What do you think?
Rate this book
The Bloom Book: A Flower Essence Guide to Cosmic Balance
“Flowers represent a branch of plant medicine that is specifically concerned with our consciousness and evolution. To connect with their essence catalyzes the blossoming of our own healing and spiritual journeys.” —Heidi Smith From lavender’s ability to soothe frazzled nerves to rose’s charms in healing the heart, flowers don’t just delight the senses—they have a secret history as doorways to transformation. With The Bloom Book, Heidi Smith offers a holistic and comprehensive guide for working with flower essences—the vibrational signatures of our botanical allies—to bring about healing, awakening, and deep change. A psychosomatic therapist, flower essence practitioner, registered herbalist, and long-time student of ancient wisdom traditions, Smith seamlessly integrates the healing power of flower essences with vibrational medicine and the rise of the divine feminine. The result is a cosmic doctrine of healing that empowers readers to align with their highest selves and help to bring about planetary transformation. Highlights An intuitive approach to working with flower essences for balance and optimal healthDetailed instructions for making, selecting, and formulating flower essencesRituals, recipes, and case studies for protection, grounding, dreamwork, grief, love, and moreComplementary applications of vibrational healing—including breath work, moon cycles, colors, chakras, and sacred symbolsWorking with trauma and systemic oppression—how flower essences can support multi-generational, intersectional healingReconnecting with nature, the divine feminine, and your true self through the healing power of flowers Filled with gorgeous illustrations by artist Chelsea Granger, The Bloom Book is both an information-rich resource and interactive guidebook for anyone who wants to awaken their most vibrant, balanced, and empowered self through the healing power of flower essences.
- GenresNonfiction
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 7, 2020
14 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 23, 2020
I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
This book is extremely detailed and very interesting covering many natural homeopathic remedies and ideas. I will definitely looking at trying afew of the approaches in this book.
This book is extremely detailed and very interesting covering many natural homeopathic remedies and ideas. I will definitely looking at trying afew of the approaches in this book.
January 16, 2022
When I started using oracle cards, I wanted to incorporate more creativity into my practice. I was already working on an aromatherapy certificate at the time, and I was used to the magical realism herbs and animals introduced to mental and physical health (i.e animal therapy, art therapy, nature therapy, ect.). So when I heard that flower essences could be used in a psychotherapeutic manner, I couldn’t resist. Sure, I’ve read some studies about how there were no differences between flower essences and placebo effects when it came to our overall health. In fact the same could be said of crystals. Needless to say, I gave this book a shot.
Repeat: I gave this book a shot.
In a Nutshell
Smith is a therapist who discusses the different ways flower essences can be used to treat different mental disorders. She first goes over the historical foundations of flower essence therapy, and includes simplistic, easy-to-understand explanations of vibrational frequencies and how they relate to our emotional states. She states that flower essences can be used to increase these frequencies, and bring, if not happiness, then at least contentment into our lives. It can even introduce us to a level of calm we might not have felt in a while.
Personal Reactions
I have to admit, the book was interesting, gorgeous even. I could see a reiki practitioner, astrological herbalists, even and other light/shadow workers using this book for their own practices. And true, people can use positive energies every now and then. Personally, I use flower essences when setting intentions, if only to remind myself of my goals throughout the day and practice mindfulness.
Unfortunately, I cannot let go of my biases.
This could relate to my doubt. After all, a previous mentor of mine who was an osteopathic medical doctor said that it was all a bunch of quakery. Or perhaps it’s because I’ve been working with herbs all my life, both medically and culinarily (thanks Mom and Dad for the homemade garlic diffuser), and never once have I thought to use flower essences. Maybe it’s because I have a very limited understanding of energy fields (in which case I’d be more than happily gift this book to some of my co-workers. In that case, you know who you are). But I just couldn’t get into it. Not at all.
