Flower Essence Selection
Process with Clients
by Jane Ellen
I invite the client to lay the Affirm a Flower cards for their blend on the countertop in whatever layout they feel inspired … This seems to be a very magical and empowering time for clients, and another moment of gently moving into relationship with their personal blend.
Editor's Note: The following is a narrative of the process of essence selection developed and utilized by flower essence practitioner Jane Ellen. Jane uses the 103 Quintessential North American Flower Essences and the 38 English flower essences with her clients.
First-Time Flower Essence Clients
Gathering Information
Offering Information
In-Person Sessions
Listening and Feeling for What is Presenting Itself
Listening for the Specific Language and Energy of the Individual Flowers
As I listen to the specific language of the client as they are sharing, I make note of single words or phrases that stand out to me. This involves “listening” for the specific words that are included in the Flower Essence Repertory in the “categories and cross-reference” section of the book, in addition to listening for specific language that points to individual essences. Oftentimes people use a word or words that are the exact words used in the Repertory to describe an essence. For example, if I heard, “I am such a do-er and a planner :” both of these words are used to describe the beautiful essence of Dandelion. I also respectfully note expressions or adjustments in body posture, as well as in voice, skin-tone, eye contact, and/or mood. All the while, I am actively “listening” and “feeling” for any flower essences that want to step forward to offer their support. Part of this listening occurs on a body-level for me, such as suddenly feeling tightness in my throat, signaling the possibility of the Larch essence, or pain in my heart, signaling the possibility of Pink Monkeyflower or Bleeding Heart, or my brain feeling “swollen,” indicating the possibility of White Chestnut. If I hear or feel an essence presenting itself as a possibility, I jot down its name so that I remember it when we are ready to begin exploring specific essences together.
Larch helps those individuals who suffer from great self-doubt and poor self-esteem.
Pink Monkeyflower addresses pains of the heart and fears of vulnerability and exposure.
White Chestnut is useful for those who suffer from extreme mental agitation.
When I have the sense that the client has shared all that feels important in that moment, I ask if they feel ready to begin to explore some possible flower essences. It feels important to me to be sure they understand that together, we are listening for the most resonant essence(s), and also to know that I support them in feeling empowered throughout the session, while consistently building on their ability and comfort level in trusting their own Inner Knowing.
Utilizing FES Resources in the Process of Selection
Affirm a Flower Cards
Next, I invite them to turn the card over and read the affirmation on
the back, while noticing how they feel emotionally and physically as
they read them. Again, this is a very informative time for both the
client and me. The responses to the affirmations are as varied as to the
photographs: sometimes tears are shed, other times bursts of laughter
fill the room, and at times, the tone is serious and they express their
inability to imagine feeling what the affirmations are invoking. I wait
for them to make eye contact with me again…allowing them ample time to
“experience” the energetic offering of the card. The cards are SO
powerful in this way! I can’t imagine working without them! I just value
and appreciate them deeply…and so do the clients!
Choosing Flower Essences... An Assessment Guide
Flower Essence Repertory... My Bible!
The final step in choosing essences involves reading directly from the Flower Essence Repertory about the essence(s) we are discussing for the client. I begin by reading the “patterns of imbalance” because we want to be sure they “match” or resonate with what the client wants to address. If there is a strong resonance, I then read the “positive qualities,” watching for the response. Both of these steps are also tremendously informative. We all know the relief of finally feeling “heard,” and having a language for what we want to express. If together we’ve found a resonant essence, it is apparent in the client’s response and of course, that response will be as varied as each client, AND as varied as each “moment.” If they feel there is a strong resonance after hearing the patterns of imbalance and the positive qualities, I then read the entire paragraph description to them slowly, and encourage them to really practice being present with themselves and their own Knowing as they hear and feel the offerings of the essence being described. Again the response is informative, often moving, and entirely affirming of having found a resonant essence.
Using the Flower Essence Repertory to identify
patterns of imbalance helps to ensure that selected essences
match what the client wants to address.
Once the client says “yes” to the essence, I ask them to hold the Affirm a Flower card that corresponds to the essence. If we decide that an essence is not resonant, they hand the card back to me.
When we feel we’ve come to completion… arriving at the blend that addresses what they want to address, we gather up all the cards and head into the kitchen with the appropriate Affirm a Flower Cards, to make up their dosage bottle.
Preparation of the Dosage Bottle
We begin with the client choosing the preservative of either brandy or vegetable glycerin for their dosage bottle. I combine the preservative with water from our filtered water dispenser. Our water dispenser has the words “love and gratitude” on it…with the words facing the water. I make up the label for their bottles, using the FES dosage bottle labels.
Next, I invite the client to lay the Affirm a Flower cards for their blend on the countertop in whatever layout they feel inspired to see them in. This seems to be a very magical and empowering time for clients, and another moment of gently moving into relationship with their personal blend. I encourage them to trust however they feel moved to place the cards. This is another informative time for us both. Some clients know exactly what essence they want in the “middle,” which one they want at the “base/foundation,” which one they want at the top of the formation, etc. Sometimes the layout takes the form of a cross; other times they land in a vertical line, other times in a horizontal line. There have also been circles and geometric-type formations. Sometimes one card will be hidden behind all the rest, with just an edge peeking out… when the essence is wanted in the blend but the client is feeling nervous about their work with that topic/essence. Always, there is a moment of such honoring of the courage and strength it took for them to arrive at this place… inviting these specific essences as allies and guides for their sacred journey.
S electing essences for dosage formulas
is a process of inviting these essences to be
allies on our sacred journey.
