Mid-life radiance: flower essences for emotional change: learn how flowers help menopausal women enjoy the transition.

Today, older women are stepping out as never before. By the year 2010, sixty million women will be menopausal in the United States. Global warming may speed up on hot flashes alone! To assist this breakthrough into the second half of life, nature has provided us with flower essences that will minimize some of the negative emotional aspects of this shift and free us to experience the fullness of what can be our most relaxed, confident, and creative years.

Flower essences, the vibrational qualities from flower petals captured in water, are used by people who are interested in clearing emotional imbalances naturally rather than using chemical drugs. During menopause, hormonal changes in the physical body bring forth challenging feelings which, if ignored, can stagnate below the surface and actually cause illness and the worst characteristics of old age. Dr. Christine Northrup, author of The Wisdom of Menopause, calls this journey into the second half of life "a mind-body revolution," offering the greatest opportunity for growth since adolescence.

CLEARING THE WAY

When women get older, our fear intensifies as we resist the idea of aging and death. Through clinging to the past and not letting go, we can get stuck--we harden and resist, missing opportunities that might bring about change, transformation, and fulfillment. Fear can also create disease through the stiffening, hardening, or constriction of our bodies. During the menopause years and after, sometimes we develop fear of the unknown, of becoming wrinkled and ugly, of being useless and neglected, of being helpless and poor or having no one to take care of us. Stability is important, but many women spend tremendous energy building security through buying and consuming youth products or having corrective surgery rather than listening to their inner callings.

Flower essences useful for releasing fear, anxiety, insecurity, holding on, inability to make changes or take risks, resistance, and denial: Mimulus for worry fears, Aspen for unknown fears, Larch for fearing the worst will happen, Sweet Chestnut for fearing loss of control, White Chestnut for the obsession with fears and anxieties in the mind. Pretty Face increases a sense of physical beauty.

Attachment is another way of clinging to the past--to the way things were, to our children, to ideas that are no longer appropriate, to mates who have died, divorced or left, to images of ourselves that have faded, to possessions, or to memories. Instead of focusing on our present life, much of our energy is spent wishing for or reliving history. Our future is blocked by obsessions of the past. Or if we become over-identified with our material possessions, our social role, or status, greed makes us hungry for more. Unresolved sexual experiences or fantasies of youthful sex can be misdirected at this stage of life: abuse, desire, lust, and frigidity may keep us from peace and contentment.

Flower essences useful for balancing attachment, lack of feeling, social duties and roles, sexuality: Honeysuckle for releasing the past; Vine supports letting go of control; Red Chestnut for excessive attachment to loved ones, Lady's Slipper for sexual depletion; Aloe Vera to rejuvenate the body and redirect creative forces; Pomegranate to help resolve a desire for conception near the time of menopause.

Menopause is a time when women often have less patience for the passive female roles and duties they may once have performed. By midlife, we are ready to express anger or frustration, we have less tolerance for people-pleasing and domination by bosses or husbands. Women who may have believed their power came from the outside, through a man (often father or husband) now have an opportunity to take power in their older status and wisdom.

Useful flowers for releasing anger, frustration, jealousy, and loss of power: Holly for anger; Willow for resentment and blame; Impatiens for impatience; Century to free ourselves from domination; Pine for guilt. Mountain Pride to stimulate assertiveness.

Mid-life can become a negative experience when we grieve for what once was--former careers, grown children, lost lovers or husbands. We can feel depressed or abandoned facing a vacuum with no life purpose. Creative potential really is all around us and we need role models and faith that our inner resources and talents will blossom if we let them. We must believe we are worthy, valuable citizens/leaders in society, and others around us even if outside support is lacking. Our wisdom can be a gift to those younger, even if the present youth culture would have us think otherwise.

Useful flowers for healing grief, emptiness, sorrow, depression, loneliness: Star of Bethlehem for grief Mustard for depression; Gorse uplifts hopelessness; Queen Ann's Lace integrates sexuality, with spirituality; Pink Monkey Flower eases feelings of unworthiness and shame; Sage gives the ability to bless and value life experience.

Menopause is a time for doing things and going places you just didn't get to while you were busy raising a family, fulfilling a role, or working hard at a job/career. Be powerful and bold, even if it scares you. For example, I'm becoming a yoga teacher at 52! And over the holidays, I went downhill skiing for the very first time in my life. (Yes, I had a bottle of Rescue Remedy--a valuable flower essence combination-in my pocket.) Flowers love helping humans become more centered and happy. I take flower essences. When? All the time!

Kendall Hale MA,LMT, is a licensed massage therapist and yoga student/teacher. She has a private practice at the Asheville Wellness Center. You can reach her at 828-628-4075 or at [e-mail] There are more flower essences in addition to the ones listed above for menopause. They can be purchased at local health food stores and natural pharmacies. Information and books are available on-line and in local bookstores.