Friday, April 14, 2006

Walnut

I've never used flower essences before. I couldn't believe they would work; they're supposed to work not directly on the physical body, but on the energy body (which affects the physical body, of course). Because of my own experience and training, I'm coming to understand the energy body or bodies, but my scientific mind still balks at the idea of flower essences.

But a number of people - intelligent people whom I trust - have reported good results with them. Last time I had a session with my body worker, I told her that I was in a period of letting go of things that no longer serve me - habits, beliefs, projects, and so on. She said that she believed there was a flower essence to assist that process, but she wasn't able to find the book to look it up. So I did some research of my own, and I decided to use Walnut.

Walnut is for those who find it difficult to adapt to change or who are over-sensitive to certain ideas, atmospheres, and influences. It is the remedy for times of major life changes - teething, puberty, pregnancy, divorce, menopause, changes of religion, moving a job or home, giving up an addiction or breaking away from old ties and restrictions, also for the regrets caused by change.... Those in need of Walnut have definite ideals and ambitions and are keen to move forward in life but are held back or side-tracked by the influence of a stronger personality, by restrictive circumstances, by family ties or links with the past.... The positive potential of Walnut is the ability to move forward and remain steadfast to one's path in life, free of the past, and to make necessary changes in life, carrying plans through despite discouragement, objections, or ridicule from others. (From the Bach website)

In this time of transition, when Adonis and I don't know what our jobs will be or where we'll be living; when the people closest to me point out that I've already given up my dissertation even though I'm unwilling to admit it and finally let go; when I'm grasping wildly for the ambitious, analytic, career-focused, empirically minded, cynical woman that I used to be; when I worry that my parents will worry about my leaving my career track; when I want to forge an unusual life path for myself but am afraid; when I'm letting go of my addiction to Coke ... well, Walnut seemed like a good choice.

Do you have experience with flower essences?

3 comments:

jo(e) said...

I use essential oils. I have a friend who is both a botanist and a deeply spiritual native woman, and she has taught me to accept both scientific truths about plants and spiritual truths about plants. She is always saying that both kinds of knowledge are important.

More and more scientists are coming to see that traditional ecological knowledge, the kind of knowlege passed down over centuries through oral tradition by people deeply rooted in place, is as valuable as scientific knowledge, and that the two can complement each other.

Sonja Nelson said...

I believe that flower essences can work. There is the famous story of Josephine having her wallpaper soaked in rose essence to create a romantic mood for when her love, Napoleon came home. He was so overwhelmed by the scent that he uttered the famous phrase, "not tonight Josephine, I have a headache." ;)

Turtleheart said...

I have tried the Back Flower Remedies; some with success and some not. Rescue Remedy has helped with my anxiety about flying. I tried several different flower remedies with my cats to help with behavior problems, but it didn't seem to work with them.