I knew Hornbeam grew in Arkansas, and in my area. I had checked with many sources. Both books, and those knowledgeable about Arkansas trees. Looking for this tree (and some other Bach remedies) motivated me to join the Arkansas Native plant society, as well as taking the Arkansas Master Naturalist course. I was searching and searching. I took hikes, and found them, just not in bloom, or not in perfect bloom.

Then one day a friend who had been helping with the search said he thought that he had seen the tree at my dear friends Kayse and Gary's house, who lives right down the street from me. Ahhhhh - could it be that easy? Yes! Another case of everything that could go right, went right. It was growing right in front of their home, and it was in full glorious bloom.  

March 12th, 2017

Holly. It has my attention. They are growing all over town. I’ve been looking at them for weeks. There is one in my yard the size of a small tree that I have been loving, as well as every other holly I see around town. Especially since it is one of the few things that has stayed green during the winter. The one in my yard has been calling me to come look at it - sometimes several times a day.

And then, in the midst of a morning full moon meditation the message was: today’s the day. Everything was perfect, and (of course) everything that could go right went right. The day after a nice rain, so everything is clean and pure and the sun is out. Fully. And it’s all about LOVE. How perfect. It brings us more into our hearts, which is always useful. 

(Can you see the hearts!)

The Golden Bach’s hold new energetic light codes. Their DNA structure is advanced. They hold a new level of light and nourishment for us. They feed our new physical light bodies.

The timeliness of new essences here at Star Essence never ceases to amaze me. That magical and quintessential "moment of bloom" that Star speaks about relates to seasons and cycles far above and beyond the physical world. Whether it's a flower, a gemstone, or another vibrational offering, it always seems to show up in perfect divine timing when its gifts are of heightened relevance and value, both collectively and personally. (For "energetic forecasts" of upcoming/incoming frequencies and themes, we could often watch the essence producers of the world just as effectively as the astrologers, channels, psychics etc.!)

The new Golden Bach Flower Essences Star of Bethlehem and Rock Water were an especially prime example of this. Having the honor of preserving the Mother essences and collaborating with Star on the descriptive information, I had tuned in and immediately resonated with their gifts on a personal emotional level. So when I was guided to take a bottle of Star of Bethlehem home over the weekend, and add Rock Water to that same bottle, I assumed it was for my own process.

The next afternoon while at his restaurant management job, my soul partner Marlon cut his hand deeply on a broken champagne glass and had to have stitches. We were waiting for over 2 hours to be seen by a doctor, and initially he was very agitated and upset- not just from pain, but anger and sadness that it had happened and concern about his hand’s mobility, as he is a guitarist and would be starting classes at Musician's Institute in less than 2 weeks.

I administered drops of the Star of Bethlehem/Rock Water essence to both of us every 15 minutes, in addition to some Reiki energy healing. Within a very short amount of time Marlon completely calmed down and felt peaceful and optimistic about the outcome of his injury (Star of Bethlehem). Though he had been planning a rigorous schedule of guitar practice, he was able to let go of these high expectations of himself and trust that recuperation time would not impact his ability to perform in his classes (Rock Water). By the time we got into the exam room he was joking around with the nurses and doctor. I continued to give him more of the essences throughout the examination and treatment, and he maintained an excellent sense of humor throughout the whole thing and was in high spirits for the rest of the day. He also had extremely minimal pain or discomfort and was back on the guitar within a week!

We are both deeply grateful that the injury was so minor, and that we had Star of Bethlehem/Rock Water to support us. The bottle I made of these essences has already needed refilling a couple of times and we continue to utilize it daily! It has additionally been of immense value seeing us through some shocking but ultimately positive changes and events in our extended family.

I will be carrying these beautiful allies with me for some time!

