Fleurs de Vie: newsletter

In celebration of their 30-year anniversary in 2007, the Master’s Essences changed its name to the Spirit-in-Nature Essences. This new name represents a new cycle, a new energy and a more expansive description of what these essences are about: finding the Spirit in Nature - within Mother Nature and within our own nature.

Since 1977, the 20 Spirit in Nature essences are prepared in the United States from organic fruit orchards and vegetable gardens in the Sierra Nevada foothills and the island of Kauai. They represent the qualities needed to live life in a balanced and harmonious manner. Lila Devi, the creator of these essences, has organised them in a chart showing how they can lead us on a journey of self-discovery and the realisation of our highest potential as human beings. The information presented here has been taken from Lila’s book The essential flower essence handbook.

The Essence Spectrum Chart is divided into halves according to predominantly masculine and feminine essences and into Quadrants representing life stages and seasons of the year. Each Quadrant also depicts a complete cycle within itself. You can view the chart on our web site, from the Spirit-in-Nature page.

The first Quadrant

In Quadrant I, we find essences that capture the qualities of springtime and childhood - Lettuce, Coconut, Cherry, Spinach and Peach. It also symbolizes that period of life that includes birth, infancy and childhood. Exploration, excitement and wonder abound in the Quadrant I essences. These five essences reside in the feminine half of the Spectrum, exemplifying the qualities of adaptability, softness, gentleness and receptivity. You will also find in all five of the Quadrant I essences a certain simplicity of expression - a what-you-see-is-what-you-get quality.

Lettuce, the first essence in this Quadrant, represents the personality at birth as a clean slate, or a calm mind freed from restlessness and upsetting emotions. Lettuce carries within it a softness and delicacy, a lightness and quiet interiorisation.
Coconut is the white chalk with which to write on this slate. The hallmark of Coconut is expansiveness; it conveys the ability to see the whole picture and live more in a superconscious, solution-oriented state of mind.

From Coconut’s message of upliftment, Cherry emerges with its cheerfulness and carefree spirit at the midway point through Quadrant I. Its childlike buoyancy with a delicate femininity is a necessary building block in creating a happy sense of self.

Cherry’s good cheer evolves into Spinach which represents both simplicity and playfulness. Vibrationally, it allows the child within us to come out and play. Playful, full of wonder, undaunted and trusting, its gentle, feminine nature expresses a profound receptivity to life. Spinach lays the necessary groundwork for the loved child to mature into the loving adult.

Whereas Spinach epitomizes the child whose needs are honored and met, Peach now directs that energy outward from its own sense of wholeness toward nurturing others. It is called the ‘’mothering essence”, its love is given freely without condition and with no strings attached. The Peach mother has a light touch and a refreshing energy, much like a breeze in springtime, characteristic of Quadrant I’s youthful qualities. As the last of the feminine essences, it gives birth, in a sense, to the masculine half of the Spectrum and Quadrant II, beginning with Corn.

The second Quadrant

The Quadrant II we find essences that express the fire of summertime and youth: Corn, Tomato, Pineapple, Banana and Fig. In the masculine half of the Spectrum, these essences all express a predominantly male energy - moving forward in life, owning one’s power and energizing the ability to accomplish tasks.

Corn captures the masculine qualities of drive, expression, building and the desire to achieve. Its encapsulates mental vigor, vitality and bountiful enthusiasm.

Having harnessed the energy of Corn, Tomato charges into battle against our fears, blocks and weaknesses. Tomato, also called “the warrior essence”, embodies the qualities of strength and endurance.

Tomato’s strength leads us to the self-assurance of Pineapple which occupies the mid-point in Quandrant II. Fearless and invigorated, we develop self-knowledge and trust of that inner wisdom. Pineapple stands out as the essence of those who know themselves - their talents, strengths and their impact on others.

Pineapple is tempered by Banana’s humility, with its ensuing calmness reaped through the masculine qualities of reason and detachment from life’s countless ups and downs. Humility is a quality of enormous strength which is often misunderstood or overlooked.

Like Banana, Fig possesses a mixture of gentleness and strength - the strength born of flexibility and self-acceptance. Fig addresses rigidity of the body and mind. It ensures that our ideas about ourselves and the world around us do not limit, calcify or constrict us.

