From her earliest years, Elora Gabriel has been fascinated by other realms and dimensions. "I was convinced that other worlds lay just on the other side of the veil—perhaps over the next hill or hidden in a secret glade in the forest. I searched and searched for clues to these magical realms, through what seemed like the unyielding solidity and banality of physical reality." In fact, it required decades of work developing what some people call high sense perception before Elora could reliably tap into other dimensions and connect with their innumerable inhabitants. "I discovered that the finer and less dense levels of existence contain not only angels, and the spirits of the departed (as is commonly known), but myriads of other beings, including nature spirits, archangels, ascended masters, creator goddesses and gods, higher dimensional extraterrestrials, and pure light beings," Elora says. "And I found that I could reach and communicate with a vast array of these beings, ultimately even reaching beings from other star systems, galaxies, and universes."

As Elora's abilities gradually expanded, she discovered that she had an unusual ability to connect to very high level celestial beings and to "pull in" powerful energies. She has been said to have the capacity of invocation, an ability that—in its highest form—enables one to bring heaven to earth, in other words, to anchor divine energies into physical substance. "This is what I do," explains Elora. "It is a gift and I use it, to the best of my ability, to help humanity."

What fascinates Elora is the interface between matter and spirit, between physics and metaphysics. How does consciousness affect matter, for example? How can cosmic, celestial energies be imprinted into a physical substance and thus affect humans on emotional, mental, and spiritual levels? Such questions led Elora to the development of Cosmic Essences in 2003.

Cosmic Essences go beyond traditional flower essences. While made with pure water and perfect blossoms, like other flower remedies, Cosmic Essences are created with an added step: the water itself is charged with powerful spiritual energies. Using focused intention, Elora imprints a unique pattern into the water for each essence. This makes Cosmic Essences unusually potent, so that using them often produces immediate and noticeable results. The public response to Cosmic Essences has been enormously positive—and thrilling for Elora, who says, "This work has required all of my training and all of my gifts and abilities. It seems as if I had been preparing for this my entire life."

At present, Elora has created several categories of Cosmic Essences. The "Ascension Essences" contain rarefied, soaring energies for soul upliftment, while the "Soul Support Series" is designed to assist individuals in their path of spiritual evolution, particularly in these extremely accelerated times. The "Releasing Series" works with emotional clearing and removing blocks to growth and realization. This series of essences can reach the deepest levels of our being—including the cellular and DNA levels, the effects of previous lifetimes, and the emotional, mental, and other subtle bodies.

Q. How did you get started making flower essences?

A. I have always been a gardener and been very close to nature, but I had never made an essence until the datura plant showed up in our yard. My husband John and I were living in the country near Asheville, and during the summer of 2001 a sacred datura plant appeared in one of my flowerbeds. It's a striking plant with beautiful leaves and stunning pure white flowers. The sacred datura is a medicine plant, and there was something that seemed very deliberate about its appearance in our yard.

I asked the plant if it had come to us for a purpose, and it said yes and that I was to make an essence from its flowers. I was to do this at the time of a full moon when we had a clear sky. Unfortunately by this time it was late summer and every full moon brought cloudy skies. However, next spring the original plant came up ten times bigger and stronger than before. The flowers were enormous, radiant, simply exquisite, with an intense fragrance. I made my first moonlight essence that July. It was an exciting experience because the resulting essence was so potent. Practically everyone I gave it to had an immediate response. It seemed very different from other flower essences that we had tried. One friend said that when she sprayed it on her heart chakra, she felt a strong and instantaneous effect of her heart opening, something that had been an issue for her. I also made a sunlight datura essence, and another friend who used the combination sun/moon essence told me that just two treatments cleared up her chronic and extremely painful headaches. Beyond that, those who tried it simply enjoyed the powerful but gentle effect on their energy system.

I knew that an avenue was opening up which I needed to follow. I am fortunate to have several very sensitive people on our staff at the Green Willow Tree, so I shared each batch of essences with them. We bought some datura essence from another major flower essence company—we were even able to find moonlight datura essence—and there was a world of difference between that one and the one I had made. I don't mean to brag, but there was simply no comparison. At that time I wasn't even doing anything special in making the essences, so I assume that the way I worked with the spirit of the plant had made the difference.

The real breakthrough happened for me when I read an article on the internet, about a group of researchers who had worked with sending prayer and intention to a polluted lake. Photographs of the water molecules had been taken before and after the experiment. Before, the molecules were misshapen and distorted. But after the group had prayed and sent love to the lake, the water molecules were crystalline and beautiful. A light bulb went off in my head when I read that. I already knew that water will hold energy. That's the basis of making flower essences in the first place, and many vibrational remedies use water as a base. Now it had been proven that thought, intention, and emotion will also affect water.