Arielle is a long-time Star Essence employee and practitioner who has been using Star Essences for over 15 years. She also creates her own essences and alchemical blends which can be explored at www.arielixirs.com.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

This is a question we were all asked at least once as children. A firefighter? A ballerina? A secret agent? A teacher? A veterinarian for Ewoks on Endor? Hopefully your answer was allowed to be as wild as possible, without any imposed limitations or erroneous concepts of what is "realistic." (And if it wasn't, take a moment right now to rewrite the past: pop back into that moment like a knighted Fairy Godperson, embrace your Inner Child and exclaim, "What an absolutely brilliant idea!" ...Or whatever you need to hear...)

So now for the big question: what are you "being" now? Note that I didn't ask what you "do." And while we're on the topic, are who you are and what you do in alignment? If they're not at the moment, do you still have a strong sense of purpose or specific intentions for your life? (For the record, what you "do" can be serving food while what you are "being" is still a Wizard, Order of Merlin, First Class.) Perhaps you have lost track of yourself over time, and you keep riding that train to the end of the line with no idea where you're going, watching everyone else decisively board and disembark at their chosen place in the Universe.

This is where Wild Oat flower essence can be of assistance. It addresses personal fulfillment and life direction, offering potential for enhanced clarity and richness of purpose/experience. If one feels adrift with no trajectory it can reconnect you with your inner compass, allowing for expanded perspective and receptivity to opportunity. Likewise if one is overwhelmed by too many passions and possibilities, or at a crossroads, it can illuminate the pathway(s) that most serve your highest good, and that of the collective. After all, it is often not enough to merely have a function or purpose; it is meaning that brings true satisfaction to one's experience.

“We must earnestly learn to develop individuality according to the dictates of our own Soul, to fear no man and to see that no one interferes with, or dissuades us from, the development of our evolution, the fulfillment of our duty and the rendering of help to our fellow-men, remembering that the further we advance, the greater blessing we become to those around us.”

- Dr. Edward Bach

Wild Oat can move us from "survival" mode to "thrival" mode. As humanity and planet Earth collectively evolve during this pivotal time known- among other names- as Ascension, there may not always be certainty in our external experience. It is in the inner realm where Wild Oat can first help us to have that certainty, where we can align with a higher source and move in harmony to the unique rhythm of our personal drummer. The more that we cultivate and embrace this understanding and knowing in our inner world, the more that the outer world adjusts to match this beautiful new choreography that we're dancing!

Wild Oat can also be supportive in situations where one forgot to grow up, or is "sowing their wild oats" in perpetuity, stuck in a stunted or juvenile state of development. There may be fear around progressing to the next stage of life, or there may simply be inability to initiate change, if the individual was over-parented and didn't develop healthy self-will. In any case, Wild Oat can support the self-awareness and empowerment to gracefully progress along life's path with faith that there are always more delights to be had around the next bend.

In essence, Wild Oat reminds us that we are never done "growing up"- never done expanding, stretching, blooming, reaching for the light, taking in nourishment, enjoying the feel of a fresh breeze or a friendly pollinator. Thus, it is never too late to ask: "What do I want to be?"

Wild Oat is part of the Golden Bach Flower Essence Collection. It has recently been added to the Soul Purpose Constellation.

Arielle is a long-time Star Essence employee and practitioner who has been using Star Essences for over 15 years. She also creates her own essences and alchemical blends which can be explored at www.arielixirs.com.

*Child with unicorn photo by Kaboompics.com.

Part 18 of the series The Moment of Bloom ~ My Ecstatic Journey Making the Bach Flower Essences in a Golden Bowl 

I've been searching for the words... I'm not so sure that even now I have them, and I will say that the FEELINGS for me, of what happened are profound.

Making the Chicory essence was powerful. I felt the presence of the Chicory so strongly on the day I made it. I remember the feeling, and even being aware of the strength of the connection. There was also strong guidance for picking flowers in several locations. I sent out my newsletter announcing the Chicory, and when I got the e-mail from my friend saying that the "Chicory" photos were actually of Cornflower, I was pretty disconcerted, to say the least.