The third Quadrant

Flexible, malleable and strengthened by the lessons of Quadrant II, we now pass into the third cluster of essences for autumn and middle age, completing the masculine half of the Spectrum. Here, we reap the wisdom thus far acquired on our journey and the essences possess strength, power and the drive to build and accomplish. Quadrant III includes Almond, Pear, Avocado, Apple and Orange.

As the first essence in Quadrant III, Almond encapsulates the matured strength to say “no” to excess. Having learned Fig’s lesson of balance, Almond portrays self-control. moral vigour and the moderate use of our senses dictated by wisdom rather than whim. A harmonizing calmness ensues through Almond’s message of living the courage of our convictions.

Emerging from the calmness of Almond, we find Pear. This remedy has an unmistakable, unshakable strength. Pear is the pure strength of being totally centered, completely balanced and absolutely in control of our faculties - all valuable assets in the face of emergency situations. If the tranquility of Almond is the calm before the storm, Pear is the peace after it.

From Pear’s steadiness arises the clarity and sharp mental focus of Avocado. This essence contains Quadrant III’s maturity and the Spectrum’s masculine virtues of manifested strength through the joy of mental challenges. In no uncertain terms, Avocado represents a solid mental footing - knowing ourselves and the direction we want to take with our lives.

Avocado’s keen memory and clarity leads to Apple’s acuity. Through Apple, we come to a wonderful understanding of the subtle dance between the body, mind and spirit. When these elements are harmonized, the result is a state of radiant well-being.

Orange is the last essence in Quadrant III and the last masculine essence of the Spectrum. Clear-thinking Apple provides the psychologically balanced soil from which Orange germinates. Just as the fruit of the orange possesses a particular tartness, so do many of life’s experiences. Determined to overcome the deepest possible human sorrows, Orange reaches to the very core of true happiness.

The fourth Quadrant

The essences in the fourth Quadrant represent winter and senior years, with qualities of sweetness, resolution and completion. We return to the feminine half of the Spectrum with a well-ripened maturity and a storehouse of inner riches. Quadrant IV contains Blackberry, Date, Strawberry, Raspberry and Grape.

From a spirit made radiant through Orange, we turn to Blackberry whose message purifies us with clean thoughts, honesty and honest self-assessment. Blackberry allows us to see the goodness in ourselves and in those around us. In addition, it promotes the wisdom of maturity rather than the innocence of inexperience.

These qualities lead us to Date which makes us sweet and gives us the ability to observe without judgment. Harbouring this tender sweetness, we draw the same to ourselves, magnetizing the company of family and friends to our side, thus enriching the winter of our lives.

Located in the middle of Quadrant IV, Strawberry embodies a feminine dignity, maturity, fullness, comfort and poise. Date’s sweetness has rendered us good-natured; now Strawberry makes us gracious and ennobled. This essence knows itself, but in a much softer, quieter way than the conspicuous Pineapple.

Strawberry’s sense of self-worth leads to Raspberry’s heightened empathy, sympathy and sensitivity to others. Raspberry embodies kindness, forgiveness and compassion and is called the “healer’s essence”. In forgiving those who have deeply hurt us, we reap great benefits, including the ability to forgive ourselves. Healed of our own emotional wounds, we are then able to help others do likewise.

The final essence in our tour around the Spectrum of the Spirit in Nature essences is Grape which represents unconditional love. It is the love that liberates instead of binds; the love that seeks to give rather than to receive. Love is the truest healer. It is the essence of life.

These 20 Spirit in Nature Essences are very versatile. The Spectrum is just one way of using them. For example, to strengthen the youthful side of our personality, we would look to the Quadrant I essences in the Spectrum; for more ripened, mature and inward qualities, we would turn to the Quadrant IV. You will find on our website more information on each essence as well as information on how they apply to mothers, children, and animals.

