Flowers are nature’s expression of confidence in life and love. Their essences can inspire and support us through times when our keeping our defences up has drained us of emotional vitality. These are some of the most well known flower energies. I use them alongside herbal extracts and find they help the herbs work better. Please click on the name of a flower to read more about what sort of inspiration and energy it offers.
Agrimony
Aspen
Beech
Centaury
Cerato
Cherry Plum
Chestnut Bud
Chicory
Clematis
Crab Apple
Elm
Gentian
Gorse
Heather
Holly
Honeysuckle
Hornbeam
Impatiens
Larch
Mimulus
Mustard
Oak
Olive
Pine
Red Chestnut
Rock Rose
Rock Water
Scleranthus
Star of Bethlehem
Sweet Chestnut
Vervain
Vine
Walnut
Water Violet
White Chestnut
Wild Oat
Wild Rose
Willow
Bach Flower Rescue Remedy is the combination of the energies of 5 flowers that comfort the body by the influence of their presence. The 5 flowers are:
Star of Bethlehem, Rock Rose, Cherry Plum, Impatiens, Clematis
Agrimony is a flower that is brave in facing what has to be addressed to find release and healing. Its presence in this herbal medicine blend supports the person or animal who has it, in getting over the fear of nasty episodes on the way to healing. Losing poise and appearing to be out of control are often major fears when we are dealing with an overwhelming and gigantic-looking condition. Agrimony inspires us to see the mountain as just a very big mound of mud and rock that can and will move away in the face of the simple decision to be well again.
Aspen flower is a beautiful energy that is secure in itself and holds its own bliss and faith even when those around might not. For those who are sensitive to gloom and foreboding energies in the surroundings and others around, perhaps holding on to those even after things have changed because of being in the habit of wanting that everyone moves together towards happiness, Aspen inspires the person or animal to experience their core well-being of spirit rather than what is being suggested by the experiences of others around. Very often, Aspen will inspire a person to make positive changes in their environment. If it is not possible for them to do that alone, Aspen will inspire them to find a way to hold their own well-being without being pulled down by others.
Beech is a flower that’s calm AND determined. The person or animal who could use the gentle inspiration of Beech is often torn between the strong need to push vehemently and passionately for improvement and perfection and the need to keep calm in the face of lukewarm, complacent or unethusiastic response from others around, or just the fact that the situation is something that takes a long time to resolve. The energetic demands are high and the energy resources seem low. Beech with its resolute calm is excellent company at times like this and that is why it is part of this herbal treatment.
Centaury is a flower that experiences the glory of its beautiful being, holding the awareness that, “The purpose of my Life is glorious and comes first.” Those whose sense of life purpose has been worn down away from their natural being and instincts into becoming the fertile ground of others’ purposes that do not equally give back, could use the rousing presence of Centaury to lift their spirits up and make them want to invest their life energy according to their own life purpose again.
The humble Cerato flower has the beautiful amazing characteristic of being tightly connected up to its core. When this presence comes in touch with us, it inspires us to be connected to our core too. It inspires us to get through our conflicting thought processes, a big chunk of which is advice or influence of others, and be keenly aware of our own natural inclination and intuition. When we are healing, we are faced with sub-conscious choices and Cerato can inspire us to make these sub-conscious choices in favor of our own instincts rather than habit, training or the suggestion of mental training and outside influence. Cerato helps us recover from the effects of long-term habits that kept us sub-servient subconsciously to habits, belief systems and thought forms our spirit does not harmonize with.
The lovely flower of the Cherry Plum makes a lot out of a little with no fear of lack. It holds the faith, “Whatever I need to do, the energy will flow from deep inside me to do it.” The person or animal who could do with some of this inspiration, is aware of being stretched mighty thin, so thin and frayed that they feel a breakdown or collapse is very near. With time, if nothing changes to make them feel deeply comforted and better again, they start withdrawing and then regretting not going all out to do what they want to do. The sadness seems to go on and on. This herbal treatment supports them not only in recovering and getting back to feeling healing inside and well, but also to overcome the fear of collapse and breakdown so they can fearlessly engage in life again.