The next time I made an essence, I set up the water and the flowers outside, in the sunlight. Then I formed a clear intention in my mind of what I wanted the essence to be. I called on certain higher-dimensional beings, whom I felt would be the most appropriate. I gave them the pattern, purpose, and intention for the essence, and asked that they continue potentizing the water—that is, transferring the energetic imprint into it—until the remedy was complete. When I brought the essence inside, decanted it, and then tried it, I was thrilled and immensely excited to find that the intention I'd created for the essence was definitely there! Of course I rushed to share it with the Green Willow Tree staff, and they, too, felt the specific intended quality of the essence. And that's how it all began.

I found that there was simply no limit to what I could create. All I needed to have was the idea, the concept. From there I would connect to the appropriate beings and energies. I would use a very intense and clear focus in communicating to them what was needed, and the pattern would be set. I still use flowers, because they bring in the devic energy, and I feel it imbues the essences with a strong connection to nature—something that is missing now from the lives of many people. But what really defines the essence is the intention that I create. Therefore Cosmic Essences are really a co-creation between three realms: first, the nature realm, represented by the flowers and the devas; second, the human realm (myself); and third, the spirit realm and the higher-dimensional beings who do the actual potentizing.

Q. How are Cosmic Essences different from traditional flower essences?

A. When I began to make Cosmic Essences myself, the most unique quality about them was that just about everyone immediately felt the effects. Cosmic Essences are less subtle than traditional flower essences, although just as delicate in their many layers of ethereal nuances. They don't take as long to work. For example, we found that "Protection" will usually clear a person of entity attachments (even multiple attachments) within hours, if used frequently. Taking "Healing Love" brings an instant sense of loving comfort to the heart. Then if you add "Amplifier," which is a neutral essence that makes any other remedy stronger, the results are even more potent.

It is also easier to select the appropriate remedy with Cosmic Essences than with most types of flower essences. With any vibrational type product (homeopathics, flower essences, gem elixirs, etc.) it is essential to select the correct remedy. Using the

"wrong" remedy will not be harmful, but it will produce little or no result. With homeopathy, for example, people study for years to learn how to choose the right remedies and potencies for their clients. With flower essences, as the field has expanded, there are literally thousands of different essences to choose from. For any emotional, mental, or spiritual state (such as grief), dozens or even hundreds of flower remedies will exist which may be appropriate for such a condition. Unless a person is expert at dowsing or muscle testing, making a selection will be very difficult. And all but the best dowsers and kinesiologists will generally need to have the remedy physically present in order to test accurately. With Cosmic Essences, the selection in the case of grief would be very straightforward. "Releasing Grief" is a universal essence which is designed to be appropriate for any person who is either actively grieving or who carries repressed grief.

In addition, many of our essences are goal-oriented rather than problem-oriented. Most flower essences are created to correct or improve a particular condition in a person's physical, mental, or emotional life. For example, the original Bach Flower Essences are each described as being helpful for some ill of the body or spirit. While we do offer the Releasing Series to assist with healing of emotional blocks and wounds, the majority of our essences are created to uplift the user towards positive and specific goals. Let's say, for example, that you wish to create more fulfillment in the area of intimate relationships in your life. You might wish to use one or more of the Releasing Series to create more openness in your soul and psyche. However, you would probably also choose to use essences such as "Soul Mate," "Sacred Sexuality," and perhaps "Healing Love" and/or "Self Love."

Finally, the preparation of Cosmic Essences is different than the traditional method. While the essences are made with flowers, sunlight, and water, an additional step is taken in which the water is also potentized by powerful celestial forces and energies.

When I first started making the essences, I searched on the Internet to see if anyone else was doing the same thing. I found a few other people who are working in a similar fashion. There's a woman named Ruth Joy in Arizona who works with the angels to create essences. I tried one of her products and it's lovely. I have also seen shamanic essences for sale, and I assume in that case a request is made to the animal totem spirit to potentize the water for the particular essence. I have not tried working with animal spirits as yet, but I do work with angels and archangels in making some of our remedies.

I've always been an adventurous sort on the inner realms, and I am able to connect to an enormous number of higher dimensional beings. For example, when I made "Sacred Sexuality," I called upon the energies of Krishna and Radha. I rather think that Krishna and Radha have moved on from our planet, but the energies they anchored are still here. To me, those two embody the perfection of divine love and sexuality, the ultimate in tantric union. Another essence, "Serenity," contains the energies of the Buddha. So, I believe that Cosmic Essences are unique even among the limited field of people who are imprinting their own essences, because I work with such a wide range of beings on the inner.

In making the essences, I also work with an extremely powerful energy which I call the Omniversal Energy. I believe that the Omniversal Energy comes from a central, sacred source within Creation and is here to help our planet fulfill her destiny. That's another topic, but I've learned to draw upon the Omniversal Energy each time I make an essence. Among other things, I call upon it to give the essence a penetrating quality, so that it will affect the user on a cellular, atomic, and sub-atomic level, as well as on all the levels of the auric field and all of the subtle bodies.

