Author name: Lila Devi

Don’t throw away good life force with a lack of self-respect. There’s something special about a flower that not only fills us with beauty upon viewing it but that also nourishes us as food. About the Fruit and Flower: There’s something special about a flower that not only fills us with beauty upon viewing it but that also nourishes us as food. Unlike most flowering plants, the strawberry plant grows horizontally by sending stolons, or runners, out along the soil, symbolically running with dignity in every step. A single plant can produce from thirty to fifty stolons, modeling the quiet outreach of this flower essence to touch and impact others. Both the flower and the fruit grow on the ground, exhibiting the essence’s sense of grounding. Is there a more lush fruit than the ripe strawberry? Biting into its tart sweetness is a taste treat fit for kings and queens. Its psycho-spiritual quality of dignity is apparent in every part of the plant. Its blossoms grow from the crown that produces these runners and also the fruit stalks that yield the flowers and, lastly, the rich fruits that we know and love. Indeed, here is a plant that reflect back to us our own dignity. Its flower essence expresses a regal and poised bearing. This flower essence excels in the quality of self-respect. When we emulate its message, we likewise draw respect from others. The strawberry fruit—a member of the rose family—contains more Vitamin C than oranges. While the Vitamin C in strawberries will boost our immunity and keep us healthy, Strawberry Flower Essence boosts our sense of self-worth, deservedness, and quiet self-knowing. Self-respect: Own it, Honor it, Live it What’s the relationship between dignity and self-respect? Consider the phrase, “It was beneath his dignity.” Dignity is perceived when we honor, or respect ourselves. Self-respect is about how we treat ourselves as well as others. Without it, others can only follow our lead and treat us accordingly. Here are some supportive Essence Enhancers to keep in mind when you take Strawberry Essence, to ground yourself in its richly rewarding sense of self-respect: 1 Good self-care, meaning not over-eating, under-sleeping, over-working., etc. Honor yourself by taking care of your body temple, rather than letting it fall into ruins. 2 Not allowing people or things to get to you: Here’s a foolproof formula for avoiding stress. Troubling issues are trouble makers to our inner peace; don’t give them permission to accompany you to the dinner table or to bed. 3 Following commonsense rules of mental and emotional health: if something upsets you, take the time to work it through, either on your own or with a friend or counselor. Don’t hold on to negativity in any form. 4 Avoiding frittering away your time: Sure, phone games and crosswords puzzles can be a great mental relaxer, but are best played in moderation to save valuable time for other projects. 5 Be aware of having enough social time: One gift of the pandemic for every human being is to know when you need to reach out to others. Don’t wait until your feeling isolated and disconnected. Interaction with others is a basic, happiness-affirming human need. 6 Loneliness—a form of lack of self-care to avoid like the plague: If you ever get thirsty, you’re probably already dehydrated. If you’re ever lonely, you probably already in a state of emotional bankruptcy. Don’t wait until your energy drops to reach out to people when you need to connect. Even a phone call or Facetime can do the trick. 7 How’s your spiritual life these days? Consider “feeding your soul”: yoga, meditation, affirmations, tai chi, soothing/uplifting music, or reflective time in nature no matter the time of year. You brush your teeth every day for good oral hygiene; so why not care for your spiritual self on a daily basis? In essence, self-respect is a way of honoring or prioritizing ourselves in health-promoting ways. In esteeming ourselves, minus the element of egoic self-agrandizement, we take giant steps with our innate need to embrace wholeness and well-being. Look for Part 2 of this post next month.

Pear Essence for peace is our remedy when you need rescuing. Conflict, tension, and resistance all beg to be quelled by its quality of inner peace. “We all could use a good spray of Pear these days, as far as I’m concerned.” So spoke a fan of this flower essence. Pear is a natural choice for emergencies. Being the first flower essence I worked with, it holds a special place in my heart. Every room in my home, as well as my purse, is graced with a bottle. One woman wrote to us, “My basement flooded because of a valve I’d opened and couldn’t get to shut off. I noticed that, even though circumstances were traumatic, I found myself laughing in the midst of it all. On Pear, I had this sense that everything was going to be okay. Nothing seemed to be such a big deal that it couldn’t be handled.” Why not try standing in a pear orchard sometime? It’s a delightful experience! Inner peace abounds in the trees’ white five-petaled blossoms. Their pacifying message touches on a basic human predicament: resistance. The hard wood of the pear also tree expresses its tolerant nature. Pear wood won’t break or splinter. It can be carved into many varied designs. The wood’s resilience, seen in its absence of brittle resistance, suggests the stillness of inner peace. War and peace are opposites. Don’t we each resist our tests on a regular basis? This creates a warlike attitude of subtle crosscurrents where tensions abound. Especially in these pandemic times, the entire world could benefit from this flower essence! In these uncertain times, it seems we are cycling through a mixture of hardship and horrors. Accept, adjust, and adapt: these verbs describe the Pear Flower Essence that harbors a portable bomb shelter of tranquility. Pear helps transport us, to quote one of my favorite songs, “above the storms, above the pain, a land where peace and laughter reign.” Hence our motto: “Take care, take Pear.”

What are the origins of true sweetness and how can we develop this quality in our own lives?

Which way to turn when we are faced with challenges and the need to start over or begin anew?

A calming wind through the trees describes the energetic stillness of Lettuce Essence. Here’s a gentleman who exemplifies that quality even through the pores of his skin.