47. How Flower Elixirs Can Rock Your Regular Wellness Routine / Katie Hess
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Flower remedies are known for their short-term benefits like clarity, focus and sleep, with long-term benefits of rapid personal growth. If you are curious about the benefits and power of flower elixirs, Katie Hess has all the answers. Katie Hess is a flower alchemist, author of Flowerevolution, and founder of LOTUSWEI, one of the world’s leading floral apothecaries. With her signature elixirs featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, The New York Times, and the LA Times, her flower-powered community is thriving. She’s the founder of the Self-Arising Nature Center in Phoenix, Arizona, a center for flower essence education, experiences, and practitioner training.
Episode Topics:
Flowers and their specific healing qualities.
How flower elixirs work.
How intuition is connected with flowers.
How flower elixirs can make you wildly happy and help you see your vast potential.
Exercises to see how flower elixirs help you learn more about yourself.
How to deal with discomfort & pain in the body
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Katie Kay
Katie has is here with us today. Katie, thank you so much for being on body breaking free podcast. Thank you. So happy to be here. It's great to connect with you. I personally haven't ever dove into flower alchemy before and just really excited to get into this topic new learn a new Wellness healing modality. So if maybe you're okay, first, starting by sharing how you got into this work that you're doing as a flower Alchemist.
Katie Hess
Yeah, I mean, I loved flowers when I was a kid, but I don't think I ever expected to work with them. It wasn't until I graduated college. And then I was like, whatever we're here to do, right. And I actually left the country. I did a lot of traveling, I spent a couple of years in Europe and Mexico and traveled throughout Asia. And that was really like searching specifically like for, like, what could be the thing that I could like offer to the world that would help people reach their full potential. You know, I saw people around me getting sort of like stuck and like held back or like self limited, and I felt like gosh, if I could find something that would like really help people be themselves, that would be amazing. And so I was doing a bunch of volunteer work in Mexico at the time and I just started in my free time like as a hobby studying like every form of natural healing that I could find herbs and aromatherapy and all kinds of crazy stuff. And then I ended up through like a really quick coincidental event finding out that this master of flower essences from Spain was coming to Mexico. And so I went to study with him, and it was almost like instant was like this will be the, you know, modality or the way that that I can devote myself to for the rest of my life. And, you know, I mean, he like totally got me because he was like, if, if we could get 3% of the world's population working with these remedies, that would be enough of a ripple effect to that it would change the outcome of the future of the planet in a really positive way. And that seemed really huge. So I was like, I'm on board I'm in. And then I moved back to the States. And I was like, so excited to bring it to the United States. And it was just like, crash, because it was like 2001. And yoga wasn't cool. Yeah, meditation wasn't cool. So it took me quite some time, like 10 years of doing one on one consultations, and then 10 years of growing business, to where it is right now. To really get a sense of like, you know, reaching 10s of 1000s of people with flower remedies now is a whole different story today than 20 years ago, thank goodness.
Katie Kay
I can imagine when it's something that's not really popular or mainstream, I mean, especially when yoga hasn't hit the mainstream. either. It's like, there's woowoo, or like, people just aren't really as inviting as really understanding that there's so much expansiveness to what we don't know. And just being open to something new. And anything I feel like that comes from nature, like I'm on board, because nature to me is just so healing, it's power. It's just being outside being out in nature. And it the amount of love and healing and energy that I can get from it, I just know that there's so much more potential that I personally haven't tapped into. And I just know, like, any kind of philosophies that include that it's just, I know, it's gonna be good. Whatever it is,
Katie Hess
more people are becoming like you. I think that you know, before, like, when I got here, I was so shocked, because I thought people would be more like you, like, I thought people would like be so receptive to nature and something natural without side effects. But I found that there was just so many people taking pharmaceuticals, and like, you know, one in six Americans on antidepressants and 7 million kids on ADHD medications. Honestly, I was shocked when I came back to the States. And I was like, how have we become such a, like, pharmaceutical solution oriented country? You know, it was really surprising as I think, in Europe and Mexico, South America, Australia, Asia, like you really see healing from nature mushroom in a much more prominent position. So it's exciting to like, think about getting the United States to a point where it's the majority that will lean into nature like you.
Katie Kay
Yeah, yeah. And I can't say that I've always been that way. I mean, I grew up in outdoors. And I personally, like I just love investigating wellness. I mean, I'm probably tell because I started a podcast, know about it. But yeah, so I can't necessarily say that I've always felt that I've looked towards nature as far as healing my body, you know, and I don't think it was until, like, I've been on antidepressants for over 10 years, and hopefully, looking, I've gotten off some of the medication. And I really hope that at some point in my life, I won't be on it no longer, but I definitely understand how much it has helped me. And I definitely can't deny just the medication, how much it has helped me with depression and anxiety. But as I explore more and look towards maybe not so mainstream wellness modalities, I mean, the proof is in the pudding. Right? You try it out, and you see how it feels in your body. And if you're open to exploring it, I just think there's so much potential and what you said at the beginning, you're talking about tapping into your full potential. I think that's something that Americans can really like that can really be something that we're all looking for. And and that can be a good kind of like a catch, like, oh, like, Okay, I want to reach my full potential. And so maybe that's a way that we can kind of start to understand like, it's not always going to be the western approach where we can, we can learn more about ourselves and feeling and, and all of those things and I You know, I'm just like on the journey like everybody else. So I definitely don't feel like I am an expert in any one thing. But how do you think that? Yeah, maybe we can just dive into the flower alchemy? How do you really think that it does help in a healing way and to the body? And maybe to the mind as well?
