Thomas O Donovan

Rescue Remedy was first created by Dr. Edward Bach as part of the flower essence research he performed before his death in 1936. Dr. Bach discovered the healing properties of 38 plants in this time, as well as studied how to use these flower essences (which now bear his name) to heal physical, emotional and spiritual illnesses. One of his insights was that a combination of essences often proved more effective than one essence alone.

Flower essences should not be confused with "essential oils" as used in aromatherapy. Essential oils are concentrated chemical constituents from herbs, collected by a distillation process. When applied to the skin or inhaled, it has a powerful, but mostly chemical, effect on the body and mind. An essence, on the other hand, is the concentrated energy of the plant; its effects are primarily energetic or "auric", not physical.

As individuals and families grow older, holiday traditions can fail to keep pace. The death of a family member during the year can be poignantly felt all over again at Christmas time. It may be difficult to let go of a loved one and work through the grief of their passage. Flowers such Bleeding Heart and Sturt Desert Pea can help release the pain of these separations, while Forget-Me-Not is useful in keeping their memory alive in a healthy manner.

Many people are helped with depression by medications and treatments, others are turned off by the medical approach. Fortunately, there are many alternatives available that can also have a positive healing effect. The ability of flower essences to cause shifts in people at the mental-emotional level makes them a natural choice for working with depression

Although many flower essences may be bought in stock bottles at a store, it is possible to make them from scratch in your own backyard or nearby environs. In fact, this was Dr. Bach's original intent. The materials needed are simple and easily obtainable and it only takes a few hours time. Making a new essence is fun and rewarding. The most common technique for making flower essences is the "sun infusion" method. For this, you need the following in your essence making kit.

The Druid religion was based mainly upon an awareness of natural and supernatural energies. These energies were identified with spirits and the Celtic Druids believed that trees were given these spirits, who dwelt within, and were perceived as attributes of the Supreme Being. Thus, trees were considered living entities, possessed with Infinite Knowledge and Wisdom...symbolically representative of the Cycle of Life, Death and Renewal...

The Celts had developed a highly sophisticated system, with three divisions of men (and some women) who were held in exceptional honor; the lowest division called the Ovates, the second division called the Bards and then the Druids. The ovates were the healers and seers; the bards memorised the songs, poems, and stories of the tribe (historians); while the druids taught moral philosophy and were experts in the workings of natural science.

Some of the oldest symbols associated with the Celts are Celtic spirals. Prominently displayed on ancient artifacts dating long before the written word in Ireland, Celtic spirals are second only to Knotwork designs as the symbols most associated with Celtic art. These mythical spirals are among the oldest symbols associated with Celtic art.

The Halloween custom has come a long way from its origins in Celtic Ireland, transforming from people celebrating a serious Pagan holiday into a fun, kid-friendly holiday. The Halloween custom probably won't end until the holiday itself dies out -- and that isn't going to happen anytime soon. The ancient origins of Halloween originates from 2,000 years ago, from a sacred Celtic festival called Samham, which celebrated the end of a year, when the souls of the dead travelled into the otherworld.

Every fan of astrology knows all about the major transits of astrology, including the minor ones. But what of those aspects that are practically ignored - the Novile and the Septile - which are the divisions of the Natal chart by 7 and 9 respectively. This article explores these aspects with indepth explainations of the meanings of both.