Flower essences have a gentle energy. Made of extremely dilute flower extracts, brandy, and water, they're thought to support emotional healing. Preparing flower extracts is a thoughtful and meditative exercise.
In the morning, walk through the woods or your garden, and select flowers that resonate with you. Make sure to choose flowers that you recognize and know are safe to handle and consume.
Pluck the flowers, and then add them to your basket. Taking care to work quickly so as to prevent wilting. Clean the flowers of any debris.
Infusing the flowers in water.
Pour about 1 cup spring water into a clear glass bowl, and then set the bowl in direct sunlight for 2 to 4 hours. Make sure that you keep the flower infusion in direct sunlight the entire time, and that no shadows pass over your bowl.
Strain the flower essence water through a fine-mesh sieve into a pint-sized jar, discarding the spent flowers and preserving the water.
Preparing the mother essence.
Pour 1 cup brandy into the quart jar that holds flower essence water. Seal the jar and store it in a dark cupboard up to 6 years.
Preparing a dosing essence.
Using an eyedropper, place 10 drops of the mother essence into a 1-ounce vial. Fill the vial with ½ ounce brandy and ½ ounce water. Tap the bottle in the palm of your hand, and take a few drops under your tongue as needed throughout the day.