Katie Hess
That's just a huge question.
Katie Kay
And now I'm bombarded you with a big bomb.
Katie Hess
I guess I can say from like, 20 plus years of experience, it is the single most powerful thing I've seen. To assist not only myself, but you know, many, many people that I've worked with, with emotional, mental, spiritual, energetic, you know, if you're an energy medicine, we always say like, if we were projecting an image on the wall, and then there were some something in front or in the way we couldn't see like, you would never go to the wall or the screen and like, try to scrub it off, you know, to go back to the projector and clean the lens, right. So in the world of energy medicine, the body is the wall or the screen, and the projector is more like the, the life force that animates the body. You know, whatever that like special sauce of our consciousness is that animates this body for a temporary time before we leave and go somewhere else. That that is where everything has its root cause the body is like the last frontier, it's like, I went through your energy system and your auric field and your theory body, it showed up as emotions, it showed up as a thought pattern. And then I just like stuffed it and stuff to it, and didn't want to see it and didn't want to deal with it and didn't want to heal it. And then it showed up as a problem in my body. And then I had to deal with it. So like, in my own case, like, sometimes I have lower back issues. And so you know, if I try to do too much, and I don't accept support, and I don't delegate, and I carry too heavy of things, oh, I can do it, I can do it. Then my bag goes bust out, and then I can't walk for a week, you know, and we all have those, like little weaknesses in our body that will be like, hello, you're not paying attention, you know? And that's such a gift. So I guess, gosh, to answer your like, massive question, I would say anything and everything that would cause suffering or pain in one's heart. Or we could think of it in terms of preventing any future physical illnesses, because if we're going right to the root, cause we're prevention, preventing those future red flags, right. And literally, like, you can take it as deep or go as shallow as you want. So people who are just like, Look, I just want to sleep better, we can do that. Or if people are like, I want to understand all my childhood patterns, and why I do what I do. And I want to like totally break free and be like fearless and crazy and wild and like reach, you know, all my craziest dreams. We do that too. I don't like to, like if someone were to walk into my office and say I have cancer, I wouldn't say, Oh, just take flower remedies. And you'll be okay. Because by the time it's reached the physical forum, then you need a physical remedy, like herbs or you know something stronger. But if you were just to take them now, it's really like smoothing out things untying knots in our system so that they don't become problems later in the physical body. Does that make sense?
Katie Kay
I love that and tie knots and how does the so how does it all work? Is it the flower alchemy? Give us a little insight into what do you do? And how does that whole thing work?
Katie Hess
it's actually it's not anything new. It's been around for 1000s of years, even though in the US is kind of still a new concept. You see all over the world, if you look into it, in many cultures, medicine men and women and shamans and healers and doctors and priests and nuns like referring their clients or patients out into the wild, you know, and saying like, go down this way and look for this color flower, when you find this particular flower, you have to drink the dewdrops from the top every morning. And that will you know, if you have depression that will brighten your day or if you have anxiety or if you have worries or tension, that particular flower will be the antidote. So and then then in the 1930s 40s, there was a British doctor who figured out how to scale do which is an awesome thing because I live in Arizona we don't even have do here. Like we can't find any moisture. So he figured out how to like get it into the bottle. And so what we're talking about is like it's almost like I like to think of it like Florida Wi Fi. So when you go out into nature, and you walk for a while you feel so Different when you come back, but it's more than just the oxygen. It's like, like just like our cell phone emits invisible waves that we can't see. And we can transmit crazy amounts of information, photos, podcasts, music, poetry, videos, that ride on these invisible waves, like a magic carpet that we don't see. And then they reach their destination. And they can go, you know that many miles like we could, you could be in Japan, for all I know. Right. And, I mean, it's amazing what distances they travel. So, in a similar fashion, Mother Earth has the same technology, there are these invisible waves that we can't see. But instead of like when you put your cell phone up to your ear, and like you feel like oh, my ears like so fried, if I don't use headphones. When you're in nature, the the energy is so compatible with the body. It's like the life force of the trees and the plants and the flowers. So nourishing. So essentially, what that is, is we capture that lifeforce, we get it into a bottle, you can put it in your coffee, water, tea, or directly in the mouth, or spray it around you. And you will feel as if you are in a field of that particular flower.
Katie Kay
Wow. Yeah, so I was thinking when you're talking, we had somebody on the podcast, Melanie Webb, she's amazing, she dive into more of the scientific behind why we feel so good out in nature, and just what you were talking about very scientific proof. As far as those waves, the energy that comes into the body matching, you know, scientifically and matching our body and deep into ourselves. And, like, there's scientific reason why when we go out on a walk, we get home, and we feel so much better. And, and so I just I want to add that point, you know, just to add in a little bit more of a scientific approach. It's like, it's there, right? It's done. Like, we know, these, this is healing for the body. And that makes sense, right?
Katie Hess
They've shown that like bees and flowers communicate through electricity. So like, you know, I think as kids, we always thought the bees were attracted by color or by sand. But in fact, they're like, attracted to the electrical energy that they can sense in the little hairs on their legs. And there's this dynamic communication between the two. And then you've probably heard if maybe your past guests was talked about, like, forest bathing, and all the studies they've done in Japan about white blood cells, and adrenal glands, and how basically, it reduces stress and boosts your immune system. So yeah, there's tons of science around it. I love people who are skeptical and who think critically, because you should, everybody should think more critically. But yeah, there's a ton of science around showing that the healing power here is real. And we can feel it too, right?
