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Flower Essences and Essential Oils |
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Shortly after college, I landed in a 40-hour job that seemed very routine to me and had nothing to do with my major. I was discontent, unhappy, and stressed. I developed hemorrhoids and a bad attitude. I blamed my job for poor health and did not seem to connect that I was the person who was choosing to continue to stay in such a job. When I first stumbled upon the healing arts, I was like a sponge that could never get enough water. Every class I took – crystal and gemstone therapy, color healing, reflexology, etc. – was my next favorite class. I ended up with a large library, not to mention countless certificates of completion for the 1000+ hours of documented training. I won’t even get into the undocumented apprenticeships and internships…. One of the classes I loved was flower essences, in which we learn from the vibration and energy of flowers in meditation and in remedies. I learned about so many systems and approaches to flowers, I even made countless batches of my own essences. When I found out I could also make essences of time, place, gems, and other plants, I was floored. I started to apply essences to soil, to skin, to paint, to baths, and so much more beyond oral intake. Just as every site in nature has a unique signature, so do plants. I have appreciated using flower essences, adding essential oils to a calm relaxing bath, and planting flowers I know may put that spark into the front or back yard. Seeing fresh flowers uplifts my spirit anytime. |
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Music and Vocal Appreciation |
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I have a huge appreciation of music and the voice, usually in a language I do not understand. Somehow, the depth and strength of one’s voice and how it blends with the melody creates such a deep feeling of knowingness and connection I cannot quite fully explain. Enya, Sarah Brightman, Deva Premal, Ani Choying Drolma, Sheila Chandra, Adiemus, Joanne Shenandoah, and so many others fall into this category for me. Flute, string instruments, drums, a capella—the human voice adds so much more and communicates so precisely. Music creates an ambience that transcends the mind and goes directly to the soul. Music speaks to my emotional body. |
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Going to the library is a luxury vacation. All these books available literally at my fingertips—and I don’t even need to buy any one of them. What a wonderful concept! As soon as I was old enough to have a library card, I used it—with my mother’s permission, though, since she was the keeper of the card. In fact, I even faked losing the card so that I could have the actual card in my possession. My mom found out, though. That’s another story. Bottom line is that I kept my love for reading alive and escaped into Judy Bloom, Black Stallion, and Bedknobs and Broomsticks, among many other escapades. Even with the advent of the internet, nothing replaces actually flipping through a book with my hands and borrowing as many books as I please without waiting for the shipping and handling of online orders and extensive downloads with my prehistoric wireless connection speed. |
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When I was in third grade, we had career week. My teacher, Mrs. Leung, carved out some time each day for us to get clear about what we love to do and what we thought we would like to do when we got older. I was so excited by the end of the week. I dashed home and happily told my mother what I wanted to be when I grew up: an AUTHOR! My mother told me that it was impossible, that she did not know anybody (Chinese, that is) who was writing for a living. This was, of course, before the time of Amy Tan and Maxine Hong Kingston. I covered it up immediately with: I can teach during the year and write during the summer, just like Gertrude Chandler Warner with The Boxcar Children. Over 2 decades later, I have taught first grade, just like Gertrude. Although published in a couple of anthologies, I have yet to come out with my own book, which is forthcoming. |
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