Lily By TANAKA Juuyoh

Easter Lily

Liliium longiflorum is often called the Easter Lily.  This gorgeous plant is native to the Ryuku Islands of Japan.  The white lily has long been associated with the Goddess, with purity, sexuality and death.  Lilies have six petals – six is the number associated with Venus, the feminine energy of love, beauty and harmony.  The six petals of the trumpet-shaped blooms are arranged in a star shape consisting of an inner three and an outer three.  Three is a number associated with the triple aspect of the Goddess: Virgin, Mother and Crone.

All the Lilies have an affinity with the energetics of the sacral chakra and the crown chakra.  Easter Lily helps to heal conflicts and inner tension between sexuality and spirituality.  It is an especially  important remedy for women and can help where there are impurities and disturbances in the sexual and reproductive organs.  Matthew Wood ( The Book of Herbal Wisdom) says that the flower  can assist in the removal of cycts from the breasts and ovaries.  Now, more than ever, there is a need for healing of the Divine Feminine aspect within all of us.

Other Lily Flower Essences:

Tiger Lily (FES)  for over agressive yang forces, hostile competitive people who strive against others.  A feminine flower which makes inner peace and harmony the basis for relationships with others, encouraging co-operation and positive social interaction.

Stargazer Lily (Crystal Herbs) this exquisite pink and white lily helps link with the planetary energy of Venus and unconditional love.

Yarrow is a hardy perennial that grows everywhere – in grass meadows, pastures and by roadsides.  It bears pale pink or white flower heads from June to October and so is easy to spot at this time of year.   Yarrow is an extremely potent plant: it’s root secretions frequently activate the disease resistance of nearby plants in a garden.  It is said to intensify the medicinal action of other herbs when combined with them.

Archaeological evidence suggests that yarrow was valued as a ritual herb in ancient times.  It has long been associated with divination and clairvoyance and was considered sacred to the Druids who used the stems to predict the weather.  The Chinese also use yarrow stems in their oracle called the I Ching or ‘Book of Changes’.

Historically, yarrow has been employed mainly for its ability to staunch blood flow and treat wounds.  It was used for haemorrhaging due to it’s ability to seal up the injury and protect the body from infection.  The botanical name, Achillea, refers to the Greek legend of Achilles who used yarrow in an ointment during the Trojan War.  According to myth, the virtues of the herb were revealed to him by the centaur Chiron.

At birth, Achilles mother dipped him in the magical waters of the Styx so that he would be protected in battle.  Because she held him by the heel this part was not touched by the sacred water so his heel was therefore his only vulnerable area in battle.  Remarkably, the flower essence of Yarrow has a protective action too.  The Flower Essence Society makes three different types of Yarrow essence with slightly differing applications:

White Yarrow helps to create a luminous and strong auric field.  It helps when there is extreme vulnerability to others and to the environment.  A person may feel they depleted or drained by negative influences.
Pink Yarrow helps those with weak emotional boundaries who tend to be overly sympathetic to others.  It encourages loving awareness of others within a field of self-contained consciousness.
Golden Yarrow is suitable for those whose oversensitivity is triggered by social situations.  They may tend assume a false social persona in an attempt to protect themselves.  Golden Yarrow helps them to remain open to others and socially active without having to rely on drugs or alcohol.

Yarrow is just one example of an essence which can be used for protecting and strengthening the aura: there are several other essences that work in this way.  For more information or advice please contact me via email: annadaviesessences@hotmail.co.uk

Wildmedicine supply a Yarrow essence made in Bushy Combe on the slopes of Glastonbury Tor.  For more info go to www.wildmedicine.co.uk

The Hawthorn is also associated with the Celtic spring festival of Beltaine.  In pagan belief this tree is associated with fertility and was always traditionally used at marriages.  It was sacred to the various goddesses of spring (such as the Welsh Blodeuwedd) who are nowadays often amalgamated under the title of the May Queen.  Hawthorn also has associations with the fairy realm and is thought by some to be a doorway to the Otherworld

Hawthorn is a small tree and belongs to the rose family.  All members of the rose family generally have healing qualities associated with the heart and Hawthorn is no exception.  The pink and white colour of the flowers indicates a correspondence with the heart chakra. A herbal tincture made from the  tree contains chemical compounds which are sedative, anti-spasmodic  and diuretic and this makes it an effective regulator of arterial blood pressure.

Hawthorn flower essence can help to ease the pain of a broken heart.  Because it is such a key essence it has been made by many flower essence producers including Lord and Lady Essences who recommend it for  ‘extreme suffering and feeling cut off from the source of Love and Light’. It is thought to disperse deep grief which could lead to a precancerous state in the body.  It stimulates self-acceptance and belief in the healing power of love and encourages trust and forgiveness.

Glastonbury is famous for it’s several  Holy Thorn Trees which are said to have sprung from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea, planted on Wearyall Hill, when he brought the Grail to Avalon.  Essences made from the Holy Thorn tree in the Chalice Well gardens in Glastonbury can be purchased from their online shop, click on this link to visit:

http://www.chalicewell.org.uk/index.cfm/glastonbury/Categories.Home/category_id/4/subject/remedies

I am now delighted to be offering Aromatherapy Massage treatments at Natural Roots salon in Northload Street, Glastonbury.

