Essences are vibrational, energetic, water-based remedies usually preserved in alcohol. They aren't the same essential oils, which are physical plant extracts that often require a huge amount of plant matter. Essences are a non-extractive and environmentally sustainable way of receiving plant medicine.

Essences can help to support shifts in emotional/behavioral patterns and navigate transitions by bringing the waters in our bodies into resonance with the energies and wisdom preserved in the waters of the essence. Essences aren’t used to treat physical issues, although in some cases, shifting emotional and behavioral patterns may also offer relief to the physical body.

The process of making an essence is a practice of deep reciprocity, presence, and listening. It requires not only tuning in to the plant (or other being/environment/event) to collaborate on the medicine but also listening to my own intuition to discern the right timing and the right action required to honor the relationship. I view the sharing of these essences as an act of amplifying the voices of other-than-human wisdom.

There’s no physical plant matter in essences, and thus they have no contraindications (unless you’re unable to tolerate small doses of alcohol). If a particular essence isn’t right for you at a given moment — you may just observe the inclination to take it less. On the other hand, if an essence is resonating, you’ll likely start to notice subtle or dramatic shifts in emotions, perceptions, behaviors, energy, dreams, etc.

There's a history of plant essences being used throughout history by many cultures, from Ancient Egypt to Indigenous Australia. In Europe, Hildegard von Bingen and Paracelsus were known to collect dew from plants in the morning and use this in their remedies. The products we now refer to today as "flower essences" were formalized and popularized by Dr. Edward Bach in the 1930's.

I've studied essence-making and essence consultation practitioner skills with a variety of teachers:

Liz Migliorelli @ Sister Spinster: Turning Toward the Flower (2023), Flowering Round Flower Essence Practitioner Training (2024), Flower Guild Practitioner Circle (2025)

Saewon Oh @ Sun Song: Sun Song Earth Energy Development (2023)

Jade Alicandro Mace - Milk + Honey Herbs: From the Roots Up Herbal Apprenticeship (2023)

Remy Maelen + LA Warman @ Write Earth: A Poetry Essence-Making Workshop (2021)

Mandana Boushee + Lauren Giambrone @ Wild Gather: Seeds of Herbalism Mentorship (2021)