{"id":10069,"date":"2014-08-01T01:10:48","date_gmt":"2014-08-01T06:10:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=10421"},"modified":"2014-08-01T05:03:07","modified_gmt":"2014-08-01T10:03:07","slug":"thriftcrafting-witching-on-a-budget-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2014\/08\/01\/thriftcrafting-witching-on-a-budget-6\/","title":{"rendered":"Thriftcrafting: Witching on a budget"},"content":{"rendered":"

Flower Power<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"flowers\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Merry meet!<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I have been using flower essences for several years, but this is the first year I made my own \u2013 to save money, as well as to enjoy the process.<\/div>\n
I began with research and putting together a plan. Since my one rose bush was done blooming and my snapdragons were yet to be out in force, when I happened upon a stand of moonbeam coreopsis as part of the landscape in a nearby building, I decided to start with that. It turns out it was just what I needed. I found that the flowers offers deep healing and recuperation from post-operative, emotional, physical, mental or spiritual trauma. I was just getting over a bout of pneumonia, and while I was feeling almost back to normal, I wasn\u2019t quite there.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I gathered up a glass bowl, a dark glass jar and small scissors (none of which I felt called to sterilize), along with spring water, an offering and my pendulum.<\/div>\n
It was a bright sunny morning with only an occasional wisp of a cloud in the sky. I asked the plants if I could harvest some of the blossoms to make a flower essence and was granted permission. I offered the plants my gift of yellow shells and poured some water into the bowl. Using scissors and keeping physical contact to a minimum, I snipped off flowers and caught them in the bowl. Once the surface of the water was covered with floating flowers, I placed the bowl in an opening among the plants and left it.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The sun\u2019s rays shining through the flowers help transmit its message \u2013 its vibrational imprint \u2013 to the water in a process known as solarisation. Keeping your own energy out of the water by remaining distant, neutral and merely an instrument is recommended.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
When I came back a bit over three hours later, the sun had moved so that there was some shade on the bowl. I moved it so the sun was again hitting it and left it there for maybe 20-30 minutes.<\/div>\n
I was uncomfortable because everything I read said the bowl should be in full sun \u2013 a website or two even claimed there couldn\u2019t be even one passing wisp of a cloud in the sky \u2013 but I thought it had to have had at least two hours in direct sun, so using the pendulum again, I asked it if it was ready and got an affirmative answer. It helped to remind myself that the original way to harvest these essences was to collect the dew found on flower petals.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
While it\u2019s easy for me to get anal about details, I did not check moon or planetary positions before making the essence. My feeling was that the essence of the flower was transferred to the water \u2013 even lending it a slight tint \u2013 and that a few percentage points that would be gained by having only full sun and no shadow, a properly aligned moon and other conditions would not be critical. I was consciously aware of being grateful and appreciative, paying respect to the flowers for the gift of themselves they were giving.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I poured the water and flowers into a jar and at home, strained it through a coffee filter and then added an equal amount of grain alcohol. In a perfect world, I would have found high-proof organic vodka, but one of my life lessons in my crone years is to rely on intentions and energy, and not fuss over some of the \u201cshoulds\u201d and \u201cmusts\u201d that once could send me into a tailspin.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"grain\"<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
A bottle of grain alcohol cost me $17 \u2013 or roughly the price of a half-ounce bottle of a stock essence plus shipping or two one-ounce dosage bottles without shipping.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I now have nearly two cups of mother\u00a0tincture or mother essence that should last six to seven years.\u00a0Taking 2-7 drops of the mother tincture into a 20-30 ml bottle of alcohol creates the stock bottle. From this bottle, put 2-7 drops in a smaller dropper bottle (typically one-half ounce to one ounce) and again fill with alcohol to make the dosage bottle. It is from this dosage bottle you would place 4 drops on your tongue or into a glass of water, juice, tea or other beverage. Ideally, essences are taken four times a day (as far away from meals as possible) for 21 days. Taking it more often is never a problem.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Toxicity is never an issues with flower essences. They are not chemical and will not alter your body chemistry. They are a tool to give your electrical system a boost to solve its own problems.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
If you find yourself repeatedly forgetting to take your flower essences, chances are you no longer need them.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
My plan is to make a few more flower essences, dilute them into dosage bottles and give them as gifts.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Here are a few notes I found along the way that you might or might not care to take into consideration:<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
    \n
  • Use a small clear glass bowl and use it only for essences.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Use spring or mountain stream water. Wild water that comes from close by the flowers you are using, collected in a glass container, is best. \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Work in a non-intrusive manner, having as little contact as possible with the natural space and the plant itself. Some suggest wearing white cotton gloves or touching a petal only with leaves from a nearby tree to avoid contamination.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Pick those blossoms growing in profusion, selecting only a few of the largest, freshest and most vibrant blooms at their peak from each plant or tree so that the plant\u2019s integrity is left intact.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Plant leaves and stems can also be used.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • The soul consciousness of the person collecting the essence is important.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • You can place a gemstone near the bowl for protection and clearing of energy.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Carefully skim off the blossoms with a leaf or twig from the plant and pour the mother essence into a dark glass bottle.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Use organic alcohol that is at least 40 proof (which is 20% alcohol).