Pine: moving from negative self blame to positive self respect

I can’t explain why flower essences work for me. Science as it currently exists would debunk flower essences as a total scam. But they do work for me. It’s possible that my belief in them makes them work, a placebo effect. Pine is one of the flower essences I turn to often when I start feeling low. By examining my thoughts I will see that I am putting myself down, being critical, shaming myself. I know this goes back to my early childhood and how I was parented. However, it’s my current thoughts, my own internal critic that is the source of my current feelings of inadequacy. I can change my thoughts and Pine helps me do it.

Every now and then in my dreams at night I have a dream where I am in a pine scented forest. The scent of pine is quite real in my dream and I feel myself uplifted. I wake up with a joyous feeling that I’ve been to a special place where I am loved and all is well.

Honeysuckle: Moving from the Past to the Present

Desiderata

Agrimony: Moving to Genuine Inner Peace

 

Holly: Generosity, Love, Forgiveness

I recently acquired a new book entitled The Healing Plants Bible by Helen Farmer-Knowles. It’s a reference book that introduces the reader to plants used in traditional Western herbalism as well as traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. I find its “History, mystery, and spiritual healing” entries on each plant particularly interesting.

I thought I’d explore some of the holiday greens that surround us this time of year to learn of their healing qualities starting with this book and the holiday greens of holly.

I love being immersed in holly at this time of year. I discovered that holly has been associated with the Christmas holiday for a long time. The holly bush brightened homes at Christmas before fir Christmas trees were introduced.

The Romans celebrated the god Saturn to whom the holly was a sacred plant at the “Feast of Sol Invictus” on Decemeber 25. Holly was used to decorate homes, palaces and the marketplaces in honor of Saturn. Holly was formed into wreaths and given to friends as presents.

For the Celtic Druids, the holly tree was sacred and conjoined with the Holly King who ruled from the summer solstice until the winter solstice, ending in a great celebration.

Image credit:http://celticanamcara.blogspot.com/2007_11_25_archive.html

Reading this inspired me to look at The Wild Wood Tarot cards I have and sure enough, there is a major arcana card 9 The Hooded Man who is dressed in an evergreen holly and berry cloak and stands at the midwinter solstice on Dec. 21. (In traditional tarot, The Hooded Man is called the Hermit.) “The Hooded Man survives even in the cold empty winter landscape because of his wisdom and his will. He is at one with the harshness of the climate because he draws upon the strength of the evergreen holly that even in the winter cannot turn to dust and has stored spiritual nourishment to sustain him; and to those who have followed his path, and now are tired and in need of solace, he waits to pass on his wisdom, comfort and guidance.”

Image credit:http://www.tarotwisdomreadings.com/tarotdecks/Wildwood.html

The bird in this picture is a wren, an ancient totem bird that flew highest of all creatures on the back of the great eagle. It reminds us “that the smallest of Earth’s creatures is capable of soaring to the greatest heights and seeing beyond the farthest horizons.” The wren is also associated with the Holly King.

Here’s a photo of an American holly tree:

Photo credit:

http://biology.missouristate.edu/Herbarium/TreesonCampus/website.htm

Holly is one of the Bach Flower Essences. It is a fitting support for the holidays as it helps one shift imbalanced energies to feelings of understanding, generosity, tolerance, love and forgiveness. When describing this Bach Flower Essence, Edward Bach said: “Holly protects us from everything that is not Universal Love. Holly opens the heart and unites us with Divine Love.”

The Initiation/Fire Dancer Oracle Card: Pentstemon, Honeysuckle, Wild Oat, and Lavender Flower Essences

My friend Shari Silvey took me up on my offer to suggest flower essences that support her oracle cards. Here’s the flower essences I found and a poster I created for The Initiation/Fire Dancer card from her Power to Transform card deck.

Pink Evening Primrose: Open Up, Shine

Today I decided to spend some time with the pink evening primrose flower essence. I planted this flower a few years ago in my Arizona garden because it is known as a drought tolerant plant. In the early spring and summer, before the extreme heat sets in, the flowers create a sea of pink loveliness. Being a wildflower, the evening primroses quickly took over the spaces in my garden where they were planted.

Researching for information, I found that the pink evening primrose’s botanical name is Oenothera speciosa. It is also known as Showy evening primrose, Mexican evening primrose, Showy primrose, Pink ladies, Buttercups, and Pink buttercups. (Speciosa means “showy”.)  Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center Plant Data Base  has a beautiful picture and excellent article on this wildflower here. I noted that the capsules of pink evening primrose attract birds, especially finches, and that it has a special value to native bees.

