Courtesy of the Bach Centre

“For those who feel the need to see more good and beauty in all that surrounds them. And, although much appears to be wrong, to have the ability to see the good growing within. So as to be able to be more tolerant, lenient and understanding of the different way each individual and all things are working to their own final perfection.”

Edward Bach – The Twelve Healers and Other Remedies, 1936

Characteristics

People of a Beech nature are those who have determined that their way is the right way. But most of us experience the Beech frame of mind from time to time, whether or not our personality is truly to be a Beech type.

A Beech state is characterised by a feeling of irritation or annoyance at the things people do or the way in which they do them. Behind the wheel of a car is where many Beech traits erupt. We have all heard ourselves become critical, angry, irritable at some other driver’s foolish (in our eyes) behaviour – and it is often quite out of character with the calm, quiet person we were when we got in the driver’s seat ten minutes earlier. That annoyance and intolerance, which overrides any consideration and sympathy for what might be the just cause of other people’s decisions, is the negative Beech frame of mind.

Those of us who might be described as Beech types have a general tendency towards this way of thinking. Once our equilibrium is disrupted, we become irritated and can only see faults in others, may even come to regard the public at large as obtuse and foolish.

The lesson for the Beech, then, is to resist the temptation to criticise others for their failings, imperfections and clumsiness, and instead learn to respect every individual for who and what they are. We take Beech to be more relaxed, to allow us to step into the shoes of other people and appreciate that life presents difficulties for everyone. What might seem trivial or obvious or easy to the Beech’s understanding may not be at all straightforward for someone else. The positive side of a Beech person’s nature is empathetic, patient, humble and willing to accept that even they may sometimes get it wrong…