On my previous trip to the Red Centre, I was met with a very dry land amidst a long drought. Very few of the flowers I work with from this region were out in bloom. This was disappointing not just for myself, but also for the large group of Japanese participants who had come to Australia to do a special Level 3 Workshop with me. I was also their guide on this trip to the Centre and hoped to show them the 11 Bush Essence flowers that I work with, as well as having them experience the incredible beauty of this land.
On that occasion we were only able to find a couple of the Bush Essences in bloom. This was in very stark contrast to the time before when the centre was a sea of flowers, the like of which I'd never seen during 30 plus years of making trips to the Centre.
This year there had been good rainfall in the Centre and the Todd River, which most of the time is a dry riverbed, had flowed twice. There's an old saying that if you see the Todd flowing, you'll never leave Alice Springs. I'm not sure what it means if you see it twice in the same year. Anyway, I was very hopeful that this would be another excellent flowering season.
After collecting my transport and stocking up on food supplies in the town to add to all my bowls, beakers, brandy, water and salt (to neutralise the bowl and beakers) along with my renewed N.T. licence to pick flowers, Jane and I were ready for adventure. It had been three years since I was last able to be here - mainly due to all the imposed covid travel restrictions and I was champing at the bit to
reconnect with all my flowers.
Unfortunately, the land was again very dry. The water from the earlier rains had been long dispersed and I had to search very hard for to find some of the flowers such as Bluebell and Sturt Desert Rose.
I didn't see Tall Yellow Top at all, even after 3000 odd kilometres of driving and many kilometres of walking to locations where I've seen it in the past or where I suspected it could be growing. Well, I did see some Tall Yellow Top at the very end of the trip, when driving into the Alice Springs airport to fly home. It had been planted along with Sturt Desert Pea at the entrance to the airport. The irony of this
was not lost on me! Ah, the joy of flower essences making! Even after 35 years of making these essences, I still get new messages, subtle distinctions and insights about their healing qualities, which I find very exciting.
Mint Bush, which can be found growing in the central desert region, will usually have two flowers next to each other that open at the same time. The message here is that even when we're going through great cathartic events with a lot of perturbation there is always spiritual support around us, including of course our higher self. Alpine Mint Bush also has two flowers next to each other, but one will come out first to be in full bloom and when that one starts to fade and is past its peak the second one will be fully open. The main healing quality of Mint Bush is to emotionally and mentally support caregivers, those who are looking after the sick and frail.
When there is drought, Sturt Desert Rose flowers can be very hard to find. I thought I'd spotted a wonderful outcrop of over 100 of these bushes in flower, however on closer inspection none of them had the classic black dots that you can find on their petals and stems and it was in fact a different species of this genus and therefore not able to be utilised.
After this episode and not finding any flowering Sturt Desert Rose in the usual locations I go to, I was very fortunate to find just the one bush in a new area. It had one open flower and a number of buds. I know from experience these flowers usually don't open till at least mid to late morning. Would these new buds open that day, or would it be tomorrow? I patiently waited for a couple of hours,
photographing and meditating on the bush and was rewarded when these buds did open into their full glory. The significance of the late opening to me that day highlighted how the guilt, regret and remorse that this essence releases, needs to build up to a level of intensity for it to be more fully and quickly cleared.
Sitting for long periods with the Rough Bluebell, I was very drawn to how the flowers hang down. It is as if indicating shame and remorse for their actions and understanding the full impact on others of these actions. One of the main qualities of this essence is in replacing the callous manipulation, hurting and using of others with both compassion and empathy. The fused, lance-like stamens point to how this essence can pierce the darkness and negativity to release love. A very beautiful flower and essence.
In my next month’s newsletter update I will cover the remaining essences that I worked with on this trip including some very interesting experiences with and insights around Spinifex.
Much Love, Light and Respect
Ian White
Founder & Director