<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Brandy, vodka, apple cider vinegar can all be used as stabilizers.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Multiple essences may be blended for use. Recommendations range from 3-15.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Glass droppers are preferred.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Keep essences out of sunlight in a cool, dark, dry place. (I was wondering, does anyone keep them in the refrigerator?)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • As an alternative to ingestion, several drops may be placed on the underside of one wrist and rubbed into the other wrist, much like applying perfume. \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Flower Power       Merry meet! I have been using flower essences for several years, but this is the first year I made my own \u2013 to save money, as well as to enjoy the process. I began with research and putting together a plan. Since my one rose bush was done blooming and my snapdragons were yet to be out in force, when I happened upon a stand of moonbeam coreopsis as part of the landscape in a nearby building, I decided to start with that. It turns out it was just what I needed. I found that the flowers offers deep healing and recuperation from post-operative, emotional, physical, mental or spiritual trauma. I was just getting over a bout of pneumonia, and while I was feeling almost back to normal, I wasn\u2019t quite there. I gathered up a glass bowl, a dark glass jar and small scissors (none of which I felt called to sterilize), along with spring water, an offering and my pendulum. It was a bright sunny morning with only an occasional wisp of a cloud in the sky. I asked the plants if I could harvest some of the blossoms to make a flower essence and was granted permission. I offered the plants my gift of yellow shells and poured some water into the bowl. Using scissors and keeping physical contact to a minimum, I snipped off flowers and caught them in the bowl. Once the surface of the water was covered with floating flowers, I placed the bowl in an opening among the plants and left it. The sun\u2019s rays shining through the flowers help transmit its message \u2013 its vibrational imprint \u2013 to the water in a process known as solarisation. Keeping your own energy out of the water by remaining distant, neutral and merely an instrument is recommended. When I came back a bit over three hours later, the sun had moved so that there was some shade on the bowl. I moved it so the sun was again hitting it and left it there for maybe 20-30 minutes. I was uncomfortable because everything I read said the bowl should be in full sun \u2013 a website or two even claimed there couldn\u2019t be even one passing wisp of a cloud in the sky \u2013 but I thought it had to have had at least two hours in direct sun, so using the pendulum again, I asked it if it was ready and got an affirmative answer. It helped to remind myself that the original way to harvest these essences was to collect the dew found on flower petals. While it\u2019s easy for me to get anal about details, I did not check moon or planetary positions before making the essence. My feeling was that the essence of the flower was transferred to the water \u2013 even lending it a slight tint \u2013 and that a few percentage points that would be gained by having only full sun and no shadow, a properly aligned moon and other conditions would not be critical. I was consciously aware of being grateful and appreciative, paying respect to the flowers for the gift of themselves they were giving. I poured the water and flowers into a jar and at home, strained it through a coffee filter and then added an equal amount of grain alcohol. In a perfect world, I would have found high-proof organic vodka, but one of my life lessons in my crone years is to rely on intentions and energy, and not fuss over some of the \u201cshoulds\u201d and \u201cmusts\u201d that once could send me into a tailspin. A bottle of grain alcohol cost me $17 \u2013 or roughly the price of a half-ounce bottle of a stock essence plus shipping or two one-ounce dosage bottles without shipping. I now have nearly two cups of mother\u00a0tincture or mother essence that should last six to seven years.\u00a0Taking 2-7 drops of the mother tincture into a 20-30 ml bottle of alcohol creates the stock bottle. From this bottle, put 2-7 drops in a smaller dropper bottle (typically one-half ounce to one ounce) and again fill with alcohol to make the dosage bottle. It is from this dosage bottle you would place 4 drops on your tongue or into a glass of water, juice, tea or other beverage. Ideally, essences are taken four times a day (as far away from meals as possible) for 21 days. Taking it more often is never a problem. Toxicity is never an issues with flower essences. They are not chemical and will not alter your body chemistry. They are a tool to give your electrical system a boost to solve its own problems. If you find yourself repeatedly forgetting to take your flower essences, chances are you no longer need them. My plan is to make a few more flower essences, dilute them into dosage bottles and give them as gifts. Here are a few notes I found along the way that you might or might not care to take into consideration: Use a small clear glass bowl and use it only for essences. Use spring or mountain stream water. Wild water that comes from close by the flowers you are using, collected in a glass container, is best. \u00a0 Work in a non-intrusive manner, having as little contact as possible with the natural space and the plant itself. Some suggest wearing white cotton gloves or touching a petal only with leaves from a nearby tree to avoid contamination. Pick those blossoms growing in profusion, selecting only a few of the largest, freshest and most vibrant blooms at their peak from each plant or tree so that the plant\u2019s integrity is left intact.\u00a0 Plant leaves and stems can also be used. The soul consciousness of the person collecting the essence is important.\u00a0 You can place a gemstone near the bowl for protection and clearing of energy. Carefully skim off the blossoms with a leaf or twig from the plant and pour the mother essence into a dark glass bottle.\u00a0 Use organic alcohol that is at least 40 proof (which is 20% alcohol). Brandy, vodka, apple cider vinegar can all be used as stabilizers. Multiple essences may be blended for use. Recommendations range from 3-15. Glass droppers are preferred. Keep essences out of sunlight in a cool, dark, dry place. (I was wondering, does anyone keep them in the refrigerator?) As an alternative to ingestion, several drops may be placed on the underside of one wrist and rubbed into the other wrist, much like applying perfume. \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":210,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10069","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/210"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10069"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10069\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10069"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}