A 40-Year Journey Through the Bush Essences: The 1980s

Journey back to where it all began

The story of Australian Bush Flower Essences began in the 1980s, a time of discovery, exploration and a deepening connection with the Australian bush. What started as a personal experience soon unfolded into a body of work that would grow steadily over the decades.

Looking back at these early years reveals how each moment helped shape the foundations of the Bush Essences.

When the Journey Began

In 1986 Ian created the first Bush Essence, Paw Paw, while attending a kinesiology conference. Surrounded by people experiencing overwhelm, he felt guided to prepare an essence from the Paw Paw flower to support this state.

Shortly before this, Ian was running a healing circle for people seeking support, including his close friend Jim Vicary, who was facing terminal illness. During the meditation component of these gatherings, Ian began receiving clear visions of Australian plants along with insights into their healing qualities and where they should be prepared in the bush.

These experiences marked the beginning of the Bush Essences, with many of the first remedies emerging through this process of listening to nature.

The First Stock Kit

By the end of this year, Ian identified and prepared 30 Bush Essences. To share this growing body of knowledge, he released the first Stock Kit and published the initial Reference Book, making the Bush Essences accessible to practitioners and the public for the first time.

Workshops began to be held across Australia, creating opportunities for others to learn about and work with these uniquely Australian remedies. Later that year, an article by Ian in Wellbeing Magazine introduced the Bush Essences to a broader audience, helping to build awareness and interest beyond the immediate practitioner community.

The Creation of Emergency Essence

In 1988 Ian created Emergency Essence, the first combination of Bush Essences. It was created for one of his patients who was in a coma after a horrendous car accident and not expected to live, which she did and fully recovered. This marked an important step in the development of the system, showing how individual Essences could be combined to support people during intense emotional situations.

This was also a year of significant growth and sharing. The first edition of The Essence newsletter was published, creating a space for connection, insights and practitioner experiences. Later that year, the first combination remedies were introduced at the Mind, Body & Spirit Festivals in Australia.

As the work expanded, a new edition of the Reference Book was released, increasing the number of Essences to 42. The first full-time staff were also employed, reflecting the growing activity and interest surrounding the Bush Essences.

A Growing Community

By the end of the 1980s, the Bush Essences were reaching a wider audience. Workshops were being held across Australia and in 1989 the first international workshops took place in New Zealand. As the Bush Essences grew in popularity, a dedicated office and production team emerged, supporting the expanding vision and nurturing a growing community of passionate practitioners.

Practitioners were beginning to share their experiences and insights and a small but committed community was forming around the Essences. These early connections created the foundation for the global network that would continue to grow in the years ahead.

Continuing the Journey

These early years laid the foundation for what would become a global system of emotional healing, guided by nature, shaped through experience and grounded in a deep respect for the wisdom of the plants.