"Inthe last six to eight months I have been afflicted with a rather severecase of arthritis in my hands which is at times excruciatingly painful. Eileen made up a flower essence for pain which she has me take periodicallyuntil the pain is gone.  Usually I only have to take two doses withinabout 15 minutes and I am painfree.  It has worked beautifully forme and it is natural and safe."  Catherine Green, retired secretary- St. Louis
 
 

"Iused flower essences during my preparations for my M.A. (Master's degree)Comprehensive Exams.  Their use helped me to stay focused on my studies,sharpened my mind, and helped me think creatively before and during theexams.  The use of the essences also helped me cope with the stressof these final hurdles to finishing my degree work."  Christine Cunningham,M.A., candidate for ordination (United Methodist Church) - Illinois
 
 

"I'veworked with flower essences for years.  Since working with Eileen,I feel doubly blessed to have access to so many different ones, as wellas Eileen's passion and dedication which give her deep insights into theselection of appropriate essences.  Though, at first, the essencesshe selected for me seemed to take me in a direction directly oppositeof my stated goals, I can now see how and why that was essential. The interpretations of the essences themselves and our discussion addedto my own insights about my process.  My life is now heading in amore fulfilling direction than I would ever have imagined a year ago. Thank you to Eileen and the beautiful essence devas!"  K.M., spiritualhealer - St. Louis
 
 

"Thankyou so much for empowering me to become a little more of who God intendedme to be.  When I arrived at your doorstep two years ago, I was frightened,anxious, and didn't like who I was very much.  As we worked with theflower essences I discovered that the fear and anxiety began to lessen. It was very helpful to repeat my goal statement four times a day as I tookthe essences.  I also appreciated the reflection questions. They helped me to see the little changes that were taking place. I have found that growth happens in baby steps and the reflection questionsforced me to acknowledge these baby steps.  There are still timeswhen I am anxious and fearful, but because I have learned to like who Iam I can work through those times.  I now am okay in my skin. Thank you for taking the time and energy to help me find my inner coreand accept me defects and all."  Sister Carol, SCC, educator (primarygrades through high school) - St. Louis
 
 

"Iwould like to give my background, which made me the least likely candidateto use flower essence therapy.  My father, a medical doctor (allopathic)in India, where I was born, had no use for any alternative therapy. I grew up hearing from the most important authority in my life-my father-aboutalternative therapies as "voodoo medicine" and their practitioners as takingadvantage of the ignorance of people.

In  February, 2000 I had aminor stroke.   None of my faculties were damaged but I experiencedweakness in my muscles.  A few months after the stroke, I developedsevere pain in my right shoulder.  This pain slowly kept increasing,and, within a few months, whenever I drove the car, it got aggravated. The doctor told me that it was due to the weakness in the shoulder. Withinone and one half years, this pain made me almost disabled.  Even minormovement became a problem.  Not only could I not put dishes in thedishwasher, but even folding my clothes, sorting clothes, bills, even flippingthe page of a book or newspaper became a problem.

The only thing that gave me reliefwas a heating pad.  Even in the middle of the night I had to get upto heat my water bottle when the pain would start.  I thought thiswould be a cross I would have to bear for the rest of my life.

In the latter half of 2002, uponmy insistence, the doctor ordered an MRI of the shoulder, and I was toldthat there was a tear in my rotator cuff as well as osteoarthritis. Since then I saw an orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder problemsand I was given an option of surgery to alleviate the pain.

Thisis the time when I opted for some alternative therapy.  First I wentto an acupuncture specialist.  In the beginning, it helped, but thepain kept coming back.   After four months I stopped it. I resigned myself again to living with pain.  I met Eileen Hutchesonin a reading group.  When she saw that I was in constant pain shesuggested to me that I try flower essence therapy.  After suggestingthis several times over a period of months, I decided to take a chance. We began in March, 2003.  Eileen prepared special drops to take orallyand cream for the shoulder.

By July, 2003, I was painfree. Now not only do I drive, but I cook, clean the kitchen, and feel like someonegave me an arm back.  All the activities I could not do before, Ido now every day.  And I have no pain.

I would have never believed thatthe essences of flowers could be  effective for anything.  Mydesperation forced me to try it, and that experience made me an open-minded person for the medical venues that are not mainstream."

Mridula Durbin, Ph.D., retired anthropologyand linguistics professor - St. Louis
 

First photo: The Blanketflower is helpful for low vitality, depression and sadness (LivingEssences definition).  Taken at Arizona Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona,USA.

Second photo:Prince'sPlume, Zion National Park, Utah, USA.

Third photo: Buckthorn Cactus, Saguaro National Park, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

Fourth photo: The Coral Bean helps realign one's will, focus, and concentration, andhelps one own one's own power (Desert Alchemy definition).  Takenat Arizona Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

Fifth photo:TheArizona Thistle helps one make and honor one's own boundaries without guiltwhile remaining connected to people and one's own spiritual source (DesertAlchemy definition).  Taken at Zion National Park, Utah, USA.

Sixth photo:Probablyhemerocallisfulva (a variety of day lilies) growing on the lands of the TrappistMonastery of Gethsemani, Kentucky, which is where the photo was taken andthe essence was made.