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FAQ


How is a flower essence made and what do they do?

Flower essences are made by placing a small number of blossoms in spring water and in sunlight over a period of time. The flowers are eventually removed and the infused water is preserved with alcohol, creating what is called the 'mother'. This is further diluted for use. Unlike concentrations of plant substance such as scented essential oils, these essences are dilute, unscented, and hold the flower's subtle energetic signature. Typically they are taken internally over a period of time, but may also be applied topically or misted into the air. 

Flower essences work on emotional and mental levels to help resolve blocked or disharmonious patterns. They support the nervous system and one's capacity to restore inner balance. As a tool used for the deep personal work of psyche and spirit they can help address issues like anxiety, fear, low energy, destructive behaviours, emotional blocks, etc. They help us to access the unconscious. When used alongside other therapies, they may also be supportive for healing trauma or clearing energetic blockages related to physical ailments.


How do flowers relate to human emotions?

Humans and plants share a deep evolutionary connection, having exchanged energy and information continuously over hundreds of thousands of years. Cosmic patterns of growth and expression are shared among all living things. As Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh would say, we 'inter-are' with all phenomena, including plants and flowers. 

According to the Flower Essence Society: "Flower essence therapy utilizes a precise understanding that the thoughts, feelings and experiences of the human psyche are reflections of the same cosmic laws inherent in the growth patterns, shapes, colors, fragrances, and vital energies of Nature which are expressed in the flowering plant".

Humans have a long history of offering flowers to express care and emotional intention. We may sense intuitively that each flower expresses a unique archetypal presence. These patterns are already deep within us. A blossom is considered the peak of a healthy plant's mature life force expression with a coherent vibrational frequency. Coming into contact with these subtle multidimensional patterns in nature can restore access to the wisdom and support of one's own nature. In this way there is the potential for renewing balance in body, mind and soul. 


What does 'frequency' or 'vibration' mean in relation to flower essences?

Flower essences address the subtle aspect of a pattern through the principle of resonance. They are often spoken about as 'vibrational' in nature or as frequency medicine. In Taoist thinking and Chinese Medicine, this is also the way Qi is understood to operate, through the principle of resonance and the alignment of one's internal energy with the harmonious rhythms of nature.

All matter is vibrating energy. It is common for subtle phenomena such as sound, light or colour to be understood in terms of frequencies or oscillatory patterns. Thoughts and emotions are a form of subtle energetic movement. In a simple way, frequency here might be understood as persistent, consistent movements of a specific nature repeated over a particular period of time. So the subtle oscillation of a specific feeling or thought in the body/mind for example, or the subtle archetypal expression of a unique flower as a being of light. 


Does water have memory?

The recent scientific work of Dr. Gerald Pollack and Nobel laureate Luc Montagnier involves the study of water's properties, phases and memory capabilities. Their research may help expand our understanding of the capacities of flower essences and their interactions with the human body. 

Further reading:

Dr. Gerald Pollack, bioengineer, author of the book: The Fourth Phase of Water, (Ted Talk)

Luc Montagnier, Nobel laureate and virologist, documentary: Water Memory.

More information can be found in this essay about sacred and scientific practices related to water and flower essences.

A video interview with a practitioner speaking about the Buddhist tradition of flower essence healing.


How do flower essences work?

Western science has historically overlooked flower essences due to their non-physical nature and the challenge of measuring mental and emotional effects quantitatively. However, some randomized studies, particularly in South America where flower essences are increasingly being integrated into public health programs, have examined their effectiveness for specific conditions. 

At a fundamental level, physics shows us that all matter is vibrating energy, and the distinction between mind, body, and environment is less rigid than traditionally thought. "Modern physics has known for nearly a century that matter and consciousness are intertwined. However, medical science still generally works with a nineteenth century model of the human being as a mechanism in a world of machines". - FES Services

Flower essences are understood to help bridge the connection between mind, body and spirit/lifeforce when there is a sense of separation and suffering. They help restore balance when the connection to our essential nature becomes disrupted and they support a greater capacity for embodiment. Each flower is believed to carry a unique energetic pattern, governed by the plant's subtle living spirit that interacts with human consciousness to help catalyze a change.

According to practitioners like Dr. Bach, flower essences work through the "union of opposites". This is the understanding that each flower's particular gesture, formed out of the elements and through spirit, contains an intelligent signature reflecting wholeness and the complementary aspects at play within it. 

The flower's clear energetic presence is thus able to resonate with both an imbalanced and coherent expression of an emotional state arising in the subtle body. Unlike homeopathic remedies which use the principle of 'like-cures-like', flower essences help harmonize and unify opposing forces within the individual. Less harmonious patterns have the possibility to entrain with a flower's coherent energy by coming into contact through sympathetic resonance. This supports the process of self-awareness and integration while remaining aligned with each person's individual nature and evolutionary process. 

