Issue of the Week - March 30 - April 5

For those of you who have been following the 'Issue of the Week' for awhile, you know that I like to frame things in a positive way, although we usually seek 'help' when we don't feel positive. Most of the flower essence repertories list the negative state and so finding the positive is in itself a challenge, which I find interesting.

For this week, the issue is Contentment. I found two essences in the Desert Alchemy repertory (Spineless Prickly Pear Cactus and Crisis-Desert Emergency Formula), then a third that really spoke to me personally. I decided to include it.

This past weekend, I had a booth a small local Wellness Fair. Rather than my usual herbal products, I totally followed my guidance which instructed me to do something related to 2012. Preparations went smoother than usual. I got the table the last minute for less money than others paid. Everything came together fast and well. But I guess people are still not there yet. Those few who knew about 2012 wanted me to give them an answer. Those many who didn't put me through my paces. I was all talked out by the end of the day. But I do feel that many seeds were planted.

These essences really speak to me today.

Purple Aster

Spineless Prickly Pear Cactus

Crisis-Desert Emergency Formula

Issue of the Week - March 23 - March 29

Venus Retrograde in Aries (a fire sign)

I am pressed for time this week, since I am preparing for an event coming Saturday, March 28 in Sebastopol, CA. The Wellness Fair will be at the Masonic Lodge downtown Sebastopol. I got into the event at the last minute and there are several new products that I am trying to have ready by Saturday. So, rather than be late or post nothing at all, I am posting a short one.

This, actually relates the Venus being retrograde in Aries, because I am busily working on creating some new beautiful and sensuous herbal products made with chocolate. A lip-balm and a massage bar. I also made a flower essence blend for 2012 and tomorrow will make an aromatherapy spray for 2012.

I am featuring two blends from Desert Alchemy one for Venus, one for the element of Fire. Since we are all experiencing this transit somewhere in our charts, it affects us all. Focus on where Aries is in your chart and what (if anything) is aspected by this transit.

Venus Cycles Formula

Fire Element Formula

Issue of the Week - March 16 - March 22

Trust

Although we had this 'issue' before, I want to approach it again, because it is very important. Now that we have a new president, elected because we all wanted a change, many people are feeling that things should get better instantly. One problem with this is that the conditions that led to the problems did not materialize overnight and cannot be fixed overnight. Our fast-food and instant messaging culture has created the need to see instantanious results. Some things just need to fall apart completely so that new things can be born. There has to be room for the new. Unfortunately, what we often focus on is the loss and the destruction, not remembering that Spring comes every year.

Just look outside your window. Of course, I don't know where you live, but here in Northern California the yellow mustard has been blooming in the vineyards for at least a month already. Fruit trees are flowering, my daffodils are out in full blast. And it is still a miracle.

I realized this year when the first flower popped up that something had occurred this winter that made me feel that there would never be another flower. Somehow I had gotten so deeply into doom and gloom that nothing would or could improve. I had lost my sense of trust in the future.

Mind you, my life is good, but with my Moon in Pisces (see my astrology blog), I tend to feel the pain of the world on my shoulders and in my heart. I feel other people's suffering and sometimes I forget that it is not mine. I know there are things one can do to shield themselves and set up stronger boundaries, but this is one of the things I signed up to do in this life.

This tendency to feel other peoples' pain is one reason I decided to do this Issue series in the first place. I believed that since I felt other people's pain, perhaps I could, just as vicariously, help by taking flower essences on their behalf. I have been doing this with my family, friends and cats for years, so why not with other beings?

The issue that I knew was needed for all of us - again - is trust. There's nothing wrong with that. We need to be reminded that's all.

Just before I started writing this today, but had already selected the topic, I got a phone call that I have been waiting for 'in trust' for a month. I will be teaching my Mayan calendar, 2012 class at the Santa Rosa Junior College this summer! I am preparing a CD for the course that will soon be available for sale on my Maya 2012 blog.

Now on to trust. I felt called to look into the Desert Alchemy repertory for this one and found they have many essences for trust. I selected the following:

Transitions Formula

Agave

Crownbeard (yellow)

Thistle

Issue of the Week - March 9 - March 15

Appreciation

Last Friday Venus went retrograde (see my astrology blog for a post on that). One of the tasks for the next 45 days is to review what is of value to us. That includes both tangibles and intangibles - people, things, concepts, whatever. All of it. Do we really care about having... doing... going... being with... etc. Is friendship important to us? Honesty? Our spiritual path? Then if we decide that changes are to be made, it is suggested we wait until after Venus goes direct (April 17th or so) before we actually make any changes.

In the course of our re-evaluation, which means giving value again, or seeing if we want to give value again, we will probably discover that, indeed, there are parts of our lives, people in our lives that we really do care about. That we would rather have them in our lives than not.

Modern life 'teaches' us to be dissatisfied. To want more, to want to be more. We are encouraged to keep looking for something better. This can create a miserable life. No matter what we have, we feel something is missing. On top of that, some of us are taught to feel guilt because we have so much when others have nothing. We often end up wondering how we could feel so bad when we have so much and bad because we want more. Just bad all the time.

