"Heaven on Earth" Astrology and the Flower Essences

Heaven on Earth: Healing with Astrology and the Flower Essence Remedies nnby Barbara Schermer
Astrological Consultant, Flower Essence Practitioner

The T-shirt slogan, "I'm out of Estrogen and I have a gun" would have been apt in describing my emotional state in the fall of 1996. A particularly nasty astrological transit--transiting Pluto (in Sagittarius) was opposing Venus (in Gemini) in my natal chart. I was experiencing feelings of anger, even instantaneous reactive rage-feelings so intense, so seemingly out of my control that they were scaring me. There was a complex of energy in me that I had to figure out how to handle. I knew that the Bach flower essence Cherry Plum was effective at treating reactive conditions. I hightailed it to Merz's homeopathic pharmacy in Lincoln Square, bought the essence, sat in my car, popped the seal, and , on the spot, slipped the recommended dosage under my tongue. I breathed deeply and just observed what I was feeling. Within fifteen minutes I was nearly calm. And over the next three weeks, taking the cherry plum remedy regularly, I processed those intense feelings and sighed in deep relief that I hadn't acted out my rage. For me, this was yet another confirming experience in a twelve years' journey of working with the flower remedies.

In the 1930s, the English physicia
Dr. Edward Bach observed that we can be deeply touched, even healed, through our connection with nature. Our ancestors knew this. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, knew this. (Hippocrates' genius was not only in his diagnoses and treatments but in his insight into the role that our mind and emotions have on producing and maintaining good health. He knew that healing required a calm and balanced mental state and a healthy home and work environment, as well as the use of over 400 medicinal and healing plants and herbs.)

Like Hippocrates, Dr. Bach saw that his patients' physical illnesses seemed to be rooted in negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, anger, and resentment, and negative psychological states such as insecurity and poor self image. He says, "True healing involves treating the very base of the cause of suffering; therefore, no effort directed to the body alone can do more that superficially repair damage. Treat people for their emotional unhappiness, allow them to be happy, and they will become well." 1

Acting on this understanding, Dr. Bach engaged in extensive research and testing. In all, he identified thirty-eight flowering plants and trees that had a profound effect on underlying emotional and psychological states and, therefore, on the recovery from illness in his patients. (Essences are 100% natural, are a distillation of essential oils of flowers, have no side effects, can be used with medications, and are non-habit forming. They are typically preserved in 25% brandy --though they may be stabilized with vinegar for the alcohol-sensitive--and taken orally.) Bach continues, "As the emotions stabilize and general health improves, the illness begins to dissipate. This seems to be accomplished by the triggering of mechanisms that stimulate the internal healing processes." 2

The former New York City Commissioner of Mental Health, J. Herbert Fill agrees-"I deal with emotional problems as well as physical ones. In my observations, the [flower essence] remedies appear to work on a much deeper level, apparently assisting the individual in resolving deep-rooted conflict, as opposed to simply relieving the symptoms." 3

The flower essences have been administered for over sixty years in all parts of the world, in all cultures, to adults, children (even infants), and animals. Sixty years of successful case histories have confirmed the effectiveness of the Bach flower essences. (More essences have since been developed, for example, Califo
ia, Hawaiian, Australian, Himalayan and Desert Alchemy flowers.) After twelve years of personal experience, I, too, have seen the efficacy of these essences in my own life-helping me in dealing with stress or handling a crisis, healing problematic or painful issues from the past, maintaining a sense of balance in a time of change, and changing my perspective and outlook.

In particular, I have found that the flower essences can beautifully supplement astrology. First, flower essences can be used to temper the effects of an astrological influence, to establish better internal balance and a sense of harmony. Certain flowers and gem essences seem to have affinities with specific signs and planets. For example, Impatiens or Vervain are helpful for those with a strong natal Mars (Aries types) or who have an emphasis on the element of fire in their chart (those that tend to be more energetic, aggressive, impatient). If you need more Mars/Aries/Fire energy, Cayenne, or Mountain Pride might be good choices.

Second, as I have come to realize over the years, the experiences of certain astrological configurations can be enhanced by use of the flower essences. The key to using the essences in this connection with astrology is to take the just the right remedy at the just the right time .

One of the dictates of both the hermetic and alchemical traditions is that we must perform the transforming "work" of deep psychological and spiritual transformation, at the kairos, the specifically auspicious moment established by astrological reckoning. In a similar manner, taking the appropriate flower essence remedy at the auspicious healing time can oftentimes produce profound, even immediate, effects.

