Goldenrodflower essence (made by FES) is helpful for those who are easily influencedby groups or one's family, subject to peer pressure or social expectations,and/or unable to be true to one's core self.  It helps these peopledevelop individuality so that they may interact with groups without givingup their own inner integrity.  It's good for adolescents who are sortingout who they are in peer groups, and it helps in working through beingdifferent from others.  I came across a wonderful goldenrod storywhile reading the chapter on flower essences in Radical  Healingby Rudolph Ballentine, M.D. (Three Rivers Press, 1999, pp. 113-114). The story is paraphrased below and not quoted in full due to copyrightrestrictions.

Dr. Ballentine's middle son, Galen, was seven or eightat the time of this story.  Within the family dynamics at that time,the older son was the leader, the younger son was the baby, and Galen,a rather quiet and patient middle child, was for the most part ignored. In an attempt to gain attention of some sort, even negative, Galen began"playing the fool" by doing things that seemed stupid to his brothers,eliciting such responses from them as, "Oh, you're such a dope.  Goaway!"  He became the "family goof."  Dr. Ballentine was verydismayed over the situation and unable to bring about any change in thedynamics through family discussion. 

Galen loved to spend time in the fields and woods nearhis home and Dr. Ballentine had taught him a little about the wild plantswhich grew in the vicinity. Aboutthis time, Galen began to bring branches of goldenrod to his father asking,"Can you make a remedy from this?"  This happened on several occasions. 

Dr. Ballentine had used the Bach flower essences for decadesat the time of this story, but he had only recently begun to explore theFES essences, from California.  One afternoon he was studying theFES essences and came across a description of the goldenrod essence: "For those who create barriers to social contact through repulsive behavior,or who have a need for negative attention.  Promotes positive individuation."

Dr. Ballentine states, "I probably sat a long time withthat book in my lap, staring off into the distance.  My mind was havinga hard time 'wrapping itself around' what had happened.  I slowlycame to realize that there was a level of awareness and communication hereto which I'd been totally oblivious.  And as I watched the floweressence work its magic, my son steadily outgrowing his problem, it becameobvious that this sphere of non-ordinary reality could hold immense potentialfor the advancement of healing work" (single goldenrod photo above providedcourtesy of FES).
 
 

Before and after attending the FES practitioner trainingin summer, 2002, I spent a few weeks hiking in northern and central California. I had two "flower experiences" which were very meaningful to me. Below is my journal entry of an experience with the Blazing Star. 

Black Point, Mono Lake (near Yosemite):  Ithink this was the highest highlight so far.  It was a rainy day andI felt blah and bored with the hikes Ihad taken (into Saddlebag Lake, which was extremely harsh, rocky, desolate,and under stormy skies), and then trying to go into the canyon right next-doorbut the trail was not marked (of course!  what else is new???), andso I missed it.  I came home very tired and took a much-needed nap. Around 5:30 I headed out for Black Point on Mono Lake (what remains ofwhat was once an inland sea here), which was a drive of about 7 miles. I had to drive a long way down a dirt road and was so thankful it was raining(even hailing at one point!) so I wasn't enclosed in a cloud of dust. When I arrived at a beautiful desolate spot near the large cinder protrusionwhich is located out in the lake, the rain had just stopped, but it lookedthreatening all around me.  Lightning was visible in one spot andrain in many other spots (I could see it flowing down).  The hike,with no trail (just picking one's way through sagebrush growing in cinders)involved climbing the gentle slope of a volcano that erupted 13,000 yearsago.  It was so beautiful at the base, the air so clean from the stormand the scent of sagebrush so enticing, that I wanted very badly to climbthe old volcano.  So I prayed the whole way up to Jesus asking forprotection from the storm and lightning and I also talked to the plantsand minerals.  I was completely alone, and it was an absolutely gorgeoushike in every way.  The views of the lake were spectacular, but Icould also see the mountains all around.  There was a certain eerieand desolate--yet not at all frightening--quality to the whole experiencebecause of the menacing clouds.  It was also very cool and invigoratingbecause of the air and scents from the plants. 

