The Yarrow plant is a picture of sensitivity and clarity, with many finely detailed features, such as the lacy, delicate and open structure of the feather-like leaf. Highly sensitive souls need the protection, psychic clarity and resilience of the Yarrow. It is a powerful archetypal remedy for the client featured in this case report.

Editor’s note: The following article has been edited and adapted from original writings by Ruth Altschuler and further interviews by Jann Garitty.

John’s Core Wound:
A Highly Sensitive Child Impacted by Constant Verbal Abuse

As a young child, John was a sensitive soul, initially full of joy and spontaneous expression. But John’s early experience was marked by the impact of overpowering verbal abuse coming from his father, with constant shaming and humiliation. Someone with a different constitution might have responded in another way, but John was a typical highly sensitive person ( HSP ). These verbally violent and abusive situations happened repeatedly, and the intensity was shattering. Sensitive children experience sensory and emotional input in ways that are amplified beyond what is bearable. As a result, his anger, deep grief, and many other spontaneous emotions were stuffed and hidden deep within. This psychic reality imprinted what can be considered a core wound.

Scarlet Monkeyflower was a key remedy to help John express his powerful emotions with Self-mastery and appropriate containment.

In the Voice Dialogue perspective, parts of our psyche are formed at specific times throughout our lives, to manage our survival needs. When facing these situations of extreme verbal abuse, John developed protective coping mechanisms, and his inner vulnerable child aspect took his intense feelings into hiding. John’s Protector Self continues doing the “outside game,” while his vulnerable Child Self harbors enormous anger, grief, fear, shame and unsafety. These processes are explained in the Internal Family Systems approach, somewhat analogous to Voice Dialogue .

John’s Core Wound Blocks His Ability to Take Decisive Action

John has already gone through decades of inner work and made significant advances in his soul journey. He retired from his day job, and now works effectively as a Life Coach, True Purpose Coach and Voice Dialogue facilitator. John had already experienced the transformation of his core negative beliefs through the BeliefCloset transformation method. Had he not gone through this primary belief clearing it would have been an initial focus of our work.

Despite all the healing John had already accomplished, the continuing presence of his core wound patterns blocked his ability to act decisively in bringing his important work to others who could benefit from it. John has very effective healing gifts and knows he truly helps his clients, but the daring and courage he needed for real outreach were hindered. In fact, John feels blocked around many kinds of action. As we unraveled his core wound, we obtained a much clearer understanding of how this happened and how it could be gradually transformed. Flower Essence Therapy was totally new for him, though he could have clearly benefited from its healing gifts much earlier in life.

John's Birth Chart Reveals Hidden Strengths That Influence the Initial Flower Formula

In reviewing John’s astrological birth chart, I am struck by the fact that he has a potent Aries Moon conjunct with Mars in Aries. This powerful fiery energy has obviously been thwarted by the early trauma with his father. His strong and fiery masculine Aries forces have been suppressed and compressed into grief and fear as a result of these childhood impediments.

Yerba Santa was an important initial flower, helping John process long-stored grief and create spaciousness in his heart.

John’s first flower essence formula included Yerba Santa to address the profound grief locked deep inside and Hyssop to address constant self-blaming and guilt that he is not who he “should be.” Scarlet Monkeyflower was chosen to help with the natural expression of his innate fire attributes of vigor, strength and assertiveness. This also includes the ability to express anger and related intense emotions in new and healthy ways. Quince and Red Larkspur were included to enhance his qualities of heart strength and positive masculine leadership. John is already working as a facilitator and leader in men’s groups, but he has trouble acknowledging and owning these great strengths. Taken as a whole, these five essences will help John manifest and embody his true soul gifts and unravel his deeply ingrained core wound.

Voice Dialogue Reveals the Procrastinator and the Commander

Quince reminded John that the strength he seeks comes from uniting the polarities of power and love in his heart.

When we enter into Voice Dialogue work, we always ask for permission from one’s overall Protector . In this case permission is granted, and we move through a sequence of sessions, identifying key protective parts, that have played different roles throughout time. We begin by inviting dialogue with the “visible” or “primary parts,” as these are the aspects that are initially most apparent.

Avoidance of action, or procrastination, has been one of John’s main complaints. Early on, John received aggressive judgments from his father for what he did or failed to do. As a result, his coping decision turned toward simply trying to avoid action. From our Voice Dialogue sessions, we discover that his Procrastinator aspect is actually fulfilling a protective role trying to keep him safe.

As this Procrastinator part feels acknowledged and heard, we inquire about its higher intentions and talents. As we move further into the conversation, this aspect re-names itself Risk Assessment . It is now ready and willing to change, and we are able to upgrade its function for effective action.

