About Star Essence

Star Essence is a company dedicated to creating impeccable vibrational essences. This includes using sacred activated water, exquisite quality flowers and gemstones, intention and attention. Star Essences are made during powerful planetary activations and alignments in energetically powerful places. They address healing as well as evolution, with an ultimate goal of PEACE, within ourselves and on our planet. They are made with love! www.staressence.com

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Making the Santa Barbara Stream Orchid Essence: The Story of Pituitary Master

by Star Riparetti

Stream Orchid Epipactis gigantea
"Pituitary Master"
After returning from Peru in April, I began to get information about the one wild orchid that grows here on the central coast of California: Epipactis gigantea (which is funny because it is certainly not gigantic- the blooms are quite small, between the size of a nickel and a quarter). This stream orchid, which grows in boggy areas, is quite rare and had been elusive to me for years. I had seen the plant, and never seen it in bloom. I mentioned it to a couple of friends, and- it was another one of those "everything that could go right, went right" sort of events. First it seemed as though its blooming time was over... Then my dear friend Katherine Grace located it- in bloom.

There is a place here in Santa Barbara county called Arroyo Hondo (which, interestingly, means "Deep Stream")- it is a land preserve and it is usually open to the public two days a month, and you have to have a reservation, and it is often booked several months in advance. Katherine Grace knows the caretaker of the land and was able to get us permission to go in and to make the essence. In fact, the caretaker was excited for us to come, which made it even better. Everything fell into place beautifully and we had an exquisite journey to the land to make the powerful essence of the Santa Barbara Stream Orchid.

The Epipactis gigantea stream orchid essence is called "Pituitary Master." The Pituitary is our main control center. It secretes oxytocin- the hormone of love. This essence awakens and strengthens this gland, which can accelerate our connection to the divine source, and connect this energy to the physical. Using this essence can also help us to have a feeling of contentment. It can help to create calmness- especially around a mate. It may even play a roll in autism, as one somehow has more appropriate social behavior.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Making the Flax and Amaranth Peruvian Flower Essences

by Star Riparetti

Continued from Making the Ellianthus Orchid Essence: The Story of Pineal Light Infusion.

Roger had mentioned to me that he had planted a field of Linseed (Flax) at his place in San Salvador, Peru, and he said that when he had been there a couple of weeks before they were all in bloom: the most beautiful color of pale blue/purple.

This magical land in San Salvador, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, is the place that I used to own with Roger. I have enough to do, and I am very happy here in Santa Barbara, so I eventually sold my half to Roger and he still owns it. It is my very favorite place in Peru. When I get to that valley, a remarkable, special peace comes over me- every time! Lights and whistles sounded when Roger mentioned the Linseed and its color. I said, "That sounds like an essence. Do you think they will still be in bloom?" He had a big smile and said probably so (we never really know until the moment- so there is always that suspense), and that he had told Flore, the guardian of the land, that I would probably be making a visit.

Walter with the Linseed/Flax mother essence,
Linum usitatissimum
When I got back to Cusco from Machu Picchu I called sweet Walter, who has a car (taxi) and organized for him to take me to San Salvador.

We had an absolutely exquisite day making the Linseed/Flax essence, with grace at every juncture. In my research I saw that Flax is one of the oldest cultivated plants- perhaps the oldest. Lots of ancient memory there...

The Linseed/Flax essence is called "Recalibrate and Flourish" and addresses fibromyalgia, arthritis, and joints. It helps to bring us Vitality, Resilience and Grace in Our Body, as well as Awaken Ancient and Multi-Dimensional Memory.

While we were in that valley we were noticing the beautiful Amaranth in bloom. The Amaranth began talking to me. The next day we were back in that stunningly gorgeous valley- back at the base of Pachatusan Mountain (which means "Anchor of the World")- making the Amaranth essence.

There were many things that guided me to the Amaranth. For one, the name Amaranth caught my ear this time. The woman who helped to raise me had the birth name of Fairy. True! Fairy Leticia Holland. She belonged to an organization called the Order of the Amaranth (it is a masonic order for women, similar to Eastern Star). I felt like her spirit was guiding me, and while we were making the essence, I could feel the fairies playing in the gorgeous field of deep purple/red Amaranth with its everlasting blooms.

The Amaranth essence is called "Regal Amaranth ~ RA" and assists us with reaching our highest potential. Be Strong, Versatile and Efficient; Recognize and Honor the Presence of Spirit.

Walter, my driver and buddy, totally enjoyed the experience of making these essences. He could feel them, and felt they were very strong. He said these were days he would always remember.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Making the Ellianthus Orchid Essence: The Story of Pineal Light Infusion

by Star Riparetti

The last time I came to Peru was with a group- in Nov. 2009- and even then I was looking for the Ellianthus capitatus Orchid. It wasn't its season. My dear friend Roger Valencia, an Orchid expert, said "Come back in March." The Orchid Flower said the same thing. I got a very strong message at Machu Picchu that Nature could certainly work miracles and make it bloom- and it would be better if I would honor it's cycles and come back at its natural blooming time. (I also received the message that I would be making another very important essence on that 2009 trip, and Brave Heart was born: click here to read the story of Making the Penka Penqa Essence.)