Amongst flower essence practitioners, it is generally understood that the potency of flower essences lies in their ability to accompany a person through a healing process in order to catalyze a change. Some say they are medicine from a more refined dimension of consciousness. In this sense they are a support at the level of being, and the mysterious process of self actualization within the psyche / soul. Although the term 'soul' has been defined in myriad ways across human time, here it is being referred to simply as the place of transformation where our deep inner life meets our outer experience through the vehicle of the mind and body. Flowers help by bringing in more light so that we can more easily see what is not working for us internally.


Sympathetic resonance

Flower essences are thought to catalyze subtle shifts in awareness when an individual's subtle body comes into contact with a flower's coherent presence. Like two tuning forks synchronizing when one is struck, the essence's subtle pattern offers a harmonious presence through which emotional and mental patterns can find more coherence in the subtle body. This sympathetic resonant process allows for greater clarity and awareness within our emotional ecosystem.

This process might be described as a refinement of one’s relationship with the unconscious, or as it is known in Buddhist philosophy, store consciousness - the deeper level of mind where individual, ancestral and collective experiences are understood to be held like 'seeds'. Contact with the world, through the senses or the mind, creates an impression that can activate these seeds, bringing them into conscious awareness. These may manifest as emotions or mental states we recognize as anger, joy, fear, compassion, etc. It can often be difficult to recognize the seeds we might be habitually watering.

Flower essences act like an energetic embrace, attuning us to the nourishing qualities of understanding and compassion already present within store consciousness. This is spacious and helps elicit fresh insight. By supporting the ability to see more clearly and feel more deeply, they can help heal the ways the mind and body interpret experience. Flower essences in this sense serve as bridges between inner guidance and outer life, offering access to stillness within movement and fostering clarity, integration, and alignment within the unity of consciousness.

As Jung famously wrote in a letter to one of his clients: "I realize that under the circumstances you have described you feel the need to see clearly. But your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Without, everything seems discordant; only within does it coalesce into unity. Who looks outside dreams; who looks inside awakes".


What is the resonant process between an emotional pattern like 'resentment' and a flower essence like Willow?

In flower essence therapy, resonance refers to the subtle energetic relationship between an emotional pattern and a specific plant signature. Resentment often stems from a constellation of feelings that may include unmet expectations, perceived injustice, or internal conflict, leading to a sense of heaviness or emotional stagnation. This can create a repetitive cycle of gloom or stuck energy, which can elicit despair in response to external circumstances. 

According to current thinking in affective neuroscience / emotion theory, emotions like resentment are not fixed reactions but are constructed experiences. They are a blend of bodily sensations, past memories, learned emotional concepts, contextual cues, and mental interpretations. This means that what we call 'resentment' is the brain's prediction process for making sense of a particular internal feeling state. Over time, patterns like resentment can become ingrained in the body and mind, sometimes below conscious awareness. 

A flower essence may gently support the recalibration of these emotional patterns, helping individuals become more aware of their constructions and more capable of choosing new responses. In this way, flower essences act as subtle catalysts, encouraging flexible re-patterning, or what we now might call neuroplasticity, through embodied emotional awareness. 

Willow flower essence in particular, resonates with the emotional tone of resentment. Its plant signature includes bending without breaking, thriving in moist conditions, and regenerating quickly. This energetically mirrors the inner qualities needed to soften and transform long held bitterness or damp conditions. Symbolically and archetypically, Willow relates to themes of emotional flexibility, forgiveness, optimism and resilience.

Taking Willow essence may support a shift in perception and response, helping an individual's system feel safe enough to release the emotional charge and create new meaning. This may unfold as increased self-awareness, a spontaneous change in emotional outlook, or simply a growing sense of ease where there was once tension or inner conflict. Rather than suppressing the emotion, Willow creates space around it and invites insight and healing to naturally emerge. 


Are flower essences safe?

Flower essences are completely safe and are not contraindicated with any other medications. They can be given to children and pets often with excellent results. If the flower chosen doesn't resonate with your current state, it will simply have no effect. 

Part of the compassionate nature of working with the flowers includes the fact that your consciousness governs the unfolding process. The remedies work in alignment with your maturity. They are not forceful and do not change the chemistry in the body the way a synthetic medicine, or some herbal remedies might. Rather they surround and support you in your own time, according to your personal readiness, nature and evolutionary path. Some say the flowers show up in your life when the time is right. 

Flower essences can sometimes create discomfort during a process of emotional awakening that can lead to a sense of inner conflict. This is a part of the therapeutic process that can eventually support greater well being and clarity. One may slow the frequency of use or reduce the dosage if feeling overwhelmed at any stage.

This work follows in the tradition of Dr. Edward Bach, using only the energy of the sun, the blossom, water, and the elements in nature over time. Only trace amounts of the physical flower may remain in the essence once it has been made. The blossom is removed from the water after its time in the sun and the remedy is further diluted. However please consult a flower essence practitioner or health professional if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have any major concerns. 


How should I work with flower essences?