I was disappointed when I realized that Smith used other flower essence formulas rather than her own, although I appreciate the resources given. My interests don’t lie in flower essences, so I don’t think I can get anything more from this book than I already have from, say, Scott Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magickal Flowers, Blackmore’s Book of Botanical Herbs, or even Cheralyn Darcey’s Book of Herb Spells. Moreover, with complex mental disorders, I don't believe that flower essences can do people justice. If someone is grieving because a loved one had committed suicide, I doubt flower essences alone can erase the pain of their death. This can be said for someone who is going through an eating disorder, or even those who have depression or anxiety. And while I like the accounts that Smith has given when using these essences, I can't say I, myself, would use them in a clinical setting.
Summary
I can see the appeal of working with flower essences on a psychological level. It's flowery, it's heavenly, and overall lovely. But I’m very hesitant to this when it comes to helping people with mental disorders, especially those who have undergone trauma, or have addictions of any kind. Is this book interesting? Yes. Do I see myself using flowers essences on others for a psychotherapeutic manner? No. Magickally? It depends.
Make that of what you will.
Repeat: I gave this book a shot.
In a Nutshell
Smith is a therapist who discusses the different ways flower essences can be used to treat different mental disorders. She first goes over the historical foundations of flower essence therapy, and includes simplistic, easy-to-understand explanations of vibrational frequencies and how they relate to our emotional states. She states that flower essences can be used to increase these frequencies, and bring, if not happiness, then at least contentment into our lives. It can even introduce us to a level of calm we might not have felt in a while.
Personal Reactions
I have to admit, the book was interesting, gorgeous even. I could see a reiki practitioner, astrological herbalists, even and other light/shadow workers using this book for their own practices. And true, people can use positive energies every now and then. Personally, I use flower essences when setting intentions, if only to remind myself of my goals throughout the day and practice mindfulness.
Unfortunately, I cannot let go of my biases.
This could relate to my doubt. After all, a previous mentor of mine who was an osteopathic medical doctor said that it was all a bunch of quakery. Or perhaps it’s because I’ve been working with herbs all my life, both medically and culinarily (thanks Mom and Dad for the homemade garlic diffuser), and never once have I thought to use flower essences. Maybe it’s because I have a very limited understanding of energy fields (in which case I’d be more than happily gift this book to some of my co-workers. In that case, you know who you are). But I just couldn’t get into it. Not at all.
I was disappointed when I realized that Smith used other flower essence formulas rather than her own, although I appreciate the resources given. My interests don’t lie in flower essences, so I don’t think I can get anything more from this book than I already have from, say, Scott Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magickal Flowers, Blackmore’s Book of Botanical Herbs, or even Cheralyn Darcey’s Book of Herb Spells. Moreover, with complex mental disorders, I don't believe that flower essences can do people justice. If someone is grieving because a loved one had committed suicide, I doubt flower essences alone can erase the pain of their death. This can be said for someone who is going through an eating disorder, or even those who have depression or anxiety. And while I like the accounts that Smith has given when using these essences, I can't say I, myself, would use them in a clinical setting.
Summary
I can see the appeal of working with flower essences on a psychological level. It's flowery, it's heavenly, and overall lovely. But I’m very hesitant to this when it comes to helping people with mental disorders, especially those who have undergone trauma, or have addictions of any kind. Is this book interesting? Yes. Do I see myself using flowers essences on others for a psychotherapeutic manner? No. Magickally? It depends.
Make that of what you will.
July 22, 2020
Heidi Smith shines an empathic light on vibrational medicine in The Bloom Book.
The strength of the book lies in its resourcefulness and ability to connect one’s health and conscious awareness to the practical use of plant medicine. From the beautiful illustrations to its thoughtful approach and context, Smith takes us on a journey where readers learn about the wisdom of nature and the intelligence inherent in plants. She teaches readers how to make flower essences and integrate ritual practice and connection with spirit to transform our lives and bring ourselves back into energetic balance.
What sets this book apart is its profound understanding of the history of herbalism. Smith does not shy away from the dark past of Western Colonialism and conscientiously addresses issues of cultural appropriation and colonialism within the text. In doing so, she exposes the individual and collective trauma experienced throughout history by practitioners, indigenous healers, shamans, wise women, etc, and begins to set the stage for how important it is for us to approach this conversation and field of practice today with an open heart and an open mind.
