Exploring your Issue
and Choosing your Bach Remedy Blend

Which area describes your current state?

• Find the areas below which you feel most resonate for you now. When you've chosen 8 Bach Remedies for your personal blend, click the 'buy now' button below or, if you prefer to pay by cheque or bank transfer, please email your order. Cost: A 25ml bottle is just £9.99+p&p.
• If you'd like guidance, Nikki will happily spend 10 minutes clarifying your remedy choice with you in confidence, just email or call to arrange a time between 9.30-6 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays. Email: info@spiritoftransformation.com Tel: 01273 77 33 24.

Choose an Effective Brand

Please be aware that not all Bach Flower Remedy brands are of equal quality or potency. I recommend Crystal Herbs and Healing Herbs as retaining the original strength of the Bach Flowers. As a rule of thumb, steer clear of any mass-produced brands you find in chemists and health food chains; they are likely to be ineffective.

How do you feel? Areas to consider

'Bach Flower Essences have been making such a difference to my life. Since the first day of taking them I've felt so much more clarity'. M.F. Bowen Practitioner

Choose up to 8 remedies for an adult. Read the indications for each remedy to see which applies most closely to your current state of mind. The description doesn't have to be a perfect match - one trait's enough to be worth adding to your blend. You can choose more than one from each category. You can't go wrong, if you choose a remedy you don't need, it just passes through. Bach Flowers are safe and don't affect any medication you may be on.

Confusion or Overwhelm

Elm You have a strong sense of responsibilty. It's hard to know your limits. The only way to allow yourself rest is to physically break down with a cold, flu or other illness - though even in your sick bed you feel guilty at letting others down. Situations you normally handle easily feel like the straw that will break the camel's back. You find it hard to delegate and, though normally sure of your vocation, suddenly wonder if you're really cut out for it. You doubt if you have the stamina to get through the day. Taking Elm will restore your confidence, enable you to delegate and accept help.

Oak Life is a series of achievements and 'to do' lists. You're strong and responsible and always follow through. You frequently take the leadership role. You work long hours to fulfil all your responsibilities. You can seem a bit serious or daunting to others. You dislike weakness and can drive yourself to the point of collapse. Oak helps you lighten up, enabling you to deal with tasks creatively. You're able to say 'enough' and take time to relax.

White Chestnut Your mind won't stop. Thoughts go round and round so it's hard to go to sleep and as soon as you wake your mind sets off again. It's hard to prioritise or concentrate on one task - your mind feels like a blizzard of 'post it' notes. White Chestnut helps your mind to quieten so that you can think and express yourself clearly. It helps concentration, meditation and stuttering.

Hornbeam You feel jaded, bored, everything is the same old routine. It's hard to get going in the morning; you need a coffee before you can start your day. You feel you won't have enough energy to get everything done, although by the end of the day you have actually got through it all. Taking Hornbeam refreshes your mind, restoring zest and sparkle. You're able to balance routine and variety and follow impulse rather than duty occasionally.

Wild Rose You feel resigned to your fate. Nothing you do will make any difference so why bother. You have very low energy and are chronically bored. Everything feels a lot of pointless effort. You have no power to change things. Taking Wild Rose will restore initiative and vitality. Enthusiasm will flood back and life will feel exciting and interesting again.

Gorse Despair. You've lost any hope of change. You feel tired inside. You feel you've come to terms with a chronic illness or situation and no longer dare hope for improvement. You may try things to alter the situation but don't really believe it will make any difference. Gorse restores your confidence in a positive outcome. It fills you with hope of a new beginning and helps you see that it's never too late to change.

Olive You're at the end of your strength. Utterly exhausted, you have nothing left to give. Taking Olive renews your energy even when you have to make great demands upon it. It helps you pace yourself and draw on an inner strength.

Sweet Chestnut You've reached the end of the road. You're in a black hole; in the dark night of the soul. Taking Sweet Chestnut allows you to surrender - to 'let go and let God'. It supports deep transformation in moments of tremendous personal crisis.

Clematis You're daydreaming excessively; numbing out pain and reality with romanticised ideas of a happier future or lost in memories. You may knock into things as you're not grounded in your physical body and are indifferent to its fate. You love to retreat into sleep and can faint easily or feel light-headed. Clematis allows you to be fully present and grounded in reality. You're able to put your visions into action and use your creativity to make your dreams happen.

Mustard Sudden gloom descends on you for no apparent reason. One moment you're fine, the next everything looks negative and you can't shift your pessimistic outlook. Taking Mustard brings joy; a feeling of being happily in the flow of life, taking life's ups and downs serenely.

