Meditation and flower essences are excellent complementary methods for self-improvement. Both have been the subject of numerous clinical studies for reducing stress and stress-related illnesses. Here are some documented findings about the benefits of meditation:

In one study comparing 2 groups–meditators and non-meditators–the meditators were more independent, self-confident, empathetic, spontaneous, and also less anxious, neurotic, and fearful of death, as documented in the May, 1991, issue of The Atlantic Monthly.

Studies at the University of Massachusetts found that 20 out of 22 anxiety-prone people showed a 60% improvement in anxiety levels following an eight week meditation course.

Also, in the September, 1995, issue of Health Magazine, a study of women with severe PMS showed a 58% improvement in their symptoms after 5 months of daily meditative practice.

What is meditation? It is a form of one-pointed concentration on uplifting qualities such as love, light, peace, joy, wisdom, calmness, power, or pure vibration. When you can concentrate with absolute, focused attention, you become that upon which you concentrate.

It is said that meditation happens when the mind is still and the heart is open.

Meditation is a process of remembering who and what you really are–a perfect expression of perfect qualities. The Sanskrit word for this divine remembrance is smritti.

Flower essences, similarly, may be called “bottled meditation” (although they do not replace the actual experience of meditating). They too help us to remember who we really are. Since the essences work by stimulating our positive qualities, such as love, light, peace, joy, wisdom, calmness, power, or pure vibration–it follows that we can only remember something we already know.

With a daily practice of meditation and a flower essence regimen when you feel it is beneficial, in time you will find yourself being transformed–not merely into a person with less stress, but into someone who embodies the purest qualities of these essences.

Unselfishness, in today’s culture, is a somewhat misunderstood quality. People often tend to think they should meet their own needs first and then give what’s left of themselves, if anything, to others.

Peach Essence says exactly the opposite—when your first concern is for the welfare of others, you’ll find that your own energy expands. Likely as not, you’ll have more “pep in your step” after caring for others than you ever could have dreamed of!

This “peachy” tree is said to originate in China. Blossoming in the early spring in clusters of delicate pink flowers, it produces a gentle-tasting, soft-skinned fruit. Peach trees are sensitive to frost, much as the quality of unselfishness is resistant to contractive energies.

There is a saying, “the instrument is blessed by what flows through it.” Studies on prayer, in fact, demonstrate this point—that the person who is praying receives more benefits than the person being prayed for. This illustrates perfectly how Peach Essence works.

Recently, I had the good fortune to meet Joseph, a fine example of a person who is strong in the qualities of this essence. A self-employed car mechanic specializing in VWs for nearly 40 years, he said, rather matter-of-factly, that people give him cars as gifts—good ones, in good condition. Why? Because he’s such a giving person, and people respond to his gentle magnetism.

“Some people have a hard time receiving,” he said, “but not me. The energy I put out always comes back tenfold.” Joseph says he prefers to undercharge his customers—not due to a lack of self-worth (helped by Pineapple Essence), or an inability to set proper boundaries (strengthened by Strawberry Essence), but as a service to others.

Joseph says he’s very close to his daughter, now an adult, and that she calls him on the phone to talk. Demonstrating Peach as the “mothering essence,” he sees his role with her as both a father and a mother.

When I asked Joseph if I could profile him in this post, he replied in Peach-like fashion, “Sure. However you feel it best serves. It’s good to put other people first.”

One of our Home Study Course students just wrote to me with this question: is it possible that there is only one overarching disease, and likewise only one cure? She expresses it well, writing, “My belief is that this one disease is due to a disconnect between the person and his or her true self.”

Consider how Paramhansa Yogananda explained this point: There is only one disease, and it is ignorance of our perfection. Cure that disease, and you have it all.

Our student suggests that the absence of unconditional self-love – or, more aptly, Self-love – is a sub-category of this ignorance, as are fear, stress, loneliness, etc., etc., and etc. She was correct in saying that the source of all dis-ease arises from our disconnection from our true nature, which is pure Spirit.

On a deeper level, this also explains the meaning of our new company name, Spirit-in-Nature Essences, as explained in an earlier post. When we find Spirit within our own nature, we are healed-from more than we could ever imagine. Thus, our new name serves a dual purpose – to identify our essences, and to define them at their highest level of results.

You know, many practitioners define flower essences as tools, primarily, for healing emotional imbalances. I believe that this is only a fraction of their benefits. They are so much bigger and can do so much more.

Within the last few years, our definition of flower essences has evolved to saying that they stimulate our spiritual qualities, such as compassion, calmness, and enthusiasm for life. And they can only stimulate qualities that are pre-existing within our consciousness.

