Wild Oat
Capable and ambitious, but with no idea which direction to take
What it feels like
You are good at plenty of things, which is precisely the problem. You have changed course three times, each move sensible on paper, and none of them has felt like the thing. Friends who knew exactly what they wanted at nineteen are ten years into a career while you are still waiting for something to click. It is not laziness. There is real ambition here, and a genuine wish to do something worthwhile, which is what makes the drifting so frustrating. There is often a restlessness, a habit of starting courses, and a slight envy of people with an obvious calling.
Signs you might need it
- You are capable but unsure what you actually want to do
- You have changed direction more than once without finding the right one
- You feel dissatisfied without being able to say what is missing
- You envy people who have always known their calling
- You start things enthusiastically and lose interest
- You worry that time is going by while you decide
What it helps with
The picture clarifies. Rather than handing you an answer, it is traditionally associated with recognizing the answer you were already circling, so a direction finally feels like yours rather than a reasonable option.
Not to be confused with
Scleranthus, which is choosing between two specific options. Wild Oat has no options in front of it, only a vague sense that none of this is it. Cerato is different again, that is having an answer and not trusting it.
Those who have ambitions to do something of prominence in life, who wish to have much experience, and to enjoy all that which is possible for them. Their difficulty is to determine what occupation to follow.
The plant
A tall woodland grass with drooping heads that hang along shady lane edges and wood borders. It is easily overlooked, and its seed heads nod in whichever direction the air moves, which is a neat picture for a remedy about drift.
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 Wild Oat
Often taken alongside
Common questions
These are about Wild Oat. The questions about the remedies in general, alcohol, children, timing, live in the FAQ.
Is Wild Oat the remedy for a career change?
It is the usual choice when you know you want to change but have no idea to what. Once you have picked a direction and are simply nervous about the move, Walnut and Mimulus tend to be more useful.
What is the difference between Wild Oat and Scleranthus?
How many options are on the table. Scleranthus is stuck between exactly two. Wild Oat cannot see any that feel right.
Why is Wild Oat sometimes called a starter remedy?
Practitioners often suggest it when someone cannot work out which remedies they need at all. The idea is that it helps the picture come into focus so a clearer choice can be made. Holly is sometimes used the same way.
Not sure Wild Oat 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 uncertainty group holds the nearest neighbors.
Where to buy Wild Oat
Bach remedies are widely stocked. If you are buying online, check the bottle says Wild Oat and comes in the standard 20ml stock size.
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