For example, Olive or Hornbeam is useful for long-term (two year) challenging Neptune aspects, especially to the Sun or Moon. (The experience we tend to have then is either a slow drain of energy or a sense of ego diffusion that can be most disconcerting, especially for those with strong control needs.) Either of these remedies would be helpful for the physical and emotional endurance needed. Sunflower might be another choice to help give strength and confidence and a sense of greater self-containment and control. If, on the other hand, Neptune is in harmonious contact to your natal chart planets, you may then want to open Neptune states up by taking the planet essence, Neptune from the Star essence remedies. It may be just what you need to increase your awareness of the subtle planes and to enhance your contemplative and meditative mind. (As I am writing this article, I am taking the planet essence Jupiter for the exact three week period that the transiting Jupiter (in Pisces) is in trine to my Mercury (in Cancer.)

There are several remedies for challenging Satu
influences, depending upun which of Saturn's "gifts" we are receiving--fear, self-doubt, worry, or negative thinking. For especially demanding times when we have heavy work loads, the pressure of deadlines, difficulty with a boss or a "world weary" feeling, a dose of Saguaro from the "Desert Alchemy" flower essences may be called for.

To me, the most important remedies are those that treat the myriad conditions of Venus and our frequently painful or difficult issues of love and sexuality. There are remedies like Bleeding Heart, and Borage that are powerful heart cleansers and strengtheners--they relieve the grief of a broken heart or Penstemon to give us strength and endurance to see us through a difficult period in our intimate relationships. Using the appropriate Venus essences at times when there are harmonious Venus influences can help us to feel more peace and joy. It can give us glimpses into the Plato inspired vision of Love, Beauty, and Goodness as real presences in our world. Many of, I am sure, would welcome improvements in the areas that Venus rules. Often the right essence seems like a gift from the Goddess, herself.

Blended essences of the flower, gem, and star remedies can be prescribed for short- or long-term support, to facilitate change in both core conditions (natal chart patterns) and in our current conditions (the transits). For example, in December, a new client "Susan" (born July 8, 1965) came to me with this familiar story. She had been in a repressive five-year marriage to a man intent on both controlling and belittling her. The result was her withdrawing into herself, falling into a depression, and feeling guilt and blame for all that was going wrong in their relationship. Well, right on time, with transiting Pluto (in Sagittarius) sextile to her Mars (at 5 degrees of Libra), and Uranus (in Aquarius) in trine to it, she found a liberating, empowering new relationship which catalyzed not only the opening of her heart but also brought forth a new and vital resurgence of her sexuality.

Together Susan and I identified her modus operandi with men and arrived at what she felt was her core issue-that she had always been passive in response to her own needs and had difficulty speaking up for herself. (With Mars in its detriment sign, this is a common manifestation.) Her realization? To start owning her power. She needs to find the balance point between her own deep needs and those of her partner. We even "arm wrestled" together a moment, to have her feel what it is like to have these two places within herself, one of strength and one of passivity.

We concluded this process by deciding together on appropriate remedies-the planet essence of Mars, both to strengthen and to enhance the natal chart position as well as to help stimulate the positive transiting Pluto and Uranus aspects, and the gem essence Obsidian to strengthen the Pluto trine. We added Pine for her guilt and feelings of blame, Walnut, "the linkbreaker," to help her restructure her problematic relationship pattern, and Cayenne to help her energize her Libra Mars and catalyze her own sense of power. I also suggested that she "act as if she had a Mars in Aries, the sign in which Mars rules." And, finally, I recommended that she take the remedy faithfully through the Pluto station point on March 8, 1998.

After three months of this practice Susan reports that she has separated from her abusive husband and moved into her own apartment. She feels she is more self-confident, more in control of her own life and not so easily influenced influenced by the attempts of either man to control her life. She also related a recent dream, in which her irritated husband knocks on the door of her new apartment. She answers it with a full grow
Newfoundland dog at her side. The husband takes one look at this new "Marsian" accomplice, then turns and runs for his life!

In conclusion, it is easy to see that the flower essences are becoming increasingly popular as more and more people experience them firsthand. More and more of my clients now know about them, and when I ask if they would be interested in my formulating a flower essence at the end of our session, they know what I mean. Even my skeptical "scientifically-trained" husband has felt their positive effects in his life. Now he looks forward to his morning flower essence as well as his Starbucks coffee while he's reading his email. And my own interests have evolved from experimenting with the many different remedies available into a growing passion for gardening to produce the ingredients for my own. I am now learning how to make my own distillations from my own garden flowers. Just yesterday I planted Lavender (for calming) and Bleeding Heart (for the pain of loving) at just the time of the exquisite conjunction of Venus and Jupiter in the dawn sky. For me, "heaven on earth" is becoming part of my daily reality. nnn