This morning, I received an unusual question by email that has an equally unusual answer. One of our Home Study Course students from Japan writes (and I’ve left her comments unedited):

Asako’s Letter

Dear Ms. Lila Devi,

Here is my questions on Banana Essence. Is there any relation between Banana and ears?

When I gave Banana Essence to a client, she commented that she felt warm on the back side of her ears.

I also felt that the deep part of my ears opened when I took Banana.

I have been taking Banana, it seems that my hearing has been going, especially my husband’s voice seems not reach me. (It is simply clear that I do not want to listen to him.) Is there any relation between Banana and hearing problem?

Before I was going to meet a friend of mine one day, I was able to guess that she would need Banana.

I checked that with pendulum and the answer was Banana. And when I met her, she didn’t think of any stress, but she said she became defective hearing all of sudden.

Is there any relation between Banana and ears?

Thank you,
Asako

My Response

Hello, Asako,

How are you? I am very happy to hear from you. This is a fascinating question, and the answer is, yes!

The opposite of humility is the presence of the ego, and this is nothing to be ashamed about because practically everyone but the Buddha and saints do have egos.

With the ego comes more of an interest in one’s own voice than the voice of others. We all have at least some of this quality and are working through it as best we can.

That is why in The Essential Flower Essence Handbook, I explain that Banana Essence helps us to listen to others and to hear what they have to say.

Banana is for self-forgetfulness and self-honesty. The fact that you can ask these wonderful questions means that you most certainly have many of the positive Banana qualities and I think can “hear” the answer. Congratulations!

So in one sense, it is indeed the case that Banana Essence can possibly help with the metaphysical cause of ear problems, just as Coconut Essence can help us to feel taller. That essence being for upliftment, symbolically and spiritually, can be interpreted in physical terms as well.

I hope this response is helpful, Asako, and thank you for writing.

Kindest regards,
Lila Devi
SiNE Founder

Not all flower essence consultations go as we hope they will, even with the purest of intentions on our part as practitioners. Here is one such case that I hope has a happy ending.

Eleanor is a longtime customer of Spirit-in-Nature Essences and uses them on occasion for problems with her cats.

Dear Eleanor,

I am so sorry you were displeased with our phone consult this morning and that you felt put on the defensive. That was not my intention at all.

If you think back on our session, I didn’t say that you were a bad mother to your cats. I have never, nor would I ever, say that to a client.

My job in helping the animals through flower essences is to look at the bigger picture, which is why a consult is often better than just email correspondence. During the session, I “listen” to the animals through the owner and, in a sense, act as their “voice.”

Usually people who love their pets dearly, as you do, will encounter problems by simply, inadvertently misunderstanding their instinctive needs. This is very common; it happens all the time and there is no judgment. It is often a case of the animal expressing appropriate behavior but in inappropriate ways.

Feeding more food doesn’t necessarily mean weight gain. It may be that your cat does in fact need more food and/or more aerobic, interactive playtime to keep her weight down, especially since she’s now strictly an indoor cat with a previous history of roaming freely outdoors. And if she does end up eating too much—again, there is a reason for her behavior.

Through that behavior—barring medical conditions that are unlikely because she is still young—she is telling you something about her needs, in her own way.

If you remember, I didn’t say to let your cats outside in dangerous ways, only in safe, protected ways. I did my best to work with their reality/situation as well as yours, and to craft an essence program that would be best for them. I feel this was accomplished through the essences I suggested and hope you have great success with them.

To give a flower essence program without taking other lifestyle factors into consideration can often mean a less effective flower essence response for the animal. This is why we discussed so many issues related to your cat’s care and well-being.

My office will send you the Fig Essence, since you already have both the Date and Pear Essences. Please let me know how it goes.

 Also, my deep condolences on the loss of your mother. She sounds like a very fine, special person.

Best wishes to all of you,

Lila Devi

SiNE Founder