One problem with taking substances- be they vitamins, drugs, herbs or essences- is that sometimes the effect is only temporary. Now there are occasions in life where all we need is a temporary fix. Perhaps we have become overly stressed or are facing inner and/or outer issues that are temporary in nature. We just need something to get us over the present hurdle, and quite frankly, at the moment any longer-term outlook is largely irrelevant to us.
On the other hand, when we are seeking long-term inner growth and transformation, the question of whether the results of an essence are short- or long-term becomes extremely important to us. Essences which have mostly short-term effects make poor long-term investments. They are like shares in the stock market that soar this week but have collapsed by next week. Essences which have long-lasting or permanent effects have a much greater appeal in this context.
Flowers are a temporary, ephemeral structure of the plant. Their great beauty soon deteriorates and is lost. Some flowers last only a few days to a few weeks. The use of flowers as a gift, at a time of bereavement or loss, or at a wedding, exemplifies the transient lift which flowers bring. This transient uplift is often all that is required in these situations. Flower Essences only show about 25 per cent of their action as lasting and 75 per cent as short-term. This makes them ideal for a short-term 'boost' but generally unsuitable for effective ongoing inner growth and transformation. This was one of the key realizations that motivated the development of Advanced Alchemy. It is important to note that flower essences only exert their action at levels 1 to 5 on a 10-level diagram (see Levels of Essence Action). In other words, flower essences not only are mostly short-term in their effects, but also they do not have much depth of action.
By contrast, leaves and tree bark are more enduring structures of the plant. Not surprisingly, we find that about 70 per cent of their action is lasting or permanent in nature. OriginalAA Summer Leaf or Falling Leaf or Tree Bark Essences are much more suitable for use in long-term inner growth and transformation than are flower essences.
Other Essence Families showing at least 50 per cent of their action to be lasting are the Seed Essences, Shell Essences and Gem Elixirs, along with high potency homoeopathic remedies. However, the essence family with the most enduring effect is the Root Essences. About 90 per cent of the change initiated by Root Essences is lasting. We would expect this when we consider that roots are an enduring life-long structure of the plant which penetrate deep into the earth.
So before we invest in essences, it is very important to think clearly about what we are wanting. Do we simply want a short-term pickup or boost, and if so, that is quite alright. This might tend to direct us towards the Flower Essences, or the Snow-Modified Australian Flower Essences. On the other hand, if we are wanting to invest long-term in essences that will give us lasting gains in our inner world, we need to look to Essence Families such as Falling Leaf, Summer Leaf, Seed, Tree Bark, Shell, Root or Sap Essences. In choosing between these different essence families, the Primary Needs Chart is a great help, or you may wish to look at our Quality Essence range, which is designed mostly to give lasting benefits as evidenced by the types of Essence Families these combination essences contain.
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