By Deborah Bier

Vibrational essences (most commonly referred to as flower essences or flower remedies) preserve the vital life force of a substance for use in healing. An ancient form of healthcare, essences are used to prompt greater levels of balance and well-being in the user. Increasingly, they are used all over the world and in conjunction with many healing modalities. Over the past dozen or so years there has been much new growth in this field, with exciting new approaches to essence making and therapeutic use.

Though essences made from flowers are the best known, I like to call all essences "vibrational essences" because they can be made from many other energies besides those of flowers. In fact, some of the most exciting breakthroughs in essences come from non-flower-based essences. For example, these newer types are made from the energy of other parts of plants besides flowers (stems, leaves, roots, buds, the whole plant), minerals / gems, animals, energy of a place (called "environmental" essences), light (star, moon, colored), healing energies (like Reiki). The creativity of the current generation of essence makers is remarkable and we are yet to see an end to the imaginative ways a healing collaboration with the natural world can be harnessed in the form of vibrational essences.

Vibrational Essences Are Not Essential Oils

Essences differ dramatically from the essential oils used in aromatherapy, and it is extremely common for both healthcare professionals and clients to be confused. Even more perplexing is the use of the term "essence" in the food industry, where you can observe it to mean a flavoring or aroma agent (often an essential oil or an alcohol-extracted preparation). This causes major confusion in the healing field, which is another reason why I like to add the word "vibrational" before "essence."

Unlike essential oils, vibrational essences are unscented and unflavored. Through special preparation, essences contain only the energetic properties of their parent substances. When used straight from the bottle, they may have a scent or flavor, but some examination will reveal that these usually are ones preserved in brandy. If you try several made by the same company you will find that despite what essence name is on the label they all taste and smell the same; these qualities come from the brandy, not the essence.

Essences are usually in a liquid medium, generally water with a preservative like alcohol added. You may also find them in an oil base, or an ointment or creme, though this is more unusual. This is unfortunate, as oil-based essences are particularly wonderful when added to the oils used in massage or aromatherapy.

Health Care From The Ancients Used In Modern Times

Vibrational essences are a part of ancient wisdom, and have been used in aboriginal cultures throughout the world. The 16th century master physician and herbalist Paracelsus also used essences. The best known essence maker of the modern world is the English physician Dr. Edward Bach. His own journey of discovery led him to re-invent essences in the 1930's, creating the popular Bach Flower Remedies. Today, they are used widely throughout the world, particularly in England.

The newer essences significantly advance Dr. Bach's original work by meeting the needs of this specific time with more up-to-date energies. They are finding new audiences world-wide, with particular enthusiasm in countries like Brazil and Australia. In the former, essences currently are somewhat of a national craze, being a facet of the trendy scene and available in most pharmacies. Considering its size and population, Australia has seen a surprisingly high number of new and exciting essence companies founded in recent years.

Well-being Through The Presence Of Spirit

If we assume the Universe has been made by an intelligent, wise and loving Creator, then each thing is imbued with a portion of spirit in a way that makes it unique. Essences capture the spiritual presence from the substance it is made from, be it flower, mineral, the light of the moon, or the spirit of a mountain. Through use of essences, we can access these energies, reminding us of our own innate intelligence, wisdom and love, moving us to a greater state of health and balance in the process.

Essences can't give us something we don't already have. They help us recall what we already know, connect us to what we have always possessed, accentuate our innate abilities. Often, they foster our conscious awareness of what is out of balance in our lives so we may take corrective action. They may help bring about the empowerment of hidden strengths or gifts, which in turn, aid us in creating inventive solutions to our problems. Our resident healing abilities may become freed so they can do their miraculous work.

In that they are energetic in nature, vibrational essences can more directly act upon our non-physical than physical bodies. Essences are therefore specially adept at addressing our emotional/mental aspect, facilitating change in our feelings, thoughts, consciousness level, beliefs, and unresolved emotional traumas since changes in these areas can impact our physical health, users of vibrational essences may find that their physical symptoms also shift as their self-healing powers come on line.

