Pine

Pinus sylvestris

"For those who blame themselves. Even when successful they think they could have done better, and are never content with their efforts of the results. They are hard-working and suffer much from the faults they attach to themselves. Sometimes if there is any mistake it is due to another, but they will claim responsibility even for that."

—Edward Bach, The Twelve Healers

The Pine state is one of guilt, self-blame and self-reproach. The person may be focused on something—even a small thing— that they did in the recent or distant past for which they cannot forgive themselves. The person may even experience guilt over things that others have done, which they take on as their own fault. They may apologize frequently in situations that do not require an apology.

Keywords: Guilt, self-blame, self-reproach, takes on blame for things one hasn't done, excessive or inappropriate apologizing

Positive state: Self-forgiveness, ability to transform regret into self-acceptance and move on