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Children, Essences, and the Family System
by Deborah Bier, M.Ed. , maker of the Whole Energy Essences and a holistic therapist.
Kids can be like little sponges, taking in and reacting to everything in their environments. Often, what seems like a "problem" or "acting out" is a reflection of something going on somewhere in the family or at school, etc. While it is important to help kids cope with their tensions and stresses in effective ways, sometimes helping kids doesn't always mean working with them directly.
In fact in many cases, addressing only the difficulties of the child will not serve to solve the problem. Despite the origin of the difficulty, it may be felt so strongly in other parts of the child's environment (e.g., family, school, etc.) that it must It is important to help for ALL the parts of the system affected by the child and which effect the child for best results. This is particularly true when the problem is longstanding, severe or has not yielded to other treatment which has addressed the child alone. We recommend that when these essences are used within a family setting, that ALL members of the family receive the essence, not just the "identified patient."
Some Examples
One of the easiest to understand examples of when an entire family needs help is when a new baby comes into the home. Mom and dad are often run ragged getting adapted to the new regimen. Even in cases where the baby is healthy, lack of sleep and continued fatigue from the extra needs of an infant are common. Other kids in the family may be upset at the disruption of their usual lives and might feel some jealousy of the new child.
Parents with teenagers know the ups and downs associated with those years. Even in cases of well-adjusted teens, the ride can be a dramatic one for all in the family. When the child is "troubled" it is even more important that the entire family receive support. A parent with a very destructive drug-addicted teen used the WWES "Adolescence" LifeStage essence blend herself and later said "I no longer wanted to throttle my daughter every minute. I might even like her again one day in the distant future." This may seem like faint praise, but in this case, it was great progress, indeed! (For an article about LifeStage essences, see here.)
Parents with extremely ill or dying children often focus the entirety of their efforts on helping the child to the exclusion of all else. Their own feelings of loss, fear, anger, as well as the physical fatigue which often accompanies caring for a very sick or dying child are pushed away, often until the parent's breaking point is reached. It is difficult to convince many parents that it is not a betrayal of their concern for their child if they take care of themselves a bit. The parent is like the locomotive of the train: it doesn't matter how sound the rest of the train or tracks are if the locomotive doesn't run! Some essences for the parents can actually help them be more nurturing for their child.
Essences to Consider
I often recommend making a family essence dosage blend, one to be used by everyone in the house (make sure your plants and pets get some, too). A good way to administer it is in some drink everybody uses; eg, bottled water or juice. Add approximately 30 drops per gallon. Here follow some specific suggestions. (For a related discussion about one essence for the whole family, see here.)
FES' Red Clover helps with not getting caught up in the general hysteria of the family problems, calming emotionally charged situations, as well as their Pink Yarrow for not soaking up psychic distress from other family members.
When a child's problems evokes a parent's own difficult childhood turn to Golden Eardrops (FES). Similarly, WEE's Childhood blend would help address both the parent's and child's early problems.
 Desert Alchemy's Making and Honoring Boundaries formula results in healthy boundaries for all concerned, including the capacity to say no to situations that are not in our best interest. It fosters respect for ourselves and all the members of the family.
Quaking Grass by FES is for blending the egos within a group. Similarly, WEE's Russett C-mum Bud helps build harmoneous community that works in concert. Pegasus' Cinquefoil and Curry Leaf Tree respectively help attunement and synergy in family relationships. Their Plumeria aids in family bonding.
When some family members are pulling more weight than they should (and others not enough), Pale Yellow Lily (WWES) helps each member come into their own strength. Living Essences' Many Headed Dryandra helps with the desire to run from family responsibilities. Their Red Feather Flower is a similar compliment.
About the Author: Deborah Bier, M.Ed. has a masters in counseling psychology, is co-editor of this publication and the founder of the World Wide Essence Society. She is the maker of
Whole Energy Essences, fruit, flower, gem, Recovery, Full Moonlight and LifeStage essences. An educator and holistic health care practitioner, her practice in Concord, Massachusetts, includes energy work, psychotherapy, and essences. Deborah is an internationally published writer on food, health, and healing. She is the author of The Encyclopedia of Vibrational Essences: Wellness and Growth from Nature (see our book list).
Art Credits: ArtToday.
The World Wide Essence Society does not mean to imply any recommendation of nor give certification to any individuals or companies above. This article is provided purely for informational purposes. We ask consumers to make their own determination as to quality of the services and products offered above. This article is not meant to be advice, and the information is not meant to replace medical or psychological treatment.
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