...One Drop at a Time
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...One Drop at a Time
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What exactly are essences? Let's begin with a dictionary definition for "essence." Then we'll explore the ways nature essences can help you restore sanity in a crazy world. essence n. (Oxford American Dictionary) 1. all that makes a thing what it is, its nature 2. an indispensable quality or element 3. an extract of something, containing all its important qualities in concentrated form As you can see in the first two definitions, the essence of something is intangible-a "quality" rather than a substance. Yet it makes any given thing all that it is. The third definition, an extract, refers to an actual physical attribute. You can find herbal extracts at your local health food store. They contain chemical constituents drawn from plants using a solvent such as alcohol, or perhaps pressed from plant material. Nature essences are most like the first two definitions. They contain no chemical constituents, just the "indispensable qualities" of nature. They are made from potentized water that is stabilized with alcohol or an alcohol-free herbal infusion which gives them an indefinite shelf life. The water is potentized when the healing pattern of a plant, mineral, animal or other aspect of nature is imprinted into the water by either physically placing the object in a bowl of water, or by invoking the life force into the water by intention. Either way, the water takes on the life force of the source. The process itself is quite simple, yet profoundly sacred. [Top] Flower essences were first developed in the 1930's by the English physician, Edward Bach. Dr. Bach was a classically trained physician who became a pioneer in understanding the relationship of emotions to the health of body and mind. Today we call this the "body/mind connection." You can also use the tongue-twister, "psychoneuroimmunology." He observed that many physical diseases could be directly related to a person's mental attitude. He also noted that emotions and thoughts affect the nervous system and the immune system, this can create stress, and stress can create illness. His philosophy was this: if harmony is restored to a person's mental and emotional outlook, he or she could then deal with the stresses of daily life and restore health. He also believed that people know themselves well enough that a system such as flower essences could be easily understood and utilized by individuals without the supervision of a doctor or other medical professional. This simple doctrine continues to guide the use of essences to this day. [Top] How are featherhawk essences different from the Bach essences? featherhawk is one of the first companies to produce animal essences, and has also expanded the world of essences to include sacred geometry and environmental phenomena. The important issues we face in our lives today have expanded beyond Dr. Bach's day, as well. While the issues identified by Dr. Bach and addressed by the essences he produced are still with us, we are facing other critical problems that were not even heard of in the 1920's and 1930's. We have generated tons of synthetic chemical compounds that now pollute our air, water, food, and soil. We suffer from diseases and disorders and syndromes and are given synthetic drugs to treat and manage our many "illnesses." We are no longer customers to be cared for and supported; we are now "consumers" under the influence of "marketing specialists" for whom selling one more drug or widget is more important than whether or not the product contributes to our health and well-being or the common good. We are bombarded with information and technology that wasn't even dreamed of in the first part of the 20th century. And we are exploring issues of sexuality, religion, relationship, childhood abuse, spirituality, race, and more that were simply not part of the public conversation 70 and 80 years ago. The stress of dealing with all of this chemical and informational input is driving us to distraction if not all the way to crazy. Essences, which can safely and sanely address all these issues and more, are one of the most important holistic healing tools available to us in the 21st century. [Top] Are essences the same as essential oils and aromatherapy? It is easy to confuse essences and essential oils because the names are similar and they are sometimes used to mean the same thing. However, they are very different both in substance and in action. Essences are fragrance-free and they are taken internally. They influence how you think and feel about yourself and your life, they reconnect your body's electrical system which contributes to health and well-being, and they assist you in remembering your soul purpose. They are very easy to use for yourself, your family and friends, even your animal companions. They are also free of side effects and completely safe for people and animals of all ages, even newborns. Oils, of course, create much of their positive impact due to their fragrance, and they are applied externally. Oils also contain substances that affect the chemistry of your body. The most important difference between essences and essential oils is this: when you use essential oils, you want to be knowledgeable about them yourself, or work with an experienced practitioner who can give you advice for safe use. Your personal wellness program might include both essences and essential oils---they work beautifully together. [Top] What are the benefits of using essences? With regular use you can:
