The Flower Essence Podcast

Ever wonder how we got from Dr. Bach's research to where we are today? In the late 1970s and 80s there was a simultaneous explosion of new flower essences being discovered, researched, and produced around the world. Yet, this "second wave" of producers didn't initially know about one another until the first international conference was held. Ruth Toledo Altschuler came on the scene just as these g...

  In this episode, we welcome Lindsay Fauntleroy back to the podcast! Lindsay is a medicine maker, educator, acupuncturist, and the author of In Our Element — a self-help guide that integrates acupuncture theory, flower essences, yoga and ancestral spirituality.   We talk about the naturally rising levels of stress and anxiety during this time of year and the corresponding elemental forces.   Expl...

We went to the movies! And saw Barbie! This was a rare treat for us, as we live on opposite sides of the county. We laughed so hard, then had a great chat about it during lunch, and we knew right away we wanted to discuss some of the themes in our next podcast. We address some typical challenges experienced by those of us not at the top of the patriarchy: constant feelings of not being enough and...

Have you ever thought about the co-creative act of making a flower essence as a spiritual or self-development practice in and of itself? It requires surrendering to the moment, really listening to Nature, and going with the flow to accept all parts of the experience. The lessons the plants impart in the process may continue long after the essence is bottled, so an awareness must also be cultivated...

In this episode, Kathleen and Rochana explore the relevance of the classic Bach flower remedies in today's increasingly complex and overwhelming world.   How do they compare to the more modern essences available? Are people different now than they were in the 1930s? Have our needs changed?   It's interesting to reflect on the world events of Dr. Bach's time and his personal evolution as a physicia...

We welcome Ruth Toledo Altschuler back to the podcast as we record a session for our upcoming Flower Essence Alchemy event! The three of us share our early life experiences in trying to access emotional sanity by connecting to the plants, animals, and the elements of Nature. Using the analogy of "reforesting ourselves" after processes of internal deforestation have happened, we explore the concept...

In this episode, Kathleen and Rochana speak to expert Locational Astrologer, Moses Siregar, who combines western and Vedic astrology in the unique field of astrocartography. With a love for and background in flower essences and vibrational remedies, Moses continues to use these in conjunction with his astrology practice. We chat about the big astrological transits of March 2023 (Saturn moving into...

Trauma therapist Maureen Clancy joins us on the podcast to chat about supporting mental health with flower essences. Discover Maureen's favorite essences for anxious states vs. depressed states, and how she incorporates them in her practice in conjunction with other therapeutic modalities such as EMDR. We also talk about how to know when flower essences aren't enough on their own and further menta...

Rather than setting New Year's resolutions and diving headfirst to start smashing goals on January 1st, Kathleen and Rochana talk about a more Nature-based approach of first letting go, going within, and going with the flow during the dark days of winter here in the Northern Hemisphere. True to form, Nature reinforced that lesson for us with the California storms (hello water element) that brought...

Join us in an enchanting exploration of the Artemisia plants—Mugworts, Wormwoods, and Sagebrushes—as we share stories and experiences of working with the flower essences, herbal preparations, and strong energies of this unique subset of the Aster family. 🌙🌿🧙‍♀️💚🧚✨    Full show notes and transcript here:  https://thefloweressencepodcast.com/   The Flower Essence Podcast is available on: YouTu...

Are you feeling weighed down by the energy of others, the constant bombardment of information, or the emotional drama and violence that pervades our media in these times? Mental stress and anxiousness are especially common during this time of year as the energy of the fall season is one of pulling in. Kathleen and Rochana talk about helpful flower essences to clear the mental and emotional clutter...

Ruth Toledo Altschuler joins us for our 50th show! As a returning guest of the podcast and partner in the Flower Essence Conference , you'll most likely be familiar with the incredible depth of insight Ruth has in Flower Essence Therapy. She has been a practitioner and educator for over three decades, and has a unique combination of experience unparalleled in the field. In this episode, we talk ab...

We are absolutely thrilled to have Lindsay Fauntleroy as our guest this month! Lindsay is an educator, acupuncturist, director of The Spirit Seed, and maker of Elementals Essences.  Our conversation centered around the five element system as a process for understanding our own cycles, as well as where we are collectively in this moment and what beautiful flower essence is coming forward.  We talk...