The salon has a lovely relaxed vibe and strong ethical philosophy.  Natural Roots is owned and managed by Andrea Whitten and she has built up a loyal following over the years in Glastonbury with her unique service and wonderfully warm and caring personality. Andrea is passionate abrout providing a pampering and completely non-toxic, high quality hair care service.

Natural Roots offer a beautiful range of hair colours as well as special services such as adding magical iridescent fairy strands to your hair.  There are organic hair and beauty products for sale and gallery space for local artists.

Why not book a whole day of pampering?

You could begin with an aromatherapy massage in the cosy & convenient Therapy room where, in addition to Aromatherapy Massage I use flower essences such as lilac, dandelion and avocado in my treatments to disperse emotional and physical tensions from the mind and body.

Next you could choose a fresh look for your hair with Andrea, Jade or Lucy.  All cuts include a wonderfully soothing head massage and a herbal tea.  The final indulgence could be a manicure, pedicure, facial or wax with Lisa, Natural Root’s experienced Beauty Therapist.

For further information you can contact the salon :-

01458 835512

Natural Roots
9, Northload Street
Glastonbury
Somerset
BA69JJ

You can become a friend of Natural Roots on Facebook or check out their website:-

www.naturalroots-salon.co.uk

The appearance of sparkling drifts of snowdrops heralds the beginning of spring, closely followed by the primroses, daffodils and bluebells. These resilient little flowers can bring much needed hope, inspiration and upliftment after a cold and wintery time in our lives.

Snowdrop encourages simplicity, purity, innocence and trust, liberating us from old attachments so that we can embrace the new with optimism. Nurturing, comforting and supportive Primrose is also cleansing and helpful for making a fresh start after a period of depression or grief. Daffodil is another ‘spring clean’ essence which is particularly beneficial when we need a stronger connection to the guidance of our higher self.

Cooling and calming Bluebell has links with the throat chakra and can aid self-expression. Primrose, Bluebell and Snowdrop are available as essences from Wild Medicine or why not learn how to make your own essences at their weekend retreat at the Chalice Well in Glastonbury ‘Co-creating with Nature’ takes place 30th April-3rd May 2010, for more information go to

www.chalicewell.org.uk

Image Credit

Winter is a time for introspection and turning inwards. The recent snowfall, which made it difficult for us to get out and about as we usually do, may also have provided us with a much needed opportunity to slow down and reflect on life.   A pure white blanket of snow covering the landscape creates a profound silence and sense of stillness, the perfect time for contemplation.  A couple of times I went out and got my car stuck on ice, the wheels span round hopelessly no matter how hard I revved the engine! I realised that sometimes we need to stop struggling, relax and go with the flow.

In their book ‘The Astonishing Power of Your Emotions’ Esther and Jerry hicks say that the most common misunderstanding that prevents people from getting control of a situation and gaining their personal balance is the belief that “I need to get to where I want to be right now or as quickly as possible.”  They explain that when you feel an urgency to be somewhere else, you are pushing hard against where you are – that is upstream.  More importantly, you are discounting the power of the Stream and it’s power to take you effortlessly and easily to where you want to be.  Their advice: stop paddling (or revving!),  give in to the Stream and let it turn you and take you downstream towards the inevitable well-being and the fulfillment of your desires.

The Bach flower essence Vervain can be useful in this kind of situation. Vervain relates to the Soul’s potential for enthusiasm. In the negative Vervain state there is too much eagerness and a tendency to overdo things.  Mechthild Scheffer says of this state:

with such an excessive use of willpower they tend to draw to heavily on their energy reserves. They can become tense and nervous inside and out and can react angrily when things don’t progress as well as they expected.

Such people are so keyed up it would be difficult for them to relax even if they wanted to..  Vervain enables us to stop and take time out to we are poised to use our energy wisely when there is good cause.

Image Credit

]]> http://annadaviesessences.com/winter-introspections/feed/ 0 http://annadaviesessences.com/new-flower-essences/ http://annadaviesessences.com/new-flower-essences/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:31:46 +0000 darsan http://annadaviesessences.com/?p=119

Flower essences are now being produced all over the world.  We now have access to beautiful and exotic flowers and trees from the most untouched and sacred places on earth.  For every psychological ailment (from anxiety to depression) nature has provided at least one flower to address it.  I use the following brands of essences:-

Flower Essence Society (Quintessentials)
Healing Herbs
Crystal Herbs
Wild Medicine
Alaskan Gem Essences
Living Tree Orchid

Here is an article from European Spa Magazine August/September 09 which anticipates future trends in the world of natural therapies.

Flower remedies are now finding their way into the spa environment as the industry responds to the demand for a therapeutic experience that ventures beyond pampering.

Flower essence therapy was first discovered by ancient communities who noticed that the ingestion of early morning dew drops from flower petals, potentised by the sun, created a wonderful rejuvenating effect.  Recognising that flower blooms contained a large percentage of the plant’s life force, flower essences evolved as one of the first liquid medicines to harness this energetic healing potential.

Flower remedies can be used internally in the form of drops or topically as sprays and creams.  A spray with essential oils can help clear negative, heavy energy in a room  between treatments or to set a space for a wonderful healing therapeutic treatment.

Spraying a clients energy field prior to a treatment can help to disperse any stress or emotions that the client may be carrying.  Used within facial treatments they can help to release stored emotions, fatigue and worry.