Ellianthus capitatus
"Pineal Light Infusion"

The Ellianthus kept speaking to me. It is a cone shaped flower. The Pineal Gland is cone shaped. Did you know that the biggest statue at the Vatican is a pine cone? And the staff the Pope carries has a pine cone on it? The pine cone is signifying the pineal gland. The flowers on the cone shaped orchid open in a spiral. I didn't want to say too much before I came to Peru this time, since Spirit sometimes has a funny way of directing me. I really did want to find the Orchid (and of course I knew I had to remain unattached haha). I wanted things to be graceful and filled with signs. And that is exactly what happened.

The magic actually began on the flight- the plane had 3 seats in the middle, and I had an aisle, and there was a big guy in shorts from Fiji named William in the middle, and on the other side on the aisle there was another woman, Diane. We noticed we were both wearing purple. She was going to see John of God in Brazil. We both had veggie meals. She is from Ojai. Ahhhhh such a small world. Then we find out that William is a Roman Catholic Priest. I told him about the pope and the pine cone... That guy really got an activation sitting in the middle of the two of us. At the end of the flight Diane mentioned that her guides kept telling her to tell me that one of the gifts of the essence would be that it would cleanse the pineal.

Roger had one available day while I was in Peru and that happened to coincide with exactly the time I felt for the essence. It wanted to be made a little after the exact moment of the equinox so the flower was carrying that equinox energy. When we arrived at Aguas Calientes in the early evening (the town at the base of Machu Picchu), Roger had this feeling not to go inside the site of Machu Picchu, and that we should instead take the train toward the hydro-electric plant and walk back, and look for the Ellianthus Orchid. In the well over 20 times I have been to Peru, Roger has always managed to take me to a place where I have never been, and this time was no exception.

Roger checked on the train schedule and said he would buy tickets at 6am the next morning. We met at 6:15 and he had the tickets and we got on the train. The funny part was that he had a ticket for a local (much cheaper) and I had a tourist ticket. They were for different cars on the train, and even though there was no one else on the train, they made us sit in different cars. We laughed. Roger spoke to the conductor and convinced him to stop at a place that isn't a stop.That short ride gave me an opportunity to get into my trust mode. Roger and I had switched backpacks because mine was really heavy with bowls and bottles and stuff. So I was on this train having no idea where I was going, knowing we were going to walk back, and it really started feeling like a long long ways (it actually ended up being a perfect hike).

Tea with freshly-picked mint
Roger had 3 people checking to make sure I got off at the right place- thank goodness. We started walking and came to a little sign for a "restaurant," which was actually someone's house, and Roger decided we should check it out. It was really fun to watch and listen to him interact with the folks there. They brought out an orchid book and we saw some beautiful birds (bright orange Cock of the Rock and some cool hummers with really long tails). It was fun to be hanging out with the locals. They brought us some cooked bananas that I decided tasted like that cornmeal stuff that are on the outside of tamales. No resemblance to any banana I've ever eaten. Not a trace of sweetness. They also brought some avocado and I had some fresh mint tea (yes, one of the ladies went and picked it) and Roger had coffee from the beans grown right there.

Roger with the waterfall
We continued our walk and search for the Orchids, not seeing too much in bloom. Then we came to a place where you can pay a few soles and the locals will unlock a gate so you can hike to some waterfalls, which we did (no one else was there except for some workers). Suddenly, Ellianthus was everywhere! Really! It seemed like it was dancing and singing! It was the most prolific of all the flowers there. I was jumping for JOY! We hiked a ways and then Roger noticed a little path that had just been cleared and it went... well, basically straight up. I was glad I had decided to bring my best hiking boots, even though they are the heaviest. Roger had the feeling we should go up up up. We climbed to the top and what was there to greet us? Yes- Ellianthus!!! So pristine, and saying, "Choose me!" Which we did.

I'm sure no one else had been up there. It was brand new and really not a path at all. They had just cleared some space with a machete (undoubtedly "just for us"). We went back down and got water from the fast flowing water beneath the waterfall and put the bowl in the water with the flowers to absorb that amazing pulsating water energy. We watched the flowers dance and become purified by the water that would splash into the bowl. We did a meditation and felt super happy that everything had happened so gracefully. I know that many of you were tuning in to us during that time- which also added to the powerful energy.

Star with the Ellianthus Orchid
There was a total abundance of the Ellianthus Orchid- the one who has been speaking to me for over 2 years! I remember seeing them in the past a few times, and there were never very many. This time it was like a parade of Ellianthus. It was such a strong and beautiful confirmation for me.

I am always the most amazed one about all of this. On our walk we did not see even one of the Andean Orchids that we already have essences of. I feel so fortunate to have made each essence when I did, knowing now that that experience can't be duplicated. Making the Ellianthus essence was another of those extraordinary high moments, of feeling and being in another realm.

The Ellianthus essence is called "Pineal Light Infusion" and addresses the pineal gland/third eye, assisting with clearing, reprogramming and expanding this powerful inner vision and brain center. It can also help to balance sleep patterns and like all of the essences, has myriad other gifts.