Herbs have long held a significant place in various cultures for their medicinal, culinary, and spiritual properties. Let’s explore three aspects of herbs: physical herbs, ethereal herbs, and herbal essences, each serving different functions in healing, ritual, and personal well-being.Herbs and their essences have been used for thousands of years for healing, ritual, and spiritual purposes. They range from the tangible, physical herbs like lavender or sage to the more subtle and symbolic “ethereal herbs” used in energetic or vibrational healing. Here’s an overview of the different types of herbal applications:
1. Physical Herbs
These are the tangible, dried or fresh herbs that we use in teas, cooking, tinctures, and topical treatments. They contain a range of active compounds that have therapeutic properties, used in both traditional and modern herbal medicine. For instance:
- Lavender is widely used for relaxation and as a sleep aid.
- Peppermint is popular for digestive support and has a refreshing effect.
- Chamomile helps with anxiety relief and promotes restful sleep.
Each herb has a unique profile of bioactive components like alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenes, which interact with the body to produce specific effects.
2. Ethereal Herbs
Ethereal herbs refer to the energetic or spiritual essence of plants, which are believed to work at a subtle level, influencing emotions, thoughts, and spiritual well-being. These are not used in physical form but are accessed through techniques like meditation, visualization, or energy work, such as in Reiki and shamanic practices.
In spiritual healing and ritual, practitioners may connect with the spirit or „ethereal presence“ of a herb to invite its energy into a session:
- Sage is traditionally associated with purification and protection.
- Rosemary is used for memory enhancement and mental clarity.
- Mugwort is associated with dreamwork and intuition.
Ethereal herbs don’t have physical or chemical properties but are considered potent on an energetic or vibrational level. They are often invoked in practices like crystal healing, Reiki, and visualization, where physical herbs might not be present.
3. Herbal Essences
Herbal essences are made by extracting the subtle energy and essence of a plant rather than its physical compounds. This can include essential oils, flower essences, and hydrosols, each created through different methods that capture the plant’s essential vibration and aroma:
- Essential Oils: These are highly concentrated plant oils obtained through steam distillation or cold pressing. Essential oils like lavender (calming) and tea tree (antibacterial) have both physical and subtle energetic properties, often used in aromatherapy.
- Flower Essences: Created by soaking flowers in sunlight-infused water, they capture the vibrational essence of the plant. Flower essences are gentle and typically used for emotional healing, such as Bach Flower Remedies.
- Hydrosols: These are aromatic waters left after distilling plants, containing mild therapeutic properties, perfect for topical applications. Rose and chamomile hydrosols are soothing for skin and are used in skincare for their gentle healing properties.
Using Herbs, Ethereal Herbs, and Herbal Essences Together
Combining physical herbs with their ethereal and essence forms can deepen their therapeutic effects. For example, lavender can be used as a dried herb in teas, as an essential oil in a diffuser, and as an ethereal presence in meditation. Integrating these levels of plant healing offers a holistic approach that can balance physical, mental, and energetic well-being.
Each layer—whether the tangible herb, the essence, or the ethereal presence—adds to the depth and versatility of plant healing. In sum, the use of herbs spans far beyond the physical, touching upon layers of existence that enrich our experiences with their healing potential.
you can learn more about etheric plants and other nice energies through the product descriptions in the shop and in the systems manuals :
https://simonneelle.de/home/shop/the-ethereal-herbs-by-jay-burrell/
https://simonneelle.de/home/shop/ethereal-plants-package/
https://simonneelle.de/home/shop/sacred-etheric-smudge-essence/
and more..