Katie Kay
Yeah. Yeah, exactly. It's like, we all like to have a scientific proof, but you can feel it. Like, once you start becoming more intuitive with your body, like it took me I mean, until five years ago, I wasn't really being so intuitive, especially, I mean, it started with my relationship with food. And just like noticing, like, how does different types of foods feel in my body? And not necessarily, according to this is right, and this is wrong, labeled by, you know, whoever decided that. But yeah, like be more intuitive. It's a way that I really honor our body. And while you're talking about those different levels of pain, and, and just kind of understanding our pain more, and then you were talking about, you know, when it manifests in our body in a physical form of physical pain, or like, well, you're talking about, like diseases like cancer and all those things that and you are saying, Oh, wow, what a gift. I can I can attach to that, because I know that the physical pain I feel in my body really is a gift to me, because it has allowed me to be more intuitive with myself and ask those deeper questions and dive into some of those deeper core beliefs that I've been holding on to that have manifested as pain, and I can understand that now. Because all of the Western, you know, all of the tools that I've used before this haven't healed me fully. And so you know, it's led me on this path of searching, like keep searching and, and so I think in that way, it really has been a gift for me. But yeah, physical pain, it's just when you're in that place, it can be really hard to try and find a solution. And then you're talking about you know, if you just want to sleep better and like we all kind of have these different levels of what we're looking for and why we want to change and So far you're working with the flowers do you have so it sounds like there's specific elixirs that work for different kinds of ailments. Is that correct? You kind of you see, so what kind of happens when a person comes into you, you have a client? What is kind of that process? And how do you determine what type of treatment that you need?
Katie Hess
Yeah, there's over 40,000 flowering species of plants on the planet, and everyone's own, like specific superpower. And then in terms of folks figuring out what they need most in the moment, or like, where to start, because we only have I mean, it's 40,000 planet, but we only have probably two to 300 Flower Essences, but from there, I mean, it's already, like so many. It can be as simple as, here are all these flower photographs, like we have a flower card deck, here are all the flower photographs, choose the three that you're most drawn to. That's really simple, right? It's just like picking out flowers in a flower shop or something. And then, but then when you read about it, it's like, oh, it totally strikes a chord, you know, it's like, Oh, my God, that's totally what I'm going through. So that's a really easy way. Because you can just like trust your senses. That's the crazy thing I've learned with flowers is like it when you're speaking about intuition. There is so much of us as human beings, that is intuitive that we don't even realize it's like, we're so intuitive, that we can just pick three flowers from, you know, 50 or so, and know what we need. But we're like, so intuitive, we don't even know that we're intuitive. Like, we don't even know, we know what we need. We don't even need someone for the white coat to tell us like we know, if we just give ourselves opportunity. So that part I really enjoy. But of course, you could like, you know, write down, you can think about it logically like, these are the things that are really like tugging my heart right now. And I really want to tackle these, you know, I want to feel like less irritable in this situation, or I want to have a better relationship with so and so. And then you can just sort of like gear, the flower essences that way. But obviously, just like going off, the visual is so easy.
Katie Kay
And you don't even really have to think about it. Yeah. Oh, that's so cool. So it's almost like, the flowers, you're just being attracted to the ones that are giving you the signal of what's really happening inside internal with your with yourself.
Katie Hess
Yeah, because, you know, some people will think like, oh, the language of flowers, like that must be so complicated. But in fact, like all of us speaking, we just, we don't know that we do. So like, if you like if you close your eyes, So like, imagine you're walking through a rose garden, it feels totally different than if you're walking through a desert was really tall cactuses. And Black feels totally different than like being in like a deep pine forest. And if you suddenly transport yourself to a meadow where there's white daisies that are blowing in the wind everywhere, and you're picking daisies that feels totally different. So you can open your eyes if they're closed. It's like, we know, like, we know, we know not to buy our mom's 12 dozen long stem red roses on Mother's Day. Like there's something that just doesn't feel right, you know, and then we're probably not going to give our lover white Easter lilies. Probably not. Right, that would be so weird. So like, we just know that innately. We know those things innately. And if you walk into a flower shop today, and you're just like, wow, these are amazing. I will guarantee you that whatever you're drawn to is has an aspect. It's like, they call it sympathetic resonance. It's like thing, you know, like you, you recognize something that's like you, and whatever it is, you have that quality, but it wants to, like strengthen. So you'll always be drawn to those flowers that will strengthen particular qualities about you.
Katie Kay
Wow, okay. Oh, wow. Fascinating. Yeah, when I close my eyes, I felt totally different in each of those scenarios. And that was such a great imagery example. Like my whole body felt different in in all of those, and
Katie Hess
Would you like a fun exercise?
Katie Kay
I would love to for the listeners would love that too.
Katie Hess
So let's do some follow along and do the same but close your eyes for a second and go back to your childhood. In Idaho, and just think about any time that you are in nature as a kid, like under a tree or fruits or flowers, and just see like what pops in your mind first as being your favorite flower or botanical. And then once you've zeroed in on it, see if you can come up with three words to describe its personality, without using color or scent. And then whenever you're ready, you can open your eyes and just tell me what you're thinking what you were doing, what your favorite was, and the three words you would use to describe its personality.
Katie Kay
Okay, so I was in the pine trees, tall pine trees, and there's a little river running close by and there were little Bluebell flowers at the edge of the river. And I guess I would describe them as one would be soft. And kind and delicate. And open. The
Katie Hess
aft kind, open, delicate, right? Yeah, yeah. And then if you were to just think of like some flower today that totally intrigues you like the first one that pops in your mind? Something that not from your childhood from today? That's just like, super interesting. What would you choose?
