Pine
Guilt and self-blame, apologizing for things that were never your fault
What it feels like
You apologize a lot. Sorry for asking, sorry for the delay that was not yours, sorry when someone bumps into you. When something goes wrong in a group you go looking for your part in it and you always find one. Even good outcomes come with an asterisk, because you could have done it better, or you do not quite feel you deserved it. Old things stay with you too, a way you spoke to someone years ago that they have long forgotten and you have not. You set a standard for yourself that you would never hold anyone else to, then feel bad for missing it.
Signs you might need it
- You apologize for things that are not your fault
- You look for your share of the blame when anything goes wrong
- You feel you do not really deserve good things when they come
- Old regrets still make you wince years later
- You work harder to make up for a failing nobody else noticed
- You feel guilty even when someone tells you it was fine
What it helps with
The self-blame loosens. Responsibility becomes something you take where it belongs rather than everywhere, and you get to enjoy things you have done well without an apology attached.
Not to be confused with
Larch, which doubts its ability rather than blaming itself. Crab Apple carries a sense of being unclean rather than at fault, and Rock Water is strictness about standards rather than guilt about failings.
For those who blame themselves. Even when successful they think that they could have done better, and are never content with their efforts or the results. They are hard-working and suffer much from the faults they attach to themselves.
The plant
Scots pine, the native pine of Britain, growing straight on thin sandy soil where little else will. Its small red female flowers sit at the tips of new growth, high up and rarely noticed from the ground.
How to take it
The usual way is two drops from the stock bottle into a small glass of water, sipped through the day. If you are mixing several remedies, put two drops of each into a 30ml bottle of spring water and take four drops from that, four times a day.
There is no need to time it around meals, and you can take it as often as you like. Most people give it two weeks before deciding whether it is doing anything. The full guide to taking them covers mixing bottles, timing and the alcohol question.
Often mixed up with Pine
Often taken alongside
Common questions
These are about Pine. The questions about the remedies in general, alcohol, children, timing, live in the FAQ.
Is Pine the remedy for guilt?
Yes, it is the main one. It covers both guilt about something specific and the more general habit of assuming you are at fault, including apologizing when you have done nothing wrong.
What is the difference between Pine and Larch?
Pine blames itself for what happened. Larch doubts it can do the thing in the first place. Guilt versus confidence, and many people carry a bit of each.
Is Pine useful for parents?
It comes up a great deal for parents, who tend to run a constant background audit of everything they might be getting wrong. It is a gentle thing to try, and talking to other parents usually helps just as much.
Not sure Pine is the one?
Choosing works by recognizing yourself in a description, so if this one only half fits, it is worth seeing what else comes up. The quiz narrows all 38 in about a minute, and the despondency and despair group holds the nearest neighbors.
Where to buy Pine
Bach remedies are widely stocked. If you are buying online, check the bottle says Pine and comes in the standard 20ml stock size.
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