All about Flower Essences: TOTEM Animal

Cardinal Flower Essence facilitates connection to the realm of TOTEM Animals!

Three years.

That’s how long it took for our Cardinal Flowers to finally bloom.

Why didn’t I give up, you might be wondering? Well, I had a series of dreams.

In these dreams, our struggling, flowerless plants were transformed into magical, blooming wonders, always seemingly emerging against a backdrop of pyramid walls covered in the hieroglyphics of Ancient Egypt. In the last of these dreams, my husband approached the plant with jaw open, turning to me and saying, “You win the Green Thumb award for this one!”

These dreams left me with a strangely tangible sense of hope— a kind of arcane predictive knowledge that, one day, these magical plants would bloom and reveal their wonderful plant medicine. What’s more: I came away from these dreams feeling a deep reverence for these plants, understanding their spiritual and energetic importance and need for continued human care.

So, when our Cardinal Flowers actually did bloom this past summer, I was more than a little stoked. I’ve never had so many signs of encouragement from spirit in my flower essence and herbalism work, and I took it as a powerful omen— my backyard’s own version of the White Buffalo Calf prophecy!

Perhaps it’s an omen of a coming swell of Totem Animal spirit guides, or an indication that we need to ally ourselves more with the fauna of the natural world. Whatever the case, I take its appearance this year as a timely sign of important work to come— and the plant allies that we have on hand to help us with it!

In the months since this plant started flowering, we’ve actually bottled it as our Totem Animal Flower Essence— made of Cardinal Flower— and made it available on Etsy HERE for the first time this week!

What is Cardinal Flower?

Cardinal Flower is used by an all-purpose herbal “medicine”: the mashed roots, stems, leaves, and blossoms of this plant are made into a decoction for cramps; it’s also used as an emetic for an upset stomach from eating something bad; and it’s been leveraged as a palm for headaches, fever, cramps, and various symptoms of menopause.

As a flower essence, which is 80% filtered water and not intended to work on physiological health issues but rather energetic needs, Cardinal Flower generally helps to redirect primal life force energy— otherwise known as “chi”— into other usable forms of energy. It is excellent for those who allow the fives senses to dictate their responses rather than mastering their bodies and senses, or for those disconnected from their physical bodies or primary senses.

In our TOTEM Flower Essence Deck— and as a part of our broader TOTEM Flower Essence Program— Cardinal Flower facilitates an intentional connection to Totem Animal Work.

Want to meet your totem animal? It’s as simple as bringing Cardinal Flower into your life! This Flower Essence supports a magical connection to realm of totem animals, instilling an overall sense of spiritual vibrancy as you connect with and channel your spirit animal. Cardinal Flower Essence infuses the energy body with the primordial, animalistic energy of shamanic magic, enabling the redirection of primal appetites and impulses into higher, more spiritual uses.

If you feel called to work more intensively with your Totem Animal or simply want to redirect your energy towards something positive (instead of emotionally eating while watching reality TV!), consider taking advantage of our 60% off sale on Etsy HERE.

If you pull the Totem Animal card from our TOTEM Flower Essence Deck, consider diving deeper into your shamanic practice, perhaps undertaking a Shamanic Journeying Meditation to the Lower World to connect with your feathered, fin’d, or furry friend!

In addition to Cardinal Flower Essence, you may also want to bring Totem Animal-friendly crystals into your practice, namely: Peacock Quartz and Labradorite.

Our TOTEM Flower Essence Deck is available for sale on Amazon and Etsy!

So happy I could share this good news with you all, and thank you so much for supporting our small business on Etsy and Amazon!

-Rachel