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Holly You're easily triggered to anger. Past hurts have made it too painful to explore your deeper feelings. There's a lot of emotional scar tissue. It's easier to be defensive and combative. You can't bear to be disappointed and hurt again. Taking Holly allows you to open your heart and approach others with goodwill and compassion. You can let go of envy, distrust and suspicion and allow yourself to fully exchange love again.

Willow You feel bitter and resentful. Everyone around you has power except you, so you feel a pawn, exploited by others. You're a victim of your situation and there's nothing you can do about it except hope that those around you will change their behaviour. Willow helps you take responsibility for your life and make constructive decisions. As you change your response to life you create more positive situations.

Impatiens You're easily irritated and don't enjoy working closely with others, as they're too slow, take too long to learn and get stuck in detail. You like the big vision and get a buzz from speed. You're mentally tense. You feel constantly frustrated because there isn't enough time. Taking Impatiens allows you to relax and empathise with temperaments different to your own. You feel less driven and can be patient and gentle with yourself and others.

Beech You judge the actions and feelings of those around you. People's mannerisms annoy you. You set yourself and others high standards and have a strong internal critic for whom nothing you do or say is ever good enough. You feel isolated from others. Taking Beech allows you to see the gift of learning in any less-than-perfect situation. It allows you to respect the strengths and weaknesses of personalities different to your own. You're able to accept and give constructive criticism. You're more accepting of yourself, just as you are.

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Obsession or Addiction

Crab Apple You feel details are important and can lose the bigger picture. You particularly dislike mess and dirt. You have very high standards of cleanliness and flaws in your behaviour, body or environment can become the focus of your thoughts until resolved. You're very sensitive. Taking Crab Apple helps you accept yourself 'warts and all' as a physical being. You gain a healthier perspective and can see the learnings and growth in situations rather than the imperfections.

Agrimony You need harmony and will not speak up as it might rock the boat. You avoid your real needs by watching TV, drinking, smoking or anything that distracts you. You have a strong need to present a cheerful front to others. You frequently feel restless and need distraction from your internal worry. Everything is always 'fine' no matter how concerned you really feel inside. Your feelings are often expressed as physical complaints, since this is frequently their only outlet. Taking Agrimony allows you to confront situations honestly and openly so that you can grow and mature. You're able to feel genuine optimism and inner peace. You can acknowledge and express your feelings with ease.

Vervain You strive constantly, yet the results often don't reflect the effort you put in. You amaze people with your energy and enthusiasm but you can't pace yourself and eventually you burn out and crash onto the sofa or into bed, feeling you can't do another thing. You need to convince others of the right way to live and when you find a new passion you share it enthusiastically. You hate injustice and are inclined to risk and sacrifice too much to reach your goals. Taking Vervain allows you to use an appropriate amount of energy for each task. You can allow others their own point of view and respect their own path in life. You can inspire and motivate others effortlessly.

Rock Water You are determined to be a good role model to others in the hope they will follow your example. You rarely relax or take holidays and will tend to sacrifice your time and effort to a higher ideal of how to live. You're very hard on yourself and follow the rules you set yourself with great discipline. Taking Rock Water allows you to open your mind to new truths and ideas. You're able to allow your inner child to have some fun. You can balance your physical and spiritual needs appropriately.

Possessive or Needy

Chicory You love to be surrounded by those you care for and may tend to fuss over them. You make yourself indispensable, always ready to give advice and help. You build intense relationships and can feel unappreciated when you've given unsolicited help. It's only when you don't get the response or appreciation you'd hoped for that you may see your efforts spring from a need to be loved or appreciated. This kind of giving can create relationships driven by guilt and resentment because real needs are not being clearly identified. Taking Chicory allows you deal with your own emotional needs honestly and directly. You're able to give generously to others whilst genuinely expecting nothing back. You keep healthy boundaries with others, allowing them to walk their own path. You fulfil your own needs and give from a sense of abundance.

Heather You have little sense of your own identity and need to be with others. Being alone is frightening and being abandoned is your greatest fear. You need reassurance and can talk quite a lot about your problems to the point where it's hard for you to hear others' concerns. You can be rather dramatic about your emotional problems. You may try and appear stronger and more competent than you really are. Taking Heather allows you to feel safe, cared for by your Inner Guidance. You're filled with trust that you'll be given everything you need for your development. You can offer empathy and comfort to others.

Holly It's hard to trust that there's enough love to go round. You feel possessive of those you love. Taking Holly allows you to open your heart and approach others with goodwill and compassion. You can feel the limitlessness of love and know there's enough for us all.

