33. Impatiens (Impatiens glandulifera)
Group: Loneliness
Flowering time: July August September
Indications: Impatience irritability
Negative state: Explosive outbursts of impatience
Positive attribution: Understanding
Quote/Image:
Notes: Found & Photographed August 2016
Impatiens grows along waysides and particularly likes watersides. It is related to the houseplant known as Impatiens or Busy Lizzy, which propagates itself easily from any side shoots put into water, and, if wilting, revives refreshed overnight when given a good drink. The wayside plant is much bigger, growing in bushy swathes and towering over the wayside flowers and grasses with a bright splash of pinkish mauvey flowers. I have noticed it since July and really hoped to find time to photograph it before it exploded into a shower of seeds before vanishing till next Summer.
Nevertheless we never stopped to look because we were ‘busy lizzies’ with so much to do and no time to stand and stare and await inspiration, no time to take out of our busy agendas for photographing Bach flowers – they would have to wait till next year. Only, somehow, on Saturday, on the way home, we stopped and acquired a few blossoms. They are almost over as we enter early September, and still just about flowering although quite wilted. We took home a few sprigs and put them in a large jar full of water and watched as it revived. I checked all my books to verify identification and yes it is definitely impatiens with the inside of the flowers speckled with deeper pinks. The flowers are more beautiful than we expected having only seen them from a distance before. The shape is extraordinary with, I think, some similarities to snapdragons, having a large lower flower part with an almost floating appearance that seems like a hinged dragon type jaw or a receptacle made of what looks like gossamer silk.
The following morning the blossoms were suitably revived and we found ourselves assembling all the kirlian equipment and arranging the quite fragile blossoms. Apparently the required state of mind had simply arrived so that we obeyed it willingly. We admired the colour and formation while the session unfolded, free of turmoil, hurry or impatience and instead flowed easily without any stressful trying at all and the pictures were immediately so beautiful that I had to print out a couple and prop them on my desk to drink in the tranquility. We seemed to have entered a timeless moment by the time ten or more pictures appeared on the screen and my state was stiller than I had experienced for some time. The pictures of the natural flower are lovely.
The lights behind the scenes, revealed by the kirlian apparatus, reminded me that there is always a certain source of power that we can turn to for support whenever we wish, with more than enough of all the creative solutions we need to lift our state and this can be a comfort when we get tangled up in short fuses and hasty impatience. Impatiens was the first Bach flower remedy that Edward Bach discovered, and the one he is reported to have related to most. It is for personality states of impatience, hurry, explosive temper, and force of will. The flower remedy dilutes these impish qualities with deeper patience, stillness and trust.
Impatiens state can be temporary or more fixed and permanent. People generally speaking of being in certain moods and freely admit their moods change as often as the weather and perhaps what we are calling states are similar to moods, although states is more useful for our purpose. We can all, even the most sanguine, experience moments of impatience with self, things or others and then it passes away like a sudden storm. However, some types are disposed to give way to irritation more frequently and more easily and it becomes a habitual state, where impatience is aroused from the smallest hindrance, and then this becomes a more chronic condition and Impatiens becomes the ‘type’ remedy.
We set motions in process when first we desire something and keep the motors turning as we persist through the stages to completion. In between there is rhythm and process and various abilities are strengthened, as we variously visualise, put into practice, call on inspiration, share ideas and overcome obstacles, often being enlivened, fulfilled and interacting with others along the way. Impatiens is like a live-wire, a burning fire of capability, efficiency and wonderful to behold when it occupies its rightful place. It gets things done. But to wear this state all the time would be exhausting and exhaust and alienate other people. It would be like a fire-fighter using his hot, quick skill to sow seeds and simply counterproductive to urge them to hurry.
When we are taken over by Impatiens state we cannot bear delay. It is interesting that Dr Bach put this flower in the Lonely group. The Impatiens type cannot bear to work with others, and if they do, they cannot bear any hint of slowness or delay or deliberation. They want it done now and come to think they are the only one who can do it, which they often are. The Impatiens flower remedy broadens the outlook and pours in the opposite state of patience, reflection and understanding. We see that though one way is effective, we can broaden our understanding of other people and appreciate that others have ways that though different, are just as relevant and all have their place. It is a very great thing to understand another human being, to even acknowledge that each and every person lives in their own world and gives it a different meaning. To understand dissolves barriers and brings willingness to look at things in more ways than one. The way to be understood is to understand.
Impatiens – tension urge to move fast – propelled by agitation
Desires efficiency gets job done
Intimidating leader explosive outbursts
Drives self and others from one activity to another
Irritation frustration dissatisfaction
Self centred pay attention to my idiosyncracy
Inner peace not easy tension constantly seeks an outlet trough activity and restless motion
Goal to give inner peace and freedom from restless pressure and agitation calm nervous system
To be aware of another’s needs
