Penstemons: Freedom is the Word

By: Camilla Blossom

The Devas of the penstemon family of plants are very sweet and joyful. They tell you to drop the fears and move into love. It is time to play. Freedom is what they teach. Being responsible for yourself is how you become free. Respond by taking action steps towards that which you desire.

Penstemon flowers have a tubular shape that opens wider almost like a mouth ready to speak. The ones I have found in the wilds are usually beautiful shades of pink, purple, or a reddish color.

After making a few penstemon essences I heard a little whisper in my ear, “put them all together and make a formula for fear.” I heard them, but I didn’t follow through until weeks later after visiting a sacred butte in The Gorge called Horse Thief Butte. It is a basalt rock butte at the base of which major petrogyphs and pictographs are now buried under the waters of the Columbia River. I have had visions and connections with Native American spirits here.

As I climbed the rocky path up the butte my belly started to feel intense anxiety and fear. It surprised me because it came out of nowhere. Then I saw a beautiful penstemon I hadn’t met before and it all came back to me. “Yes! I will make your essence and the formula of penstemons for fear!” I could feel the fear intensify as I stood in front of the flower. It reminded me of how Dr. Bach experienced the flowers, feeling the effects they cured. I made the formula and called it EnCOURAGEment for taming fear. It has helped me and many others calm more easily, free fears, and step up our ability to respond (responsibility).

“We want humans to be happy
We want you to be without doubt
Your courage lies within you at all times

Your courage is about freedom
To feel and own joy
By standing up for what and who you believe in”

The penstemons are also wonderful at giving you courage to stay honest with yourself. At times it is easy to enter a state of self-pity or “feeling sorry for yourself.” “Life’s too hard” or “I can’t do it” or “things will never get better” or “my life sucks” or whatever. (False beliefs can even create anxiety.) Taking a few drops of EnCOURAGEment at the first sign of an approaching pity-party will snap you out of it or at least increase your awareness of what beliefs need to change. They can teach you how to be compassionate with yourself. They address the victim pattern that has been passed down through many generations. By taking action, even in a small way, you show your conviction to walking your talk. Your commitment to life will be seen, and the Universe will rise to meet you.

The Barrett’s Penstemon “I know I can fly” is endemic to The Columbia River Gorge. It empowers you through surrendering to joy and your own courage. Use the essence when resisting movement in life or trying new things.

Cut-leaf Penstemon builds your belief in yourself which may have been damaged in childhood. It also sparks an inner drive to change. All penstemons help with 1st chakra issues, anxiety, or when you don’t know what the issues are.

excerpted from Listening to the Wildflowers by Camilla Blossom