The power of essence therapy is multi-layered: On the physical level, essences reconnect your body's electrical system the moment you take a dose. This immediately reduces stress and restores a sense of calm. As this happens, your body will "take a breath," so to speak, and automatically begin its task of restoring balance and wholeness. On the emotional level they help identify and transform deeply held patterns and beliefs, gently peeling away layers of denial, shame, or fear, for example, which no longer serve your highest and best good. In many cases these patterns have been hidden from your conscious awareness. The gift of awareness leads to the freedom of letting go and moving on. On the mental level, the description of each essence offers your mind information to think about and ways to identify patterns and habits that may be contributing to your current issues. This information helps you consciously make another choice without negative self-judgment. At the spiritual level, essences remind you of your wholeness and life purpose. Many experiences of childhood separate you from your inherent divinity, your sacred memory of choosing this planet, this lifetime, this family, this body. Essences gently and lovingly help you remember your original soul intent, your original created self. [Top] How do I know which ones to choose? The easiest way to choose essences is to read the descriptions and select the ones that call to you. Because there are nearly 300 essences in the featherhawk line, you can begin by looking over the entire repertory (by category or in alphabetical order). Skim over the names and see what catches your eye. Click on the essences that call to you, read the descriptions, and choose among them. You can also browse among all the descriptions until you find the ones that most closely match your feelings or the issue you are working on. Take your time You can also use muscle testing to determine which essences you need. For instructions, click here. If you know how to dowse using a pendulum, or if you have a favorite intuitive technique that you are comfortable with, use what you know. [Top] Essences are traditionally taken under the tongue, 2 to 4 drops, 4 times a day for 3 to 4 weeks. Take the drops more often rather than increasing the number of drops per dose if you feel you need to take more. For example, take 4 drops 6 times a day rather than 6 drops 4 times a day. It is perfectly safe to take an essence every 5 minutes in crisis. You should begin to feel calm within 15 or 20 minutes. When used regularly, essences help you maintain balance and harmony in all areas of your life. You can take your essences directly from the bottle, or combine several essences in one dropper bottle to take for several days. Put 4 to 7 drops of each selected essence into a dropper bottle filled with pure water and 1 or 2 teaspoons of brandy (or half vinegar). Shake the bottle well to blend the essences, and take 4 drops 4 times a day, or use muscle testing to determine your dosage schedule. Be careful that the dropper doesn't touch your lips, teeth or other parts of your mouth or skin. If the dropper does make contact or if you accidentally drop it, rinse the dropper well in hot water before putting it back into the bottle. (I once let a dropper slip into a bucket of very dirty water that had been used to clean a kennel... to say the least, I took the dropper completely apart, washed it carefully in hot, soapy water, and thoroughly rinsed it before putting it back into the bottle. Use common sense!) I also recommend you open just one bottle at a time so you don't mix up droppers and bottles. If you put the Hawk essence dropper in the Calendula essence bottle, the Calendula is compromised. If you take the dropper out of the Calendula and put it back in the Hawk, both are compromised. Essences have an indefinite shelf life as long as they do not become contaminated with dirt, saliva or other essences, so take care when using them and they will serve you well. [Top] Here are more guidelines for use:
In an emergency or crisis you can take any essence you have and its vital, positive frequency will restore harmony and peacefulness. Then as soon as possible, test for the most appropriate remedy. [Top] Are they safe for babies and children? Essences are very safe for babies and children. Because they are free of chemical constituents (other than the alcohol or herbal stabilizer), there is no risk of harmful side effects. Can I use essences with my animal companions? Animals are especially responsive to the gentle effects of essences. In addition to your animal friends at home, you can use them with other animals where you work or volunteer such as a farm or ranch, a zoo or veterinary clinic, a wildlife rehab center, animal rescue, or animal control department, etc. They calm and restore order for animals as effectively as they do for humans. Be sure to ask permission of the human in charge before using essences on any animal that is not part of your own household. [Top] Are there any negative side effects? Side effects are rare with essences, and, they are not completely unheard of. If the person or animal you are working with is especially sensitive or high strung, there are some precautions you can take to assure the gentlest response. There are a couple of things to be aware of here. First and foremost, essences contain no harmful chemicals that impact the chemical balance of the physical body. They are vibrational remedies that affect the body's electrical system, central nervous system and energy field. If there is any negative response, it will occur because an adjustment is needed Another consideration is the number of essences being administered at one time. When working with someone you know is emotionally or physically sensitive, give just one essence at a time. f you are giving several essences at one time, narrow your selection to the one essence that seems to best reflect what is needed. If you do not see a change within a short time (2 or 3 days to a week) stop using that one and choose another. Make your choices by reading the descriptions, select an essence intuitively, or use muscle testing or dowsing.