Vine You know what's right for others and give much well-intentioned direction. It's hard to hear other people's point of view. You like to have the last word and dislike having to bow to authority. You like to be the 'saviour' of a situation and can be relied on to keep your head in emergencies, when your gift for leadership is most apparent. Taking Vine enables you to value and respect the rights of others and pay attention to their needs. You'll understand how to empower others to help themselves. Your natural authority and ambition is used with wisdom for the good of all.

Vervain You need your world to be perfect and will exhaust yourself in heroic efforts to throw the perfect dinner party or hand in the most widely-researched report. If others don't respond to your attempts to convince them of the right food to eat or the most useful new self-development book to buy you feel frustrated. Taking Vervain allows you feel when enough is enough. You can allow others their own point of view and respect their path in life. You easily inspire and motivate others.

Rock Water You have strict rules you have to live by. When your behaviour goes outside your own moral code you punish yourself. You have a strong sense of right and wrong. Taking Rock Water allows you to open your mind to new truths and ideas. You can have some fun and relax. You can be spontaneous and open.

Sweet Chestnut You need to surrender. You need to let go of a relationship or work that is no longer right for you and take a leap into the unknown. You'd like to give up control and have faith but you feel desperately alone and frightened. Taking Sweet Chestnut will allow you to surrender - to 'let go and let God'

Cherry Plum You feel at breaking point and have a great fear of losing control. You often clench your teeth or grind them at night. You feel on edge all the time, about to snap. You suppress your feelings because you're afraid of them. You may have symptoms of congestion such as a runny nose or constipation. This is a great remedy for PMT and is helpful just before making important life decisions, as many strong and conflicting emotions try to surface. Taking Cherry Plum allows you to deal with your feelings and express them in a calm and appropriate way. It lends you courage and deep spiritual strength in difficult situations. You're able to investigate your feelings and integrate the insights you find to help you move forward.

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Chestnut Bud For when we keep repeating the same patterns. We feel we've been here before. The characters may have different names but the scenario and the dynamics are the same. We're often not present, always two steps ahead in our mind and not interested in the current situation. We're keen to move to the next thing rather than take time to digest and evaluate our experiences. We can seem careless or naive to others. We tend to 'push buttons' rather than stop and consult the manual. Taking Chestnut Bud allows us to give ourselves the time and peace to learn. We're able to observe our behaviour patterns and reactions in daily life and learn from them. We can comprehend complex situations more quickly and spot possible flaws at an early stage. Migraine and acne can indicate a need for this remedy.

Gorse Despair. We've lost hope when we need this. Our situation feels beyond help. We may try things to alter the situation but don't really think it will make any difference. Gorse restores our confidence and optimism. It fills us with hope of a new beginning and helps us see that it's never too late to change.

Walnut We have a purpose but we're frequently distracted from it by other people's agendas. We're trying to integrate a change into our life - divorce, menopause, redundancy, a new relationship. We feel over-sensitive to outside influences. We need to break the spell of an old relationship or release the influence of someone over us. Taking Walnut helps us make the last step to change. It allows us to be true to ourself and move forward with confidence. It opens us to our inner inspiration, releasing from outer influences.

Sweet Chestnut You're clinging on for dear life to what you know. You need to make a big shift but feel completely unsupported with it. Taking Sweet Chestnut will allow you to surrender - to 'let go and let God'. It allows for deep transformation in moments of tremendous personal crisis.

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Scleranthus You feel inner conflict. You feel pulled this way then that. Your mind is made up - then it changes again. You keep this inner state to yourself so that on the outside you can appear to have mood swings. You can jump from topic to topic in conversation because you lack focus and can respond to nervously to outside impulses. Physical symptoms are also erratic with pain moving from place to place in the body, extremes of appetite, energy levels and temperature and problems with balance and motion sickness. Taking Scleranthus helps you focus and concentrate. You're able to make decisions easily and quickly. You become more flexible and are able to integrate many different interests into your life.

Wild Oat You're good at many things but find it hard to settle and commit to any one course of action. You have no real sense of purpose so feel blown by the wind from one job to another and one relationship to another, unable to put down roots. You frequently feel bored, frustrated and dissatisfied. You tend to get involved in too many things and spread yourself too thin. When you take Wild Oat you feel your calling and can commit to a vision for your life which you can follow.

Cerato You don't have much faith in your own judgement. You seek external advice rather than trusting your own intuition. You ask lots of questions and obtain as much information as you can but are unable to act on it. You can be easily swayed by those who seem certain of themselves. You tend to cover all bases to avoid mistakes. When you take Cerato you are able to quickly form your own opinion and to trust you inner guidance on any matter. You can stand by your decisions and you're keen to learn.

