As we approach the beginning of spring we are privileged to be able to share an article written by our friend and colleague Dr Andrew Tresidder. Andrew is a GP, an author, an educator and an expert in flower essences.
Here is what he has to say...
Life is a journey of Outer Experiences, accompanied by Inner Work. The Inner Work we have to do is to consider the experiences from varying aspects, and to work through our reactions of feelings and emotions that accompany the experiences. We can then both know Life directly, as well as know all about the experiences, and reach a point of ever greater understanding and wisdom.
Sometimes the Inner Work is almost automatic and seems to happen effortlessly, sometimes it’s tough.
We are both Software Being and Hardware Body – the Body being the vehicle for the Being. Of course, Physics tells us that everything is vibration and frequency, and everything is connected, therefore Being and Body are intimately related and interconnected. Our Software Being can be either In-Tune or drift Out of Tune. When we are In-Tune we we develop our character and strengthen our qualities. We move closer towards our potential as the magnificent Human Being we each are, with qualities of compassion, kindness, intellect, courage, optimism, hope, and others.
When we are In-Tune, we are guided by our Intuition to be In-Tune with the flow of Life, and Life flows lightly, even though some experiences may be difficult and challenging.
What helps our Software Being be In-Tune? A refreshed Hardware Body is a key foundation – nourished by adequate sleep, hydration, nutrition and other needs fulfilled, and avoiding toxic foods and substances that diminish health. Once that has been done, our Software Being has a strong basis to retune. It’s then that harmonious patterns of light, colour and sound can nourish and retune our Software Being. Music, birdsong, flowers, trees, animals, clouds, and landscapes are just a few of Nature’s patterns that ‘feed our soul’, whilst poetry, art, story, craft, exercise and other activities all nourish us as well. What ‘Feeds your soul’? is it through seeing, through hearing, through feel, touch, or presence?
Nature generally helps us retune, and specific patterns of information from nature seem to help us retune specific qualities of personality and character. We don’t know how – but it’s a bit like an orchestra retuning to a tuning fork, so that all instruments play in harmony – and sound better!
Flower essences are information captured in liquid, usually water, and often preserved with alcohol (other preservatives are available). Many people start by using Combinations, which broadly help develop the quality their name indicates. So ‘Rescue Remedy’ developed by Dr Bach in 1930’s is a starting point for shock and distress – using it (or any of the similar ones from other makers) helps many people feel calmer and can help resolve the distress and shock.
Combinations are a great way to start using essences proactively to nourish our software being. When we’ve seen them work to bring calm in an emergency, many of us explore using a combination for several days and weeks to enhance a quality, such as confidence. Confidence, Speaking with Confidence, Calm and Confident might all be helpful. Once we benefit from our first choice, then we may explore further. How to choose? Our intuition can help us greatly, as well as using logic to check our choice.
May I please share a personal story?
Over twenty years ago I just ‘knew’ I had to take a group of flower essences which amounted to a ‘confidence’ combination. At the time I was a busy GP, used to public speaking, and couldn’t think why I should need to take these/ However, I trusted my intuition and took them several times a day. What happened? Nothing – for two weeks – and then found myself doing something unexpected and surprising. I found my swimming costume, went to the local pool, and swam up and down for ten lengths or so (not very far!). The back story is that my wife and children were all strong swimmers, and I wasn’t – so I’d stay at home when they went. If they pleased, I’d make excuses, stay at home, and read the paper. If they really pleaded, I’d go along with them to the pool but sit on the side and read the paper. Under severe family pressure, I would get into the water and then get out again as quickly as possible. On the day that I swam up and down the pool on my own (a really big thing for me), I reflected - and what came to mind was that I had learnt to swim at boarding school aged 8, cold, unhappy and unconfident - and that particular frame of mind had coloured my attitude to swimming ever since – a ‘hang-up’ that was dissolved by an inexpensive approach over two weeks, some thirty years after the event. The effect has been permanent. My mindset had changed – because my heart no longer carried heaviness about the issue.
Which begs the question – why would we not wish to explore our inner selves and retune the bits that are out of tune, dissolve hang-ups, unlearn negative patterns, and become ever more our best selves? You don’t have to feel unwell to want to be better, as one friend put it!
Flower essences are NOT for any medical condition – they are tools to help us explore and develop who we are – to Explore our Self.
Drops from Nature shares 7 minutes of joy, exploring how flower essences can help us. Beautifully filmed by Charles Wood, and interviewed by Rebecca Pow:
www.sakiasfloweressences.com/shop/essence-blends are a great place to start, as are the Jan de Vries combinations www.avogel.co.uk/jan-de-vries/bach-flower-remedies/. Be Blends from www.sunessences.org also come in pilule form free from alcohol. There are many other makers and ranges.
www.healingherbs.co.uk are a great supplier of Bach and educational material.
Chrissie offers Flower Essence Treatments at her clinic.
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