I think some of a person's own soul vibration always goes into the essences that one makes. My essences tend to have an uplifting, soaring quality. Sensitive people can also feel waves of frequency from using them. There is the first rush of energy, and then a subtle oscillation of overtones that can go on for several minutes, like the reverberations from ringing a bell. Probably some of this has to do with the remedy encountering the various subtle bodies and levels of the auric field.

By the way, we're very excited about the fact that several Cosmic Essences were recently tested in Canada by a woman who has a QXCI machine, which is perhaps the most sensitive diagnostic machine on the market (more so than the electrodermal screening machines). It was created by someone in NASA and has a thorough scientific background to it. We were thrilled to hear that our essences came out at 100% potency.

Q. How does one take Cosmic Essences?

A. The easiest way to use Cosmic Essences is to place 3 to 10 drops in a couple of ounces of water and sip. Add "Amplifier" if you wish for an enhanced experience of your essence. (We recommend trying an essence without "Amplifier" and then adding it if you would like a stronger effect.) Another method of taking Cosmic Essences is to place several drops on the palm, rub the palms together, then closer your eyes and pause for a moment or two to feel the energy changes in your body and energy field. I also enjoy applying the essences to areas such as the solar plexus, heart, forehead, base of the skull, and crown of the head. A dropperful from a stock bottle may be added to your bath, an experience that will also be enhanced by adding a dropperful of "Amplifier."

Generally, people take Cosmic Essences 4 times daily. In acute situations, essences may be used as often as every 15 minutes.

Q. How does one know when to start, and then discontinue, an essence?

A. There are no exact guidelines for starting or stopping an essence. If you pay very close and sensitive attention to your own state of being, you should be able to sense the assistance a remedy is giving you, as well as when its effectiveness is diminishing so that you do not need it any more. In general, however, for mild or temporary conditions, several weeks may be enough. For severe or long-lasting situations, several months would be recommended. It would be helpful if you have a friend or practitioner who can test you using kinesiology (muscle testing), electrodermal screening (a sensitive electromagnetic testing method), QXCI testing, or other methods of testing remedies.

Q. Which are your favorite essences? Which ones do your staff like the best?

A. I have so many favorites, but among them are Soul Mate, Kundalini, Rapture, Serenity, Releasing Soul Fatigue, and Home. The Cosmic Essence and Green Willow Tree staff are all quite addicted to the "Relaxation Blend." We always have a bottle of that on and it's heavenly after spending several hours at the computer. They are also especially partial to the "Cosmic Cleanser," "Bliss," and "Divine Love" spritzers. "Protection" and "Martyr No More" are favorites with some of the staff as well.

Q. Do you think you could teach the process of making Cosmic Essences? Could anyone do what you're doing?

A. I'm sure I could teach the process. However, students would already need to know the basics of how to connect and communicate with higher level beings and energies. They would also need to know how to muscle test, or have some other way of getting good information. Given those basics, anyone could learn to potentize their own remedies. The essences produced could vary a lot in quality and strength as the person making them gained in expertise with the different steps of the process.

Q. Where do you think your work with Cosmic Essences will take you in the future?

A. First of all, we need a better vehicle for making the essences available to the public. We have just created a website toward that goal. Secondly, I have many exciting ideas for new essences I'd like to make. One would be a line which could be called "The Masters" or "Gods and Goddesses." Each one would contain the energetic imprint of one of the great beings whom we know as avatars, saints, archangels, or deities. For example, we could have an essence containing the Christ consciousness. We could have one for each of the major archangels. We also would not forget the feminine powers, such as the Goddess Durga (who is one of my favorites in the Hindu pantheon), Lady Mary, Isis, and so on. There would be an essence for Pan, who is the god of the elementals. I have also thought of offering custom essences for people, which would be strongly imbued with the very clear, undiluted energies of that person's higher self, and therefore would provide a strong evolutionary direction. Those who are seeking a connection, on any level, with their soul mates, could request a custom essence imbued with the soul signature of their twin soul.

Perhaps the most thrilling aspect of the work I’m doing with Cosmic Essences is that there is absolutely no limit to the possibilities! Despite outward appearances, I firmly believe that the frequency upon our planet is rising. And that as we continue to divorce ourselves from a sole reliance on dense matter, people will increasingly turn to vibrational remedies of all sorts—for spiritual uplifting, for healing, and for grand adventures into other realities.

Cosmic Essences creator Elora Gabriel is also founder of The Green Willow Tree, an on-line natural supplements company based in the country outside of Asheville, North Carolina.

Jane Bernstein is a purveyor of radical—that is, both rooted and out-of-this-world—information; she gardens and writes in New England.