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| Centaury Centaurium erythraea (pink) |
| Flower Facts: Centaury has been used mainly as a tonic for the gastrointestinal tract that helps to expel excess gas and relieve bloating, heartburn, dyspepsia, poor appetite, constipation and colic. Centaury is also believed to cleanse toxins from the liver, kidneys and gallbladder and to purify the bloodstream. It is an annual or biennial with a fibrous, woody root that puts up a stiff, erect stem from a rosette base which may grow to a height of twenty inches (depending upon the species and geographic location) and bears pale green, smooth, lance-shaped leaves crowned by flat clusters of rose-colored, star-like flowers. In ancient times the plant was primarily used to draw out snake poisons and infections, as well as a treatment for fevers. |
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| Flower Meaning: Compassion, Desire, Dutifulness, Freedom, Healing, and Strength |
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| Bloom and Blossom: The healthy soul needs to learn to balance its ego forces between the polarities of servitude and selfishness. Those who are drawn to the Centaury flower lack sufficient ego strength, not realizing that the ability to give to and serve others requires a strong and radiant inner sense of Self. Such souls are easily depleted and devitalized; and more importantly, they lack a vibrant individuality which is so necessary for soul evolution. These persons are often under the illusion that they are being loving and helpful, but in reality they are not strong enough in their will forces to say "No," or to resist exploitation by others. Their vulnerability lies in their reliance on pleasing others to receive self-validation. Thus the compulsion to serve others is misplaced, for such a person neglects his or her own needs and cannot perceive the true, objective need of others. In this way the Centaury type hinders not only its own soul growth, but also the progress of those who need to learn from him or her. Centaury brings beneficial strength and integrity to such personalities, helping them to assume greater self-awareness and self-responsiblitiy. The color that represents Centaury is Pink. The positive qualities of Centaury are: Serving others from inner strength, while nourishing one's own needs; acting from strength of inner purpose, and the ability to say “No” when appropriate. |
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