, thus creating the awareness of appropriate environmental needs. If his higher purpose includes the scenario of many homes in quick succession, roots in many corners of the world, it will result in his desire to move around the planet in directions that place him in the environment that offers physical support and healing at specific times.
    Now, people who are drawn to gardening respond to this inner impulse in a very concrete manner. Without realizing it, they create their garden from those plants and minerals that hold the very healing patterns they personally need. Don't forget that the garden is designed on the devic level in the spirit of full environmental balance. It is precisely that balanced energy to which his inner soul/form awareness resonates, not an ecologically imbalanced or damaged image of this balance. When they expand their gardening awareness to include the production of flower essences, they release from fully inspirited and empowered plants these healing patterns, thus enabling them to enter a new level of personal healing. This is, in fact, a continuation of that which was already begun when they responded to the inner soul/form resonance, settled in a specific location, and established their co-creative garden.
    I cannot resist giving you a glimpse into the future, for you see, the relationship of humans to their movement around the planet is directly connected to this notion of their responding to environments that hold for them the very healing patterns they have needed. Humans are presently experiencing much mobility, a great desire to move around the planet, see the world, live in different cultures and environments. At this time in his evolution, it is important that he physically familiarize himself with the planet upon which he lives, for in the future, it will be the planet as a whole, not just one corner of it, that will be the focus of his higher soul patterns and the support for his physical vehicle. Humans are rapidly moving into an era of global consciousness. The drive to be physically present in many different countries and cultures is preparing him for this shift, not just intellectually and emotionally, but physically and spiritually as well. As he travels, his body experiences and responds to new natural patterns, not just cultural patterns. This exposure opens him to the healing patterns needed in order to expand his physical body balance so that it can fully support the expansion of his awareness of himself and the world in which he lives.
    You will note that the emphasis in the present time is one of physical movement around the planet. But the population as a whole is moving into a new era in which movement around the planet will be primarily accomplished on the inner levels through the development and use of the sixth sense. The physical bridge for this era is already being established through the technology of electronics and computers. These technologies are beginning to supply, through the use of physical form, what will be accomplished in the future through the use of the sixth sense. Countries are linking in ways that were never before imagined. Individuals have instantaneous connection and communication with others in areas that used to take days of utilizing the best, most efficient transportation modes to reach. Many have noted that the world is becoming smaller, as they say. Well, it is not really becoming smaller, it is becoming whole.
    Once this shift occurs and humans have instant communication through the sixth sense with anyone anywhere on the planet, the need to physically travel will no longer exist. You will see humans physically a part of one environment while at the same time experiencing total access to the rest of the planet.
    This will create a change in how the human relates to the environment for physical support and healing. Remember that now the fusion of the higher purpose into form is still, for all intents and purposes, regional. It requires that the individual enter and experience a specific environment for support and healing. In the future, the higher purpose will be global yet, at the same time, not require physical presence in every environment. At that time, the individual will be drawn back into establishing stable, long-term roots in an area that gives him his basic, natural support. In the beginning, he will need to pull to him the elements of nature from outside areas that will round out the support for his new global balance. It is quite conceivable that the primary source of global balance will not come in the form of imported food but rather in the form of flower essences made from ecologically balanced, co-creative gardens throughout the world. The high quality of nature support derived from the plant essences resonating to the greater-sensitized human central nervous system will be the most desired form of global natural interchange. And the multitude of co-creative gardens then in existence will link in a new way and respond in global service to human healing.

In a session I had in 1984 with a consciousness known to me as Universal Light, flower essences were directly linked to the universal principle called "horizontal healing." In a nutshell, horizontal healing means that for the most comprehensive and efficient healing, one should seek what he needs for healing from within the same dimension as the problem being manifested. That is, aspects from the physical world being used to heal problems manifesting within the physical body. Emotional problems being addressed from the level of emotions. Mental problems from the mental. Spiritual from the level of the spiritual. Like healing like. More often than not, any individual problem manifests on all of these levels simultaneously. The principle of horizontal healing encourages us to look for full healing from input on all those levels, each input directly related to how the problem is manifesting on its specific level. According to this principle, one will not achieve full healing of a problem manifesting on all four levels by addressing, for example, just the physical issues or just the emotional issues.

UNIVERSAL LIGHT
The effect of the flower essences on form (we use "form" to indicate all form, not just human) is directly related to a universal principle: the healing process that occurs on the horizontal level. Although we may not have flower essences per se on other levels of reality, in other corners of this universe, the principle of horizontal movement, or connection, within the same level of reality remains.
    To explain: Flower essences are form (flowers) released into another substance which is also form (water) and then given for the healing and balancing of form within a human, an animal, another plant, or even a rock. There is a strong healing quality between like and like. Edward Bach [London physician and developer of the Bach Flower Essences in the early 1930s] understood this when he shifted from the traditional homeopathic concept (of negative and positive—in other words, two negatives creating a positive) to that of the flower essences (of two positives, of like connecting to like). On a personality level, one finds a healing experience when he relates to a person of like mind and feels, during this communication or interchange, a sense of ease, balance, healing, and understanding. Similarly, the flower essences relate to the body or to form—one might say they are of like mind; they are horizontally connected and related.
    Many flower essence practitioners and many people who use flower essences feel that the essences are successful because they respond to the soul, respond beyond the level of form. To put it bluntly, this is not true. Man understands neither the level of form nor the expansiveness within his own level. Flower essences respond from the level of form to the level of form and are highly successful for that reason. The same holds true in any natural healing process throughout the history of herbs, plants, and healing. The mountain doctor or mountain woman who heals through the use of plants, the witch doctor in Africa who heals through the use of plants and minerals, and the Indian who uses plants, minerals, and crystals have all touched into their "brothers" (all of which are form). They have found a friend of like mind who is able and eager to come to and into them for the purpose of healing, balancing, and reestablishing stability.

There are many hundreds of flower essences now being produced by a number of people. I encourage you to follow your own sense of good judgment and intuition as to which flower essences are for you. However, in this book I will explain flower essences by presenting the essences I know best—the Perelandra Rose Essences and the Perelandra Garden Essences.

Reprinted from the book
Flower Essences: Reordering Our Understanding Approach to Illness and Health by Machaelle Small Wright.
© 1988 Machaelle Small Wright. All Rights Reserved.