I went searching for answers. I centered myself and went to walk the labyrinth on my land. Right away- like immediately, and without even asking- the energy of the Chicory was in my face, very much in my energy field. That's the best way I can explain it. The message was specific that the Chicory energy was in the essence. There wasn't really a conversation. It was simply abundantly clear that I was to let this essence go out. (I would have been perfectly fine to "recall" the essence, and in fact I was prepared to do just that.)

Essences can be made without cutting the flower. Many essence makers do this. I have always done it by cutting the flower- because I didn't trust myself and my connection to the spirit of the plant, and just in case, there would be the physical action of cutting the flower into the water. I do my best to remain impeccable in this. I feel very good about my essence making, and I have often heard from my guides that I am a good essence maker- and that is why I was called on to make so many essences. (Currently I've made over 250 individual essences, and having so many products has made my business more complicated in many respects.) The plant spirits and gem guardians don't seem to be concerned about economics or logistics or storage or any of that. They are happy to have their gifts available.

I know this exercise with the Chicory is my lesson. With plants (and things that don't have mobility) there is an Oversoul. I'm not sure that is even the right word. The soul of the plant or gem is not held within it- thus the plant is not "killed" when we cut it. That is another reason I always have felt fine about cutting the flowers, and even eating them.

I had been wondering just what the Cornflower is about and why it was in the essence, and if I didn't even know it was there, was there a connection? And all sorts of other thoughts. There are times that I can tune in to the spirits and there are other times that it just doesn't happen. Right now it is around 4:30 AM with a visible eclipse happening. I could see it for most of it, and now it has gone below my horizon. Of course it is still happening whether I can see it or not.

There is some analogy with that.

So why do we have the Cornflower with the Chicory?

It deepens the power of the essence. It gives it a broader spectrum. It moves the vibration slightly to address the 21st century. 

The Chicory helps us to release the need to control, change or make others to be what we deem more perfect. The Cornflower helps us to release our idea of what perfection is.

It helps us to know that our idea of perfection and someone else's idea of perfection aren't necessarily the same, and it isn't necessary to change their idea. There is room for it all. The Cornflower gives another dimension to the essence. This Chicory essence isn't just about dealing with the need let everyone else know how to do it right, it's about the allowance of expanding what is "right." Chicory helps you feel okay about yourself, regardless of how you perceive that others are behaving, and with the Cornflower something deeper- a greater acceptance of everything- can happen.

The essence needed to be made the way it was because my rational mind would not have done it. I would have wanted the Chicory to be pure. I would have wanted it my way, and I wouldn't have had room to allow for it to be different from what I deemed "perfect."

Again the Chicory comes and shows me that the bottles with the drops are infused with its energy. The Cornflower laughs, because since I have the photographs of it, it doesn't have to "prove" anything to me.

I am also being shown the power of the drops, since yes, we can connect to the spirit of the plant and bring the energy to us (without taking drops), and it has taken me several weeks (and the full moon eclipse) to get to this beautiful connecting place. This place gratefully also comes on days I make essences, and I can't always conjure up the connection at at a moment's notice. I CAN take a bottle of essences and take the drops 4 x a day or more, and keep that frequency until my body continues to remember it- which can sometimes (and not always) take awhile- like days, weeks, months. Sometimes (often) taking drops is just easier than taking the time to make the connection with the plant spirit.

This is a whole lot of words, to explain a feeling that happened in seconds.

Take the essence. It will teach you, and expand your field of acceptance.

Part 17 of the series The Moment of Bloom ~ My Ecstatic Journey Making the Bach Flower Essences in a Golden Bowl 

The Oak tree was calling. I was feeling it. I started looking around and didn't see it in bloom yet, and still I kept hearing it. I looked at the oaks I had planted on my land. No blossoms. I looked up how old oak trees were when they bloomed. 20 years. So mine wouldn't be blooming any time soon- they'll need another 10 years. I sent out a message to a couple of friends that I figured might have some in bloom. I never heard from them. Then- I was with some lovely ladies doing a Blue Lotus meditation. Right after the meditation we were dreamily talking about what we had seen. We were deep in the magic of Egypt, when out of the Blue (pun intended), Diane says: "Have you seen my Oak tree outside in full bloom? It's amazing!"