Another aspect is then revealed regarding John’s courageous, honorable and valiant Self. It is the Commander who shows up to serve, offering his best qualities to help others. With help from the Quince and Larkspur flower archetypes, we call in the Commander, who now feels encouraged and emboldened.

Red Larkspur is a powerful plant ally for John, instilling vibrant qualities of leadership in his service for others.

Creating Inner Strength to Hold the Vulnerable Child

As the healing work develops, we identify Big John , who holds space as a positive father figure for his vulnerable inner child. A relationship of trust is gradually established, and only then do we dare call in John's fearful, vulnerable Child Self. This part had been holding enormous amounts of grief and fear that were too intense to bear. Now with the support of Yerba Santa , John breathes more deeply, and this vulnerable part can reveal itself as Little John . In the safety of the space we are holding, a sense of trust and ease grows, while glimmers of lightness begin to emerge from the buried grief. Some of the spontaneity and joy contained within the true nature of John’s inner child are reawakened, showing us that profound healing is already taking place. In this healing space, the Commander and Big John can protect and hold Little John safely, and his true feelings can be acknowledged.

Integrating Disowned Aspects: The Rebel Becomes Purposeful Action

We also get to meet a part that rebels against obligations and all the “shoulds” of life: “If this is a demand, I won’t do it.” We discover that this part has held on to these attitudes as ways of having agency and choice. This Rebel component acknowledges it was once helpful for John when he was very young. The behaviors of rebellion and dispersion felt empowering, but as John moved further in life, the Rebel kept him from getting engaged and effectively manifesting.

Chestnut Bud helps break down repetitive patterns that are dysfunctional.

The Explorer’s Gentian flower essence meets the Soul experiencing setbacks, often late in life, helping individuals rekindle a sense of significance and purpose to move forward.

The Rebel reveals that it is tired of always opposing action and acknowledges that it doesn’t really help John. The Rebel wants a new mode of engagement for effective, purposeful action. At this stage, we include Chestnut Bud and Explorer’s Gentian to help John overcome repetitive patterns that are not productive and to forge ahead with fresh ways of functioning and purposeful action.

As the vulnerable and fearful child part emerges in further encounters, we now use Garlic flower essence for dissolving these paralyzing fears and Yarrow flower essence to build resilience and provide strength for John's innate sensitivity. The Rebel has now renamed itself Purposeful Action, showing willingness and vibrancy to engage and manifest.

Garlic flower essence helps John deal with paralyzing fears that have plagued him throughout his life

New Challenges Call for Resilience

At this point in our ongoing journey, life presents new challenges for John. His cherished partner of many years, the one who brought appreciation, full emotional safety and genuine love, has been diagnosed with a serious, life threatening health condition. As his partner gets increasingly frail, going through surgery and difficult decisions around treatment, John now needs to be the rock with strength to hold their lives together as they navigate this passage.

The Penstemon flower essence, prepared from a plant that grows wild in very high elevations and almost inaccessible locations, helps one build inner Soul Fortitude to deal with major life challenges.

John's formulas now feature Penstemon , Mountain Pride , Walnut and Explorer’s Gentian . John feels bolstered and supported in his courage and determination to face the major challenges that are unfolding day after day.

Mountain Pride flower helped John embody positive qualities of masculine courage and inner strength in his leadership with other men.

A Deep-Set Pattern of Attention Deficit Disorder Is Now Tackled

As John delves further into his ability to take effective action, he confronts Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) he has suffered since anearly age. Cosmos , Lemon and Shasta Daisy provide the focus and mental cohesion that his system has likely always needed. These flowers facilitate an upgrade to how John functions for effective and focused action. Significant progress is gained in how he is able to take initiative and stay focused and engaged in activities he used to avoid or participate in less effective ways.

John's early emotional trauma resulted in Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Cosmos has been vey beneficial in helping him achieve greater mental clarity and focus.

Summary: Transforming Our Wounds for Fully Flourishing Purpose

John’s core wound is the result of developmental trauma, which resulted from from repeated exposure to traumatic experiences during his early formative years. For these long-set patterns, the Voice Dialogue work and coaching focuses on a gradual recreation of habitual responses. As dysfunctional aspects find an upgraded expression, new patterns are gradually cultivated until they become a reliable way for John to function.

It is painful to go through life harboring these wounds, always trying to cope and compensate. Healing these impediments becomes a commitment to a new way of life. We may at times feel this inner work is overwhelming and time-consuming. But it is important to remember that we heal not only for ourselves individually, but also for the transformation of collective consciousness. Committed and courageous souls embrace a transformational path so that higher levels of purpose and service to others may truly flourish in the world.

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