Katie Kay
How we Indian paintbrush. Ooh, fun.
Katie Hess
And how would you describe the Indian paintbrush in solid in three words?
Katie Kay
Vibrant, grounding, energetic.
Katie Hess
Okay, so what we found is that the way that you describe your childhood flower, is how you bring your greatest gifts into the world. So like, the you that's the most powerful version of you, that is here to like, give your gifts would deliver those gifts in a really soft, kind, open, delicate way. Just totally that you. And then the way that you describe the flower that you're kind of intrigued by today is something that you're really wanting to move more into. So there is a part of you that wants to embody more vibrancy, more grounding, and more energetic. So like, you may, you may come in with this, like really soft, sweet, delicate personality, but there's a part of you that wants to just like, like, get, like more energetically. Does that make sense?
Katie Kay
Totally. Yeah, totally. Oh my gosh, describes me so well. I feel like that. And like I just love, I love anything where you dive into just discovering yourself on a new level. Like I just, you know, like just that one little thing. I feel like I got some really good insight into, like, where I'm headed and where I've been. That's really amazing. Katie, I love that. That's such a great experiment. And if the listeners are driving right now, don't close your eyes. But yeah, try that at home, because that's really fun. And, yeah, I just love that. And, and even like I could, you know, I can see that. I can see how, how kind of that would alter how I move forward to with my work or with my life. And I think I've already kind of been headed in that direction. Just wanting to feel more free, like wanting to be more energetic and kind of tapping more into my potential. And I think I've for so long has been, you know, a little bit more subtle. Like a little bit more shy. And certainly that I think that's had a lot to do with just holding on to some fears and insecurities. And yeah, and I hope with this podcast that the more truths that people can learn about themselves, it's like, the more that they can move in the direction of what they really desire and not you know, and in a way of not letting their bodies hold them back. Because I think for me, like I know my body and like many different ways like I've, you know, criticize that and the guilt and judgment but also, you know, deeper like the physical pain and the fears and like deeper emotional pain. It's like one little thing like that you can really get some insight into to where you're headed and what you want, like, what kind of freedom does that look like? So that's really cool. I'm glad you shared that, Katie. And I also want to ask you about your book because you have a book, right? The is it for evolution? Yeah. And so what inspired you to create that? And? Yeah, where can we find that?
Katie Hess
Yeah, I mean, you can try. It's like, it's almost sold out. Like, I think you could probably find some still on Amazon. But we're, we're re redoing it and reprinting it ourselves. Because it it's hard to find no, I wanted to write a book, because it's a concept that not many people know about. So there's like a little portion in the beginning that explains like, what are flower remedies? And how do they work? And why are they so transformative. And then the kind of the bulk of the book is like a choose your own adventure. So it's that same like you, you've got like two huge spreads of flowers on like four different pages. And then you choose what you're most attracted to, and you turn to page 132, or whatever it is. And then you learn, you learn about the flower, but you more importantly, learn about yourself. Like what questions to ask yourself, what things might you want to try? What is like, why are you attracted to it? And what does that reveal about you? And, and then, of course, it's like, full of like recipes and other fun stuff. Like flour, fun stuff.
Katie Kay
Oh, fun. Yeah, that was perfect leading because we just did the exercise. And then yeah, that's so cool that you did that in the book. I love it when books are a little bit more interactive, and you're gonna explore a little bit more about yourself. And that's really fun and fun way for somebody to really learn. I'm definitely going to look into that. wherever I can. We can talk later. And we will put all the links in the show notes. But yeah, like, whatever, I can learn more about wellness and taking care of my body and learn more about myself. That's so cool. I love that and learning more about the flower. Just everything that you're doing. It's really amazing. And I guess another question, I'm just like, keeps kind of beating in my head. And I'm really curious, what really made you want to get into wellness in general, like what kind of maybe one of the healer? And just I asked you, because I find that a lot of people have gone through their own, maybe own struggles that has led them to wanting to help others. Does that resonate with you? Or maybe there was just something that was calling and that you just really wanted to, to help others and healing their body, their soul in their mind?
