Flower Remedies and Astrology
Flower Remedies and Astrology
(religion, spiritualism, and occult)The flower remedies—also known as flower essences—are liquids that catalyze changes in problematic patterns or emotions, such as guilt or low self-esteem. They are not herbs or aromatherapy oils, but a greatly diluted essence of the flower of the plant, similar in nature to homeopathic remedies or cell salts. They are sold in many health food stores in concentrate form, four drops of which are mixed in an ounce of spring water. The resulting mixture is taken by mouth at the rate of four drops four times a day. The best known are the Bach remedies, developed in England in the 1930s, and the so-called California remedies, developed by the Flower Essence Society (FES) in the 1970s. By the 1990s, however, companies all over the world were making remedies from their local flowers.
The remedies are an easily learned tool to incorporate into the practice of astrology. The astrologer’s reading clearly identifies character patterns in the birth chart and current issues brought up by transits or progressions. The astrologer can then give a mixture of remedies relevant to those patterns or issues to clients who want to continue to work with the insights gained in the reading. In taking the remedies, clients reportedly gain new perceptions and conscious awareness of where their difficulties originate. As more clarity is gained, even long-standing patterns are gradually released and are replaced with a healthier outlook and mode of behavior.
The guilt-ridden client, for instance, may be given pine by Bach, while the client with low self-esteem may benefit from FES’s sunflower. The child who continually demands to be the center of attention may be given Bach’s chicory. FES’s lotus is useful for those who wish to pursue meditation and spiritual development. The first remedy the astrologer may wish to acquire is Bach’s famous rescue remedy, which can be given to clients who are in a crisis situation or who are emotionally upset. A few drops of the concentrate to sip in a glass of water or a cup of tea are used to quickly restore calm.
As astrologers become more skilled in using the remedies, they can more easily link them with the concerns of various planets or signs. Issues related to the planet Pluto, for example, include control (treated with vine), resentment (assuaged with willow), and envy or the desire for revenge (mollified with holly)—all of these therapies for Pluto ailments are Bach remedies. FES’s offerings abound with remedies for Venus concerns, such as dogwood, for gentleness and grace in relationships; bleeding heart, for the brokenhearted; and quince, for developing the positive power of love. For the discouragement that often accompanies a Saturn transit, the astrologer may suggest Bach’s elm, gentian, or gorse.
The astrologer may also be intrigued with certain formulas designed to address various chart factors. For instance, one of Desert Alchemy’s founders, Cynthia Kemp, is herself an astrologer and has devised premixed formulas for transits from Jupiter and Chiron on out to Pluto. She also mixed combination formulas for the house axes, such as the axes for the first and seventh houses, the second and eighth houses, and the third and ninth houses. Pegasus Products also features remedies for issues related to the planets and several of the fixed stars in their Star-lite Elixir line. Earthfriends, founded by astrologer John Stowe, features planetary oils that incorporate both flower remedies and aromatherapy oils.
Contact information for various companies:
Alaskan Flower Essence Project
P.O. Box 1369
Homer, AK 99603
Telephone (U.S. and Canada): 800–545–9309
Outside U.S.: (907) 235–2188
Web page: www.alaskanessences.com
Email: info@alaskanessences.com
Australian Bush Flower Essences
45 Booralie Road
Terrey Hills, NSW, 2084, Australia
Telephone: 029450 1388
Fax: 02 9450 2866
International Telephone: 61 2 9450 1388
International Fax: 61 2 9450 2866
Web page: www.ausflowers.com.au/essence.html
Email: info@ausflowers.com.au
Desert Alchemy
P.O. Box 44189
Tucson, AZ 85733
Telephone: (800) 736–3382; (520) 325–1545
Web page: www.desert-alchemy.com
Earthfriends
Box 8468
Atlanta, GA 31106
Telephone: (404) 373–0111
Web page: www.goodweeds.com
Email: jrstowe@mindspring.com
Flower Essence Society
P.O. Box 459
Nevada City, CA 95959
Telephone: (800) 736–9222 (North America)
Web page: www.flowersociety.org
Email: info@flowersociety.org
Flower Vision Research
P.O. Box 43627
Upper Montclair, NJ 07043
Telephone: (973) 746–5798
Toll free: (800) 298–4434
Web page: www.flowervr.com
Email: essences@flowervr.com
Healingherbs Ltd.
P.O. Box 65
Hereford HR2 0UW, UK
Telephone: +44(0)1873 890 218
Fax: +44(0)1873 890 314
Web page: www.healing-herbs.co.uk
Email: healing-herbs@healing-herbs.co.uk
(U.S. Distributor: Flower Essence Society) Living Essences of Australia
P.O. Box: 355
Scarborough WA 6019, Australia
Telephone: 61 8 4435600
Fax: 61 8 4435610
Web page: livingessences.com.au
Email: email@livingessences.com.au
Pacific Essences
Box 8317
Victoria, BC V8W 3R9, Canada
Telephone: (250) 384–5560
Email: info@pacificessences.com
Pegasus Products, Inc.
P.O. Box 228
Boulder, CO 80306
Telephone: (970) 667–3019; (800) 527–6104
Web page: www.pegasusproducts.com/
Email: StarVibe@indra.com
Whole Energy Essences
P.O. Box 285
Concord, MA 01742
Telephone: (978) 369–8454
Web page: www.essences.com
Email: wessence@essences.com
Wild Earth Animal Essences
P.O. Box 407
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Telephone: (800) 871–5647
Web page: www.animalessence.com/
Email: info@animalessence.com
—Donna Cunningham