Scotland, Findhorn, 2015, March 19
group photo of Findhorn Flower Essences team, from left to right:
Dawn Cawthra, Adrian Hutchins, Marion Leigh (owner) , Geoff Hewitt, Cheryl Harvey, Christine Painter. (in red at right)
‘Essences made with love, in co-creation with nature’
When I visit Findhorn Flower Essences to interview Marion and photograph the team, they seem so at ease with each other, almost a family. We have tea together. The care given to people, the design and packaging, the flower arrangement in the bowl for the photo, all seem to reflect the care and support the essences themselves offer.
Marion herself makes the flower essence tinctures. Some years ago, she said: “Making flower essences has led me into a deep connection with Nature and the intelligence informing the nature kingdom. Sitting in meditation before a flowering plant, I ask for guidance as to the qualities expressed by that plant and the properties that would be of healing benefit for humanity.” Now she emphasises the healing part more, to include other beings like animals. “My awareness has expanded. I still work in the Findhorn way that has been my training, using an attunement process which comes through intuition.. In the same way I tune in to people’s soul or higher essence to help them to heal..”
There have been fewer new essences in recent years, but the product range, all organic, has expanded. This April sees the launch of a series of new duo-products at London’s Natural & Organic Trade Fair: newly packaged aromatherapy and flower essences sprays, designed for a broader market, such as beauty spas. The Essentials series, featuring different combinations of flower essences, are in higher demand than individual essences. As Marion explains: ”A single flower remedy is like a powerful laser, but you need the right one. The Essentials often have more of an effect like a search light, for commonly shared life-issues.” The best-selling product is Sacred Space, a space-clearing spray mist, which Marion originally created as a ‘cleaner’ for the Park Sanctuary group. Originally called Sanctuary Spray, Sacred Space contains a combination of the five elements of nature and pure essential oils.
Marion’s own favourite essence is Scottish Primrose. She says this tiny, but incredibly potent. The flower’s keynote is ‘peace’.
Marion described Findhorn Flower Essences as a manifestation of the energies of Findhorn and her own Findhorn training over almost 30 years. “Peter and Eileen were my teachers, in a powerful way. The essences were destined to come out of Findhorn, according to Dorothy Maclean. Now we’re out there in the world and the majority of our customers have never heard of Findhorn. So although we are trying to be mainstream, the Findhorn Spirit is sent out too.”
“We work as a team, using the Findhorn principles like sharing, attuning, transparent processes and Angel cards. The other side of the coin is economic; we have to work as a business, needing to uphold a cash-flow. We relate to sales, marketing, traders and employers with integrity, and consciousness, to get it right on all levels. Sometimes it goes wrong. Then we deal with it. We are in a phase of real harmony as a team. My dream would be to have a greenhouse sanctuary, where we can grow and absorb flowers’ energies in meditation. And an Eden Project at Findhorn. Picture that here!”
SOME FACTS for FINDHORN FLOWER ESSENCES:
Business: Nature Spirits Ltd, a limited company trading as Findhorn Flower Essences. Directors: Marion Leigh, Iona Leigh and Michael Stoker.
Contact: Adrian Hutchins, Findhorn Flower Essences, Cullerne House, Findhorn, IV36 3YY. Tel +44 (0)1309 – 690129.
Email: Marketing Findhorn Essences Website: www.findhornessences.com
Co-workers: Marion Leigh, Adrian Hutchins, Dawn Cawthra, Geoff Hewitt, Christine Painter and Cheryl Harvey.
Founded: In 1992 by Marion Leigh in Findhorn, first premises 1994 ‘toilet block building’ (now the Visitor’s Centre), since 2002 in Cullerne House.
Purpose/ethos: Promote health and well-being by:
- Producing flower essences and vibrational remedies in co-creation with nature
- Delivering a progressive education programme
- Engaging positively with the environment, trading partners and themselves.
Main activities: Flower essence production, flower essence therapy trainings.
Income: from sales and education.
Adriana Sjan Bijman, March 2015, with thanks to Cat Stott and Marion Leigh
Scotland, Forres, 2015, May 30
photopage for Findhorn Flower Essences part of the NFA Forum of Organisations