Katie Hess
Yeah, I mean, ever since I was a little kid, I remember having like a moment of really severe, like, angst when I was seven years old. And just feeling like I'm not where I'm supposed to be. I'm stuck in a small town. I'm supposed to find my people and work on a big project. And I don't know what it is. But this is so damn frustrating to be stuck in a small town, right? So it started there and like as a seed, and then it just kind of got buried for a while. And then when I graduated college, it was like, during a time when cell phones were just coming out, people were like, getting locked into cell phone bills and locked into car payments and mortgages. But I also saw them like not liking their jobs. I was like, huh, how do we have a situation here where we're like locked into stuff we don't like you know. So I was really then I really started searching like for something more like spiritually, or energetically like a solver to like help us be more, you know, go after what we want and be more fearless. And then in terms of like, having, I mean, when I first found the flower essences, I actually had my own physical challenge that I got cured with flower remedies. So that was kind of the first like, whoa, because it was like a physical body issue, which I didn't expect, you know that to happen. But what I can say is that it never stops. And I've been, you know, I started my business 21 years ago, and I am still growing, you know, very, very quickly and intensely and not comfortable and not easy. And I noticed that the more that I can kind of move through and accept and be compassionate about inside myself and face and surrender to the more that either the more powerful the flower remedies are or the more powerful the work is, the more that I can help other people do the same. Or like for example, when I was seeing clients, I would notice that if there was something I was really struggling with, when I finally got to the other side of it, I would have this influx of clients with the same kind of facing the same challenge So, in my company, I am like very, very humble. And that it can I know, it can only be as good as me, because I'm running it. And so it is my duty not only to the company, but to anybody in the community that is touched by it. I have to do the work. Like, you know, I can't preach something and then not do it, like I have to do my inner work. So I'm always taking flower remedies, and always up for facing whatever triggers or patterns or things that are arising in me, because ultimately, that helps everyone else to like, the more that you liberate, the more that you helped me. And vice versa. We're all just kind of like helping each other. So yeah, I mean, I believe just like my flowers. And Cesar said, you know, when he said, kind of circling back around, he said, if 3% of the world's population were taking flower remedies, it would create this ripple effect. And speaking of science, they actually did a study in Boston for 10 years, where they looked at this so well, they looked at the ripple effect. And they showed that if you become wildly happy, it has more of a beneficial effect on your friends, friends, friend, then if someone put $5,000 in their pocket, so this is somebody that doesn't even know you, you know, or if your friends friends friend becomes wildly happy, it has more of a beneficial effect on you than if I put $5,000 in your pocket. So we're all really linked and interconnected, in ways that we couldn't even imagine. You know, and I think sometimes we think I included, you know, sometimes we feel really small. Sometimes it's like, God, there's so many problems in the world, how could I make a dent? How could little me do anything? Like I you know, when you hit those, like really bad rock bottom moments, it's like, what am I even doing here? What's my purpose, you know, but it couldn't be further from the truth. It's like, in every moment, we're impacting, you know, if, if there is like, a guy down the road from you that just retired and he's feeling lost, because he, you know, doesn't have that sense of purpose. And you're like, you just decide to dance naked in your bedroom today, because you feel like it and you feel so happy. He might be mowing his lawn and just get that like, wow, like happy feeling from you. Because you're close by dancing naked in your bedroom.
Katie Kay
Yeah, I can tell Katie, you're just have such a big heart. And you're really putting your work out and this service mentality of being of service to people, and then that interconnectedness of it rippling out to friends and family and strangers. Recently, I've really been soul searching more and more of just your purpose, where you're talking about this finding purpose and, and, and in being in the service of even just doing your own personal work. And focusing on yourself and growing yourself and opening your heart more to other people. It's just the more that you open your heart, the more that the people in your life will feel that. And if you know, we're all kind of like, in this intense knee included, like this intense, or it's like, what, what's my purpose? What do I need to do with my life? What's my business? And what it comes down to is really like this simplicity of how can I give more love. And even if it's, if it's just smiling, people are giving the people in your life, more joy like that, just like that can be just as profound as starting some business that, you know, especially if you're doing some businesses, not even from a heart space. Yeah, and I can, I can just tell that from your business from what you've created, and you talking about you doing your own personal work. And that ripple effect, like I can just tell it really comes from a service mentality, which I can see why so many people are attracted to you and the healing powers of the flowers and your book and everything that you've put in the podcast, everything that he's put out into the world. really profound. So I'm I'm really glad that you could be here. And one thing that also caught my attention is when you are talking or talking about being fearless. Like being you have this kind of ecstatic energy Yeah, and you're just talking about like being careless. And then you're talking about as well, like seeing people that are busy, they're stressed out, and they're doing things that that don't light them up that that they don't like, or you know, whatever word that you use, but yeah, they're just kind of stuck maybe would be the right word. So is that just kind of a reflection into your life? Are you just wanting, maybe you just want to give light to people so that they can find more more happiness? Maybe more things that fill up their cup? And how is that connected to that fearlessness that you were talking about that you can exhibit in your own life?
Katie Hess
Yeah, I mean, I guess first I should say, like, like you kind of mentioned earlier, there's no other way to benefit this world than to work on ourselves. I can't fix or solve, or I can't really help anyone, really, I can't really help someone or do it for them, right? I can only help myself. And through helping myself, it helps others automatically, because we're that connected. And then, like you had said about it doesn't matter what you do, it's how you do it. So like you might have a soup kitchen, and you put so much love into the soup that everybody comes and drinks your soup, and they're just like, cured, they're cured of their illness or cured up their sadness, because they're drinking this love filled soup that you made them, right. It's like not really, we don't have to, like, be this big influencer with like millions of followers. And you know, it's not about that, like you said. And I think for me, fearlessness has a lot to do with being able to sit with what's uncomfortable, and being able to see the parts of myself that I've wanted to stuff in the closet, or you know, things about myself that irritate me, or that I like get down on myself or, you know, and in the end, it's probably not even really me, like those things about ourselves that we are uncomfortable with, actually aren't the real us. They're like the clouds passing and where the sky. But we see these clouds, and we're like, I don't like them. And so I think so, so many times what we do is we like Harden, and then we turn away. And I don't want to look at that. Right? So I mean, for me, the greatest fearlessness is like leaning into that, like, what is it that scary about that? What is it about myself? What could I love more? What could I accept more? What can I embrace more? And then what scares me? Like, Does it scare me to get up in front of a room of 1000 people and talk? Does it scare me to go out in the world and travel to a country I've never been to does it? You know, and just kind of using that as a gauge. And I don't necessarily mean, I don't mean like jumping out of a plane. Like I'm not I'm not gonna be jumping out of any planes. But more just like when it kind of gives you the nerves, then there's something to look at there and something to explore and expand into. And sometimes that can be an indicator of where to go. Joy can pull you or you can look at where you get the nerves. But there are a lot of ways that we can kind of look for the markers of how we can expand more into our full potential.
