Patterns of
Life Force 

Julian Barnard 

Bibliographical information  First published by:  Bach Educational Programme Date:  1987  ISBN  0 9506610 1 5    This explanation of life force, thought forms and patterns of behaviour illuminates the action of the Bach Flower remedies and their relationship with health and disease.  The collected works were brought together in this anthology by Julian Barnard and copyright is owned by Flower Remedy Programme 1987  Republished electronically by the Bach flower research programme 2003.  Licensed by the author for copying for research purposes. No commercial use is allowed.

Contents 

5    Author’s Preface 

6    Chapter 1 

Introduction 

8    Chapter 2 

The Birth — Death Process 

12    Chapter 3 

Learning from Life 

15    Chapter 4 

The Riddle of Nature 

19    Chapter 5 

Drawing Breath 

23    Chapter 6 

Your Body Speaks its Mind 

26    Chapter 7 

It’s not Where We Are - it’s Where We Are At 

31    Chapter 8 

The Need for a New Medicine 

32    Chapter 9 

The Medical Discoveries of Dr Bach 

43    Chapter 10 

A Bridge to Life 

46    Chapter 11 

Healing Herbs 

54    Chapter 12 

Making Bach Flower Remedies 

57    Chapter 13 

A Definite Healing Power 

61    Chapter 14 

The Consolidation of a Mental Attitude 

66    Chapter 15 

You Have Got the Idea 

Dedication 

This is given in thanks to the well of healing where all may come and draw freely of the love of life. 

Thanks 

My wife Martine has contributed substantially to this book. We have discussed the ideas of it together, she has helped provide much of the material and in every way has given of her generous love to it. Her sensitive advice has been combined with her warm encouragement. Without her it would not have been. 

To others who have helped I equally give a heart-felt thank you: to Michele Sargoni for her research and assistance on many occasions; to Joy Southgate for her commitment and thoughtful encouragement; to Glenn Storhaug who helped with design and who gave freely of his most valuable advice; to my parents for their perennial willingness to help and for their loving kindness; to K. who has silently taught. And a special thank you to Nickie Murray who was my first contact with Bach’s work and who has remained a true guide and to her husband Malcolm; both have given help and friendship. 

Author’s Preface 

This is now complete. No, not perfect, not by a long way, but complete, dear reader, because you are now engaged with the process. Certain ideas are conveyed in this writing but their action is only useful in that they stimulate a response and review in you. There is not much here that can be taken on board and trotted out as learning but there is the possibility for a new perception, a different view of life. As such this is like water drawn from a well and you, if you will, may use it for whatever it seems good for. 

In ancient times the well formed the centre of a settlement with families grouped around it. It was in the interests of all that it be free and kept in good order. The water was given by life, percolating through the earth and no one man could claim to own it. So it is with us. Edward Bach spoke of the flower remedies as “this God-sent Gift” and which of us would disagree? The nature of the gift is still becoming apparent as fifty years on we continue to draw benefit from his life work. The discoveries that Edward Bach made, however, are not, of themselves, the well. More of an apparatus, perhaps, a way of getting to the water. 

It is my belief that we have only just begun to see the implications of Bach’s work. The prospect is for a far greater development of human sensitivity and consciousness, a realisation of deeper potential in humanity. By this I do not mean that the clarity and simplicity of its use should be confused and muddled by extensions, rebuilding or redesigning the well - that would only muddy the water. Rather that we have the opportunity for a more profound understanding of what life is, by sharing the water. 

The Bach Flower Remedies are used by many people in many different ways. They are taken as a simple healing medicine, used in conjunction with many different forms of treatment and different kinds of therapy. They have a following among many different people. But the flower remedies themselves are a way, stepping stones to understanding life. The more we understand Bach’s ideas and come to terms with their implications the more we will see the true vision of what life might be when we can let go of our limitations. The glory of life is ever present but we may fail to perceive it. 

So it can be said and recognised that whatever is true and resounding in this is not mine but drawn from life and whatever is limited and unfounded is only the result of my limitation. 

Julian Barnard 

October 1986
Herefordshire