	Fleurs de Vie Newsletter Autumn 2009 The Spirit-in-Nature Essences \| Detailed catalogue Australian Bush workshops PDF (152 Kb)

	The Spirit-in-Nature Essences In celebration of their 30-year anniversary in 2007, the Master’s Essences changed its name to the Spirit-in-Nature Essences. This new name represents a new cycle, a new energy and a more expansive description of what these essences are about: finding the Spirit in Nature - within Mother Nature and within our own nature. Since 1977, the 20 Spirit in Nature essences are prepared in the United States from organic fruit orchards and vegetable gardens in the Sierra Nevada foothills and the island of Kauai. They represent the qualities needed to live life in a balanced and harmonious manner. Lila Devi, the creator of these essences, has organised them in a chart showing how they can lead us on a journey of self-discovery and the realisation of our highest potential as human beings. The information presented here has been taken from Lila’s book The essential flower essence handbook. The Essence Spectrum Chart is divided into halves according to predominantly masculine and feminine essences and into Quadrants representing life stages and seasons of the year. Each Quadrant also depicts a complete cycle within itself. You can view the chart on our web site, from the Spirit-in-Nature page. The first Quadrant In Quadrant I, we find essences that capture the qualities of springtime and childhood - Lettuce, Coconut, Cherry, Spinach and Peach. It also symbolizes that period of life that includes birth, infancy and childhood. Exploration, excitement and wonder abound in the Quadrant I essences. These five essences reside in the feminine half of the Spectrum, exemplifying the qualities of adaptability, softness, gentleness and receptivity. You will also find in all five of the Quadrant I essences a certain simplicity of expression - a what-you-see-is-what-you-get quality. Lettuce, the first essence in this Quadrant, represents the personality at birth as a clean slate, or a calm mind freed from restlessness and upsetting emotions. Lettuce carries within it a softness and delicacy, a lightness and quiet interiorisation. Coconut is the white chalk with which to write on this slate. The hallmark of Coconut is expansiveness; it conveys the ability to see the whole picture and live more in a superconscious, solution-oriented state of mind. From Coconut’s message of upliftment, Cherry emerges with its cheerfulness and carefree spirit at the midway point through Quadrant I. Its childlike buoyancy with a delicate femininity is a necessary building block in creating a happy sense of self. Cherry’s good cheer evolves into Spinach which represents both simplicity and playfulness. Vibrationally, it allows the child within us to come out and play. Playful, full of wonder, undaunted and trusting, its gentle, feminine nature expresses a profound receptivity to life. Spinach lays the necessary groundwork for the loved child to mature into the loving adult. Whereas Spinach epitomizes the child whose needs are honored and met, Peach now directs that energy outward from its own sense of wholeness toward nurturing others. It is called the ‘’mothering essence”, its love is given freely without condition and with no strings attached. The Peach mother has a light touch and a refreshing energy, much like a breeze in springtime, characteristic of Quadrant I’s youthful qualities. As the last of the feminine essences, it gives birth, in a sense, to the masculine half of the Spectrum and Quadrant II, beginning with Corn. The second Quadrant The Quadrant II we find essences that express the fire of summertime and youth: Corn, Tomato, Pineapple, Banana and Fig. In the masculine half of the Spectrum, these essences all express a predominantly male energy - moving forward in life, owning one’s power and energizing the ability to accomplish tasks. Corn captures the masculine qualities of drive, expression, building and the desire to achieve. Its encapsulates mental vigor, vitality and bountiful enthusiasm. Having harnessed the energy of Corn, Tomato charges into battle against our fears, blocks and weaknesses. Tomato, also called “the warrior essence”, embodies the qualities of strength and endurance. Tomato’s strength leads us to the self-assurance of Pineapple which occupies the mid-point in Quandrant II. Fearless and invigorated, we develop self-knowledge and trust of that inner wisdom. Pineapple stands out as the essence of those who know themselves - their talents, strengths and their impact on others. Pineapple is tempered by Banana’s humility, with its ensuing calmness reaped through the masculine qualities of reason and detachment from life’s countless ups and downs. Humility is a quality of enormous strength which is often misunderstood or overlooked. Like Banana, Fig possesses a mixture of gentleness and strength - the strength born of flexibility and self-acceptance. Fig addresses rigidity of the body and mind. It ensures that our ideas about ourselves and the world around us do not limit, calcify or constrict us. The third Quadrant