The Flower Essence Society presents
The Healing Language of Flowers: Twelve Windows of Plant Perception
by Patricia Kaminski
The Healing Language of Flowers: Twelve Windows of Plant Perception
In his seminal treatise Heal Thyself, Dr. Edward Bach pointed to the source of healing in Nature: “Among the types of remedies that will be used will be those obtained from the most beautiful plants and herbs to be found in the pharmacy of Nature, such as have been divinely enriched with healing powers for the mind and body of man.”
In the practice of modern medicine we find an externalized approach based upon outer physical symptoms and the selection of consequent drugs or surgery to suppress, mask or otherwise counteract such conditions. This medical paradigm is overwhelmingly influential upon our way of thinking about healing and easily impacts our approach to flower essence therapy. Because the symptom-remedy method is pervasive in contemporary culture, practitioners can tend to see flower essences as yet another choice (perhaps more benign or natural) to simply alleviate external physical or mental-emotional symptoms.
However, genuine flower essence therapy operates from a completely new paradigm of healing involving a living imagination for the plant’s identity in relationship to the body-soul matrix of the client. True flower essence therapy is meant to be deeply transformational. It is not so much intended to ”fix” outer symptoms, as to lead the client forward from a current condition of suffering or dysfunction, toward new aspects of consciousness and soul potential.
Our seminar at Terra Flora will focus upon finding a deeper connection to plants, as a pathway toward selecting flower essences and guiding the client toward a larger, transformational dimension of flower essence therapy.
Paracelsus – the Renaissance alchemist and healer who was a spiritual mentor for Dr. Bach – proclaimed, “He who would explore Nature, must tread her books with his feet.”
For over four decades, FES has taken to heart the teaching of Paracelsus to read the “Book of Nature” in the forests, mountains, meadows and gardens where plants grow. As our research consolidated, we conceived a multi-dimensional approach to plant study called the “Twelve Windows of Plant Perception.” This research emphasizes the idea of “windows” as perspectives of perception that dynamically interact, contributing to a living, holistic understanding of the plant and its healing signatures.
Observing the various facets of plant identity is akin to learning the letters and words of a new language. As the words and letters become sentences and paragraphs, a more comprehensive meaning emerges. During our seminar we will explore the following Twelve Windows of Plant Perception:
1. Form, Gesture, Signature
2. Botanical Relationships, Plant Families
3. Orientation in Space, Geometrical Relationships
4. Orientation in Time: Daily and Seasonal Cycles
5. Color Qualities and related Dynamics of Light and Darkness
6. Direct Sensory Perceptions: Fragrance, Texture, Taste
7. Unique Relationship to the larger Environmental Matrix
8. Distinct Elemental Signatures
9. The plant’s relationship to other realms on earth: mineral, animal and human
10. Specific Chemical Properties and Processes
11. Established Medicinal and Herbal Applications for the Plant
12. Lore, Mythology, Folk Wisdom, Spiritual and Ritual Qualities
Whoever you are: step out of doors tonight, Out of the room that lets you feel secure. Infinity is open to your sight. Whoever you are. With eyes that have forgotten how to see From viewing things already too well-known, Lift up into the dark a huge, black tree And put it in the heavens: tall, alone. And you have made the world and all you see. It ripens like the words still in your mouth. And when at last you comprehend its truth, Then close your eyes and gently set it free. Dana Gioia, Entrance (after Rilke)
Form, Gesture, Signature
The over-all form of a plant is a remarkable force of organization and energetic emanation. These “gestures” of plants are also mirrored within the human body and psyche.
Snapdragon with its mouth-like shape, deals with mouth and jaw tension; snapping, biting or eating behaviors from misplaced aggressive energy.
Alpine Aster - This starshaped flower helps us to remember our celestial origins.
Mariposa Lily - This chaliceshaped flower holds the child in the gentle embrace of maternal love.
Botanical Relationships: Plant Families
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
Asteraceae flowers are all composites, made up of a complex arrangement of individual disk and ray florets, forming an integrated whole. The elegant yet precise geometry of the Compositae family is stunning - this family is a living model of synthesis and integration. The plant essences from the Compositae nourish and balance the Higher Self identity, as it incorporates many aspects and polarities into one unified wholeness.
Liliaceae (Lily Family)
Liliaceae plants grow from the womb of a watery singular bulb, in contrast to the complex root systems of other plants. Referred to as monocots, because they emerge from the ground with a single leaf, this family of plants represents the many encompassing qualities of the archetypal feminine. Their blossoms emerge as trinities of three or six. They represent the harmoniously balanced spiritual symbol of the Star of David, uniting heavenly and earthy realms.
Tiger Lily
White Trumpet (Easter) Lily
Shasta Lily
Lily bulb
Orientation in Space, Geometrical Relationships
Indian Pink dynamically unites two polarities: the ovary of this plant is deep and tubular, while bright red “pinked” petals ray out with vigor into the periphery. Thus we can see why Indian Pink flower essence helps one maintain a calm core, while simultaneously integrating the intense activity of daily life.
