Vibration Magazine Blog

©2009 by Donna Cunningham, MSW

A couple of years into our publishing process, Vibration’s editors realized that we were accumulating a valuable online collection of essence articles unlike any other in its breadth and inclusiveness. We’d actively recruited dozens of essence makers and senior practitioners to write for us–it was either that or continue to write most of the magazine ourselves!  We fostered an atmosphere in which essence users were also urged to share personal stories of how particular essences helped them resolve life issues. We conducted polls and regularly monitored search engine terms to determine what our readers were interested in reading and then developed special theme issues devoted those concerns.

Despite the fact that our articles came from a great many International Authors – every continent but Antarctica — we were noticing that certain topics came up again and again in article submissions and reader requests. Rather than have our audience laboriously hunt through back issues for a gem or two, we came up with the idea of a series of Virtual Booklets.  These are collections of articles on recurring topics like Animals, Pets, and Essences, Children and Essences, Body Work and Essences, and Essence Making and Testing. The VBs, as we dubbed them, were readily expandable, as it was simple to add links when new articles were published. Let me describe some of my own favorites and then list them all so you can visit the ones that interest you most. 

In real life, I’m an astrologer — in fact, the majority of people who read my astrology books and advice columns have no idea that I’ve been active in the flower essence world since about 1980. They think I belong exclusively to them!  Some of them, however, have been infected by my enthusiasm about these great healing tools and have joined me in exploring which essences are helpful for particular astrological signs, planets, and other cosmic potholes it’s easy to fall into along the zodiac path. One of my contributions to Vibration has been in cajoling, coddling, and, if need be, arm wrestling that bunch into writing about their discoveries for our ezine. Thus one of the earliest VBs was a compilation of our published articles about Astrology and Essences.

Deborah and I have a common commitment to using Vibration as a venue that furthers the cause of education for people who want to become essence practitioners.  We’ve been consistent in including an article or two aimed at that group of advanced students in nearly every issue. Eventually we had enough for a VB on Essence Practitioner Education that we believe will long remain a valuable contribution to the field.

SIDE RANT:   Today I was searching the blogosphere for essence authors we could tap for future posts.  I have to say I was disappointed with the quality of the writing out there.  Very few of the posts I encountered by small businesses and essence practitioners would qualify as essence education — most blogs were devoted to pushing products or services rather than to making a substantial contribution to the field.  There were exceptions, and you’ll meet some of them as time goes on.  The more seasoned essence companies who regularly do practitioner training for their essence lines and who have written books did have quality information on their sites, but again it was limited to their own products.

Getting back to the point of this article, another recurring topic that we’re glad to have preserved in a VB is one that is especially relevant right now: Trauma and Crisis Essences.  It’s probably our biggest booklet, with the longest list of links, and if you’re struggling right now with a financial or emotional upheaval, I’m betting you’ll find essence suggestions that can ease the stress and bring you solace.   

I could go on and on about the VBs, but you’ll see a full list below to explore at your leisure.  I’ll just finish by telling you about one that takes you to a less earth-bound and more ethereal realm: Dreams, Essences and Archetypes. You’ll find five explorations of ways essences enhance dreamwork, including two from a Panamanian therapist who combines them with art therapy. You’ll also find five articles on using essences to work out archetypal patterns, some from a Jungian perspective.

This tour through just a few of our VBs should demonstrate that whatever your orientation, whatever your quest, you’re likely to find articles in our collection written by people who are on the same page as you are.  A complete list appears below, and if you don’t find the topic — or essence — that you’re most interested in at the moment, don’t forget the search engine at the top right hand corner of this blog. Input a search term, and in seconds, it will generate a list of all the articles we’ve published that include it.

All of Vibration’s Virtual Booklets:

• All the Booklets (the “Booklet Booklet”)
• Animals, Pets, and Essences
• Astrology and Essences
• Australian Contributions to the Essence World
• Bach Flower Remedies
• Body Work and Essences
• Children and Essences
• Dreams, Essences and Archetypes
• A Library of Essence Books
• Laughing through the Garden–Essence Humor
• Trauma and Crisis Essences
• Essence Making and Testing
• Essence Practitioner Education
• International Authors
• Our Frequent Contributors
• Whole Energy Essences–In-Depth Portraits

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Vibration co-editor, Donna Cunningham, MSW is an internationally-respected author of books, articles, and columns about astrology, flower essences and other metaphysical topics. Her insights reflect her dual background in astrology and psychotherapy. She has a Master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University and over 40 years of experience. Her ebooks can be found at Moon Maven Publications (http://www.moonmavenpublications.com). Visit her award-winning blog at http://skywriter.wordpress.com. For the past 11 years, she has co-created Vibration Magazine and Blog with Dr. Deborah Bier.