Published October 4, 2024 Put simply, a flower essence is a form of energetic medicine. While botanical tinctures provide a medicinal dose of herbs scientifically studied for their beneficial constituents (like curcumin in turmeric, silymarin in milk thistle, or proanthocyanidins in cranberry), flower essences impart the energetic qualities of the plants, helping us take on the unique strength(s) of these living beings. If you’re not familiar with flower essences, we hear you. This can sound extremely esoteric and heady at first. But, if you think about it, every living thing has its own energy, so it really comes down to frequencies. Because the power and medicine lies in this natural frequency or vibration, making a flower essence is a lot easier than you might think! There is no need for percolators, presses, double boilers or other tools found in an herbalist’s lab. Instead, you simply need: A clear glass bowl Gloves or scissors Spring water An abundant stand of the flowers that you’re called to Amber bottles with dropper tops (4oz and 1 oz) Brandy A mesh strainer or unbleached coffee filter Beyond the relatively simple physical requirements, the deliberate, intentional process of making a flower essence calls for a few key factors that cannot be overlooked. Number one, time. And lots of it! The goal here is to really sit with the flowers for however long it takes to feel into them. You can journal, sing the songs that are popping into your head out of nowhere, write a poem, and receive whatever messages they bring you. This part is not something you want to rush, as your presence and connection with the plant is the real medicine here. Even if you return to the same flower time and time again and make a number of flower essences from it, each one will be slightly different because each experience is different. Another thing that’s helpful during the process is a sense of deep presence and a distinct intention. Clearing your mind beforehand with a meditation or deep breathing exercise helps center you in order to create as much space as possible. It’s important not to make a flower essence on a day where you’re feeling particularly flustered or stressed, as this energy can be infused into the final result. As you’re probably noticing, making a flower essence is SO much more than simply picking flowers and bottling a product up that you can ‘use’. Building a relationship with the plant is the primary purpose of making a flower essence. The Process Pick a sunny day where you can be out in the VERY early morning hours, around sunrise if possible. You’ll know it’s the right time if you notice tiny dew drops on leaves and petals. Sit with the stand of flowers you’ll be harvesting from for as long as feels necessary to you. Bring your notebook, some art supplies, and really connect. Let the wisdom flow through you, being mindful not to judge what comes through and noticing anything that pops into your head. What may initially seem random or meaningless usually ends up having a profound significance once you connect the dots later. Fill your glass bowl with spring water. Carefully snip or pluck fresh flower blossoms from the plant(s) one by one, using a leaf to ensure that your fingertips never touch the delicate flower petals. Carefully place the flowers in the bowl until the surface of the water is completely covered. Place your bowl of water and flowers directly on the earth right beneath, or next to, the plant that you harvested from. The bowl should be in the open air and in direct sun, where the heat and light can help the energetic essence of the blooms imprint into the water. ~6-8 hours later, carefully strain the flowers and any debris from the water using a fine mesh strainer and/or unbleached coffee filters. Give the flowers back to the earth. Preserve the water in an amber glass bottle with a ratio of 50% brandy to 50% essence water. Label it and store in a cool dark place. This is your “mother essence”, which is never to be consumed directly. To dilute this concentrated mother essence, add 2-10 drops into a 1 oz amber bottle and fill the rest with 50% spring water and 50% brandy. This new diluted bottle is called your “stock” bottle, which you will use to dose yourself. The Goal The most beautiful aspect of this form of medicine making is that it is a living process. Just as no two people pray or meditate the same nor have the exact same internal experience during said prayer or meditation, no two individuals will have the same experience while making flower essences. The only true requirements for this type of herbalism is to bring a genuine intention from your heart that you can connect with throughout the process and to deeply witness the essence of the plant. To hold it in respect, listen to its song and story, and feel into its gift.
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