A bud gets uncomfortable. As it swells bigger and bigger it has to hold in more and more, getting heavier and heavier. Then when it is fully ready inside, it gets so heavy and full, it simply opens. The Chestnut Bud has this wonderful strength – the forbearance to get ready properly, fill up fully, hold in and wait for the right moment, before launching out into the next phase of its life. It inspires this calm wisdom in those who for whatever reason find it hard to hold energy and purpose right through to fulfillment. It helps take full advantage of what is available on the path instead of reaching blooming-time all drained.
This cheerful dancer of the open fields carries the consciousness of, “All is well with creation.” In this herbal treatment it supports healing by inspiring the release of the fear of short-coming in oneself or loved ones. This dees-set fear is often the result of trauma where the person felt they lost something precious by not being correct enough so they have decided to make double sure of everything. Even when they don’t think so consciously or show it, they always are keeping back some energy to check on every little detail of everything. Peace of mind is what they need now.
Clematis is a flower with a core that holds in and balances its four petals that go off in all the four directions of the wind. For those who find it both hard to dream and navigate the very different realities they might be facing, clematis offers the inspiration to connect up all aspects of life, the inner, the outer, the right and the left. It is grounding without being depressing, and emancipating without escapism. Combined with the other herbs in this herbal treatment it helps the body focus on what it has to do in the moment rather than reserve up energy for some distant time or hoped for event.
The Crab Apple flower is what innocence looks like. It is medicine for those who feel like they’ve gotten hopelessly corrupted or sold their souls irretrievably to the Devil. Most of the time, they have no idea when or how this happened, only that they never feel really free and easy in their souls. It has been happening so long their body has begun to behave like it has something wrong inside all the time. Crab Apple, the beautiful presence of innocent ebullient joy helps soothe the aching parts and make the soul feel like healing again.
It might puzzle you, this flower. It looks like sacks of goodness stacked up for all those bees, insects and birds that might need it. Generosity of spirit with no lack whatsoever. When a super-hero feels tired and hopeless about fulfilling the grand scheme of goodness he or she started out on but can’t seem to find the resources or energy to complete, Elm flower can inspire the sub-conscious memory of spiritual abundance and help renew the tired hero.
The Gentian is a kiss of a flower. You wander through a wild place thinking everything there is rough and tough and then suddenly you see this little flower and feel like someone kissed you. For those feeling down in the dumps, who have reached a point where everything is just too hard, who turn every corner only to bump into a new dissappointment, the Gentian Bach flower essence is a sweet little encouragement. Taken through the day and over a few weeks you start feeling noticeably a lot less disappointed and the body shows this by healing.
The Gorse flower is a school master dressed up like well, a flower. There are some times when a soul seems convinced the illness or feeling of doom it is carrying is really the only reality there is or there can be. Now remember if you can, your school days (if you were home schooled, lucky you). Remember how you’d have your head in a million things, but the second you were in class and your teacher came around, all thoughts of your most pressing important situation went right out of your head, to be replaced by a sum, or some fact your teacher was talking about? That ability to call attention to whatever is the most important truly for the whole person (or animal) is the marvellous gift of the Gorse flower. Taking the Gorse bach flower essence regularly helps shake the most hopelessly hope-less person into waking up and realizing healing is also a very legitmate possibility and might be wise to pursue it.
Heather covers the wild open hills, the friend from time immemorial of those who got away from the crowd to find themselves. My grandfather used to tell me he’d tried all his childhood to find two heather flowers that looked alike and never found a single pair. Each was different and sure about it. Some conditions are caused by the body and psyche getting confused about what its real individual design and purpose is. The beautiful independent Heather inspires the feeling of peace with one’s own unique being and taken over time slowly helps the body get back to living by its own rhythms and patterns.
The holly flower is small, but confident and sure of its purpose as part of the big picture. For those who feel their role is insignificant or ignored or that they have suddenly been de-valued, the holly’s inspirational presence reminds them that their role, which may seem unappreciated, is truly of deep worth. It helps deal with the sense of being cheated by life or robbed of opportunity and resources – feelings that we have when we’re faced with a string of disappointments especially in relationships.
Sunshiny afternoons and honeysuckle go together. The scent of the honeysuckle affects the psyche in pleasant soft ways. A comforter, a bringer of peace, a reminder of the loveliness in the world for those who believe their share of good times are all over. This flower will make you want to dream again and a little by little inspires you to look forward too.
