Those who have been reading in order up to this point saw a photo of a sea essence and heard about gemstone essences on the previous page.  Since Dr. Bach's time, others have drawn on his method of using sunlight to transfer the vibrational pattern of flowers to water and have used it to create vibrational essences from other natural substances or living beings.  The most common forms of vibrational essences, after flower essences, are gemstone essences (or gem elixirs), sea essences, and environmental essences.  Gemstone essences are probably the most frequently used. . .

Gemstones are not inert matter.  They grow and develop just like animals and plants but at a much, much slower rate.  Scientists have identified six different growth patterns for crystals, called crystalline systems.  The pattern of the crystalline structure of the gemstones is transferred into the water when the essence is made, and the gifts that they offer us are structure and stability.  There are never any absolute rules in the world of vibrational medicine.  We have seen that flower essences may have noticeable effects on the physical level.  Speaking in general, gemstone essences tend to work more on physical levels and for this reason are considered a good complement to flower essences, which as a general rule work with mental and emotional levels.  Gemstone essences help integrate life force into the body, although they do not contain the same degree of life force as flowers.  Steve Johnson states that their primary action is to stabilize and balance the energy field (the subtle bodies which comprise the aura, the chakras, and I would add also the meridians) and to help dispel stress and tension in the energy field:  "as these dissonant energies are released, the subtle bodies and chakras come back  into alignment and the physical body is able to regain its natural state of balance, stability and resistance to stress" (The Essence of Healing, The Alaskan Flower Essence Project, 2000, p. 12). 

Richard Gerber, M.D., states that gemstone essences can have powerful effects on meridians, chakras, and subtle bodies, and goes on to further explain Steve's emphasis on structure and stability:  "Certain gemstones have a special harmonic resonance with particular points of human physical anatomy.  Healing through the use of gem elixirs takes place when crystalline patterns stored in the elixir are resonantly transferred to unstable biomolecular structures within the diseased physical body.  As vibrational energy is transferred to specific molecular systems within the body, stabilization of biochemical processes causes increased cellular organization, organ repair, and a general shift toward physical health (Vibrational Medicine, Bear and Company, 1996, p. 273). 

Citrine, shown in the first photo above, is helpful for mental confusion and helps promote concentration and centering.  Ruby, shown in the third photo, cleanses, balances and energizes the first chakra, opening one to vital and grounding energy from the earth.  Both photos are provided courtesy of Steve Johnson, Alaskan Flower Essence Project. 

On a personal level, flowers are closer to my heart than gemstones, and I have more experience working with flower essences.  However, I am open to all healing energies of nature.  I have many gem elixirs, find gemstones absolutely beautiful and feel attracted to them, and hope to develop a stronger connection with the mineral kingdom over time.

Sabina Pettitt of Pacific Essences is the developer of the sea essences (for which no creature is ever, ever harmed!).  She describes them as catalysts for transformations in consciousness and breakthroughs, bringing the unconscious to consciousness, "they help us flow with our inner strength and knowingness" (Energy Medicine, Pacific Essences, 1999, p. 17).  The Whale essence balances the Central and Governing meridians, which I check and correct first in a session because they are two foundational meridians.  I have yet to see an occasion when either of these meridians, if unbalanced, was not strengthened by Whale essence, although sometimes it takes two doses.  I must have a personal affinity for Seahorse (© Pacific Essences®) because I often am directed to  it when I dowse for an essence to help me shift an unpleasant or discordant state--and I can usually feel the difference quickly.   Its gift is life force and vitality.  At the end of our Pacific Essences training, when we were presented with a basket from which to choose one sea essence as a parting gift, not knowing what they were, guess which one I picked. 

Environmental essences are made with the intent of transferring the energy of a particular location into the bowl of water which will become the environmental essence.  Before engaging the 21st-century rational mind which we all have and writing this off as a bunch of hooey, check out this amazing site on water:  http://www.hado.net  (please note that the description which follows relates to a now non-existent and more comprehensive website than the above, which is the best I can direct you to at this time--September, 2004).  You will see photographs of the crystals formed in frozen water taken from many sources, from pristine springs to polluted rivers, of the crystals formed when the water is exposed to varying types of music, and of the crystals formed when the vial containing the water has varying words affixed to it (such as Adolf Hitler on one and Love/Appreciation on another).  I have both books which contain these photographs, and they are fascinating and mysterious.  Crystals taken from a polluted source were examined before and after a prayer service, with dramatic changes for the better afterward.  A cup of polluted water was placed in an office, and a group of Japanese healers across the nation was called upon to send healing energy to the water and the desire that it be cleansed.  The crystals were examined before the time at which all were to send forth healing energy to the water and afterward, again with startling results.  Why couldn't the energy of a particular place be transferred into a bowl of water present at the location?  Water is a highly impressionistic medium, as one may readily see from this work done with water crystals.  The world is full of Mystery that we cannot fathom, and essences are right at the heart of It.

Steve Johnson describes the healing qualities of his environmental essences:  "Environmental essences are very catalytic in their actions and are often indicated when a strong cleansing energy is needed to bring vitality to someone who is not responding to other therapies or modalities.  They provide a strong base of support for our work with flower essences, lending energy and vitality to the healing processes catalyzed by the flowers.  These essences from the environment also help us create clear and balanced inner environments which can support positive change and growth.  This is especially important for people who live within a toxic or abusive family dynamic" (The Essence of Healing, The Alaskan Flower Essence Project, 2000, p. 10). 

Steve describes the particular qualities of the environmental essences shown in the photographs (following are my shortened versions of Steve's much  more complex descriptions).  Polar Ice, shown in the second photo on the page, helps us to be present in waiting, in goal-lessness, when we are moving through a period of transition.  Shown in the fifth photo, Portage Glacier is a powerful catalyst for cleansing, clearing physical toxins from the body.  Solstice Sun (sixth photo) is helpful for Seasonal Affective Disorder and allows us to receive more light into our bodies.  And Rainbow Glacier (seventh photo), helps one to be present in one's body rather than reacting to painful experiences through disconnection.  All environmental essence photos were provided courtesy of Steve Johnson, Alaskan Flower Essence Project.