Flower Essences

One of the turning points in my life, as an herbalist, came the day I made my first flower essence. It was in the Summer and the Lady's Mantle was in full flower. I was at one of my herbal apprenticeship class weekends. Keep in mind that this was over a decade ago! I was having my heart and mind opened with all kinds of new ideas about the ways of healing spirits.

Making that essence awakened within me a link to my intuitive side, as a healer.

And that is what flower essences are~ imbibing water with the healing spirit of a plant. This can be done using both solar and lunar influences. For making flower essences, I prefer using the Sun, but for making gem elixirs, I like to use the Moonlight (but that is another post altogether).

I have made dozens of individual flower essences with flowers from my garden, and those from other gardens around Massachusetts. I have formulated blends for various problems. you can find all of my currently available blends on my website, in the Flower Essence section.

The solarized essence contains the vibrational patterns of flowers. These patterns help to heal imbalances in your body's energy systems on emotional, physical, mental and spiritual levels. Essences are catalysts for healing, helping you to be able to experience shifts in patterns of behavior, the way you view yourself and your place in the world, as well as very real physical changes. Most essences engage the healing process in subtle, yet ultimately profound ways. Some essences are formulated for very quick action, such as dealing with an emergency or panic.

To use an essence, you just take two or three drops under the tongue, in a beverage, directly on your skin, or in a bath. While a couple of drops may not seem like much, keep in mind that the vibrational patterns of the flowers and crystals will spread out as on a grid, to fill any container including your body! Essences may be used in conjunction with other healing modalities. There are no side effects or contra-indications, nor can they be neutralized by other substances. It is not possible to over-dose on an essence. Usually, an essence is taken for at least one month, then the healing process is assessed and adjustments in the formula are made, if necessary. Store your essences out of the light, and away from essential or fragrance oils.

Private consultations for flower essence and gem elixir blends are available in person, by phone or email. We would talk about the healing work that you want to do, and then I will make a custom essence for you. Most consultations take about an hour or less. If you are interested in a custom blend, just send me an email!

For alcohol-sensitive people: Although flower essence blends are preserved in brandy and spring water, the essence is used in a diluted state. Dilution of two to four drops in a large glass or water or water bottle, will yield a physiologically insignificant amount of alcohol, about 1:4,800 parts in 8 ounces.

Books about Working with Crystals & Stones

Since yesterday, I have had my head in my reference books about the metaphysical properties of crystals and stones. I thought that I would share with you some of the books that I use regularly. This is by no means a complete list for you, but I like these particular books and thought you might want to check them out!

• Love is in the Earth by Melody. Actually, any book by Melody is worth having in your collection. This book is considered the bible on the metaphysics of stones. There are two supplements to this volume that are also available. Her other book, The Laying on of Stones is also indispensable.
• Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham. This is my favorite book on the subject! At 250 pages, there's so much information. There are chapters on cleansing stones, and using them for divination, spellwork, and healing. There are six tables, including ones about planetary and elemental correspondences, as well as a handy substitution chart. This is not a technical book and doesn't have information about every type of stone, or how individual stones are structured. It does, however, cover over 100 stones and metals.
• The Book of Stones & Metals by Maya Heath. This is an interesting volume that covers most aspects of the metaphysics of working with stones and metals. It's very in-depth, and a good read if you have some practical experience already. There are very interesting chapters on making talismans, jewelry and other objects. there is some very good information on the individual stones and the families of stones, broken down by colors. I turn to this book often, but have adapted some of her information to align with my own beliefs more comfortably.
• Sacred Stones of the Goddess by Galen Gillotte. This book was a most pleasant surprise! I first saw this when I working in a pagan shop a few years ago. it had just come out and we ordered it to see what it was like. I was prepared to not be impressed. Well, I ate my words! Published in 2003, this has 35 Goddess-based spells, as well as chapters on preparation, meditation, Elemental work, invocations and working with beads. Each spell is like it's own little chapter. For each one, there are paragraphs that list the materials, the purpose, which goddess, the stone, an affirmation and meditation, a spell, the timing, the incense, candles, and some of the practical steps. The rituals are really nice and complete! I think that you will get something out of this book, no matter if you are just starting on the path, or if you are a seasoned practitioner.

These are a few books from my collection that I think will make a nice addition to any library. Do you have a favorite book on the subject?

It's Time to Add a Little Something Extra!

While I love to make my teas and herbal products, I'm always looking to offer my customers new items that are related to healing the body, mind and spirit. With this in mind, I have decided to offer stones, crystals and metals thru my Etsy shop, Summer Sea Herbs!

I have a couple of local sources of stones in New England, where I can go to pick them out myself. This way, I can find the ones that seem to have the best vibrations, color, and quality.
I spend hours choosing these crystals, working my thru many boxes of material to find just the right ones for you! In fact, the picture of me was taken this past weekend while hunting for crystals!

Some of these stones are dug right here in New England, and I also try to buy from stock that is found in the U.S. I used to go dig for quartz crystals myself when I lived in Vermont years ago. The places I used to go have since been closed off to the public, but I still have some beautiful crystals that I treasure. Some of the crystals that I will be offering soon include Labradorite, Pyrite,Herkimer Diamonds, Quartz in it's many forms, Kyanite and others. I also have Lepidolite, which can be hard to find for sale. I have been busy photographing the crystals and doing some research about each type of stone. I know quite a bit about working with crystals, but I want to refresh my memory. we also built a light box today to help with the photographs. What do you think of the results?


It will take me a while to get all the crystals listed in my shop, so check back often to see what's new!