The Hornbeam flower grows straight out of wood. It’s strong and packed with nutrition for the birds and insects it attracts. It doesn’t know the meaning of “cannot do”. When people feel like they just can’t go on, like something really BIG has to happen if they are to continue on another day, this beautiful flower’s energy can demonstrate sub-consciously to the tired person the attitude of “There’s nothing I can’t do if I need to.” With that sort of company it is quite hard to feel soul-weary for long.
This lovely flower catches the dew every morning, and raindrops when it rains. Never harassed by anything you’ll find it calmly manifesting its exuberant soul wherever it is planted, even by dusty busy highways. For people much harassed and troubled – whether by a sense of “There’s not enough time” or “We’re going to run out of resources”, this relaxed abundant soul is going to be a calming influence. It is particularly helpful for those working towards deadlines, or in the habit of always keeping one eye on dwindling time or resources.
The Larch flower is an amazing arrangement of petals that run deep with just a little show at the top. It is a physical demonstration of the fact of life, that success is the little part that shows on top, that it is supported by every day investment and preparation that runs deep. For those who have gotten thoroughly disappointment by a failure or failures on their path to success, the Larch is a bit of tough love, an encouragement to continue doing what doesn’t seem to be rewarding in the moment, but which will eventually be the foundation of success.
The Mimulus is extremely sensitive. This sensitivity helps it move flexibly with the wind allowing its seeds to carried about in all directions. It is fearless in this sensitivity. For those who have begun to fear the unpredictable winds that life brings, this flower offers inspiration, to encourage us to use the winds of our lives to develop flexibility, grounded-ness, and a strong spine.
The Mustard flower is a little piece of the sun. It has a robust metabolism itself and inspires energy activeness in others just by its presence. For those who have for whatever reason fallen into energy depression or lack robustness in their system, the mustard inspires movement. This often results in a lift in morale and spirits as the person feels lighter and brighter. It also helps the resolution of heavy unexpressed emotion.
The Oak flower is the plant version of the ant. Small but effective, it has sound energy management – not wasting, not exuberant, but not under-expressed or subdued either. For those who have it in them to accomplish something but can’t seem to manage their energy reserves to their satisfaction and so tend to burn-out every now and then, the Oak can inspire the body to sub-consciously get back to managing energy efficiently. Better sleep, better work is often the result of the inspiration offered by Oak.
The flower that carries the future fruit and food, sustenance for so many living beings in every eco-system it occupies, the Olive flower carries its responsibility without feeling it burdensome. The flower essence for those who carry responsibility and do much with little, this flower inspires the development of deep energy reserves to build up and nourish one’s own body and soul.
The Pine flower is a presence you feel more than see. Before you know it, the Pine goes from just green leaves to nuts and cones. The flower does what it has to do and get’s on. For those who cannot seem to move on because of that nagging feeling that they didn’t do it all as perfectly as they wanted to, the inspiration to get on with life, is uplifting and encourages release.
Stunning, sweet, joyful, the Red Chestnut flower is a friend you want in your life. For those who feel destroyed on some level and have the sense that the same is going to happen to their loved ones and are caught in cycles of anxiety for others now, the Red Chestnut is a presence with the consciousness of abundance, cheer and most importantly, the sense of, ‘Right NOW, everything is alright. That’s for sure.”
This is the Florence Nightingale of flowers, the soft sponge of water on the forehead, the firm strong hand-clasp of nature. For those who experience often the sort of terror that stops the breath from flowing and the mind from looking at what’s right in front. Of course this sort of thing is the result of trauma and Rock Rose is a flower that carries the awareness of the moment so strongly it can influence a person frozen with fear into coming into the moment.
This is not a flower really, but the energy of water taken from a natural spring. That means, basic, simple, clear water. You’d be surprised at how many people world over do not have access to the pure energy of natural water. Our bodies go into a borderline state of dehydration when we do not come in touch with the energy of natural water. Even if we do have purified water, we still need the energy pattern of natural water. This simple little essence gives our system the ‘Go Ahead’ signal the energy of natural water carries as it flows around and through the world we know.
