 |
|
 |
| |
| Departments |
Home
Columns, Special
Topics & Features:
The Columns:
Angels, Guides, &
Loving Spirits:
Angel Blessings:
with Dr. Doreen Virtue
Ask Valerie Morrison,
Internationally
Acclaimed Psychic
Astrologer's Notes:
Ask Carrin Martin,
Astrologer
Basil Fearrington,
Astrology
Diana Stone,
Astrologer &
Huna Shaman
Jeff Jawer
Astrologer
Martin Lass,
Astrologer
Alan Oken,
Astrology
Glenn Perry,
Astrologer
Ray Merriman,
Financial Astrology:
MMA Market Week
Erin Sullivan,
Astrologer
Noel Tyl,
Astrologer
Daily Aspect Calendar
by Care
Monthly Horoscope:
Stellar Scopes
by Daija De Mornay
Creating Bridges:
The Spiritual &
Philosophical
Awakening to the
Miracle of Ordinary Life by Dennis Lewis
Avant-Gardening:
Insights by Frank &
Vicky Giannangelo
Bodymind Integration: A Psychology of Potential
by Kevin Roberts
Breaking Free:
Anne Brewer
Choices: The Art of Conscious Creation:
by Teri Harris Saa
From The Heart:
Alan Cohen
Teachings from the Western Mystery Traditions: The Esoteric "Paths of Return"
by Jacquelyn Small, Eupsychia
Kabbalah:
"Letters from Heaven:" Spiritual Guidance from
the Hebrew Alphabet
by Avigayil Landsman
Memos From The
First Tabugian
Art Rosengarten, Ph.D.
The Path of Wisdom and Love
Dr. John Demartini,
Concourse of Wisdom School of Philosophy and Healing
Spirituality in Daily Life: by Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron
Understanding
Wicca: Ask Fyre
Pathways to the Self
Connie Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Mythology & Legends
Pearls of Wisdom:
with Care
The Practical
Practitioner
Feng Shui:
Wind & Water:
Carole J. Hyder
Parenting:
Living With Your
Intuitive Child:
Sherry Healy
Pet Care:
Dr. Carson's Holistic Animal Care
by Dr. Kathleen Carson, D.V.M.
Tarot:
Soulforest:
Tarot and Spirituality
Rachel Pollack,
Tarot Grand Master
Gateway to Tarot:
by Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Master
Unexplained Phenomena:
Paranormal Potpourri:
By Dr. Gerri Leigh, Ph.D
Humor:
Wake Up Laughing.Com:
Swami Beyondananda
Features:
Blessings & Messages
Crystals, Gemstones & Minerals by Mirabai of MoonCave
Event Calendar
Historical Notes & Data
The MetaPersonals
Predictions
Reviews:
Tarot, Cartomancy,
Oracle Decks,
Books, & Software.
by Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Master
Symbols, Seals,
Amulets & Talismans
The What in the
World Department
Trivia & Other
Novel Moments
Your Views
Interviews:
Erin Sullivan,
Astrologer
Healing & Alternative
Health:
"The Ancient Way of Chinese Medicine"
by Kevin O'Neil
Flower Essences
by Donna Cunningham
Empower Yourself
to Heal
by Gerri Shapiro
Herbology:
Ron Norwood
Homeopathic Medicine
by Deborah Olenev, CCH, RSHom (NA)
Integrated Healing Arts
Living in Harmony-Astrology, Yoga & Ayurveda:
by Venkat & Christine Machiraju
"Spirit and Practice
of the Wise Woman
Tradition"
By Susun Weed
Tai Chi & Qigong
by Bill Douglas
The Holistic Mystic,
by Lonny Brown
The Directory
The Gift Guide
Archives:
Past Issues
General Information:
Synopsis of Contents
Editorial Submission
Information:
Articles
Columns
Editorial Opinions
"Your Views"
General Content
Event Calendars
Graphics & Photos
Editorial Deadlines
Advertising
Information &
Opportunities
About
The Meta Arts
Magazine
Department
Contacts:
Publishers
Editorial
Advertising Sales
Graphic Design
Promotion Dept.
Employment
Contact Us
Legal Notices
|
|
|
|
|
|
Healing & Alternative Health:
Flower Essences |
|
|
Balancing on a Sunbeam:
Sunflower Essence for Confidence.
|
|
|
by Donna Cunningham |
|
|
|
|
|
One of the ways I came to know the essences in my collection in the early days was to meditate on one each night. I would put a dropperful of an essence into a glass of water, stir thoroughly, and sip it slowly while noting the thoughts or impressions that came into my mind. All these years later, the experience of meditating on Sunflower essence is still quite vivid. It brought a gentle, mellow sense of self-love and a very clear message from my friends in spirit. The message was, "The sunflower is the biggest and the showiest flower in the garden. AND the only thing that really matters about it are its seeds."
At first I thought these invisible allies of mine were speaking in symbols, as they so often and so eloquently do. "But of course," I beamed, "they mean that the show we put on isn't what establishes our worth, it's what we nurture and bring into being through our efforts."