Katie Kay
I love that explanation. And it's like what you're talking about is the path of a spiritual warrior is just being able to look at those parts of ourselves that are uncomfortable, and still keeping our heart open and not closing off. I just recently read Untethered Soul by seeing I think a Michael singer. And he talks a lot about just like that Untethered Soul, like what is that place within all of us that we cannot open up to more and I just love his kind of talking about keeping your heart open and letting emotions pass through and letting like what you're talking about, like the uncomfortable pass through, it's not part of who we are. It's just like the clouds passing on the sky. And normally, our reaction is to close off like I only imagine my like shoulder tension like I you know, I protect my chest instead of like rolling my shoulders back and like heart open. And that's when he talks about that's when we hold on to stuck energy in the body. And it can you know, it can stay in there for you know, and it can certainly manifest in into a physical pain. But I've been I've recently been looking more and more into like, okay, there's this like really uncomfortable emotion that's coming into me like what am I going to do with it like, am I going to close So is this really gonna cut off my happiness in this moment? Or am I just gonna like leave it open and like breathe through it and let it pass in my body? And I just yeah, I I love how you're talking about like, that connection to that fearlessness aspect of it just like letting the uncomfortable pass through because it's really not part of your soul and it's not part of like that place essence of love within us that can really be untouched. Do you think that the flower do you think that working with a flower elixirs I keep saying elixirs, but I'm not sure if that's the right word. Okay. Alexa, is that like part of like sales? Or like, what do you think that energy? Like? How does that change in the body? How do you think it really has that? Like, how does the magic work?
Katie Hess
Yeah, so there are some like, there are so many different things that are happening when you're taking flower licks, or sometimes it's just like soothing something. Like your energy's like dis coordinate, and it just makes it harmonic and you just feel relaxed. Like, why do I feel so relaxed today? Well, I can hear the birds singing. Did I not hear that birds singing like for the last few months, like where did that come from? Why the bird sounding so beautiful. Or Flower Essences can flower elixirs can also like, show you something about yourself. Like I remember one of my first flower essence experiences, there was a particular flower like so that made me realize how impatient I was. And I've throughout my whole life, I've always thought I was so patient, peaceful and calm. And then I realized, like, whoa, I'm not, I'm actually really impatient. So they have this way of also like showing you your blind spot. And then you can make a different decision, like, oh, wow, that I'm I'm like that, oh, I'm like that. Okay, what do I do with that new information, you know. And I think, like, as I get older, I see, in my own system, two kinds of things happening that throw me off track. One is like the emotional discomfort, like something will happen, it'll trigger me. And it's like, so intense, I can hardly stay in my body, either I'm like, angry, or anxious or worried or afraid. Or, I'm just like, oh, I can barely stay. And then in that case, I have to just be kind of like, stay, stay, stay, stay and let it move through. And flower elixirs can make that process more expedient. So that you're like, rather than being right in the center of it, you're kind of like looking at it from a distance. And you can say more easily, like, Oh, that's interesting, without like, fully being in the middle of it. And then there's this other thing I find that happens, where it's more mental, like negative thoughts, that are kind of associated with those emotions, like, we make up stories about things like we feel something and it's like, and then she did this, and then she doesn't like me, and then they don't, I don't belong, or whatever the thing is, right? I'm not supported, whatever that story is. Flower Essences can also help like, quiet the story, because oftentimes, the story comes from six to eight generations back in our family lineage. So it's like using the flower remedies to turn down the volume on what's not us and turn up the volume on like, the most kind of eternal, powerful part of us.
Katie Kay
It's so fascinating. As like, I can when you're talking I can think of like eight different things. I'm like, Oh, I can I need to be more calm in this situation. I center myself and I have so many negative thoughts. Like when, like, when I first wake up in the morning, like I noticed, my mind is like, on like, it's on the treadmill, and it's like going, sprinting. But like, something like that would be really profound. Like it's taken me years just to like, notice that that's happening. And then it's like the meditation.
Katie Hess
Right, right. It's I mean, it's like, it's, it's, it's like meditation, but if like, you don't have time for meditation, or you want meditation in a bottle, it's like, another support. I would say, I would put it equally on par with meditation. I think everybody should do both. And it's like, even if we know logically, we create our realities with our thoughts. We know that. But still, it's like such a habitual pattern that we'll find we'll catch ourselves like having a negative thought about something, right? Yeah. And it's not so much like, oh, I have to like delete the thoughts like bad but it's more just like, seeing them flow like a river. You know, and the moment that you see it, it already starts to dissolve and change. Rather than like, being kind of like in it so much that you're like responding from that.
Katie Kay
face. Yeah, instead of getting wrapped up in the drama of it, you're kind of that conscious observer. You can see it instead of getting like you're literally in, in the mayhem of it. Yeah. Oh my god.
