Bull Thistle Flower Essence

Ava loves thistles—their powerful presence, the defined shapes of their leaves and flowers, and their often pink or purple flowers—and after reading about the uses of bull thistle essence in David Dalton's Stars of the Meadow, she was on the lookout for a bull thistle in bloom in our local meadows. Finally we found it, waited for it to bloom, and Ava made the essence.

Indications

Weak-willed, highly sensitive, excessively yin, lacking assertiveness, lacking courage; excessively attuned to larger world events, excessively focused on the future, or with psychic insights that make daily living difficult; sixth chakra too open.

Emotional and spiritual effects

Like many thistle essences, bull thistle is an essence of movement. It moves stagnant energies, especially in the fourth and sixth chakras. It provides an assertive, decisive energy that can move an individual out of mental or emotional lethargy. For some, it offers the jolt needed to start on a big project or make a big change; others benefit from its gift of straightforward confidence.

Bull thistle can also help balance the sixth chakra, which is associated with insight and psychic talents: For some, it enhances these faculties, while for others it curbs them to result in a more balanced state of mind.

It is worth noting that David Dalton likes to use bull thistle essence to address issues regarding authority and authority figures, and also for an excessive tendency toward stubbornness or noncompliance, as described in his book Stars of the Meadow. Such tendencies can arise from various sources: It can be naturally difficult for strong-minded children to adhere to family expectations of respect or compliance (at least some of the time), and even adults sometimes carry patterns of rebellion that started out as a rejection of excessive discipline during our childhood years. But these patterns may not serve us in our adult lives if they leave us unable to tolerate authority, such as the authority of a supervisor, teacher, or mentor. Bull thistle essence can open one up to accepting authority and appreciating the role of student or acolyte, allowing one to benefit from the learning and mentoring that is received in such relationships. 

Sources

Ava was introduced to this essence through her studies with David Dalton of Delta Gardens, and this essence is discussed in David's book, Stars of the Meadow.

Directions

Shake the bottle before each use. Take 3 drops at a time onto the tongue or mixed with water 3–4 times a day, between meals and not with coffee.

Store away from sun exposure, excessive heat or cold, electronics, and strong scents. 

Ingredients

Water, gluten-free brandy (from grapes; a preservative), infusion of wild-grown bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare). Alcohol 22% by volume.

Cautions

Keep out of reach of children. Do not use during pregnancy.