I found some more information here here. The pink evening primrose blooms both day and night while other species of evening primrose bloom only in the evening, early morning, or at night, (hence the name “evening primrose”). The pink ladies bloom from March to July, and occasionally in the fall. I’ve got some blooming again now in September. The plant’s wild habitat includes rocky prairies, open woodlands, slopes, roadsides, meadows and disturbed areas. The USDA has a nice map where you can see the distribution of this wildflower here

I turned to the Flower Essence Services for help in understanding the energetic properties of this flower essence. The Flower Essence Service has an evening primrose flower essence made from a species of evening primrose that is yellow (oenothera hookeri) and blooms in the evening and morning. They have tested this essence and find its healing qualities to be awareness and healing of painful early emotions absorbed from parents. It facilitates the ability to open emotionally and form deep, committed relationships.

Ted Andrew’s Nature-Speak suggests that nature reveals its secrets through its geometric shapes, numbers and colors. What distinguishes the pink ladies from the other evening primroses, besides its time of blooming, is its distinctive cross-shaped, four petal, pink flower. Andrews says the cross shape balances the male and female and can reflect the intersection of waking and dreaming, stimulating more vibrant and lucid dreams. The number four indicates a time for new foundation and for patience in laying it. It points to issues of groundedness and stability. Pink reflects issues of compassion and of the heart. It can help soothe emotions. I resonate with that one! The American Indian Secrets of Crystal Healing  says pink contains both white (purity) and red (love) and symbolizes the unconditional love that is useful when working on problems of the heart.

Perhaps the pink evening primrose can support us in the next stage of healing once we feel safe to open up in the light of day and share some of our inner healing work with others. I find this flower and flower essence to be very healing, supportive, and uplifting. Why not try growing your own and testing the essence out for yourself? You can buy seeds here for a few dollars including shipping. Make sure you plant them in an area where they can grow and spread since they can be invasive. The pink evening primrose will gift you with a sea of pink, a safe space to open up and shine your light.

Assertiveness: Centaury Flower, Polar Bear, Tiger’s Eye

I’ve been away on vacation the last month or so which is why this blog has been resting as well. The wonderful thing about vacations is that when you go back to your normal life, you get to have a fresh start and try new things. I have been stretching myself out of my comfort zone a bit by taking online classes and  participating in a practice group provided by Ronni Rose-Swanson.

In my practice group we’ve been practicing doing intuitive card readings with each other and I have now twice done card readings where I have integrated earth gifts to support the qualities being suggested by the cards. It occurred to me that I could write a post in a similar manner.

One of the qualities I worked with today was Assertiveness. This is the ability to stand up for your beliefs, and only say yes if you really want to. I found three earth gifts that can support one in being assertive: a flower essence, a spirit animal, and a gemstone.

Centaury is a Bach Flower essence that can be found in your local health food store or online. The Centaury flower looks like this:

The centaury flower essence helps you serve others from inner strength, with a healthy recognition of one’s own needs. Assertiveness means acting from  the strength of inner purpose, saying “No” when appropriate.

The spirit animal that can assist with assertiveness is the Polar Bear.

Polar Bear can assist in standing up for yourself and speaking your truth respectfully and compassionately, with no attachment to outcome. This includes asking for what you want and setting boundaries. You can say “No” clearly and without apology when you are assertive. One way to work with Polar Bear spirit essence might be to get pictures or a stuffed animal as a visual reminder of the Polar Bear strength you can call upon within yourself.

Finally, the Tiger’s Eye gemstone can assist in having the confidence and courage to be assertive:

Image courtesy of http://www.retrokimmer.com/2011/10/retrokimmersstigers-eye-bracelet.html

Scott Cunningham in  Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic says that Tiger’s Eye is a warm stone that promotes energy flow through the body when worn. He suggests sitting outside on a sunny day and holding a tiger’s-eye in your hands, gazing at the flashes of light.

Doreen Virtue in Crystal Angels Oracle Cards Guidebook says of Tiger’s Eye that it can bring you a feeling of safety. It can help you feel like a tiger, filled with courage, confidence, and ferocity.

Assertiveness is a key to happiness. It honors everyone’s rights, including your own. Assertive people are easy to get along with because you always know where you stand with them. You can speak your truth with love and let go of unhealthy, old communication habits. I would love to hear of any earth gifts or tools that have helped you with being more assertive.