Katie Kay
We right? Oh, and I like when you were talking, something clicked for me, like I like what you're saying like we know, it's our thoughts like we know it's like this internal dialogue that we're having with ourselves and and that is influencing our belief system and that's influencing how we talked to other people. And I think for a lot of us like that, even just that can get missed, like, especially when it comes to the body, because the body is such, you know, our physical representation. And so a lot of the time we're looking for outside cures, like we're looking outside of us, like the outside experts, and you know, what's gonna, this diets gonna help me or whatever. And that like what clicked for me is it is like the outside, right? It's like it is the flower elixir. But it's what you're doing internal, like it's your internal space and how you're perceiving it, and how, you know, like, what are your thoughts about it? And how are you taking it into your body? And that's where the real change happens and in how we're perceiving that, that solution? We're just like, totally, so thank you for letting me that that clicked for me. Because it's like, I knew it's the internal space, I knew that it was the thoughts, but it's almost that connection with how does these external modalities lead to what's really going to heal each of us individually? It's different for all of us.
Katie Hess
You said something really important in a way, Flower Essences aren't enough. Like they, what they'll do is they'll show us something that we didn't see before, but ultimately, we are the masters. Like, we have to see that and go do I want to change that? Or like, Oh, I just had a thought about like how horrible the day is gonna be because XYZ. And then for me to be able to challenge that and say, like, wait a minute, what makes me think that that's not necessarily true, it could be totally amazing and wonderful because of XYZ can be a total blessing. So like, what what I see Mother Nature doing oftentimes, where there's the remedies, or whatever is like it brings you right through the door, or like it brings you right to the doorstep brings you right to the right door, but then you just have to like walk through it. So it really helps us see things about ourselves in a more objective kind of accepting way. But you're right, we have to be the ones that are like, Okay, I'm gonna change that. I'm gonna, like, you know, not freak out about that, I'm gonna expect the best in the situation, when like, a part of me wants to expect the worst, I'm gonna consciously change that.
Katie Kay
Oh, my God, it's so good. Like, it hurt me to like, because it's so good. Like, it's exactly what healing is, right? Like, if somebody is given all of these remedies, they're given it like, don't leave a right at the door, you still have to be the one that decides that you want that. And that's why it's like, when you talk to people and you're like, want them to change or, you know, like you, you want somebody, whatever, whatever it is, like you want somebody to be healthier, like when somebody accept smoking, or like whatever it is, I don't even know all the examples. But like, we all have people in our life where you're like, oh, man, I wish you just like, I wish you were happier. Like, I want you to be happier and have more joy in your life and like this could help and it's not up to you. Right? It's nice for you that aside, what if they're gonna face that? And it's like, what you're talking about with your flower elixirs, it's like, that is just getting to the door is like, so like, I am always like, oh, man, I need clarity, like clarity, like clarity is like, bam, like that is like so powerful. And then if you're willing, like obviously, like the willingness to change, sometimes is like all you really need. And then universal will show you that door, show you that healing modality, but it's like, you kind of have to have those two things. You have to have those two things, a willingness, and then also the actual thing that's gonna get you to that door to change. It's just like, you can tell I just like it's so excited about this stuff, because it's like, we all have things in our life that is like painful. It's like we all hold on to beliefs like we all you know, it shows up in so many different ways and we might not even know like how we want to change or what's really wrong. We just know that we're not filled with joy and we're not living like we said in our full time. tensile. And it's there. Like the answers are there. It's just like we hoped like grassland was to, and we try and control it. And we're worried about other people or like, all these different things. And like, we just need to come back home to ourselves, and that's fair, like, are there and all the healing modalities, like all the answers are out there in the universe, and people like you are here to help us. And if we're just like, keeping our heart open, we have a willingness to change. And it's when it's available. I just didn't get so. So empowering.
Katie Hess
Yeah, it's a it's like, it's like the compost pile, you know, like, think of it like, it's got a shells, and it's kind of slimy and stinky and like hot and steamy. Right. But like, that's what creates the most beautiful garden and the most beautiful flower. So we all have that, like, part of ourselves that we think is like stinky and slimy and hot and steamy. But in the end, like, that's, that's what makes us so beautiful.
Katie Kay
Totally, totally is. Yeah, and even, even our pain points. That's like what we're talking about earlier, it's like, such a gift in the way that it can lead us to just becoming better, like just having more grills and bringing more happiness enjoying your life if you're willing to look at it and really listen and intuitively ask yourself like, what, what can help and what do I need to change? And yeah, so I love it. It's like, yeah, there, we all have a big pile of like poop that we don't want. We don't want to look at and all the stickiness and all the things and everybody we all have it we're all human. The ego like is a little trickster. Like we'll get in our heads. And but yeah, so it's an opportunity for personal growth and, and all of that. So yeah, I just like Katie, I'm so happy that we got to chat today. And yeah, I guess if there's any last maybe messages or any, anything about the work that you do that you want to share? totally open. I know, that's like, a big opening. And if not, no big deal. We can just go into how we can find you. And oh, you know what I do want to ask before we get into, like how we can contact you and all of that. I also want to ask your own daily wellness practices, like curious if you only use a flower elixir, which I'm guessing that you're talking about meditation, and I know you were saying there, there's a lot of different things. So if there's if you can share your own daily wellness, and any last messages, that would be great.
