EMOTIONAL GROUP
DESPONDENCY AND DESPAIR
Dr. Bach distinguishes seven emotional groups which 38 Bach Flowers can be assigned to. The Bach Flower Groups categorize the states of character flaws which the Bach Flowers can help to overcome. The sixth group comprises feelings of despondency and despair.
Despondency and pain of various types are plaguing the personality. Bach does not only consider the forms in which pain and despondency can affect the character. He also describes possible causes for the misery and the despair. He finds eight flowers able to soothe the emotional suffering: N°10: Crab Apple, N°11: Elm, N°19: Larch, N°22: Oak, N°24: Pine, N°29: Star of Bethlehem, N°30: Sweet Chestnut, N°38: Willow
N°10: Crab Apple
CRAB APPLE - EMPOWERING PHRASE
I cleanse myself, feel good, I am in harmony with myself.
Leave the feeling of inner disarray and impurity behind and find a “purified” spirit and a positive perception of the body.
There must be perfect neatness and pristine cleanliness – internally as well as externally.
The character types concerned are sickened by everything and constantly worry about being contaminated. This dislike refers to the visible disorder or germs and pathogens. The love for order is manifested in sterile cleanliness, thoroughness and external organization.
The fear of inner impurity is also a dominating factor in the life of those concerned. Quite often, there is also a disgust accompanying the reflection of the own body and mind.
Perfectionism and pedantry reign in all areas of life.
This is how the flower helps
With the aid of the crab apple, the personality comes to terms with itself and its environment. The person learns to set the right priorities and to accept imperfections when necessary.
N°11: Elm
ELM - EMPOWERING PHRASE
I am at one with myself, I feel good and well balanced.
Leave excessive demands and the fear to fail behind and find more creative enthusiasm and healthy balance.
Having worked with sleeves rolled up a minute ago, now at the end of one’s tether.
It is often particularly strong, hands-on and performance-oriented characters which find themselves in this state realizing that they have reached their limits of capacity. They are so full of vigor that they lose track of the limitations of their capacities.
The characters concerned like to take on responsibilities and expect much of themselves. When reaching their personal performance limit, though, they start questioning their potential and doubt their abilities.
This state, however, is only short-lived. This personality type is capable of getting back on his feet quickly and start anew.
This is how the flower helps
Owing to the elm, it is easier to control the own abilities. Fears of failure are diminished, sometimes, responsibility is passed on.
N°19: Larch
LARCH - EMPOWERING PHRASE
I think deeply, I find the right way and can make it work.
Leave the lack of confidence in yourself and the evasion of challenges behind and find more self-acceptance, spontaneity and courage.
A low self-esteem dominates life.
People with this character flaw experience themselves as incapable and feel inadequate. They cannot see their own strengths.
Those who do not trust themselves and their abilities cannot use their full potential – and this, in turn, confirms the negative self-image.
This character type always compares his own abilities to outstanding and seemingly impressive achievements of his fellow men. The comparison with others reinforces the disregard of themselves.
This is how the flower helps
The larch permits the personality to understand and show its own strengths. The trust in one’s abilities grows, and the person concerned dares to meet new challenges.
N°22: Oak
OAK - EMPOWERING PHRASE
I perceive my limits, I respect my limits and this makes me steadfast in every storm.
Leave the permanent overload and grim rigidity behind and find a healthy stability.
The thirst for action and a sense of duty lead to grimness and culminate in exhaustion.
If the personality reaches this state, he can no longer perceive the boundaries of his strength. He keeps on drudging tirelessly and cannot stop. Believing that it is his duty to function like a machine, he never rests.
Others admire this character type for his tirelessness, his productivity and his efficiency. But he does not become aware of the moment at which he overstrains. So he often extends himself and sometimes reaches a state of utter exhaustion.
This is how the flower helps
The oak provides the ability to pace oneself. Important items on the to-do list can be distinguished from not important ones, the sense of duty recovers.
N°24: Pine
PINE - EMPOWERING PHRASE
I breathe deeply, stand up straight and feel strong.
Leave the burn-out and lack of energy behind and find new strength for body, mind and soul.
Self-criticism, feelings of guilt and a bad conscience are constant companions of this character type.
The personality concerned constantly reproaches himself for something. Accompanied by the feeling of having done wrong, he feels the urge to explain himself constantly.
Even though others think everything is fine, this character type finds misconduct in his actions.
If something has indeed gone wrong, he blames himself out of reflex and accepts all responsibility.
Sustaining his position is difficult for this personality. He always feels like being in the way, being wrong or to affronting his fellow men.
This is how the flower helps
The pine restores the self-esteem. Self-reproaches become more silent, feelings of guilt are kept down.
N°29: Star of Bethlehem
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I breathe deeply, I let go and feel free.
Leave persistent traumas and depressions behind and find the ability to overcome hurdles by consolation and peace.
Painful experiences linger, entailing pain and suffering.
The personality in this state is haunted by aftershocks of a traumatic experience. The confrontation with the pain suffered is too much for the soul to bear. All the person can feel is void and despair.
The pain those concerned have suffered can be of physical or mental nature. The incidence may have occurred a long time before the aftereffects show.
In this state, the character is drowning in sorrow, pain, grief and depression. He finds it difficult to seek and accept consolation.
This is how the flower helps
The star of Bethlehem helps you dealing with the traumatic experience. The pain can be confronted and finally overcome.
N°30: Sweet Chestnut
SWEET CHESTNUT - EMPOWERING PHRASE
I see the way, I take the way and turn to the light.
Leave beginning hopelessness and despair behind and find an attempt at a solution and practical action.
The blackest night has arrived. There is no silver lining to be seen.
The person concerned is in absolute despair. Everything is pain, suffering and grief. He has fallen into a deep black hole and has hit rock bottom. There seems to be no escaping this vale of tears.
There is no room for hope. This person is convinced he has no strength left, that he cannot endure the torture anymore. He does not know how to go on and feels doomed.
The pain is creeping into every corner of his soul. Consoling thoughts cannot enter his consciousness.
This is how the flower helps
The sweet chestnut allows the blocked personality to glimpse light at the end of the tunnel, and he can use it as a landmark to find his way out of the dark. This sometimes requires a radical inner change.
N°38: Willow
WILLOW - EMPOWERING PHRASE
I decide, take my destiny in my own hands and look forward to happiness
Leave bitterness and resentment behind to find positive self-responsibility.
Life does not seem to treat you well while all others lead a charmed life.
This character type is notoriously unsatisfied. But instead of tackling his problems, he sees himself as a victim of circumstances. He almost enjoys himself in this role and wallows in self-pity.
The person obsessed with these feelings does not assume responsibility for his own fate but blames others for his dilemma. Bitterly, he surrenders to this misery caused by others.
As in his view, all his fellow men wish him ill, this bitter person treats other people with resentment, anger, envy and unfriendliness.
This is how the flower helps:
The willow helps to become aware of the responsibility for the own well-being. The character concerned will no longer feel aggrieved.