Rose: Queen of Flowers, Sacred Healer

When you see, smell, or think of roses what comes to mind? Love? Beauty? Roses have been symbolic of these qualities since ancient times. Here’s an example: Cleopatra had her living quarters filled with the petals of roses so that when Marc Antony met her, he would be reminded of her every time he smelled a rose. Here are some more historical facts.

Anne McIntyre in her book Flower Power mentions that the early Greeks depicted roses on  Minoan frescoes dated 1500 – 1600 BC.

In Greek mythology, Chloris, the goddess of flowers, created the rose from the lifeless body of a beautiful nymph. She called on the help of The Three Graces who gave it joy, brightness and charm; Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who gave it beauty; Dionysus, the god of wine, who gave it a beautiful perfume; and Zephyr, the wind god, who blew away the clouds so the rose could open her petals to sun. The newborn rose was crowned the Queen of Flowers, the emblem of  Aphrodite (Venus), and the symbol of love.

Ted Andrews in Nature Speak says that rose is the most sacred plant and the flower of love. It has an energy that is healing and will balance and align all chakras. It can activate the heart chakra for healing and awakening a greater sense of love. Rose can increase your telepathy,  and help you attune to the angelic vibrations. “It can help open one to exploration of the mystery of time, life and death and all that is unknown.”

In the Feb. 2003  Flower Essence Magazine.com article by Tenanche Semiata-Akuaba entitled Rose Flower Essences: Loving Support Through Life’s Transitions she states:

“The rose flower essence . . . supports and protects the heart from emotional pain and trauma. It also fosters hardiness, resilience and endurance in the face of sudden change, characteristics that virtually all repeat-blooming hybridized roses display after being pruned.

I’ve compiled a brief reference to the healing qualities of roses based on their colors and associated chakra(s) using photos of roses from my garden and other sources, references from books and websites, and my own experiences. I’ve cited all my sources at the end (source number in parentheses after each item).

Red Rose (root chakra , sacral, and heart chakras) Photo is of a Black Cherry floribunda rose from my garden.

• for grounding into the body, releasing and vitalizing kundalini/chi (1)
• red rose increases confidence in your sexuality and helps you open up to love and bring your desires into action (2)
• symbol of the sun, of earthly passion, assists in all aspects of love and fertility (3)
• attracting love, enhancing passion and romance, increasing motivation, and promoting healing (4)
• associated with Archangels Haniel and Jophiel (4)
• associated with Archangel Uriel (5)

Orange/apricot Rose (sacral chakra) Photo is of an orange/apricot colored mini floribunda rose from my garden.

• for emotional clearing, easing anger, and enhancing creativity. (1)

I made a flower essence from my orange/apricot roses and did an interview of the rose based on instructions from the online three week  Healing With Roses class  I took from Ronni Rose Swanson.

This flower essence helped me release feelings of loneliness and sadness from loss of my parents. In its place, I began to feel that my cup was overflowing with love.

Yellow Rose, (solar plexus and crown chakras) The photo is of Julia Child floribunda roses from my garden.

• for acceptance, interpersonal connections, calming the mind, and bringing calm, engendering joy. (1)
• it can teach us how to recognize and express truth. (3)
• cultivating calm, peace, and joy; and concentration (4)
• associated with Archangels Haniel and Uriel (4)
• associated with Archangel Jophiel (5)

Pink Rose (heart and solar plexus chakras) Photos are of a pink hybrid tea rose (top) and Kimberlina floribunda roses (bottom) in my garden.

• for self-love and acceptance, releasing heart pain and trauma. (1)
• symbol of the blending of the male and female within to give new birth and creation to one’s life. (3)
• beauty, self-confidence, comfort, and being content with yourself (4)
• Bach Wild Rose flower essence, pink or white has healing qualities of will to live, joy and commitment to life despite trials or pain.
• FES California Wild Rose has the healing qualities of love for the Earth and for human life, enthusiasm for doing and serving.
• associated with Archangel Jophiel (4)
• associated with Archangel Chamuel (5)

(Blue) Purple Roses, (throat chakra) (There is no such thing as a blue rose, but purple roses carry the blue vibration.) I do not have a rose this color in my garden, but it is on my wish list. This photo is of an Ebb Tide floribunda rose courtesy of plantworld.net.

• for inspiration and creative self-expression. (1)
• it opens one to the energy that makes the impossible possible and the unobtainable obtainable. (3)
• associated with Archangel Michael (5)

Violet/Lavender Rose, (crown chakra) Photo is of a Blue Moon hybrid tea rose in my garden.