My later research on the sunflower plant showed that the seeds are, in fact, quite valuable. They are high in nutritional content, especially protein and minerals. Not only do birds, animals, and people eat them, but oil can be pressed from them for cooking and margarine, flour can be ground from them, and soap can be made from them.
The tribes of North and South America that first cultivated them found many uses for other parts of the plant, too. They brewed a kind of coffee from the hulls and used the stalks to make cloth and a substitute for tobacco. These sun worshippers loved the plant so much that they made golden images of its flowers, but relied on the seeds and other more humble parts of the plant to serve many practical needs.
That perspective on the sunflower plant, to me, sums up the core lesson of this commonly-needed essence -- how to maintain a balance between self-love and humility. The essence seems to help bring about a mature self-worth, in which we appreciate our own gifts and contributions while giving equal recognition to the gifts and contributions of others around us. We come to feel good about ourselves without conceit or an excessive need for attention, and we can also accept our flaws without shame.
That is, we get to that well-balanced state after we have taken Sunflower for a while! From observing myself and the friends and clients I eagerly suggested Sunflower to, the first stage in the process is not always so smooth and gentle, although it can be a useful corrective. Many of us who take Sunflower seem to go through a phase of being really indignant with people in our daily lives whom we feel put us down. Touchy, touchy, touchy!
Ultimately, I came to see that 1) I was overreacting all out of proportion to what the people really said, and 2) those around me were basing their treatment of me on the low opinion of myself that I projected so strongly. By and large, from the teen years onward, we teach people how to treat us. If you don't think much of yourself, people read that and take it as an accurate estimate of your worth, but if you are confident and believe that you belong, they accept that as well. As your self-esteem improves, so, usually, does the response you get from others.
The teen years are the stage when our identity is solidified. Thus, Sunflower is helpful to teens and pre-teens during that painful stage of shyness and of finding fault with everything about themselves. My first year of junior high school, I existed in such a miserable blur of self-consciousness that I could scarcely be present. My frame was larger than most of my classmates, I was frightfully gawky, I was an early bloomer and was more developed than the other girls. Thinking about sunflowers before writing this, I recalled being virtually addicted to sunflower seeds at that age. I even ate them surreptitiously in class all day and was more than once -- to my utter humiliation -- called down to the principal's office for absent-mindedly leaving the shells behind.
Reflecting on that time, I now suspect that I craved sunflower seeds because something in my being was intuitively seeking the confidence that Sunflower essence can impart. The flowers, foods, or gemstones we are drawn to are often clues to essences we need. What a difference it would have made if I had taken Sunflower at that age! I would have faced my adolescent and young adult years with much more self-worth. Everything from friendships to dating to proving myself in a career would have been less of a struggle. If a teenager in your life is suffering from a painful lack of self-confidence, do offer them Sunflower essence!
The World Wide Essence Society does not mean to imply any recommendation of nor give certification to any individuals or companies above. This article is provided purely for informational purposes. We ask consumers to make their own determination as to quality of the services and products offered above. This article is not meant to be advice, and the information is not meant to replace medical or psychological treatment. |
|
|
|
|
|
Donna Cunningham,
Astrologer
& Healer |
|
|
Donna Cunningham is an internationally respected astrologer and the author of 13 books on metaphysical topics.
Donna Cunningham has a dual background in astrology and psychotherapy, with a Masters in Social Work from Columbia University and over 30 years experience as a professional astrologer. She considers doing the astrology charts of children to be a sacred trust. It is a way of knowing who these Indigo children are on their own terms rather than as their families, teachers, and society expect them to be.
In these sessions, she focuses on typical childhood concerns such as family and peer relationships, the best educational approaches, and the child's special gifts and abilities. She can be reached for consultations at (503)291-7891, by email, or at her web page. Ask about her special rate for children's charts.
Donna is also co-editor of Vibration and a frequent contributor. She has written fourteen books on astrology and other metaphysical topics, including her Flower Remedies Handbook. Astrologers who want to know the special considerations involved in doing children's charts can read the chapter on this topic in Donna's text, The Consulting Astrologer's Guidebook.
Listed in several Who’s Who volumes, she has given seminars on astrology around the world and won the prestigious Regulus Award at the 1998 UAC.
She teaches astrology classes online at: astrocollege.com
You may reach her for long-distance astrology consultations at her web site:
DonnaCunningham
MSW.com
by email:
moonmaven @spiritone.com
or by calling:
(503)291-7891.
For the past 20 years, she has worked with the flower remedies, and she is co-editor of Vibration Magazine, a free online educational quarterly at:
essences.com/vibration/
For information on Donna's online classes about flower essences, visit her website:
DonnaCunninghamMSW.com
This series is reprinted with gracious permission from Donna Cunningham.
©2002 Vibration Magazine/The World Wide Essence Society
PO Box 285
Concord, MA 01742
978 369-8454
|
 |
You'll find it in
The
Directory!
|
|
|
|
|
