May the Flowers Be with You

The Power of Flowers…

For years I have been using flower essences for my own personal healing on the emotional, mental, and spiritual levels. I have experienced incredible benefits from this subtle yet profound type of plant medicine, ranging from increased artistic creativity to greater patience and mindfulness in how I communicate.  I am eternally grateful for the quiet yet powerful wisdom that the flowers hold within their energetic blueprints.

What are flower essences, and how do they facilitate healing?

Flower essences are medicines that are made by infusing specific flowers in water and sunlight, and then diluting and preserving that essence. Flower essences work at a deep healing level, facilitating shifts in consciousness, rather than physiological shifts.  This makes them the perfect tool for people who are seeking spiritual growth and emotional healing. (I should mention here that flower essences are not the same thing as essential oils, which are used in aromatherapy; flower essences have no scent).

Steve Johnson, founder of Alaskan Essences, has a wonderful description of this unique form of medicine: "Flower essences catalyze evolution in consciousness.  They help us identify emotional and mental qualities within that need to be awakened or strengthened, and stimulate our spiritual growth, which is the ongoing process of grounding our spiritual selves into our physical bodies."

What is Floral Acupuncture?
Simply put, Floral Acupuncture is the application of specific flower essences, instead of needles, to specific acupuncture points. One benefit of this is that it is an excellent option for people who have an aversion to needles.  Another benefit is that there is a potent synergy that can happen when skillfully combining healing modalities.  As a licensed acupuncturist with over a decade of clinical practice, I am able to tune into which acupuncture meridians and points are calling for attention in each client's unique being. In Floral Acupuncture treatments, I tune more into the "spirit of the points", rather than the physical actions of the acupuncture points.    

Having tuned into which acu-points will be of most benefit, I will then choose which specific flower essences most line up with the healing challenges the client is expressing, and I will apply those essences directly to the acupuncture points. This synergistic approach is profound for healing that is being called for on the mental, emotional, and spiritual levels.

Because everything within us is connected, there can be a ripple effect out into resolving physical symptoms.  That said, I do recommend Floral Acupuncture primarily for mind and spirit level healing; if your primary symptoms are physical, then regular acupuncture and/or herbal consultation is more what I would recommend.

A Floral Acupuncture session with me consists of three components (four, if you add in massage):

1. ) Consultation: a Heart-to-Heart Conversation

We start our session by discussing whatever it is that you are currently struggling with, on the mental, emotional, and/or spiritual level. These types of challenges could range from anything like "I'm so confused about my path in life" to "I'm tired of being so impatient and snappy with my kids"  to "My heart is weary from all the suffering on this planet."  

Even if it's hard for you to articulate what the challenge is, and you know that you just feel "off", I will help you uncover the heart of what's going on in a safe and nurturing conversation. Many of you who've worked with me in the context of acupuncture know that one thing that sets me apart from a lot of practitioners is the time I spend with my clients really talking about, and more importantly really listening to, the deeper healing lessons that lie beneath the symptoms. This deep listening process is at the core of a flower essence consultation with me.

2.) The Floral Acupuncture Treatment

After this conversation, we move into the treatment room, where you get to relax on the table while I apply the specific essences I have chosen for you to the specific acupuncture points that are asking most clearly for attention. Because I also work with stones and their energetic properties, that element is also usually folded into these treatments.  As I am applying the essences to the points I may share some archetypal imagery/affirmations/healing words about the essences, points, and stones.  I then will let you rest on the table for a while to absorb and process the healing that these flowers are offering to you.

3.)  Prescription of your custom blend, with individualized self-healing rituals

After your treatment, I will make you a bottle containing your custom blend of flower essences. You will bring this unique blend home with you to continue working with these flowers (this formula is included in the cost of the session). The blend will be made in a dropper bottle and will generally consist of two to four different essences. I will explain why I chose each essence, and how each of the essences relates to your unique healing journey at this time.  

Many of the flower essences I use are ones that I've made myself, using flowers from our land here in Happy Valley.  In addition to my handcrafted essences, I also use high quality brands such as Bach, F.E.S., and Alaskan Essences. When you leave the session you will have the blend ready to start using in your daily life.  

The traditional method of using flower essences is to either put a few drops directly onto the tongue, or to add a few drops to water and drink that water throughout the day. While I see great value in these traditional methods, in our consultation together I will offer additional methods for using flower essences. I will provide specific meditation practices, Qigong practices, and/or affirmation suggestions that you can use to integrate your essence blend into your personal healing path.  

I will also show you some of the specific acupuncture points that complement the properties of the flower essences in your blend. You will be shown how to apply your essence blend to some of these places on your body, with the knowledge that these points can be used as little portals into the spirit and soul.  

A flower essence treatment is generally about 50 minutes long, and consists of the three main components I described above. If desired, clients may upgrade their treatment to include a half-hour massage, which greatly enhances the deeply relaxing nature of the treatment, and gives clients a chance to tune into their bodies even more.  These longer “combo sessions” are about 80 minutes.

If you are interested in learning how flower essences can fit into your emotional and spiritual healing path, please feel free to send me an email with any questions. You can also click here to self-schedule your Floral Acupuncture session.