I nearly fell off the couch. She said she just felt like she had to say it right then. Of course at that moment I knew the Oak Golden Bach Essence was about to happen.

The next morning Diane e-mailed me and said I was welcome to the Oak tree(s) any time. All of a sudden, just like in the past when I had a new boyfriend- I had to see that Oak tree. That was where all of the energy was. No matter that I had only a sliver of time before I was due at a meeting, and plenty of other things to do. There was time to make the drive up the mountain, and get back in time. No question, I had to follow that energy. It's the only thing I wanted to do. I just wanted to say Hi to the tree. I would go back when there was more time to actually make the essence.

I love that feeling, that feeling of being in love.

And this time it was with a tree.

I jumped in my car and drove up highway 154 in eager anticipation. I got there, and it was in radiant glory!! I could feel its happiness and embrace. It was in total bloom. Oak flowers everywhere.

It felt ecstatic that it was going to be an essence.

Then I remembered. When Diane moved in about 4 and a half years ago, the oaks were very sad, seemingly dying. She began working with them, and giving them essences. Lots of essences, especially Earth Balancing Trinity, and other essences as they called. Now, 4 1/2 years later- have a look.

The trees are so happy to give back. They have been nurtured with essences, and now they get to BE one. They kept telling ME how grateful THEY were.

Such a special journey. That feeling of being in Love, for me, was such a great sign that I'm doing the right thing.

My original plan was not to say anything about this, to wait until this project was complete, to wait until I had made all 38 essences. Now I am having the strong feeling to share this with you concurrently, as it goes along... To write while I am in the midst of this passionate, mystical and enchanting journey. The journey of finding these particular 38 flowers in their moment of bloom.

The clear message

It was 4 or 5 years ago that I received a message.  Even though I am sometimes a poor historian in terms of timing, I remember this particular message clearly and vividly. 

I was in Colorado with my sister Deb, attending an 8 day retreat with Sai Maa- a beloved guru/master/lightbeing. It was probably around day 5 and we were in silence for the day. We had what was for me, the longest, deepest meditation ever... with 400-500 people, for around 3 hours. I couldn't get out of my seat (or didn't want to) for at least 30 minutes afterwards. Finally, I slowly got up and left the hall and I walked outside and sat by the creek. There I began getting a very powerful message to

"make all of the Bach essences in a golden crystal bowl." 

The spirit of Dr. Bach came to me, as well as the master St. Germaine- urging me to do this. It was loud and clear, and quite beautiful, intense and specific. I noticed that I was sitting under an Aspen tree. Aspen was the first essence- a Bach essence- that I ever took (early 80's). The Aspen also seemed to have a lot to say that day, along with Dr. Bach, St. Germaine and Sai Maa. Later that evening (when we were no longer in silence) I spoke with William, one of the owners of the crystal bowl company Crystal Tones, about this idea and we discussed it for hours and hours. We both agreed that there were a Godzillion great reasons to do this project.

We must must anchored it into the grids that night- with our energy and enthusiasm.

The Golden Bach essence project stayed in my consciousness, even though many times I let it go, for a number of reasons. The immediacy of it faded away. The energy around it waned. It began to feel like too much work (definitely a sign not to do it).

When I was in Chile in 2009, I mentioned making the Bach essences to Ivan (our Chile distributor, who had brought me there to teach) and he didn't seem too interested. When I was back in May of 2012 to teach again, Ivan asked me about the Golden Bachs. I told him I had pretty much put that plan aside- and besides, even he hadn't seemed that interested. He told me in no uncertain terms that I should follow my own intuition and not listen to him or other people. That opened the page back up, put the concept back into my consciousness. Though the energy had waned, and then began waxing again,  l still didn't do anything about it (like ordering that expensive Golden Bowl).