Because they affect the electrical system and the body's auric, unlike pharmaceutical drugs and many over-the-counter products wh, any response is Alcohol is used to stabilize and preserve the essences. Brandy was used by Dr. Bach, and is the traditional stabilizer. In the featherhawk line, Brandy is used in the majority of the essences, although the Essential Soulutions are stabilized with Vodka. Alcohol gives the essences an indefinite shelf-life as long as they do not become contaminated with dirt or saliva. If you drop a dropper, for example, or it if touches your mouth or tongue, rinse it well under hot water before putting it back into the bottle. What if I want to avoid alcohol? You can choose an alcohol-free stabilizer at no extra charge. It's made from an infusion of Red Shiso herb blended with a touch of vinegar. On the website there is a drop-down menu for each essence where you can indicate your preference when you place your order. If you order by phone, fax or email, be sure to mention that you want red shiso. [Top] Red Shiso herb is a member of the mint family and is commonly used in macrobiotic cooking. The active ingredient in red shiso is Perilla Aldehyde, a preservative documented to have 1,000 times the strength of synthetic food preservatives. In oriental medicine it has been used to calm the nervous system, activate the digestive system, help with colds and coughs, and as a diuretic. It is rich in vitamins A, B2, C, Chlorophyll, iron and calcium, and it contains linoleic acid, which has the ability to dissolve cholesterol. Because it does not have a strong fragrance, it is safe to take with all natural remedies including homeopathics. Can I take essences if I'm also taking herbs or getting body work? Yes. Essences are a wonderful complement to any type of health care including herbs and other supplements, homeopathy, acupuncture or acupressure, massage therapy and energy work, hypnotherapy, chiropractic, psychotherapy, and standard medical care. [Top] I'm taking a medication prescribed by my doctor. Is it safe to use essences? Yes. Essences balance and harmonize your emotions and the flow of energy in your body. Because they are free of chemical constituents, it is highly unlikely that taking an essence would interfere with your medication. If you are concerned with the alcohol content, remember that you are only taking a few drops at each dose. If you take 4 drops 4 times a day, for example, your total alcohol intake each day would be less than 5 drops. If you still feel there might be an unpleasant interaction between any medication you are taking and the alcohol in an essence, dilute the drops in a glass of water and sip during the day, add the drops to a cup of hot tea or warm water to dissipate the alcohol, or choose the alcohol-free herbal stabilizer Red Shiso. [Top] The featherhawk site now has a PayPal® shopping cart. Each individual essence has its own description page with a PayPal® button for each product. Just click on the Add to Cart button for each essence you wish to purchase and follow the instructions. To see one of the essence description pages, click here. If you have any problems with the PayPal® shopping cart, please call (812.949.0478 or 877.226.7858 toll free in the U.S.) or email Nanci at featherhawk. I live outside of the United States. Can I order essences? Yes! And there are some things to know before you place your order:
What if I don't have a PayPal® account? If you do not have a current PayPal® account and would like to open one, go to http://www.paypal.com and click on "Sign up for your FREE PayPal® account." It takes just a moment or two to set up, and the directions are easy to follow. Some users who reside outside the United States may be charged a small fee (about US$2.00) by PayPal® to set up an account. If you would prefer not to use PayPal®, please order directly from featherhawk. Call (00+1+812.949.0478) or email nanci@featherhawk.com to make arrangements. What if I don't want to use PayPal®? If you do not wish to use the PayPal® shopping cart or send your payment using PayPal®, contact featherhawk by phone (812.949.0478 or 877.226.7858 toll free in the U.S.) or email (nanci@featherhawk.com) to make other payment arrangements. You can also order by mail or fax. For details go to the How To Order page. [Top]
