04/13/2022
Diets. Food. Eating. Instagram snaps of meals. There seems to be a lot of it about. Which set me thinking about the relationship that any of us have to food; those internal scripts that colour our feelings and behaviour. Such as does your body shape make you more Beech critical of your appearance? Or Crab Apple despondent that once-favourite clothes no longer fit properly? Or full of Pine self-recrimination that you didn’t start changing your eating habits sooner? Or is food a way of trying to keep control in a spiralling Cherry Plum situation?
However, while passing moods may come up, what about your innate personality that influences your relationship to food?
For example, are you in Bach flower terms, an Oak? Oak personalities tend to push on with their responsibilities, ignoring their body telling them to rest. This can lead to a habit of grabbing food as fuel to keep going, rather than mindfully sitting down to a balanced meal. Impatiens may be someone who is in such a hurry they gulp their food (not good for digestion) and leave the table before everyone else. There is Agrimony, vainly trying to sooth the internal angst by consuming tubs of favourite ice creams. There is the loneliness of Heather, where comfort eating is a way of trying to feel nurtured, however fleeting that may be. Clematis who are too disconnected to the here and now, forgetting to eat, when they need food to sustain that connection to the body, and remain grounded. Or Centaury, so intent on taking care of others and feeding them that by the time you sit down to eat there isn’t much left for you. Or Rock Water obsessive self-denial in reaching your self-imposed goals? Or Mimulus shyness and vulnerability where food is seen as an aid to keep yourself well covered and protected?
Maybe in dealing with any of the above, you might find Chestnut Bud helpful in that ‘I can’t believe I’m back here again,’ thought (which is what I imagine the photo below depicts), or Walnut so you’re not swayed by social media airbrushed images of ‘perfection’ (there really is no such thing) or if trauma is associated with food, then Star of Bethlehem, or Honeysuckle to let go of the past or Sweet Chestnut for the anguish you may feel. There are many possibilities from the 38 Bach flowers to choose up to 7 remedies to create the mix that is right for you.
Your unique mix will work by gently peeling back the layers of emotions, some of which may be surprising as you find what is hidden from view. Perhaps there is remorse, fear, grief, despair, anger… it could be anything. As new emotions emerge, tweak your mix. Whatever the emotions disrupting you, there are Bach flowers to help you regain balance.
Which Bach flowers have supported you in your relationship with food? 🌺
Photo credit: Tamas Pap at unsplash