On 12-12-12 I had 44 people in my yurt on my Chaska Norte land doing a special mahavakya (great sayings) meditation with the Andean Orchid Flower Essences. On 12-21-12 group of us walked the labyrinth and meditated and enjoyed that beautiful down-pouring of sweet energy. Those events and the two weeks in between were extraordinary and wondrous times.

Then- bam- right after 12-21-12 the golden bowl kept flashing into my consciousness. It was relentless. Then golden mustard flower began covering the hills around Santa Barbara and calling out to me. The message was that the Golden Age has begun, and it is time to make the Golden Bach essences. These particular essences wanted to be made after the shift in energy... and… that was NOW. The Golden Bowl would anchor these essences into the Golden Age!

The golden bowl

As it happened I divinely had the money to buy the bowl, and I called to order it. I was planning to get the smallest one. They come in notes, and align with specific chakras. The only small one they had was a third eye chakra. I ordered it. I had a vision of the bowl being the heart chakra (of course) and figured spirit would give me the right one- so third eye it was. Later I realized there was a mix-up and they were sending me the wrong type of gold bowl. I called again. The only bowl they had in the type that I wanted was 10 inches. I thought that was bigger than I wanted. I asked what note…. F sharp. Heart Chakra. Decision made. Perfect bowl on the way. It really wanted to be bigger, to transmit this huge beam of golden light. Sometimes it is useful to come to a wall to get me to turn a corner, to get to the right place. It was a bit circuitous to get to that one, and when it came it was love at first sight. It was the right bowl.

Here is something master sound healer Jonathan Goldman says about it:

"The Gold Bowl emits a frequency of Golden Light. Along with the extraordinary sound it creates, this golden light assists in making the bowl a transmitter of wonderful energy!!!!"

When the Golden Bowl arrived it got consecrated in the Star Essence office for one night, hanging out there with all of the essences. I'm not sure who was transmitting to whom. Then it spent two nights with me on my altar, then it was ready to get to work. Out of curiosity, I recently looked up what Crystal Tones had to say about their magnificent golden bowl that I have fallen in love with:

"A softly gleaming, elegant classic bowl infused with 24-K Gold, the energy of royalty, success and soul expansion. Its mirrored interior reflects a magical  golden hologram, a visual  doorway into crystalline consciousness that creates a golden sound temple in any setting. The Solid Gold Classic Bowl holds all master conductor frequencies for sonic reconnective patterning, molecularly energizing the body and enriching life experiences –a conscious sonic walk in Light."

Wow- that's pretty cool.

The message I received regarding cleaning the Golden Bowl between essence mothers is that playing the bowl will clean it. Of course I rinse it out (and sometimes dry it with a blow dryer). The toning clears out the energy of the previous essence.  Cool.  That was easy!  That was Magic!

The golden essences

I am in awe of the fact that so far I have 13 of the Bach flowers growing on my land.   When I bought the land in 2002 the only things growing on the land were a few natives- mostly poison oak, poison hemlock, thistle and nettles.  For trees there were toyon, lemonade berry and elderberry (and willow, although I didn't know it until recently, and I'm not sure when the aspen began to grow)... Over the years of clearing other natives began to appear.

The definitions of the Golden Bach essences are brief. There is a plethora of information about all of these essences available, and I encourage you to check it out. I've been asking what the gold bowl does, and can only say that I am told that it is giving an added benefit of expanding the octaves that the essences work in, and also giving us the frequency of gold amplified by the sun. 

Our first 9 Golden Bach Essences have been very well received- and now there are many more.

Click the links below to read the individual creation stories of the Golden Bach Flower Essences (so far)...

