A flower essence is a liquid preparation that utilizes the energetic signature of a plant, or a blend of plants, to heal and bring balance to a related condition in humans (and even animals!). Flower essences are most commonly used for addressing aspects of our mental and emotional health, though no system operates in isolation, so we sometimes note changes in our mind-body wellness as well.

In making a flower essence, the energetics of a plant are held in a mixture of water and brandy (a preservative), and a common dosage would be something like 3 drops taken orally 3 times per day. If you have ever heard of Bach Flower Remedies, those are flower essences - Dr. Bach was a homeopathic doctor and one of the pioneers in this field. Flower essences are not medicines in the same sense as what we are used to when we get a prescription; rather, they work with our own energy system to invigorate, suppress, balance, or bring a sense of safety to a situation so that our body can do the healing it is meant to do. For some people, the response to taking a flower essence is quite subtle, and for some it is a significant change in how they had been feeling previously - everyone’s experience is different. There are no side effects or “wrong essences”, as we are only working with plant energy and not actual plant material. Some of the essences I use I have prepared myself from my garden or from nature, while others I have sourced from other makers, especially when the particular plant needed is not local.

If you choose to incorporate flower essences into your journey at SoulFood, we will discuss what you are looking to address, how you have come to this place, how you hope to feel, and other aspects of your situation to determine which essence(s) might be right for you. I will then follow up to see what your impressions have been and how the process is going for you.

If you would like to work with flower essences, but the idea of consuming alcohol is concerning, here are some considerations…first, in the entire bottle, there is around a 1/4 oz. of brandy that you are taking as a dose of a few drops per day over the course of a few weeks. It is not a lot, but it is absolutely understandable that there are individuals for whom any amount is not the right choice for them. Flower essences can be used topically as well by placing the drops on the inside of your wrists. For infants, practitioners will almost always suggest applying drops to the sole of the foot as standard protocol. We can discuss any specific usage concerns to find a solution that works for you.

Reiki is a type of energy work that dates back thousands of years, though the lineage I am trained in originated in Japan by Mikao Usui in the 1920’s. The word itself has two parts - “rei” meaning universal, and “ki” meaning life energy, so essentially reiki is spiritually-guided life force energy. Reiki practitioners go through levels of training in order to be able to offer this type of healing, which is done by transmitting energy through the hands of the healer. A full, in-person session is often done with the person receiving the treatment lying down, always fully clothed. Generally speaking, there is no touch involved. Instead, the practitioner’s hands are held just above the body in different placements depending upon the needs of each individual. It is also possible to do a distance healing, in which the two individuals do not have to be in the same room at all. Animals can receive the benefits of reiki as well. Reiki can be done just about anywhere, for any length of time - I have done it for friends in their own spaces, co-workers in busy office settings, family members at home, while attending births in hospitals, and often on myself.

During a session, the goal is to simply relax. Comfort is key, so often the room will be warm, with soft lighting and restful music, and you will be offered a blanket and pillows to find the most comfortable position. You may experience sensations of energy, warmth, or other tingling/pulsing feelings, but many people feel nothing at all. Some people feel emotions, such as crying or other types of release, others fall asleep or nearly so. The goal of reiki is to quiet the mind, encourage a state of relaxation and an easing of tension, and ultimately a restoration of the flow of energy in the body back to an optimal state.

Reiki can be a profound healing experience; however, as with all things in life, the law of free will always dictates the outcome. The hope is that everyone comes to their session with an open mind and trust in the innate wisdom of their body; however, trauma, lived experiences, and patterns of belief can be elements of a healing journey that we acknowledge and accept with an open heart as well. If you are interested in reiki, but have concerns or questions, please reach out and we can work together to create a space that is safe and healing in whatever way(s) best meet you where you are at.

I have found that people (including myself!) often benefit from an anchor when we are sorting out some of our deeper stuff.

And just to clarify, we can do the same thing with a basket of random objects, it doesn’t have to be anything related to Spirit if this is an uncomfortable realm for you. I happen to like all of the beautiful images and possibilities that the cards offer, but we get to the same place either way, so no worries!

Card decks have a wide variety of images and text, which is helpful for two reasons - first, it gets us out of our head. We have no idea what will come up, so we cannot plan a response ahead of time. We almost always have impressions or are drawn to a particular element of the art or the card message, and we can think of this as a conduit for parts of our highest, knowing self waiting to be acknowledged. Our intuition is offering guidance all the time, but our minds just aren’t always able to hear or heed the message, so these impressions are given an intentional space to be explored and discussed.

It also serves as a tool for recall. By making a connection to a card image or object, we have a reminder after we have parted ways of what came up as discussion themes. We may have an hour together, but you have many more hours with yourself before I see you again, and this is where life happens. In my visit summary, I will share the image of the cards or objects we used (you are also welcome to take photos on your phone), so that you have them to look back at and incorporate into your thoughts or journaling.