Editor’s note: The following report from Donatella Tordoni has been edited and shaped for presentation in our E-Journal.

The Flourish Formulas: Initiating the Healing Path

I started working with the Flourish Formulas in 2008. The flowers in the diagram of each formula helped me realize the broad spectrum of healing outcomes they addressed. In the beginning, I recommended them when indicated to my clients, in combination with an individual formula. For example, I included Mind-Full for concentration at work or school, or Activ‑8 to give a new impulse and determination toward client goals. Slowly, over time, the results I observed guided me to use the formulas at the beginning of the healing path as “access keys” whenever possible.

When a client presents several important issues, it is not always so easy to define the priorities in the first stages of healing work. An exploration period is often necessary before arriving at an individualized flower essence formula for the healing path. In such situations, I have been able to experience the important benefit of the Flourish Formulas.

In the presence of complex issues embracing different aspects of the client’s situation, I guide the beginning phase of the healing work with one or two Flourish Formulas to be taken alternately every week for a month. As a therapist, I consider these to be valuable tools to help in all circumstances, especially when a direct interview is not possible. From the feedback of clients, I have found they usually love working with the formulas and feel supported by them.

A typical situation involves the client's history regarding issues of the heart that have created suffering (relationships with the partner, family of origin, etc.). The Sacred Heart formula—taken alone for a month—is very important in order to have a much clearer picture of the client’s soul state for continuing our therapy in the next session. Those emotions that were previously overwhelming are then more contained and the client is able to show them more easily.

After working with a formula such as Fear-Less for fear issues, Grief Relief for great pain, Illumine for depression, Sacred Heart to reconstitute the forces of the heart, and Post-Trauma Stabilizer for recovery after shock and/or trauma—all of which concern intense emotions—clients report a great sense of relief and levity as compared to the initial condition. It is as if something that was gripping inside, which they were not even able to describe, had released its hold. However, when using Grace for issues related to the feminine archetype, the remedy can be more challenging to integrate. Grace has an immediate quality that goes straight to the core. It can present some initial difficulty for those women who have had to mask their vulnerability, receptivity and sensitivity, due to overwhelming life issues.

In particular, I would like to emphasize the effectiveness of the Fear-Less formula. I often encounter clients with issues of fear, anxiety, and panic attacks. The support this formula can give is immeasurable and of great value. I would never have imagined that Fear-Less alone could also be the decisive formula for a very debilitating issue of anxiety with panic attacks as I will outline in the following case.

Helping a Young Woman with Severe Panic attacks

Alberta was a young woman of 34 years. She came to me through her mother, already my client, who asked me for help with her daughter who had a very limited and unhappy social life due to sudden panic attacks. I was immediately struck by Alberta’s eyes, which did not exude joy of living, but rather a deep sadness and loneliness.

In a monotonous low voice, tinged with resignation, Alberta told me that she had been using pharmaceutical medication for more than two years to cope with sudden panic attacks that created great fear. The drugs helped her continue with her professional work, but the problem was not resolved. Her social life was very limited, with most of her time spent at home, where she felt safe, lying in bed.

Even when there were no panic attacks, she typically experienced anxiety when in enclosed spaces, public places, supermarkets, etc. Alberta was very sad about this condition because it also affected her relationship with her partner. She described how difficult it was: her debilitating state started in the morning as soon as she opened her eyes. She felt a lump in her throat and agitation as she anticipated the day ahead.

When I met with Alberta, I was planning to depart for a vacation in a Far Eastern country. It is my policy never to start a healing process when I am away, because it is important that a therapist be present and ready to intervene in instances of a healing or awareness crisis.

I explained to her why we would start the real work when I arrived back in the country. Regardless, I wanted to help her in the meantime. Therefore, I advised her to use Rescue Remedy in the morning and whenever she felt the need, plus the Fear-Less formula to take for the upcoming month, recommending that we be in further consultation after this time period.

Significant Change in Just One Month

Upon my return, Alberta called me, eager to let me know her progress. I immediately noticed the change in her voice, which was much more modulated in tone compared to our first session. She reported to me that “it was going much better” and that she felt helped by the flowers. They calmed her and allowed her to meet situations that she would never have faced before. Episodes of anxiety were still present but not as often as before. Together we agreed to continue for another month to consolidate these encouraging results.

I received feedback from Alberta about every 15 days. She updated me on the continued positive progression. This was despite sporadic episodes of anxiety, with which she was now able to cope. The constant improvements and the awareness that things were really changing in a positive way indicated that she should continue with Rescue Remedy and Fear-Less for a longer period of time.

Alberta's regular feedback was always very encouraging for both of us. It was exciting to hear from Alberta that she felt she had “entered life again.” She was able to face those situations that previously created anxiety. Above all, she felt more comfortable, with an inner tranquility that she had not remembered, and also felt much more determined. Consequently, she asked her doctor to reduce her medication.

Positive Progression and Gradual Reduction of Pharmaceutical Medication

The positive progressions of Alberta's healing path continued in the following months. Alberta had developed a particular sensitivity to Fear-Less , such that she was able to perceive when to intensify her intake at certain critical moments. She noted the immediate help she received on these occasions.