If we already are perfect, then, why are we still stuck with suffering in this world? Because we need to access that perfection. This is what flower essences can help us to achieve.

What fruit can remove tooth stains, soothe sunburns, and lighten freckles?

The answer: strawberry.

What flower essence will help you to magnetize the relationship you want to have in your life; to stay centered in all circumstances; and to draw the respect from others that you feel you deserve? If you guessed Strawberry Essence, you’re right.

Of course, this all sounds too good to be true—which is also when Strawberry is useful. If we don’t believe we deserve a life that good, it’s time for this essence.

Dignity is the keyword for Strawberry Essence. Just as the strawberry plant grows low to the ground and sends out horizontal runners and sprouts pristine white-petaled flowers, this essence embodies a strong sense of grounding, surefootedness, grace, and beauty. When we live in that inner center, we are in tune with the energetic message of this essence.

One Case Study

Also good for setting healthy boundaries and preventing a negative transference of energy between client and practitioner, Strawberry helps us define ourselves in the highest possible sense of who we are. It gives a strong sense of responsibility, dependability, and presence.

A craniosacral therapist with a practice in Richmond, Virginia, recently gave Strawberry Essence to one of her clients. She wrote:

“I worked with a pregnant woman who came to me because of back pain. In talking with her, however, it became apparent that her greatest pain was a loss of self-worth. She was very beautiful, and had been model-thin before getting pregnant. Now she was gaining weight, and could see two ‘ugly red lines’ across her belly. It was devastating for her.

“I worked with her back pain, and also sent her home with a belly salve that included 4 drops of Strawberry Essence. The next time we met, she reported that there were no new stretch marks appearing. In fact, the two original ones were starting to fade away. ‘The funny thing is,’ she said, ’I stopped minding them a few days after I saw you.’”

The therapist said that, from then on, her client “arrived for her sessions in beautiful maternity outfits that showed off her belly as the amazing creation that it was.” This is a very “Strawberry” testimonial.

This essence is also an excellent remedy for separation caused by divorce—for the spouse who is left, for children in divorced homes who experience a rift in their world, and also for animals.

Strawberry Essence for Our Pets

One holistic practitioner gave Strawberry Essence to her friend’s dog in a divorced home. The beagle had been very close to the husband. After the couple separated, the dog began chewing the furniture and curtains and generally misbehaving.

So far, there has been some improvement and he has calmed down. “At least he is no longer howling at the top of the stairs near the front door,” she said.

Strawberry Essence is also useful in multiple pet homes with so many different energies to mesh with, where a pet in a domesticated lifestyle environment can’t internally find his sense of grounding and placement.

And when it is time for an animal’s passing, Strawberry Essence can allow him to “die with dignity,” especially if there has been a prolonged illness with a loss of independence, mobility, or self-care. Animals in domesticated lifestyles often outlive their natural lifespan by many years.

Strawberry helps to restore the sense of dignity that animals exhibit so majestically in their natural habitat. In our homes and in our care, they deserve the best we can give to them.

More Strawberry Information

These are but a few more Strawberry tidbits. You may want to refer for further reading to The Essential Flower Essence Handbook, with 10 pages on this essence, the book Flower Essences for Animals, and more about holistic pet health care.

This week, we received a letter from a woman whose 18-year-old cat is having difficulty adjusting to the loss of her other cat. Below is her letter, followed by my response.

Nancy’s Letter

“I have an 18-year old female who just 2 weeks ago lost her life-time companion (male cat) who had to be put down. I have been treating her for almost 2 years with herbs for renal failure and she’s doing well.

However, since losing the other cat, (they were not very close to each other) she has increasingly become more agitated at night, yowling, walking around through the house, getting on my bed from time to time, sometimes with her toy, and always seems to be at her most hyper around 3 to 4 in the morning.

It is driving me bananas, and I can’t get to sleep. Even this morning, as I was getting ready for work, she was yowling some. She hasn’t been doing it in the morning.

“Do you think this could be a combination of dementia and grieving? She had been doing some of the crying at night before the other cat died, but it has definitely worsened since. Thanks for any suggestions that you think would help.”

Nancy

My Response

Hi, Nancy,
Greetings, and thank you for writing. My condolences for the loss of your cat.

It sounds like you deeply love and care for your cats, and this is a dynamic that practically assure a successful outcome. Here are some suggestions for your 18-year-old girl. Plus, you can also refer to this earlier post on the same subject.