By sharing her own personal experiences, Smith delicately weaves together her understanding of trauma healing, spirituality, and hands-on knowledge to create a practical guide for working with plants and beginning an individual's healing journey with flower essences. For those seeking transformation in life, this book is for you. It will help you attune, understand, and connect with the planet and its energetic frequencies. Be prepared to walk a path that is enlightening, and at times difficult, but with genuine effort and commitment, the results are profound, just like The Bloom Book itself.
The strength of the book lies in its resourcefulness and ability to connect one’s health and conscious awareness to the practical use of plant medicine. From the beautiful illustrations to its thoughtful approach and context, Smith takes us on a journey where readers learn about the wisdom of nature and the intelligence inherent in plants. She teaches readers how to make flower essences and integrate ritual practice and connection with spirit to transform our lives and bring ourselves back into energetic balance.
What sets this book apart is its profound understanding of the history of herbalism. Smith does not shy away from the dark past of Western Colonialism and conscientiously addresses issues of cultural appropriation and colonialism within the text. In doing so, she exposes the individual and collective trauma experienced throughout history by practitioners, indigenous healers, shamans, wise women, etc, and begins to set the stage for how important it is for us to approach this conversation and field of practice today with an open heart and an open mind.
By sharing her own personal experiences, Smith delicately weaves together her understanding of trauma healing, spirituality, and hands-on knowledge to create a practical guide for working with plants and beginning an individual's healing journey with flower essences. For those seeking transformation in life, this book is for you. It will help you attune, understand, and connect with the planet and its energetic frequencies. Be prepared to walk a path that is enlightening, and at times difficult, but with genuine effort and commitment, the results are profound, just like The Bloom Book itself.
July 26, 2020
Where do I even begin?! Heidi is a beautiful writer. The themes of this book are exactly what we need as we are going through a conscious rebirth as a society. We are all discovering and dismantling the oppressive society we were born into. Additionally, we are all being tested in completely new ways with COVID, BIPOC rights, social justice movements etc. This all takes a massive emotional toll on us, but the way Heidi has reframed all of our hardship to help us understand our pain has a higher purpose is truly beautiful. We can't heal unless we do so as a collective community. Our community includes our surroundings such as flowers, herbs and nature. This book exemplifies how we can use the world around us and each other to heal. Not to mention, the illustrations are stunning. I am going to buy another copy so I can have one to write extensive notes and another to admire. This book hit my heart and soul in so many ways. A MUST HAVE! Heidi, I am so damn proud of you.
July 24, 2020
I work with essential oils so I was happy to review this wonderful book for the publisher. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. This is a wonderful education in using essences. This is a exemplary body of work quite well organized to the use of essences with even various modalities included. I found it well researched and easy to follow with many wonderful new receipes to try. For everyone that works with essences and wants to expand their knowledge this is a must read for your home library. This is a great teaching took for beginners to.
July 21, 2020
I had been waiting for this book ever since I started seeing Heidi in January, and the book was so worth the wait. When I started using flower essences I was seeking a book or article that would help me understand what they do and how they work, but none of the material I found was satisfying. This book was exactly what I was waiting for. Heidi not only goes into a brief history of flower essences, how they work and heal, and an overview of some different types. She finds the perfect balance of not being overly prescriptive and leaving room for someone to experience their own journey with flower essences. The book isn’t only about flower essences, though. Heidi brilliantly writes about women healers throughout history, how our universe is experiencing a collective healing, and so much more. It’s a beautifully written text, and the book itself is gorgeous! I’ve been recommending this book to friends, and will be thumbing through it again and again.
October 26, 2023
This is absolutely the book I recommend for anyone interested in flower essences; or quantum and vibrational healing. The author took such care with her research and writing. The Bloom Book feels like seminal work on an overlooked subject. It’s also such a beautiful tome- the artwork sparkles and splashes along glossy pages. A true joy to read!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews