In this post I thought I would have a closer look at using flower remedies during these strange times we all find ourselves in.
Flower remedies are a simple tool which I have always found effective for working with emotional states that we are struggling to shift. I experience them as gently opening wherever there is stuckness and tension, allowing us to gain deeper insights and supporting the natural flow of being. Flower remedies aren’t for everyone, they are an energetic medicine which doesn’t appeal to those whose approach is purely scientific and, to my knowledge, there’s no research on their effectiveness.
I have found them to be valuable allies in my practice and my own life however and I love the process of making them, finding I gain deeper insights and a strengthened connection to each plant I work with. If this resonates with you then I hope the information here will encourage you to have a go at working with them or making your own. I have detailed instructions on how to make a flower remedy in this post here.
During April the spring flowers are blooming all around us and, as the weather here on the south coast has been sunny, it’s a perfect time to make a remedy. In this post I wanted to focus mainly on flowers that are available right now and those listed here are ones I feel to be especially useful for this time. I’ve included flowers that are common and will likely be found growing wild in many people’s gardens as obviously we cant go and make remedies in public spaces at the moment. I know many don’t have a garden though so I’ve also included some helpful Bach flower remedies at the end of this post which can be ordered online.
Blackthorn – Transformation
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) is in full bloom at the moment and is a great remedy for these shifting and uncertain times. It gets its common name from the dark wood and fierce thorns which stand stark in the winter hedgerow.
In spring the white blossoms appear before the leaves making a dramatic contrast and symbolising the shifts that this remedy can help us to facilitate. The following information is taken from my previous post on Blackthorn which you can read here.
For me Blackthorn is the tree of transformation; from winter to spring, from darkness to light, from introversion to extroversion, from sadness to joy. It honours each part of the cycle as equal without only valuing the experiences that feel most pleasant. It is a great remedy for everyone to take as we emerge from winter but can be supportive all year round for those who are experiencing change or feel overwhelmed by difficult emotions. Blackthorn will support us with moving through these whilst also helping us to go deep within ourselves to find the lessons in all our experiences.
Primrose – Tenderness
Primrose (Primula vulgaris) is looking beautiful right now and the wild yellow flowers make a lovely soothing remedy.
Primrose is for helping us to hold ourselves in tenderness and kindness when difficult feelings arise. It is a wonderful remedy for the inner child and allows for a feeling of safety and care to envelop us in a gentle embrace. It encourages a warm hearted openness to help us move past self doubt and shame. It is a lovely remedy for children who need some support to feel safe and for calming anxieties. Primrose is a great friend for helping us to be more comfortable in ourselves.
Violet – High Sensitivity
This remedy was made with the sweet violet (Viola odorata) which is finishing its flowering period now but the dog violet (Viola riviniana) is in bloom and can also be used. The remedies would likely have some differences but I feel they are both suitable for people who identify as highly sensitive. The following comes from a post I wrote on sweet violets here.
The flower remedy is a particularly special preparation which holds many great lessons for us. It is for those who have a very pure vision of the way they feel the world should be. It is a remedy of the imagination, for promoting and holding a clear and positive vision and returning us to a sense of child-like joy and wonder that can heal despondency and the fatigue caused by living in a challenging world. The sweet violet helps us stay centred in the place where love and imagination have the power to manifest physically and create a better world as a result.
The upper petals are open to give and receive but the perfect gold centre is protected, so the visions held cannot be compromised by the challenges of this world. The fine veins running through the petals are like nerves, indicating the extreme sensitivity of the violet personality. Their heads seem to hang heavy indicating how weighed down these folk can feel by the suffering they see around them. They grow close to the ground indicating how the remedy can help in grounding our dreaming into the here and now and stabilising us when times are tough. The large heart shaped leaves unfurl from the centre enabling us to open our hearts to all life’s experiences whilst remaining equanimous, grounded and free.
Forget- me-not – Remember your Gifts
There are a variety of myths about how Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) got it’s name, tales of drowned lovers and knights heading off to battle. The one that stands out to me though is an old Christian story in which God (or in some versions Adam) was walking through the garden of Eden asking each of the flowers their names. One small blue flower had forgotten who it was and so God named it the Forget-me-not.
This to me very much reflects the use of this essence which is for remembering who we are and the gifts we have to share with the world. Nearly all of us forget ourselves through social conditioning and the lure of the mind and take very convoluted paths back to remembering the simplicity of our true nature. Forget-me-not can help us to navigate this terrain and then in turn, allow us to communicate what is unique about our own expression in the human experience. This seems especially important right now.
Daisy is another excellent choice at this time as it lends us a sense of childlike resilience and an enthusiasm to keep going and to keep seeing the best in our circumstances and in others. Dandelion is also a wonderful remedy for resilience and is very grounding and supportive. It helps us to weather the storm with our feet planted firmly in the earth and can bring strength and warmth even in the midst of challenge.
As May comes around, the Apple and Hawthorn blossom will begin to flower and both these are exceptional remedies for healing the heart along with the Wild Rose which flowers later in the month and into June.
For those that have access to the Bach flower remedies or wish to order them in, here are a few that may be helpful in our current circumstances.
Flower remedies for frustration: Impatiens for feeling impatient and frustrated, Beech to encourage tolerance.
Flower remedies for change and transitions: Walnut for navigating change and protecting against outside influences, Wild oat for not knowing which direction to take in life.
Flower remedies for fear and anxiety: Aspen for vague, unknown fears, Mimulus for known fears (those we can name), Cherry plum for fear of being out of control, Red chestnut for fear for the wellbeing of others, Rock rose for terror.
Other useful remedies include Star of Bethlehem for shock, Elm for feeling overwhelmed by responsibility and Mustard for feelings of deep gloom.
Bach flower remedies are available here and here (I have no affiliation to either company) and there are also many other flower remedy collections now available.
Do let me know in the comments if you try any of these or have any you would add to this list, I’d love to hear your insights and experiences.
Thank you Lucinda 💆♀️
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Lovely post and great information. So appreciated during these times!
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Would Cowslip, Primula veris blossoms be appropriate too? Would they have similar actions/qualities as the Primula vulgaris?
As always, thank you Lucinda.
Konstantina
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Lucinda, I believe that more and more people are turning to nature in these troubled times. Forget-me-nots are among my favourite flowers.Thank you for a wonderful post and I hope you and your dear ones stay healthy and safe.
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Some really great remedies, thank you so much for sharing
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