At the top, I found fissures 20-50 feet deep which wereformed around the timeof the eruption.  The storm moved on past, but cloud formations stayed,and the lighting was fascinating.  I wrote in the comment book atthe trailhead:  "mystical, magical and mysterious."  I lovedevery quiet minute of it.  I thought about how I loved Mono Lake withits weird tufa formations (limestone formed from bubbling springs below)and volcanic features more than what I had seen of Yosemite so far. Then, as I was driving away at dusk, as if that experience alone were notenough, I spotted aBlazing Star (flower) just at the base of the volcano (full plant photoprovided courtesy of FES).  There were several plants, but there wasonly one blossom perfectly opened on one plant (so I would have had tohave seen that one in order to identify it), and it was facing me as Idrove out!  I have been taking BlazingStar on and off since late last fall.  It is known for combining solarand lunar qualities--the sunflower qualities of individuation with femininequalities associated with blooming at night and its milky sap--and forgrowing in very harsh conditions.  It is a gorgeous flower, and Ihad been looking for one (I later found out this was a GIANT Blazing Star)! Here, at the end of this amazing experience, was my Blazing Star growingin the stark cinders!  As if this were still not enough, as I drovehome down the dirt road in the middle of nowhere, the sunset was like noneI had ever seen before because of the bright orange piercing the cloudsover the mountains and the soft pink over the lake.  What an evening! I could never have created such a lovely experience if I had planned it! 

During my hiking trip in northern and central California,after the FES practitioner training, I had one other flower experiencethat really made an impression on me (apart from the daily delight of discoveringand being able to identify so many flowers on my hikes). 

My husband was supposed to call me at 7:15 one night,or, if that did not workout for him, then at 10:30.  Well, he did not call until 11:00. Between 10:30 and 11:00 I was feeling rather upset, anxious, distressed(I didn't know if he would call at all, and I could not reach him). I found myself spontaneously (it just happened--no thought involved) imaginingbeing curled up within a white lily and with the virgin Mary.  I loveMary and often spend time with her in my imagination, but this was a firstfor me to spontaneously be so close to a flower.  It was actuallythe flower that was most powerful (I found it very comforting), and Marywas less prominent.  I thought I must really be connecting with flowers! I was with them every day, observing them, identifying them, just sittingwith them, and then I had this spontaneous experience.  This alonemade an impact on me. . .

Well,the next morning I was driving early down the same road I had driven downfor three previous mornings, and there, practically sticking out in frontof the car on the road, was a Shasta Lily!  I had never seen it therebefore.  It looked just like the flower I had been with in my imaginationthe night before!  Of course I stopped, spent a little time with it,photographed it, and said good-bye.  It made my day! 

(The Shasta Lily helps men and women to integrate thestrength of the masculine with the grace and beauty of the feminine. Photos provided courtesy of FES).
 
 

During the Living Essences training in Arizona, whileon a field trip with the group, by the roadside I spotted a flower whichimmediately struck me.  I asked to stop the car and found out thatthis striking flower was the prickly poppy.  I was very drawn to itbut did not see it again after this one, brief encounter.

Afterthe training was over, I drove into Sycamore Canyon looking for beautiful,orange globe mallow, which was very prolific in the area, in order to makean essence.  Quite unexpectedly and with great joy I happened upona prickly poppy not far off the nearly-deserted dirt road!  I endedup making an essence with this prickly poppy but I was unable to identifyprecisely which species it was.

Eileen Naumann, a homeopath and flower essence therapypractitioner, lived near this area of Arizona and had graciously agreedto meet with me while I was there.  Our appointment time had beenset for midday on the day when I discovered the prickly poppy.  Asit turned out, I decanted the prickly poppy essence just before drivingto our meeting place.  Since I was not able to identify the speciesof this prickly poppy, and since Eileen lived in the area, I took alongone of the blossoms to show her. 

I carried the blossom, still in the essence bowl, intothe restaurant where we were to meet and she immediately saw it. In an instant she put before me a gift she had brought for me of her 35-pageprickly poppy essence study!  How's that for a synchronicity?!