• for deepening spiritual vision and intuition (1)
• associated with Archangel Zadkiel (5)

White Rose,  (crown chakra and soul star chakra above the top of the head) Photo is of a Green Ice mini rose which I have in my garden but am lacking her photo. She is currently resting up before blooming again so the photo you see is Green Ice mini rose courtesy of Rose Show.com

• for connecting with the divine and a sense of pure knowing (1)
• quietly inspiring and strengthening, renewing energy and joy in your life (2)
• given to infants and young children to help them grow up, keeping a sense of heaven on earth (2)
• symbol of the moon, helps develop spiritual purity and awaken our own divinity (3)
• purification, peace, gentle transition, releasing links from the past, and clearing earthbound spirits (4)
• Bach Wild Rose flower essence, pink or white has healing qualities of will to live, joy and commitment to life despite trials or pain
• associated with Archangels Metatron, Michael, and Raphael (4)
• associated with Archangel Gabriel (5)

Sources

1. “Rose Flower Essences: Loving Support Through Life’s Transitions” in Feb. 2003 Flower Essence Magazine.com by Tenanche Semiata-Akuaba.

2. Flower Power by Anne McIntyre

3. Nature – Speak by Ted Andrews

4. Flower Therapy: Welcome the Angels of Nature into Your Life by Doreen Virtue and Robert Reeves.

5. Website Mini Guide to the 7 Archangels (no longer available)

Pronghorn Antelope: Action and Mental Agility

When I moved to Arizona in the mid 1980’s a frequent sight when traveling over the mountain to Prescott or traveling down to Phoenix was herds of pronghorn antelope. Now almost thirty years later the sightings are less frequent. The open grasslands over the mountain in Prescott are part of Prescott Valley and homes have been built and the highway expanded. I was thrilled to take the picture you see in this posting when showing my brother the sights last October. The high grasslands on the way to Phoenix have herds of cattle from time to time but I no longer spot antelope. I count myself lucky to have the contact with them that I do.

The Spring 2013 edition of National Parks featured an article on the Yellowstone’s pronghorn entitled “The Value of Species”. I learned some facts about pronghorn I didn’t know before and wholeheartedly agree with the author’s thesis that plant and animal species have value in and of themselves, not just in terms of what they contribute to humans.

I didn’t know that the pronghorn antelope are not really antelopes because they do not lose their horns. Also, they only exist in North America and have always existed here: they did not come over here from Asia as many other species, including humans did.

They evolved to be the fastest long distance runners in the world: they can sprint at 60 miles per hour. Only African cheetahs sprint faster than pronghorns, but could not keep up with pronghorns over a distance. Pronghorns are interesting to study because they have developed a huge heart, trachea and lungs to enable their running. They also have a large liver for storing energy that can be accessed quickly and special cartilage padding on their hooves. What’s even more astonishing is that these adaptations serve no purpose in present day because no predator is around to give them a decent chase—not even the gray wolf.

The fossil record shows that pronghorns existed on this continent with several species of high-speed cats that disappeared from America in the Pleistocene extinction 11,000 years ago. Their ancient enemies caused the evolution of their amazing speed and the pronghorn survived to the present day.

So what are the messages and gifts pronghorns have to share with us? Jamie Sams and David Carson in Medicine Cards have quite a lot to say about Antelope. Not surprisingly, Antelope represents action: doing. They tell a story of Antelope teaching this lesson to the People when they were naked, hungry, and in danger of extinction. “Antelope taught humans to honor the gifts sent from Great Mystery, and to avoid indiscriminate destruction of life. Antelope medicine gives you strength of mind and heart, and the ability to take quick and decisive action to get things accomplished.”

Ted Andrews in Animal Speak says that the pronghorn reflects a mental agility and quick-wittedness that enable it to survive in the most difficult of environments. Their thick hides and tubular hairs provide insulation in winter and can be a message to either insulate oneself or a need to come out of hiding. He says it’s not unusual for sensitive and empathic people to have antelope show up in their lives.

Talking about the pronghorn speeds, even baby fawns can run around 25 miles per hour in the first day of life! Andrews attributes pronghorn medicine with quick wittedness and dynamic communication. Children with this totem often drive their parents nuts with continual questions. Their minds and imaginations are always active.

Pronghorns can see for long distances and this along with the antennae-like horns confer clairvoyance on individuals with a pronghorn totem. “They came in with the lights on, although they don’t always realize it.” Pronghorns also have a strong sense of smell that can awaken psychic and mediumistic abilities in this area.

I find the pronghorn very interesting creatures with much to teach me. I appreciate their gifts. Have any of you had pronghorn experiences?