Flexible, malleable and strengthened by the lessons of Quadrant II, we now pass into the third cluster of essences for autumn and middle age, completing the masculine half of the Spectrum. Here, we reap the wisdom thus far acquired on our journey and the essences possess strength, power and the drive to build and accomplish. Quadrant III includes Almond, Pear, Avocado, Apple and Orange. As the first essence in Quadrant III, Almond encapsulates the matured strength to say “no” to excess. Having learned Fig’s lesson of balance, Almond portrays self-control. moral vigour and the moderate use of our senses dictated by wisdom rather than whim. A harmonizing calmness ensues through Almond’s message of living the courage of our convictions. Emerging from the calmness of Almond, we find Pear. This remedy has an unmistakable, unshakable strength. Pear is the pure strength of being totally centered, completely balanced and absolutely in control of our faculties - all valuable assets in the face of emergency situations. If the tranquility of Almond is the calm before the storm, Pear is the peace after it. From Pear’s steadiness arises the clarity and sharp mental focus of Avocado. This essence contains Quadrant III’s maturity and the Spectrum’s masculine virtues of manifested strength through the joy of mental challenges. In no uncertain terms, Avocado represents a solid mental footing - knowing ourselves and the direction we want to take with our lives. Avocado’s keen memory and clarity leads to Apple’s acuity. Through Apple, we come to a wonderful understanding of the subtle dance between the body, mind and spirit. When these elements are harmonized, the result is a state of radiant well-being. Orange is the last essence in Quadrant III and the last masculine essence of the Spectrum. Clear-thinking Apple provides the psychologically balanced soil from which Orange germinates. Just as the fruit of the orange possesses a particular tartness, so do many of life’s experiences. Determined to overcome the deepest possible human sorrows, Orange reaches to the very core of true happiness. The fourth Quadrant The essences in the fourth Quadrant represent winter and senior years, with qualities of sweetness, resolution and completion. We return to the feminine half of the Spectrum with a well-ripened maturity and a storehouse of inner riches. Quadrant IV contains Blackberry, Date, Strawberry, Raspberry and Grape. From a spirit made radiant through Orange, we turn to Blackberry whose message purifies us with clean thoughts, honesty and honest self-assessment. Blackberry allows us to see the goodness in ourselves and in those around us. In addition, it promotes the wisdom of maturity rather than the innocence of inexperience. These qualities lead us to Date which makes us sweet and gives us the ability to observe without judgment. Harbouring this tender sweetness, we draw the same to ourselves, magnetizing the company of family and friends to our side, thus enriching the winter of our lives. Located in the middle of Quadrant IV, Strawberry embodies a feminine dignity, maturity, fullness, comfort and poise. Date’s sweetness has rendered us good-natured; now Strawberry makes us gracious and ennobled. This essence knows itself, but in a much softer, quieter way than the conspicuous Pineapple. Strawberry’s sense of self-worth leads to Raspberry’s heightened empathy, sympathy and sensitivity to others. Raspberry embodies kindness, forgiveness and compassion and is called the “healer’s essence”. In forgiving those who have deeply hurt us, we reap great benefits, including the ability to forgive ourselves. Healed of our own emotional wounds, we are then able to help others do likewise. The final essence in our tour around the Spectrum of the Spirit in Nature essences is Grape which represents unconditional love. It is the love that liberates instead of binds; the love that seeks to give rather than to receive. Love is the truest healer. It is the essence of life. These 20 Spirit in Nature Essences are very versatile. The Spectrum is just one way of using them. For example, to strengthen the youthful side of our personality, we would look to the Quadrant I essences in the Spectrum; for more ripened, mature and inward qualities, we would turn to the Quadrant IV. You will find on our website more information on each essence as well as information on how they apply to mothers, children, and animals. (back to top) Detailed catalogue Our detailed catalogue will be updated during September. Download from our free downloads page. (back to top) Australian Bush workshops Level 1 (French) 3-4 October 2009 in Paris Contact Eve Apprill, Tel: 01 42 71 11 78 10-11 October 2009 in Geneva Contact Chantal Combépine, Tel: +41 78 755 17 80 Level 2 (French) 17-18 October 2009 in Geneva Contact Chantal Combépine, Tel: +41 78 755 17 80 28-29 November 2009 in La Réunion Contact Nadia Jacquemin, Tel: 06 93 33 59 25 Level 3 Ian White will be in France to teach level 3 in 2010. To participate, you need to have taken at least the level 1 course. See our page on courses and workshops for more information. (back to top)