The pretty little Scleranthus is not to be messed with. It will bloom how and when and where it wants – out in the open or in hidden crevices. For those who cannot seem to get in touch with what they really want, and have to depend instead of instinct, on the mind and its swinging between one valid stream of logic and other equally valid but totally opposite streams of logic, the Scleranthus with its gorgeous strong connection to Earth and it’s own spiritual being, inspires rootedness, sense of purpose and clarity.
This flower’s presence can only be described as motherly and comforting. Nature’s beautiful heart has provided us with a being that reminds of the open sea from which all life came, of the endless sky in front of which everything down below is just a passing speck. For those facing or living with a sense of deep loss, inconsolable deep within even though on the surface life might seem to have moved on, this energy of love can inspire the lifting up of eyes from sorrow to the bigness of life and the soul-understanding that we can never lose what belongs to our heart.
Now we humans seem to have all sorts of connections connecting up our bodies – veins, arteries, muscles, nerves. Quintessentially however, every part of us is connected directly and immediately to our core – which is an area that is in the center of our bodies, in the deep abdomen. The Sweet Chestnut has manifested its physical appearance to closely match this basic structure of all living beings. Its core runs right from the base of the flower to the tip. This is a good influence on anyone at any time. However for someone who is in a state of total adrenal exhaustion, shock, emotionally and psychologically numb, splintered into pieces and unable to connect back, Sweet Chestnut is first-aid. It immediately influences the shocked person to start connecting up again.
The Vervain flower is self-contained and comfortable with itself. ‘Sold on itself’. People with a deep-set feeling of needing to change the world so they can feel better about themselves (finally) benefit enormously from the company of this self-assured sweet friend from nature.
The Vine flower looks very much like our body’s nerve networks. Sensitive, fine and perfect. For people who feel somewhere deep down they aren’t as perfect as they ought to be, and are going crazy, almost killing themselves, trying to make everything and everyone around as perfect as possible too, this flower with its calm assurance inspires relief and rest.
The Walnut flower might be small, but it is well padded and sturdy. It inspires those with the tendency to forget priorities with the focus to stick with what they’re doing till they’ve finished it, to focus on quality and substance, to be content with what matters instead of being overly concerned about the opinions and ideas of others.
The Water Violet grows in quiet lonely places, but flowers with exuberant flourish and joy. For those who like and need quiet private lives to nourish themselves and fertilize their ideas, but feel stiffened and isolated by it often, sometimes to the point of being debilitated by it, the Water Violet flower is a gentle encourager. It helps those with social awkwardness and confusion in communication with others, feel a lot more ‘breezy’ than they usually do, and not so burdened by confusion and conflicting thoughts about how to present themselves. It also helps those who need to adapt to new surroundings or changes in their lives.
The White Chestnut flower is like a master story-teller. It starts its story slowly, builds up slowly but compelling, and then all of a sudden – BOOM – the capsules burst tossing seeds far and wide. Now all this takes a lot of focus. It is precisely this ability to stay focused that it inspires others with. For those who cannot seem to keep their mind and energy invested in what they really believe in, this is a wonderfully focussed grounded companion.
The Wild Oat flower has the heart of an explorer and the body of a builder. Two somewhat opposite things unless it can find a situation it can both build and explore in. For those who get exhausted by monotony but crave a settled life, who love the thrill of new experiences, and love equally a job well-done and established to perfection, the Wild Oat flower can give sympathetic company. It can be a reminder that despite all appearances, there can and will be a situation that is both wild and secure.
The Wild Rose is an A-CLASS FIGHTER. There’s no other way to put it. Strong, but flexible, with the attitude of a Ninja and the spirit of an angel warrior. For those who feel like they cannot fight for their right to live as a child of this universe is supposed to live, the Wild Rose is a kick in the you-know-what. It inspires people to get back up and try again. Never say die.
The Willow flower is like a little pin cushion but soft and full of life instead of hard and poky. It grows straight out of hard brown stalk. For those who feel like a flower that grew out of the most harsh circumstances, the Willow is a reminder that where we come from need not be where we’re going, that we have things inside us quite different from anything expected from our past circumstances. People who feel sub-consciously tied to a situation they do not identify with, find relief and encouragement in the company of the White Willow flower.
