How to Explain Flower Essences
to the Uninitiated
©2001 by Gretchen Lawlor
Explaining what flower essences are can be a real challenge. We are well
beyond the limits of modern scientific thinking--into the realm of
vibrational medicine. Yet, your ability to describe what they are and
how they work is a cornerstone to using them successfully in healing.
Your clients' progress depends in great part on their confidence in you.
Additionally, their willingness to persevere in this form of treatment
may require having a simple understanding of the essences that they are
able to communicate to significant others. Otherwise, their mate, family,
or a skeptical mother-in-law can sabotage the work with critical
comments or ridicule.
Of course, each essence practitioner will have a different perspective
on the essences and thus a different way of explaining them. You'll also
find yourself using different definitions for different kinds of people.
Clients who have had experience with meditation or alternative medicine
will be more receptive to the spiritual dimensions of the work. Very
conservative people or those with no exposure to the field may need you
to communicate in a more scientific mode and in greater depth.
You might start by asking clients whether they have heard of the Bach
remedies, as they are the best known. If they have some experience of
them, then your job will be to fill in the holes in their information and
perhaps share a few favorite remedies. Remedies you know well and have
personal experience with will be your most effective educational tool.
There's nothing like enthusiasm and conviction to win people over.
For the uninitiated, and especially for the rather conservative, I
tend not to volunteer details about how the remedies are made--it's
just too much of a stretch! If pressed, I may compare the essences
to homeopathy, because many of my clients are acquainted with
homeopathic remedies. Both are composed of common substances in a
highly diluted form; both affect the subtle energetics of body mind
and spirit.
A survey of writers in the field revealed some helpful approaches to
explaining the remedies. For hard-core skeptics, I like to refer to
Richard Gerber's Vibrational Medicine or even to loan them a
copy of the book. He is a medical doctor who has done much to
establish the credibility of homeopathy, acupuncture and other
forms of vibrational medicine. He says, "Vibrational medicines are
usually essences or tinctures which are charged with a particular
frequency of subtle energies."
More accessible to the general reader is Donna Cunningham's Flower
Remedies Handbook. She says, "For the totally uninitiated, you might
say that the remedies are made from flowers and other plants, prepared
in a very diluted form, and that they help people mobilize to change
destructive patterns in their lives." (p.37)
Deborah Bier of Whole Energy Essences recommends the use of
testimonials. Without making healing claims or diagnoses, share
a story or two about how the remedies have helped others in situations
the listener can relate to. Simply told, these are enormously
powerful and right to the point. They are also easy for the client
to retell to friends or family who are asking about the remedies
and maybe pooh-poohing them.
Although I said earlier that enthusiasm would help you convince
people to take remedies, there are times when it is wise to temper
your enthusiasm. If you were to claim that vibrational remedies
could cure physical or mental illnesses, then you could be in danger
of being charged with practicing medicine without a license.
To avoid
trouble, watch your language! Plant Spirit Medicine teacher Eliot
Cowan says the term diagnosis is a no-no for essence practitioners,
instead use assessment; rather than treatment, say recommendation or
suggestion. Within these guidelines, however, go ahead and introduce
others to these excellent healing tools
--with enthusiasm!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Gretchen Lawlor, who has contributed several articles to
Vibration, is an astrologer and naturopath of many years experience who
conducts a practice on Whidbey Island, Washington. To see her previous
articles, visit her Frequent Contributor Page.
ART CREDITS: The outermost and center background tiles are from Absolute Background Textures Archive.
The flower tile is from Kree's Kreations. The matching elements were created in PaintshopPro5.
The World Wide Essence Society does not mean to imply any recommendation of nor give certification to any individuals or companies above. This article is provided purely for informational purposes. We ask consumers to make their own determination as to quality of the services and products offered above. This article is not meant to be advice, and the information is not meant to replace medical or psychological treatment.
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