Katie Hess
Yeah, I mean, I I start my day with, like a pretty substantial meditation practice. There have been times there have been years where I've been like, so busy in my business that I turned into a slacker and I just like do five minutes a day. But lately, I've really found that I need more, like more time to be stable, the world is in such a kind of crazy place right now. So I think a lot of us are finding like, we need more like read devotion to ourselves, and read devotion to just kind of sitting with the unknown and, and like feeling where that's gonna go. But then, of course, I also take herbs and drink teas. And I take Flower Essences all day long, whether it's like in my tea, coffee, water, or we have these little like anointing oils with aromatherapy too. And they kind of like, they take the place of needles and acupuncture. So like, instead of getting needled, I'll like, you know, put the oils on certain points or areas of my body that I want a little more support. So it's kind of an all day like love affair. And just trying to be as present in the moment, you know, like, we tend to think of wellness as like something we do, which it is because it's like, you gotta make an effort, but I try to remember also that it's being and the more I can, like, drop into that space of just like, What am I smelling? What am I seeing? What's the space around me? What am I hearing? Versus like, my mind, you know, that's also creating wellness in the body. And you know, so many of us have, like, what foods can we eat and what foods can we eat and which ones give us sensitivities and inflame our bellies and like, I find that we can get to a point where we can live really eat anything if our minds are screwed on straight? If we're not like, thinking so much, you know? So and then the other question you asked was, if there's anything else, right?
Katie Kay
Yeah. So yeah, and it's a pretty broad question. But if you I mean, most of our listeners, maybe are wanting to change their body or experiencing some sort of pain, maybe physical or emotional. Yeah, and if you have any words, it was them just like, for them, like going through this and kind of their road to change or transformation. Yeah, do you have any, if not, ideal.
Katie Hess
I mean, I, especially with pain, you know, I can say I've known pain. I've had so many times where, like, my lower back has gone out, and I can't walk, there's so much pain. So I've known physical pain. And I know like that chronic oh my god, you know, that like chronic pain every day, and it just makes you cranky. I know that kind of pain. And I also know emotional pain and like facing all your inner demons and midlife crisis and batshit crazy, insane and raging and crying. And I know all that kind of pain. And, and what I can say is that I know it doesn't sound like any consolation, but it really is what makes us beautiful, ultimately. And there is an arc to things. When we're in the middle of some really rotten, tough, difficult situation, it feels like there will be no end to it. It always like tricks us into thinking, there will be no end. But there isn't. And the more we can like love ourselves and accept ourselves through that process, you know, like, oh, I have pain And I'm cranky. Oh, okay, home is cranky. Like, I love you too. And you're welcome at the dinner table too. That is helpful. Just to like, embrace all that, you know. And, and, and also that, like, people aren't really alone. You know, I think so often, we're struggling, and we feel totally alone with it. But like, we don't have anyone we can talk to her, nobody really understands us, or nobody's gonna get it, or I can't share this because they're gonna think I'm not. When actually people are like, just a lot more human than we think like, everybody's got shit, like you said, and. And then like, you'll never be dealt something in life that you can't handle. And Mother Nature is always there to support you. Like, when I feel very, very, very alone, what I do is I go and sit outside. And then I listen to the breeze and I feel my feet on the ground. And I sit next to a tree. And there'll be like this moment where I feel the breeze and it's like, oh, I'm being accompanied here. Like I'm hurt. I'm felt I'm not alone right now. And the flower remedies are also really good, like support, that's easy. You know, you don't have to pay a therapist tons of money. You just like put these little drops in your water. And just watch and wait. So all that just to say that. I know what it's like to have pain. And there's so much more support out there if we just open to it. Even if it's just like being outside and Mother Nature. And one, one thing I just popped in, if I can share with your listeners, this is a practice that I do. When I'm in pain, either physical, emotional, mental, I will take a moment, quiet moment by myself. And when I inhale, I'll inhale all the pain, you know, whether it's like jealousy or anger, or I'm not getting what I want or things will never work out or you know, whatever that thing is, I like breathe it totally in and just like look at it face on. It's not that I'm accepting it to be true. It's just like, I want to like breathe at all and like, show me everything that's there. And then as I exhale, I exhale in a sort of like, like the sense is like, I want to send love and compassion and understanding to every person in the world who's feeling the same thing that I'm feeling right now. Because somebody out there in the world and this huge world of billions of people, maybe somebody in India and Calcutta who knows somebody's feeling the way I'm feeling right now. So I'm gonna like breathe. I'm loving compassion, understand Do I know exactly how you feel? And that practice has helped me a lot lately.
Katie Kay
I love that. Thank you Katie for sharing all of that. It's so healing or it's so so powerful. I love that. That breathwork it reminds me of the Tomlin Tomlin meditation. It's, yeah, breathing in the pain. And I just, yeah, I love that. Thank you. How can we find you? And how can we? Yeah, how does it can we buy the flower elixir from you? Or? Yeah, there's more of a coaching kind of Yeah, tell us all about it. Tell us how we can find you where to find the podcasts, all of that fun stuff.
Katie Hess
So if you go to our website, it's Lotus like the flower and way w e i.com. We have hundreds of flower essences. You just take a little quiz, you click on the ones you like, it gives you a reading. So you're like, Okay, that's where I start. Or you can call or email or DM us, we're always up for helping. We also have people who do like one on one consultations if people want like really like, you know, targeted attention to something. We have a huge Wellness Center in Phoenix, Arizona, we're teaching more and more practitioners. So if anybody out there listening is like a wellness coach or an acupuncturist or you know, someone who's like helping other people. We're doing a lot of teaching this year. We're doing a tour of events and Jackson, Austin, Miami and Charleston in the fall. So if anyone's in those areas, like you know, get on our email list, because we'll be doing all kinds of cool stuff. But yeah, we're always here to help. My team loves helping connect people flowers, so don't hesitate to reach out. And it's really easy. Yeah. Oh, I love it.
Katie Kay
all of that information in the show notes. You know, Katie, it was such a pleasure to have you on the podcast today. And I learned so much and so thank you. And listeners. I know your time is precious. So thank you all for being here. Sending so much love to you and your body.
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