Nanci Wesling is the founder of featherhawk. Her background is an eclectic one: She's worked as a singer-guitarist, switchboard operator, clerk-typist, secretary, office manager, marketing coordinator, word processor, communications coordinator, and desktop publisher. Her love of words and communication was always part of her love for performing, and is an integral part of her passion for teaching. She grew up in Hollywood, California. Beginning at age six, her grandmother taught her to sing, and she picked up the guitar at age eleven. A great fan of contemporary folk music, her most favorite performer was (and is) Buffy Sainte-Marie, followed closely by Joan Baez, Peter, Paul & Mary, and Judy Collins. Eventually, Joni Mitchell joined the list. Nanci sang with choirs and madrigal groups throughout her junior and senior high school years, including many solo performances. After graduating from Hollywood High School, she worked in various administrative jobs while performing in clubs and lounges around Southern California. From November, 1981 to March 1982 she had the opportunity to travel to Hakata, Japan, on the southern island of Kyushu, where she performed at The Wine Bar. After returning to Los Angeles in 1982, she moved from Los Angeles to Colorado and was guided to Unity Church in Denver where she began studying metaphysics and exploring natural healing. In 1986 she was deeply involved in promoting the World Instant of Cooperation in Denver (World Healing Meditation, still celebrated each December 31), and went on to promote and celebrate the Harmonic Convergence in August 1987. Just before the end of 1986, Nanci met Kay Snow-Davis (Soul Purpose Academy) and Bobbi Brooks, two of her most important teachers. In 1987 she first learned about the Bach Flower Remedies and completed First and Second Degree Reiki training. She also began attending Hanna Kroeger's Chapel of Miracles in Boulder, Colorado, and expanded her education in natural healing. In the fall of 1991 she received the first guidance that she was to make essences, beginning with Hawk. She had read about making flower and gem essences, but getting a Hawk into a bowl of water seemed a little out of reach! In January of 1992, she was given permission (and instructions) for making Hawk essence, and the journey began. Nanci loves to share her knowledge of essences, natural healing, and personal transformation, and she began teaching essence work in 1993. In 1995 she was certified to teach Point of Power: A Relationship With Your Soul by the author, Kay Snow-Davis. She has also studied Kay's wonderful work, Wheel of Life Cycles, and she teaches workshops on this important information as well. In the summer of 1999 Nanci was ordained as a non-denominational protestant minister through the Lively Stones Fellowship of Dr. Willard Fuller. That same summer she completed a Teacher Certification course at the Hanna Kroeger School of Natural Healing. In 2000, she was certified in Advanced Reiki Training and completed her Reiki Master training. [Top] Does Nanci offer personal consultations? Yes. In her private practice as an energy practitioner Nanci works in partnership with the essences and provides spiritually guided intuitive counseling. A session may also include supplement recommendations, Reiki and other forms of energy work, microbial balancing, and other areas of expertise. Her commitment is to restore balance in individuals and the world, and teach people to help themselves and others. When we work toegether, we can discover the most appropriate tools that will open the door for you to remember your innate perfection and your important role in the Universe. For details, please click here. Who or what is "featherhawk"? Nanci has this to say about her Spirit Name and the Hawk drawing she uses for her company logo: "Hawk is my Sentinel, watching over me and the essences. The original pencil drawing of the Hawk came from the heart and talent of Louise Sanchez of Boulder, Colorado. It embodies, for me, the power and integrity of this work." [Top] If your question was not answered here, please contact featherhawk: Call 812.949.0478, or toll free, 877.226.7858 (U.S.). Email nanci@featherhawk.com. Or mail your question to featherhawk, PO Box 125, New Albany, Indiana 47151.0125. [Top] |
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The information in this web site is for educational purposes only. It has not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consult your health care professional if you have any questions. © 1999-2006 by Nanci Wesling. All text and images on this site are protected by Copyright law. No text or images may be copied, altered, reused or modified without written permission from the owner of this site.
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