Have you ever tried using flower essences in your Reiki practice? I love using flower essences in my Reiki practice! I realized several years ago that they are the perfect combination when used together. My cat was terrified of thunderstorms and a friend suggested Rescue Remedy to help her. I tried putting a few drops on my hands and practicing Reiki with her. She calmed down right away! She even stayed out and sat on my lap with me during the storm. I had done Reiki with her before during storms and it helped her, but she always hid under the bed during a storm.
Since then, I have used them more often. It started with my own cat, then my own self-Reiki sessions. Over time, I began using it with human clients. Whether using them in my own self-Reiki sessions, in sessions with others, or in Animal Reiki sessions, I have found that flower essences facilitate the healing process, ease relaxation, and aid in openness to healing.
Flower essences use the energy, or “energetic imprint” of a plant or flower, which is held in pure, distilled water. This is then preserved, typically with brandy, though occasionally with vegetable glycerin. Small batches are made to be used as plant “energy medicine” for the spiritual healing of people, animals, and plants. This method was developed by Dr. Edward Bach in the early 20th century and has grown in popularity ever since.
You have probably noticed that, like each person, each kind of plant has its own unique energy. This unique energy imprint is what aids in the healing process, shift trauma energy, ease fears, or help soothe perfectionism and overwork habits (as a few examples). Either Reiki or flower essences are excellent tools on their own, yet the two used together are a match made in Heaven!
So which flower essences should you use with Reiki? And how do you use them?
These days the internet is loaded with many different flower essences you could try. They all sound exotic and amazing! Yet, it does get a little overwhelming, especially if you are a beginner!
I recommend starting simply, with the basic Bach flower essences. These are the original 38 flower essences discovered by Dr. Edward Bach when the system was developed in the early 1900s. By starting with these, you will have all you need, and you can easily find each essence you might want. Downloadable charts and printed charts of these essences, and what they are used for, are easy to find online and are very inexpensive too!
Rescue Remedy is a very famous Bach combination flower essence remedy, which contains 5 different flower essences. These essences work very well together to help release physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual trauma, whether small or large. This is such an all-purpose, all-around useful essence combination that I use it in every Reiki session. It doesn’t release everything all at once, as that alone could be damaging. But it does release what is ready to be released – another similarity with Reiki!
Rescue Remedy comes in drops and in a spray, as well as in a wide variety of consumable forms, which are great for your personal use. Before a Reiki session of any kind, I like to use flower essences in one of these ways:
- Apply three sprays or three drops to my palms and then just proceed with doing the Reiki practice.
- I sometimes apply three sprays to my chest or in my aura field instead.
- You can also run your palms over your chest and/or through your aura after applying drops to your palms.
- If you are using a massage table, you can spray it (or place drops) on the head and chest area of the table before you use it each time.
- I have even asked massage therapists to spray Rescue Remedy on my back before a massage! It helps the muscles release held tension far more quickly!
Flower essences are energy medicine, so it isn’t the direct application of the essences on the skin or in the mouth that is important. That’s why we don’t need our clients to consume them or even have them in skin contact at all. It’s entirely the energy of the plant that does the job. In fact, there is no discernible plant matter left in the preserved flower essence. It is entirely the water that the plant energy has been imprinted into.
I also love Rescue Remedy Sleep formula – but not necessarily for sleep! It does help for sleep when you can’t get your mind to settle down and stop spinning on the same thoughts. But the reason I love it for Reiki sessions is that it contains White Chestnut, which helps with thoughts stuck on repeat, that torment us.
Most of us get caught in resentments, worry, regrets, and other repeating thoughts in our lives. For example, how many times have you found yourself in the shower having a mental argument with the rude person that said something mean to you? Or maybe you’re unable to concentrate at work because you can’t get your mind off your unpaid stack of bills at home? White Chestnut, along with the other flower essences in Rescue Remedy, will help. And that helps all day long, and for a great night’s sleep!
Two other Bach flower essence remedies that I like very much for Reiki practice are:
- Crab Apple – Soothes feelings of self-criticism and perfectionism, eases the need to hold ourselves up to the example of others in a harsh way
- Beech – Soothes feelings of crabbiness, judgementalism, criticism of others, and being caught up in our own opinion
When purchasing flower essences for Reiki, keep in mind:
- Sprays are convenient
- Spray on palms, in aura, or on table before Reiki, or apply flower essence drops in these places.
- Stick to Rescue Remedy and possibly the 2 remedies I have listed above in the very beginning. When you are ready to take the next baby step, then try exploring the rest of the 38 Bach flower essences. After you have worked with those for several years, then branch out and explore other flower essences, if you like.
I hope this brief little primer on Reiki and flower essences encourages you to try them out. I was amazed the first time I tried them and have only been more so the longer I have used them! Please let me know what you think!
Article by Angie Webster
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Angie Webster
Angie Webster is a Reiki Master, Teacher, and Author. Angie’s primary focus is animal Reiki, which she adores. She teaches online Reiki Level One, Animal Reiki, flower essences, and various personal growth courses.
Angie is the author of “Animal Reiki: How it Heals, Teaches & Reconnects Us with Nature” and “Reiki from A to Z”. You can follow her at: https://angie-webster-school-of-reiki.teachable.com
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