Making an essence is not a set, scientific procedure whereby a rote process is performed which results in a finished product. Simply placing a flower or stone in water does not an essence make, though I have often seen this description used in explaining this process. In making an essence from, say, a mountain or a heavenly body, this procedure would prove to be quite awkward!

Essence making is a meditative, prayerful, spiritual process which requires the maker to be as dear and centered as possible for the purest, most focused essence to be created. The empowered intention of the maker is extremely important so that the transfer of the substance's, energies to the essence medium can take place. If an environmental or light-based essence is being made, then intention is an even bigger part of the engine that drives the process.

Each makers' focus will differ from every others' just as each makers' life purpose differs is unique. This is why an essence made from the same species of plant will not have the same action from one company to another. This is also why some companies' essences differ in effectiveness from one person to another, as the vibration and intention of any one maker will be more or less in harmony with a particular user's needs.

To create an essence, different makers use slightly different versions of the following: in a meditative state, the selected object(s) (flowers, gems, etc.) are placed in pure water and then left in sunlight for a period of time. This creates the "mother essence." This is then diluted before it is combined with a preservative (alcohol, glycerin, or vinegar typically), then bottled and sold for use. Not all essence makers use water and not all use sunlight; these are but two of the many interesting variations which make up this dynamic field of healing. For example, I made a set of essences, each one created during each of the full moons of 1996. It is partly the power of moonlight, not sunlight, which potenized these essences.

Using Essences As A Therapeutic Tool

Essences work very well with other forms of healthcare. Psychotherapists, energy workers, massage therapists, estheticians, hypnotherapists, astrologers, acupuncturists, homeopaths, chiropractors, and medical doctors are finding essences nicely compliment their work.

No "wrong" choices can be made in selecting essences. However, there may be one or more essences which would be the most helpful in the moment. Most sources suggest using no more than five different essences at any particular time. If you feel drawn to more than five (and this happens often), use the most broad, general essence for two weeks and then reconsider your other choices.

To select specific essences there are several approaches, but most importantly choose the one(s) most comfortable for you. I recommend a combination of intellectual and intuitive methods as we contain both aspects and should rely on wisdom from all ourselves.

• Read the label or essence descriptions. Consult the manufacturer's literature or other publications. Choose what makes intellectual sense.

• Value your intuition. Follow your "gut feelings" about which essences call to you, even if they do not make intellectual sense.

• Use the divining method you like most, including muscle testing, pendulum, tarot, etc. I like to frame the questions toward knowing the essence(s) which are the highest good at this time.

Many use essences either straight from the bottle or diluted in the liquid of choice. They can be taken by mouth (the most popular method) or applied topically in a bath or compress, added to cosmetics, or just rubbed into the skin. They can be introduced into any environment by misting the air with a dilution of essences. Even placing a bottle of an unopened essence near or on a person can change their energy dramatically. When using several at a time, you can premix and dilute them together in a dropper bottle.

The Bach Remedies are sold in most health food stores as well as offerings from other companies. Most essence companies do business by mail older. The World Wide Essence Society Homepage (www.essences.com/wwes) contains listings of some of the newer essence companies.

Finding Out More

Unfortunately, there are not many schools which teach about all types of essences. More often, they focus on only one essence company's products to the exclusion of all others, offering a regrettably single-minded view of the possibilities. Some companies who provide education even require their students to promise to forevermore only use their products or they will not permit them into their program.

For those who would like the widest perspective, I suggest starting with what training is available in your area, then refer to books, magazines, and the Internet for additional information to start to round out your knowledge. Experiment with a variety of companies' products to discover some of the amazing range of possibilities available.

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Deborah Bier is a holistic health care practitioner and educator in Concord, Massachusetts and maker of vibrational essences. She has recently published Encyclopedia of Vibrational Essences: Wellness and Growth from Nature.

The Worldwide Essence Society (WWES) is a non-commercial organization devoted to public understanding about vibrational essences. It exists primarily on the Internet at www.essences.com/wwes and publishes Vibration Magazine www.essences.com/vibration, a quarterly e-zine devoted to information by and about essence practitioners, makers, and educators throughout the world.

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