Suggested directions for taking a flower essence remedy: 1-4 drops directly on/under the tongue or in a glass of water up to 4x/day. Frequency and consistency are more important than quantity. You may dilute a single flower essence by putting 2 drops from the stock bottle into a 1 oz dosage bottle (containing 2/3 spring water and 1/3 brandy or vegetable glycerine / apple cider vinegar). This dosage bottle may be taken as noted above for one month or more.

Suggested practice while taking the remedies:
It helps greatly to set an intention for the process of looking deeply with the support of a flower. While taking the remedy, if you're able to, pay attention to insights, emotions, dreams or synchronicities that arise. Take note if possible for your own personal record. Flower essences work as a subtle process so this practice helps to bring the shifts that are happening into awareness. These details may seem insignificant to note initially, but can provide information upon reflection at a later time. 


Do I need to believe in flower essences for them to work?

When needed and accurately selected, flower essences will have an effect whether there is belief or skepticism in the one who takes them. It is always healthy to approach any healing process with an attitude of trust in your own direct experience, first and foremost. The process of working with flower essences can be supported and observed through awareness practices such as mindfulness, intention setting, and close observation of your inner landscape, but this is not necessary for them to work. Due to their subtle nature, while taking them you may not notice any changes, but months later upon reflection, you may clearly see the shifts you've made. The flower essences might even help an individual to see how 'belief' operates at a fundamental level in their life. 

The Art of Unknowing A Conversation with Contemplative Scientists (video, panel discussion - current cognitive science research looking at the way we construct our reality - at time stamp 33:50 Dr. Mark Miller speaks about this work, approx. 15 minutes) 


Disclaimer

While the effects of flower remedies are widely reported by practitioners, they haven't been scientifically validated. Their understanding comes from traditional therapeutic experience and clinical practice. 

We are our own best healers, as Dr. Bach wrote in his essay "Heal Thyself". The flower essences support a journey toward the re-establishment of our natural, balanced, and whole state of well being. This is soul work. Taking flower remedies is a process of examining root emotional influences rather than a way to suppress symptoms or provide a balm for discomfort, the way a pharmaceutical medication might function.

Please consult a primary care doctor for all serious medical or psychological issues. These remedies are meant to complement traditional therapies and are in no way intended to replace ongoing medical treatments. Fieldsong / Fogo Essence / Erin is not purporting to be a medical doctor and these products are not intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. 

The essences help return us to our soulful selves. Although powerful in their effects, flower essences do not act like drugs or miracle cures. Please do not take anything that is written here about the flowers as absolute truth, this process is about developing a trust in what you know to be true internally and experientially.



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A note in gratitude 

All of the flower remedies are created in their unique wild habitats and different ecoregions on Fogo Island. Working with the plants and minerals that come from this region has been an ever-evolving learning process over the years. As the owner of this business, it is a great honour and delight to connect and learn from the natural world on this peaceful, fresh and incredibly beautiful island in the North Atlantic. This work comes from the heart of this place, the plants themselves, and the healers and teachers I have learned from in my lifetime and from the past. This relationship inside of learning has also deepened my understanding of the creative impulse and my personal practice as an artist.

On behalf of this small business, I offer deep respect and gratitude to all those who have shared a relationship with this land both anciently and presently, those who've found a peaceful home here for a time among the flowers. I would particularly like to acknowledge the emotional repercussions of colonization on the people and the lands we now inhabit. I hope to listen well, as the flowers do, to the suffering, the joy and the wisdom that is ever present, inside and outside from attunement and kindness.


The Art of Living, by Thich Nhat Hanh

Our cosmic body encompasses the entire phenomenal world. The wonder that is our human body will disintegrate one day, but we are much more than this human body. We are also the cosmos, which is the foundation of our body. Without the cosmos, the body could not be here. With the insight of interbeing we can see that there are clouds inside us. There are mountains and rivers, fields and trees. There is sunshine. We are children of light. We are sons and daughters of the sun and stars. The whole cosmos is coming together to support our body in this very moment. Our little human body contains the entire realm of all phenomena.

We can visualize our human body as a wave, and our cosmic body as all the other waves on the ocean. We can see ourselves in all the other waves and all the other waves in us. We don’t need to go looking for our cosmic body outside us. It is right here within us at this very moment. We are made of stardust. We are children of the Earth, made of all the same elements and minerals. We contain mountains, rivers, stars, and black holes. In every moment of our life the cosmos is going through us, renewing us, and we are returning ourselves to the cosmos. We are breathing the atmosphere, eating the earth’s food, creating new ideas, and experiencing new feelings. And we are emitting energy back into the cosmos, in our thinking, speech, and actions, in our out-breath, in our body’s warmth, and in releasing everything we have consumed and digested. In this very moment many parts of us are returning to the earth. We don’t return to the earth and cosmos only when our body disintegrates. We are already inside the earth, and the earth is inside us.

Our human body is a masterpiece of the cosmos, and when we treasure, respect, and cherish our body, we are treasuring, respecting, and cherishing our cosmic body. When we live in such a way that we take good care of our body, we are taking care of our ancestors and we are taking care of our cosmic body.