This month we are joined by Sara Artemisia — a Flower Essence Practitioner, Plant Spirit Wisdom Teacher, and host of the Plant Spirit Podcast and the Plant Spirit Herbalism Summit.    Our discussion is a rich exploration of soul purpose and the re-emergence of the divine feminine, with deep wisdom and powerful activation by the Wild Roses and Queen Anne's Lace.    Honoring the wisdom embedded in t...

Join us for a deep dive into the plant signatures and flower essence energetics of our two favorite trees: Redwood and Magnolia. These ancient beings have been on the planet since dinosaurs roamed the earth, and we think they have much wisdom for us.  Redwoods are the tallest tree, one of the longest living, and grow in groups that are connected by their root system. They help us see the big pictu...

Kathleen and Rochana welcome Ruth Toledo Altschuler to talk about our current collaboration together—organizing the online Flower Essence Conference (coming up, April 29th, 2022!). We hear from Ruth about the impetus behind this project and the way that flower essence conferences of the past have brought people together in heartfelt community.  We also share an excerpt from one of our conference s...

On this episode, Rochana and Kathleen welcome Nicholas Pearson back to the podcast to talk about his new book, Flower Essences from the Witch's Garden—Plant Spirits in Magickal Herbalism. We love the way he combines the building blocks of plant spirit herbalism with flower essence therapy, alchemical principles, traditional lore, and modern magickal practice. Join us for a fascinating discussion t...

Kathleen and Rochana explore what it means to maintain heart-centered courage in the face of extended adversity — notably during the pandemic and natural disasters related to climate change. Collectively we are all dealing with disconnection and the grief of what has been lost, and we need strength for what we are still going through during this time of uncertainty. Flower essences can help us sta...

Kathleen and Rochana talk about fully loving and accepting ourselves, foibles and all. What holds us back from accepting ourselves without conditions? Shame, judgement, unworthiness, and comparison-itis rear their shadowy heads. But there are some lovely and transformational flower essences that help us let go of those things in order to see and appreciate our true, authentic selves. Full show not...

Feeling blue these days? You're not alone. This month Rochana and Kathleen cover the topic of depression and the constellation of difficult emotional aspects that accompany it. Find out what flower essences and gem elixirs we use to shine a gentle light in the dark corners, help shift perspective, soften the suffering, and provide soul guidance. Full show notes and transcript here:  https://theflo...

Kathleen and Rochana explore the challenging terrain of toxic shame that is forged by experiences of emotional and physical abuse. Flower essences can help lift the burden and bring to our conscious awareness the realization there is nothing wrong with us, we deserve to be here, and we are enough — regardless of what we might have been told in the past. Warning: this episode includes some personal...

Join us for a wide ranging discussion with Isha Lerner – astrologer, author, flower essence producer and consultant – as we explore the intersection of flower essences and astrology. We talk about: Isha's formative experiences at Findhorn in Scotland, and how her studies of flower essences, astrology and tarot came together in her work guiding people into awareness of their lives as mythic journey...

Join us for a lighthearted episode where Rochana and Kathleen discuss which flower essences they would recommend for Star Wars characters. It is a fun game to play, but also useful practice for learning how to work with essences. We share our picks for classic characters like Luke and Leia, and also newer ones such as Rey and Kylo Ren. These films are rich territory for examining archetypal themes...

Flower Essence Practitioner and Educator, Loyola Colebeck, returns to the podcast to share her insights on using Bach flower essences within the lens of Chinese Medicine. Our conversation ranges from the overarching cosmology to how the organs in that system correlate to certain emotions, such as the Spleen and worry. Join us for this fascinating discussion. Full show notes and transcript here:  h...

Rochana and Kathleen interview David Dalton, a pioneering flower essence producer, practitioner, educator, founder of Delta Gardens, and author of Stars of the Meadow - Exploring Medicinal Herbs as Flower Essences.  David has been making flower essences in his research gardens and in natural habitats around the world for over thirty years. In this episode, we hear about his flower essence research...