1. CRABAPPLE Essence 3/14/13
2. WILLOW Essence 3/15/13
3. WILD OAT Essence 3/17/13
4. MUSTARD Essence 4/2/13
5. ASPEN Essence 4/7/13
6. ROCK ROSE Essence 4/12/13
7. WALNUT Essence 4/17/13
8. PINE Essence 4/20/13
9. HONEYSUCKLE Essence 4/26/13
10. OLIVE Essence 5/1/13
11. GORSE Essence 5/3/13
12. VINE Essence 5/4/13
13. VERVAIN Essence 5/11/13
14. BEECH Essence 5/15/13
15. CLEMATIS Essence 5/24/13
16. CERATO Essence 5/28/13 
17. OAK Essence 3/30/14
18. MIMULUS Essence 4/22/14
19. WILD ROSE Essence 5/4/14
20. CHICORY with Cornflower Essence 6/2/14
21. ROCK WATER Essence 3/5/15
22. STAR OF BETHLEHEM Essence 3/22/15
23. HEATHER Essence 5/24/15
24. IMPATIENS Essence 10/17/15
25. CHERRY PLUM Essence 3/18/16

We also have a 24K Gold gemstone essence that can also give us that magnificent and powerful golden energy, as well as the Freedom/Libertad Andean Orchid Essence, that has a chunk of 24K gold in the mother essence- holding the frequency of gold in that essence as well.

We are in the Golden Age. Something is up with that.

Part 16 of the series The Moment of Bloom ~ My Ecstatic Journey Making the Bach Flower Essences in a Golden Bowl 

The Clematis had been spotted in the wild by Aanjelae (Star Essence Office Priestess and Customer Service Angel) on her long weekend hikes. I was very happy to know it was there, and the time to go on the search didn't seem to be there. Then Lori Ann (my friend and botanist) told me she has it growing in her yard.  I went and had a look.  It was very beautiful.  After that the purple clematis kept coming to me- I could see it so often when I closed my eyes.  I kept thinking, should I go on that hike and find it in the wild?  Would that be best?  The Clematis from the yard was relentless.  It said, Make it easy on yourself.  The energy of the wild clematis is going to come and offer it's energy as well.

So again, I went to Lori Ann's amazing garden, and made the Clematis, and it was super cosmic!

I kept seeing holograms of the flowers hovering above the bowl. It was gorgeous. And indeed, I could feel the energy of the Clematis from the mountain trail move in. It was a beautiful thing, as I could see and feel the energy move in through Aanjelae's heart and into the bowl. I'd never had that happen before. Then energies from clematis everywhere started following- entering the bowl. They came in like little gentle energetic angel butterflies. It was very different than when the pines were entering the bowl- which was more like a zoom or a whoosh.

Part 15 of the series The Moment of Bloom ~ My Ecstatic Journey Making the Bach Flower Essences in a Golden Bowl

Beech came quickly and easily, at my botanical friend Lori Ann's yard.There it was, right in bloom- both male and female flowers going into the essence. I could feel the Beech tree energy entering me as I was driving up the mountain to her home. Beech trees from all over coming to share and add their energy.

As I sat and watched the bowl I saw a golden orb moving around in front of me, and I'm wishing I could have somehow documented it...  It was about the size of a ping pong ball. It looked like a golden dandelion floating. It was fun. I don't know if it had any other message.

Afterwards Dr. Bach was clapping his hands and saying, Well done! It is such a joy to feel Dr. Bach's presence so powerfully as I embrace this project. I feel such support from the higher realms.

NEXT: Making the CLEMATIS Essence

Part 14 of the series The Moment of Bloom ~ My Ecstatic Journey Making the Bach Flower Essences in a Golden Bowl

Yesterday the clouds seemed to be following my mood. I had a lot of concerns. I kept telling myself to choose the thought that would make me feel better and not to dwell on the stuff that was bumming me out. I wanted to make the Vervain flower essence. The flower was certainly ready. I went to look and was stunned with their subtle beauty- all there, saying, Choose me- I am ready.

What wasn't ready was me. As my mood would get funky, the clouds would cover the sun. Then when the sun would come out, I would think, Maybe I will go ahead and make that essence... and the cloud would come back. Not today. I needed a mood upgrade. This flower essence making stuff is so co-creative.

Today I have come to peace with many things. The sun is out. A great day for Vervain.

NEXT: Making the BEECH Essence