Once the layout is complete, I place the corresponding flower essence
stock bottle on top of the card…directly in the center of the flower
image. I clear myself through the use of my breath and intention, and
say out loud, “This flower essence blend is for (the clients full name),
in Santa Fe, NM. I then ask the client which flower they’d like to
begin with. Once they’ve chosen, I ask if they’d like to read the
affirmation on the back of the card as I place the drops into the
bottle. Most often they want to read them and on occasion, they prefer
if I read them. (If I read them, I use their first name when reading the
affirmations.) I place one drop in the bottle for each affirmation they
read…there are typically three or four. When the drops have been added
for a flower, I say out loud, “Thank you (name of the essence).”
Typically, the client will also spontaneously say “thank you” to the
flower. We continue this process until we’ve added all the essences
they’ve chosen. (There are typically no more than six essences in a
blend; each stock bottle is tapped 7 times prior to opening it; the
dosage bottle is tapped 7 times upon completion of its preparation, and
is then handed to the client…with blessings.) Clients often feel
compelled to receive their first dosage immediately upon completion of
the preparation.
Phone Sessions
For some reason unbeknownst to me, two-thirds of my clients are out-of-state, located in 15 different states, so many of the sessions take place over the phone. Some of these clients have chosen to purchase the Affirm a Flower card sets and when that is the case, we incorporate the cards into the phone session in the same way we would if it were an in-person session. They draw the card as we are exploring the essence, etc., and I also lay the cards in front of me from my own card set so that we are looking at the cards “together” over the phone.
When we’ve arrived at a resonate blend that they want to enter into relationship with, I ask them to tell me what their card layout/position looks like and I make note of it, and use that layout when making up their dosage bottle for shipment to them. I also read the affirmations when making up their dosage bottle, using their first name.
After the Session is Complete
Altars
The clients who have purchased the Affirm a Flower cards have all made altars or designated areas in which they display the cards representing the Flowers in their blend. They will often place their dosage bottles on the altar, while others also include additional items that hold meaning for the specific topics they are choosing to address with their personal blend. They begin in the morning, and end in the evening by looking at the photographs of the flowers and reading the affirmations before or after receiving their dosage of essences
Trisha Discusses Her and Kaila's Affirmation Altar

I am so excited to take my flowers, especially when I start a new blend after many months. I feel like I am entering a new and exciting sacred relationship with myself. I am a more grounded, patient, directed, and gentler being since working with Jane and taking my first blend starting in September 2006. I am honored to be able to work with the FES Flowers, and have been using the FES flowers since 2000, but just met Jane in September of 2006. What a healing and wonderfully powerful combination…Jane's gentle, fun, intuitive sensing and the gentle and clear effects of the flowers. We are forever grateful.
Kaila (7¾ years old) said, “The flowers help to remind me to call my angels, especially Angelica, and that when I have scary dreams, I call Angelica, and the scary feelings go right away. I can also feel more love for others and for myself. I think my altar is peaceful. I like arranging my cards…it's very fun for me; and when Mom reads my flower descriptions at night (instead of a bedtime story), I always sleep really well.”
Kaila knows all of the flowers she is taking, 5 of them! Once the cards got mixed up when the altar cloth was pulled off the table, and I put them back, but she saw them and said, “Hey! They aren't in the right place!” and she put them back the way she had originally arranged them. She has a deep relationship with her flowers and her flower cards! When she started taking them on February 6, 2007, our (mother-daughter) relationship eased in many ways. THANK YOU!!!!!!

I read my flower descriptions and the 4 stages as often as possible, about once a week, or every two weeks, to deepen my relationship, to remind myself, and to see...am I in the next stage yet??? How exciting!!!!! Gentle, Subtle, Clear, and Opening…Guiding us closer to Love and Gentle Heartful Living! WHAT A GIFT!!!!!! Thank you so very much FES!!!!!
Blessings from our hearts, with hugs and love,
Trisha and Kaila
Note
Nearly all my clients remain in relationship with their personal blend for four months…sometimes longer…rarely less than four months…utilizing the information offered by FES regarding the Four R’s
Some receive several ½ hour sessions during the four-month cycle to assist them in tracking the shifts occurring, and to receive support in staying in relationship with the intentions they set for themselves in choosing to enter into relationship with the particular essences in their blend
I send personalized monthly emails to all clients, letting them know how many weeks they’ve been in relationship with the flowers in their blend, and remind them to re-read the Four R’s document occasionally to assist them in staying consciously present with the process. They often email me to share how they are feeling, etc.
About Jane Ellen
Jane weaves together the complimentary tools of intuitive
coaching, readings, and flower essence therapy. She offers support and
guidance in one-on-one
sessions, group classes, and workshops by engaging participants in a
respectful and compassionate process of exploration, discovery, and
creativity. Jane provides sessions, workshops, and classes to clients
throughout the United States on a continual basis, as well as private
phone sessions.
Jane attended the 2003 Flower Essence Society Practitioner Training. (Read a plant study completed for the course by Jane
here
.) She has twice been a guest lecturer on intuition at Macalester
College in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2006, Jane began teaching classes on
self care with flower essences, in the full-time Massage Program at the
Scherer Institute of Natural Healing, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is a
Polarity Practitioner and also draws from her background in mediation,
non-violent communications, and Hakomi Integrative Somatics for trauma
recovery.
In May, 2006, Jane worked collaboratively with Dr. Kelly Warshel
in setting up a flower essence program for the patients and families of
Windber Hospice & Palliative Care in Windber, Pennsylvania, and
continues to pursue the introduction and integration of flower essences
in end of life care.
To contact Jane, send an e-mail to: JaneEllenBlossom@gmail.com .
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