The graceful Love-LiesBleeding flowers cascading down to the earth, are a striking picture of surrender. LoveLies-Bleeding essence helps us during times of profound suffering and physical pain, to release and accept the influence of higher spiritual forces.
Orientation in Time: Daily and Seasonal Cycles
Plants are beings of time, with unique identities reflecting their expression of daily and seasonal cycles.
As the sun rises during the morning, the Madia closes its flower, while the California Poppy opens wide to receive the warmth and light of the sun. Conversely, as the sun sets, the Poppy wraps up its petals for night, while Madia opens wide again.
The Madia flower essence facilitates focus and concentration, amidst the expansive forces of light and warmth.
By contrast, the California Poppy essence allows the soul to maintain spiritual qualities of spaciousness and openness, while anchoring these forces within the container of the heart.
Color
The language of color is infinitely variable in its expression. Beholding the Mimulus genus, we can see that color is a major factor for distinguishing different plant essences. The Yellow Mimulus discovered by Dr. Bach (but native to California) is for known fears, timidity and shyness, emotions correlated with the solar plexus chakra. The red Scarlet Monkeyflower addresses fears associated with anger and power, associated with the root chakra. The orange Sticky Monkeyflower is for fears of intimacy and sexual identity, associated with the sacral chakra. The Pink Monkeyflower is a balm for the heart to heal the trauma of abuse, shame or vulnerability. The Purple Monkeyflower is related to qualities of fear that reside in higher chakras, due to traumatic cultic or spiritually invasive experiences.
Other Sense Perceptions: Fragrance, Texture, Taste
The pungent and somewhat acrid aroma of the Rue plant has strong forces of purification. This rather harsh aroma has a curative effect, awakening the consciousness to perceive social or physical influences that may be malevolent or otherwise unhealthy.
The hot, peppery taste of Nasturtium flowers is a striking contrast to the cool, watery round leaves of this plant. Thus we can understand how Nasturtium balances the fluid life force with the fire of the intellect.
The spiny leaves of the Oregon Grape have a protective function. Yet this quality of protectiveness can degenerate into defensiveness and hostility in the human body-soul matrix.
The Environmental Matrix of the Plant
Desert Lily grows in the arid deserts of the southwestern U.S. One might expect it to be like other desert plants with a pungent fiery aroma and firm enduring structure. Amazingly, this beautiful plant reveals a sweetly fragrant aroma, amidst gloriously supple white flowers.
This exceptional Lily thrives in the desert by storing vital moisture in its deeply buried bulb; even its wavy leaves show the flow of internal moisture. The Desert Lily flower essence helps one to retain receptive qualities for beauty and inspiration even in the midst of dry and harsh environments, particularly the soulless, mechanized forces of modern technological culture.
Relationship with the Four Elements
The Angelica flower exalts in the light and air, as its globular flowers radiate skyward. Hidden within the ground is a deep taproot, anchoring the plant firmly in the Earth. This integrated polarity of air and earth imparts great healing qualities in the Angelica. The flower essence connects us to the airborne realm of higher thought and guidance, while uniting this awareness with bodily consciousness and daily activity.
Relationship to the Other Realms on Earth
Corn (Maize) is a plant intimately connected to human culture. It is a marvelous example of co-creation, developed from its wild progenitor through warm devotion and reverence of the human being. Thus the corn is held deeply sacred by indigenous cultures, not only as a nourishing food, but also as a living connection to elemental realms. The Corn essence renews human connection to the ground of earth and communion with the elemental world.
Corn Maiden, by Father John Battista Giuliani
Chemical Substances and Processes
The mucilaginous juices within the Aloe Vera leaves are rich in polysaccharides. These substances nourish and regenerate the living membrane of tissue within the body, providing deep hydration and antiinflammatory healing. At a further octave, the Aloe Vera flower essence soothes and balances the intensity of fire in the human personality.
Medicinal and Herbal Uses
Yerba Santa is a native American herb that has traditionally been used for respiratory ailments.
Yerba Santa flower essence also works within the heart-lung region of the body-soul complex, releasing deeply held emotions, such as grief, depression and other forms of melancholy.
Lore,
Mythology, Folk Wisdom, Spiritual & Ritual Qualities
Olive trees display immense forces of endurance and longevity; many olive trees living today are over 1000 years old and still are vital and productive. The olive branch carried by a dove to Noah’s Ark announced that the long trial of the flood had ended and the land was again firm and productive. Similarly, a crown of olive branches was bestowed on athletes who had endured and triumphed in the Greek Olympics.
“The Agony in the Garden” by Paul Gaugin depicts Christ’s suffering in the Mount of Olives on the eve of the Crucifixion. The artist suggests that the Olive tree imparts profound forces of strength and endurance as the Christ anticipates the intensity of the Passion. Similarly, Olive flower essence is indicated for those who are challenged by great trials of physical suffering, depleting the well-being of mind and body.
To Look at Any Thing
To look at any thing, If you would know that thing, You must look at it long: To look at this green and say, “I have seen spring in these Woods,” will not do - you must Be the thing you see: You must be the dark snakes of Stems and ferny plumes of leaves, You must enter in To the small silences between The leaves, You must take your time And touch the very peace They issue from.
~ John Moffitt ~