When I ran Women’s Retreats, I often found that simply getting all my ducks-lined-up so that I could get to the start line of the retreat in one piece took it all out of me. By Day 1 I’d be completely depleted and so I’d spend days playing catch-up. And I could see that something similar was also happening for the women attending. Instead of arriving in a fresh state where they could grow their wellness as they had planned, many would arrive completely burnt-out. So, I began to use Flower Essences during the Retreats to overcome these problems, both for myself and the other participants.
Whether you’re attending a retreat, a workshop or any other intense program Flower Essences are the perfect answer to get you to the start line in the right state, physically, emotionally and mentally.
Diving deep within yourself during a retreat, or other intense event, can bring up all manner of often unexpected experiences from your past. Or it may uncover difficult beliefs for you to work through, integrate and release. Sometimes the emotions that are stirred up surprise us with their intensity and power. Sometimes we had no idea at all that they even existed let alone where they come from. Flower Essences are powerful healers for the emotional body and when these scenarios occur, they can help support and assist you to face the memories, thoughts and emotions so you can work through them with greater ease.
Australian Bush Flower Essences
There are many different ranges of Flower Essences. I have found the Australian Bush Flower Essences range offers many beneficial remedies particularly suitable for these events. They are a powerful tool to include as part of your self-care kit during a retreat or workshop. The range incorporates the energy of the oldest land on the earth, Australia, with the energy of a modern society and I’ve found it benefits everyone, no matter where they live, as we are all trying to integrate our ancient past held in the cells of our body, with our modern life.
There are twenty-three different Combination Essence mixtures of the range which are very easy for beginners to use. Here are just a few of these remedies including those that may be particularly relevant for a self-care wellness retreat.
I have also included some of the single remedy flower essences in the Australian Bush Flower Essences range that specifically support goal setting.
Whether your challenge is an emotional response to a past experience, or a block arising from thoughts and beliefs you hold the method for using the essences is the same. Read through the description of each remedy essence. Select the one that seems to most closely fit the situation, challenge or emotions you are facing.
To take the remedy, twice a day, place seven drops under your tongue or spray into your mouth if you are using the spray formulas. Continue for up to fourteen days but stop once you feel a shift take place even if it’s after just a few doses.
For more information and to see the complete range check the Ausflower site.
General Essences for Retreats and Workshops
Combination Essences
Space Clearing Essence
Space Clearing Mist clears and revitalises stagnant spaces. It creates sacred and harmonious environments by purifying and releasing environments with built-up negativity. It’s great for clearing tense situations and environments and restoring balance. Spray it around the AirBnB, hotel room or wherever you are staying as soon as you arrive. Spray it through your home if you’re staying in for an online event to remove any disharmonious energy build-up.
Calm and Clear Essence
If you’re overcommitted with no time for yourself Calm and Clear Essence will help you find the time and space for yourself to wind down and enjoy relaxing pursuits, even with external pressures and demands going on. It brings a sense of calm and peacefulness and assists you find fun again.
If you start your retreat feeling overwhelmed, burnt out or in any stressed state, take some Calm and Clear Essence at the start to help you relax and wind down so you get the most out of it.
Cognis Essence
Cognis Essence brings clarity and focus when you feel scattered and overwhelmed. It balances the intuitive and cognitive processes and helps you to integrate ideas and information. Excellent when there are processes included in your retreat that require intense focus. It improves your access to your Higher Self and all your past knowledge and experiences to assist with problem-solving and assimilating ideas.
Emergency Essence
Excellent for any emotional upset. Emergency Essence is comforting and has a calming effect. Sometimes when we are doing personal development work, old stuff can be triggered causing emotional reactions. Emergency Essence is great to have on hand for these moments to provide comfort, reassurance and courage as it assists your ability to cope.
Trauma: Occasionally memories that are held in the subconscious can emerge, especially if they are associated with trauma. If this happens, take Emergency Essence for temporary support until you can see a Counsellor or other professional to help you work through this.
Creative Essence
If you have creative blocks and inhibitions Creative Essence will inspire your creative and emotional expression, helping to clear the blocks and find creative solutions in all of life’s pursuits.
If creativity is a focus for your retreat consider this essence if it fits your situation.
These are just a few of the many Australian Bush Flower Remedies. I suggest you take a look at the full range in case there is another remedy that addresses your other challenges.
Flower Essences For Goal Setting
The following Essences provide excellent support for the process of Goal Setting. You will not need all of them but if one or even a few match your situation they will remove blocks and open the path for you to set your goals with clarity.
1. Conceiving The Goal
Bush Fucshia – enhances intuitive abilities; communication in the dream state and recall on awakening
Boronia – enhance creative visualisation (the key purpose of the essence); brings the mind in harmony with consciousness to powerfully access consciousness; creates clarity of mind
Black Eyed Susan – for people filling up their life with activity; helps them recognise the need to be quiet in order to reflect and recharge
2. Breaking The Goal Down into Steps
Jacaranda – brings focus when you or your thoughts are scattered; doing many different things but never finishing them
Sundew – for when you forget ideas; for grounding and making an idea practical
Paw Paw – for those overcome by the amount of information they’re getting; helps integrate large amounts of data and information
Kapok – feeling that it is all too difficult; helps break the goal down so you can see each of the steps; to facilitate what the next step is
3. Make The Goal Tangible, Foster Commitment and Reduce Sabotage
Green Spider Orchid – helps you to keep your goals within and only share them later when the time is right
Wedding Bush – to create single-minded commitment to the goal
Five Corners – clears sabotage (this remedy may need 1-2 weeks to clear the sabotage); you don’t start a project because of the fear of revealing yourself as inadequate.
Sunshine Wattle – when you expect there to be lots of struggle involved, which holds you back
Southern Cross – if you feel everything is against you; you feel like a ‘victim’ of life
There are also other essences to assist and support the next and subsequent stages as you begin the project which help you maintain momentum. And there are yet others to lock in that momentum and inspire you to achieve more once you do attain your goal. If you find you later need these essences, you’ll find more information on the Ausflowers website, in the book Australian Bush Flower Essences by Ian White, or his subsequent books, or by consulting an Australian Bush Flower practitioner for advice.