Alberta's mother, whom I had met in the meantime in a follow-up session, confirmed what I had already determined. Her daughter had changed greatly and so had her current life. She was no longer worried about her daughter, because now Alberta was happy to live her life to the fullest.

What her mother had told me was then confirmed to me by Alberta herself upon her return from a vacation. She reported deep well-being. Everything had gone well, she was happy and enthusiastic for life and was grateful to the flowers that had allowed her to be reborn.

Alberta continued to work with Fear-Less into the next year. The progress had been consolidated and the drug therapy had been greatly reduced. Later in the year, the progressive decrease in medication would continue, as she tapered off until she no longer took it. The last feedback from her confirmed a general state of psycho-physical well-being, so we both agreed to end working together. A couple of years later, I heard from Alberta again. Everything remained the same as when we had heard from each other two years prior. We both were very happy.

With that experience, I received an important teaching: I learned how profound the action of a formula could be and also how decisive it could be alone. I felt a sense of deep gratitude toward the flowers.

Sara was a single woman of 48 years, youthful looking, with different interests beyond her managerial role in the workplace. She was very jovial and spoke willingly about herself. Sara was looking for help to “deal with negative and painful emotions” involving an intimate aspect of her life when she was a teenager. It was still unresolved within her and probably the most important emotional issue for her.

Sara was born after her young parents (age 21) had recently married. A sister also arrived six years later. When Sara was 17 years old, her mother decided to terminate a third pregnancy. No explanation was given to Sara and there was no further discussion about this event. Sara strongly wanted her little brother, and she endured deep pain in isolation, with a sense of great helplessness. She also felt a strong sense of guilt for not being able to forgive her mother or do anything about her unborn little brother.

This hidden pain quickly and unexpectedly resurfaced in an acute manner in our session, and immediately drew my attention. I gave Sara Grief Relief so that she could recover her heart and heal its silent cry of pain. I expected that the theme “guilt” would be considered later.

After about a month, Sara called me with significant feedback. She reported that she had taken the formula frequently, feeling very relieved with each passing day. She also told me that she had called her mother, engaging at first in a normal conversation. Then suddenly, something inside Sara changed drastically. With great amazement and wonder, she felt forgiveness toward her mother. The deep knot in her soul was finally untied after 30 years. This pivotal moment happened with such simplicity and ease that she herself had been very surprised.

Sara never had thought that the flowers would succeed in bringing about such a subtle and delicate heart action, especially in such a short time. She was simply happy. I was also happy and very satisfied with this success.

Magenta Self-Healer and Post Trauma Stabilizer: Immune-Strength and Recovery During the Pandemic

As in other countries worldwide, Italy still faces the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic—not only economic consequences that have created great uncertainty about the future, but also issues of anxiety, fear and terror of contracting the virus. These feelings are powered by a great confusion generated by conflicting information about the virus even among medical specialists themselves. Moreover, many, including politicians, do not believe in the existence of the virus. This situation, unfortunately, is continually emphasized by the media every day.

Fundamental in this period is the Magenta Self-Healer formula to strengthen the immune system. This formula is then combined with the Post-Trauma Stabilizer formula in the post-virus phase to counteract the general effects of stress.

As a therapist, I was able to see that those clients who had engaged in a medium-to-long-term healing process with flower essences, were able to develop an inner empowerment that made them more aware of not only their abilities, but also their spiritual identity, and therefore they are now able to cope with challenging situations like this. They met the circumstances with calm and positivity. This includes some who have contracted the virus and then overcome it.

Summary Comments: The Amazing Intelligence of the Flowers

I often tell my clients that the work of the flowers begins when I, with my limits as a human being and after having done my task, am finished with my role in the healing process. When the flowers act, each time I am speechless to find that this is exactly so.

One quality of flower essences that I have always admired since the beginning of my practice is their intelligence, which goes beyond what a therapist can imagine. The evidence of this intelligence is in the results achieved by clients during the healing process.

Despite 20 years of knowledge of flower essences, I am not infrequently truly amazed by sometimes unexpected and, above all, unpredictable results. I also experience this wonder with the Flourish Formulas .

Learn more about the 12 Flourish formulas.

About Donatella Tordoni

Since 1995, Donatella had been practicing Flower Essence Therapy, which she liked to call “the subtle art of healing with flowers.”

She had been a member of the Managing Committee of the Unione di Floriterapia of Milan, Italy since 1996, and of the teaching staff of the Triennial School of Education in Flower Essence Therapy of Unione, where she had taught FES Flower Essence Therapy since 2004.

Donatella’s collaboration with the Flower Essence Society started in 2000. In 2004 she received the authorization to teach the MetaFlora System , a healing approach to the MetaFlora Levels (a specific research and healing philosophy researched and formulated by Patricia Kaminski and taught in the FES Professional Certification Program ).

As an official FES teacher, Donatella was responsible for providing Italy and Switzerland with educational activity concerning FES Flower Essence Therapy, which she carried out through Introductory and Advanced Professional Courses endorsed by FES. See an annoucement of one such program in early 2021.

Since 2013, she had been responsible for the FES Certification Program , a professional program for the recognition of the FES Certified Practitioner qualification.

Read about how Donatella worked with her clients , based on her many years of experience with Flower Essence Therapy.

Read a tribute to Donatella, celebrating the life of a beloved colleague and friend.