Although you didn’t request a flower essence program, here’s one for your consideration. Nor did you explain if your kitty has any other conditions besides the renal problem. Your vet could best diagnose if there’s dementia or other physical conditions. Loss of hearing, vision, and/or scent causing loss of taste, can all cause disorientation for older animals. Since animals live so much in their senses, this could be one variable.

Here is a suggested flower essence program: Orange for 1 week, to help renew her enthusiasm and her interest in life, in positive and appropriate ways; Strawberry next for 1 week, to help her orient to being alone and grounding herself in her new role as “only cat”; and then Coconut, also for 1 week, to help her deal with her physical infirmities and to assist with the “tail end” of grieving the cat who has passed on.

Next, to explain cat behavior: even though your cat wasn’t close to the cat that passed, adjusting to his absence is a big change in her world. Animals do grieve, even if they didn’t get along that well as we would perceive it—especially since the yowling has increased. There can be a certain loneliness with the house feeling more empty. Although cats are somewhat solitary by nature, they do like company—but always on their terms!

Instinctively, any change in a cat’s environment is perceived on some level as a threat to safety and security, and an adjustment period is necessary.

With animals, we always want to redirect their energy. This works best for them. What would be worth trying is, believe it or not, also a behavioral change on your part—meaning for you to be more interactive with your kitty during this transitional period.

If she’s actually bringing you her toys at night, what better way could she tell you what she wants to do?

Try this: a good play session at night, followed by food. This will mimic the hunt and the successful kill, and put her in the pure joy of her instinctive nature. Plus, it will tire her in a healthy way and prepare her for a good night’s sleep!

For an older cat, an excercise program should be approached gradually – 5 minutes of running around, then 7, then 9, etc.

If you can give her more “quality time” right now, it can help both of you to heal from the loss of your other cat. Your household is like a feline pride, and everyone needs to fill in the gap left by the little fellow who has just passed on.

And on the subject of loss, may I suggest some positive commemoration of him–a kitty wind chime.

As quoted on our pets page about holistic pet health care, “Animals can take us to a place we can’t get to by ourselves.”

I hope this is helpful, please let me know how it goes.

Kind regards to you both,
Lila Devi

One of my cat clients, whom we’ll call Fluff, lives in a multi-cat home. His closest feline friend passed away two weeks ago, and he seemed to be hit the hardest with a sense of loss of all the cats. The first few days, Fluff did fine.

Then it was as though he understood that lifelong buddy, who had been ill and withdrawn for some time, wasn’t coming back.

Sometimes we don’t realize how deeply our pets grieve the loss of their animal friends. Imagine living fully in each moment, having senses heightened beyond our wildest dreams, possessing keenly honed instincts that allow us to survive in the outdoors under the most extreme conditions—and on top of that, having a supersonic feeling nature and being remarkably telepathic.

All of these qualities are prime reasons why animals are so responsive to flower essences. Vibrational in nature, essences don’t need to engage the mind to be effective, nor do they address issues mainly on a physical level. In fact, they can be the perfect solution for an animal’s problems and unspoken needs.

Fluff’s body language left no doubt about his innermost feelings. Grief virtually poured through him, his tail slightly puffed and his pupils wide—not with predatory anticipation, but with an unfocused, unwell, almost tearful look. He would lay limply on the rug, seemingly unable to lift his head as though overwhelmed by the weight of his sadness.

Most telling of all, Fluff had stopped purring.

His owner started giving him Pear Essence, prepared from the blossoms of pear trees. In essence form, Pear is for peacefulness and emergency support. Clearly, Fluff’s emotional nature was in crisis and his natural play instincts had been dampened. His owner applied the tincture to his coat and put a few drops in his morning drinking water.

The next day, “The Fluff” was purring again.

The message of this case history extends beyond flower essence therapy. It can also be attributed to the owner’s understanding of the importance of redirecting Fluff’s behavior in positive ways.

On the first day of his essence program, his owner presented him with one toy after another, until he finally “came out of himself” and engaged in the game. Soon, he was dashing over the bed covers in pursuit of the feathered toy on a pole. Also, Fluff was given more food treats and quality petting time than usual.

His dance card, you might say, was full.

These activities are what we call Essence Enhancers in The Essential Flower Essence Handbook. Any supportive measures that help to draw an animal’s focus toward desirable behavior and away from painful or destructive habits will enhance the benefits of a custom-tailored flower essence program.

For Fluff, this meant involving him in a lively play session that mimicked the thrill of the hunt—one that could awaken his instinctive sense of predatory delight.

Fluff’s owner has reported that his periods of sadness are now lessening in duration and frequency.

It’s looking like he’ll soon be back to his old self.

Related Links

• Flower essences for holistic pet health care