Instead, I feel we need to cultivate appreciation for what is. This does not mean we don't continue to strive, to try to accomplish. But it does mean that we love what we have (mind you, I am not including an abusive relationship or addictive, destructive behavior). Don't learn to love that. In cases like that, learn to LOVE YOURSELF more!

This actually leads to having more. I feel that the way it works is that if we cannot appreciate what we have, why should we be given more (that we won't appreciate)? Cultivating appreciation is not a magical method to get more, but it does ensure a level of satisfaction right now with what is rather than constant dissatisfaction. See?

Buttercup Ranunculus occidentalis (yellow)

Positive Qualities: Radiant inner light, unattached to outer recognition or fame.

Patterns of Imbalance: Feelings of low self-worth, inability to acknowledge or experience one's inner light and uniqueness.

In the natural evolution of the soul there are phases of life, if not entire lifetimes, which require that one's essential light be contained in a quiet, simple way. Although such humble expressions may not appear remarkable by outer standards, they are enormously important times

in which the soul gathers inward strength and consolidates its essence. It is important that such souls not judge themselves by conventional standards of achievement and success, becoming afflicted with feelings of self-doubt and diminished self-worth. Rather they need to recognize and honor the inner value and worth of what they truly are. In this way, they are able to shine forth with a radiant inner light that blesses and sanctifies even the most simple tasks and
obligations. Buttercup flower essence helps the soul to realize and sustain its beautiful inner light, which becomes a source of great healing and peace for all whom it contacts.

California Wild Rose Rosa californica (pink)

Positive Qualities: Love for the Earth and for human life; enthusiasm for doing and serving.

Patterns of Imbalance: Apathy or resignation inability to catalyze will forces through the heart.

California Wild Rose is among the most beautiful and fundamental of flower remedies,for it helps the soul to incarnate and really take hold of its responsibilities and tasks on Earth. It is often said that hate is not the opposite of love, only a distortion of it. Rather, it is apathy which is the true polarity of love. The ability to really care and to give oneself to life, to others, and to the Earth characterizes a truly loving soul. Many souls hold back or hesitate, not wanting to experience the pain or challenge of life on Earth. They find it hard to take emotional risks in relationships with others, preferring instead to anesthetize themselves from pain or suffering. Such souls can also suffer from deep-seated social alienation, being unable to rouse the inner fire of the heart toward compassionate caring and activity in the world.

California Wild Rose remedy is useful at all stages of life, but is
particularly helpful for adolescent and young adult souls that are longing to find positive ideals and seeking to serve the world through a calling or vocation. California Wild Rose stimulates the love forces in the heart, so that the soul finds enthusiasm for earthly life, worldly tasks and human relationships.


Sage Salvia officinalis (violet)

Positive Qualities: Drawing wisdom from life experiences, reviewing and surveying one's life process from a higher perspective.

Patterns of Imbalance: Seeing life as ill-fated or undeserved, inability to perceive higher purpose and meaning in life events.

Sage flower essence enables the Self to learn and reflect about life experience., particularly enhancing the capacity to experience deep inner peace and wisdom. This remedy addresses a natural distillation process which occurs as the healthy person ages. Throughout the course of life, trials and tribulations are placed in the soul's path so that it an distill impurities and volatile emotions, reaching an ever more clarified and refined state. Through the aging process, the soul should be able to attain increasing inner stability and peaceful acceptance of
its condition. If one is unable to experience this graceful maturation process, life events seem ill-fated and undeserved, without higher purpose or meaning .The Sage remedy can be helpful during various life phases and transitions, when one needs to step back and consider the unfolding events of life. Through Sage, the soul comes more in touch with its own spiritual meaning and purpose, and thus acquires profound wisdom to heal and counsel others.

Photos of flowers are from The Flower Essence Society website.

The commentary on the essences is from the Flower Essence Repertory by Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz

Issue of the Week

March 2 - March 8

Animal Care pt. 3

Aggression, Jealousy and Competitiveness

Just as we humans have to learn to get along, so do our pets. Remember that dogs evolved from wolves and our sweet little kitties evolved from large predatory cats like saber-toothed tigers.

Not only are they highly territorial hunters, they were natural enemies in the past, both after the same food sources. Today, dogs and cats may compete for their master's attention, a place on the couch or even for food. Competition my occur between animals of the same species. Remember, animals are naturally territorial.

I look at pictures of groups of cats lying in a heap on other peoples' blogs and I wonder how that happens. I have had cats all my life and I have never had cats sleep together unless they were mother and kittens or sometimes litter mates.

So here are some essences for the jealous, competitive and aggressive pets.

Cosmos - To encourage inter species communication; helpful where different animals are gathered; useful when training animals or establishing psychic bonds in one-on-one relationships; indicated for both animal and caretaker.

Holly - Jealous pets, especially when jealousy involves another pet vying for the attention of the caretaker.

Quaking Grass - Helping animals living together in a group or herd to adjust; especially important when a new animal has been introduced.

Snapdragon - For animals who bite; especially indicated for aggressive tendencies in horses such as biting and sucking.

Tiger Lily - For hostile or aggressive cats or dogs.

Vine - For animals which dominate younger or weaker animals.

Yes, you can use essences on horses. They respond well to them. Besides putting them in the mouth or in drinking water, you can put them in a spray bottle or in bath water. There are numerous ways to administer them.