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Emergency Essence Also called Rescue Remedy or Five Flower Remedy in other ranges. This is a combination of Clematis, Impatiens, Star of Bethlehem, Rock Rose and Cherry Plum. If you choose Emergency Essence as one of the eight remedies for your blend, it counts as one remedy, so you don't need any of the five remedies it contains added separately. i.e. if you choose Emergency Essence, you don't also need Impatiens. You need Emergency Essence if you feel shocked emotionally or physically. You're anticipating a stressful event such as an exam, surgery or public speaking. You may have panic attacks. You may work in a high stress environment. Taking Emergency Essence reactivates the body's rebalancing mechanism, helping you release shock and relax. It works within minutes. It's good to take if you feel you're in the run up to a migraine, menstrual cramps, boils or indigestion. You can apply it externally on bandages and compresses. Useful also to apply to the lips or pulse points of someone who has fainted. It's also available as a cream with the addition of Crab Apple. The cream is wonderful for bruises, sprains, scars, bedsores or any skin complaint.

Rock Rose You feel paralysed by fear. You feel like a rabbit in headlights and you may wake up sweating in panic. Contemplating a course of action makes your heart beat fast and your stomach churn. Your solar plexus is tense and you sometimes feel like you've been punched in the stomach. Your mind races and you can't think clearly; you have a sensitive nervous system. You may not show it on the outside but inside you're often in a state of inner alarm. Taking Rock Rose enables you regain your presence of mind. You feel calm and can connect to your inner guidance. You will feel full of courage and are able to perform heroic feats for the good of all.

Aspen You feel a nameless dread and sensitivity, particularly to atmospheres. When people talk of psychic matters you get goosebumps. You have nightmares and occasional premonitions. You feel anxious and may have anxiety attacks. Taking Aspen allows you to move forward with confidence and without fear. You're able to use your sensitivity to gain deeper understanding of the metaphysical world.

Mimulus You feel nervous and timid in certain situations. You may put up a good front or you may be obviously shy. Inside you feel frightened of some specific situation or person but you don't talk about it. You feel anxious about carrying out quite mundane daily activities and may have phobias such as fear of the dark or spiders. The world seems a difficult and dangerous place so you proceed over-cautiously, sometimes procrastinating over decisions because of your anxiety. You like to be left in peace, though it can be frightening to be alone. When you face your fears you can easily fall ill. Taking Mimulus allows you to face the world with courage and composure. You feel equal to the challenges of life and have compassion for others' fears and sensitivities.

Red Chestnut You worry a great deal about others. Your family, your clients, colleagues or disaster victims. You're easily made anxious by a missed call or signs of a potential problem. You don't worry about yourself, your attention is directed to others. You can be too emotionally attached and project your worries and fears onto others. Red Chestnut also helps if you're attached to a substance in an addictive way. Red Chestnut allows you to empathise with others without taking on their concerns. You're able to throw them a rope rather than climb down into the pit with them. You can respect that others must find their own way to resolve their problems and trust that the outcome will be for their personal growth. You can demonstrate your faith in others' ability to grow and learn from difficult situations.

Cherry Plum You feel at breaking point and have a great fear of losing control. You often clench your teeth or grind them at night. You feel on edge all the time, about to snap. You suppress your feelings because you're afraid of them. You may have symptoms of congestion such as a runny nose or constipation. This is a great remedy for PMT and can often be helpful just before making important life decisions, as many strong and conflicting emotions surface. Taking Cherry Plum allows you to deal with your feelings and express them in a calm and appropriate way. It lends you courage and deep spiritual strength in difficult situations. You are able to investigate your feelings and integrate the insights you find to help you move forward.

Star of Bethlehem You've suffered a shock, whether physical or emotional. You've had an argument with someone or hurt yourself physically or emotionally. You find strong or intense emotional states very hard to process. People's rudeness leaves you outraged. Your reactions are slow, as though you're sedated and you may suffer from water retention and bruise easily. You have a recurring nightmares. This is an excellent remedy for psychosomatic symptoms related to shock. Taking Star of Bethlehem allows you to relate to people's feelings with great sensitivity. It helps you deal appropriately with your own feelings so that you can grow from them. You can extend great comfort to others and feel comforted yourself.

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Water Violet You need privacy and lots of personal space. You value your independence very highly. You enjoy time alone to reflect and contemplate and can appear rather aloof and unapproachable to others. You often want to withdraw from relationships or situations and don't like other people becoming involved in your personal affairs. You find emotional conflict exhausting and find it hard to approach others, particularly in group situations. You can feel tense and isolated. Taking Water Violet allows you feel connected to others, whilst still maintaining a comfortable distance. You're able to reach out to others when necessary whilst maintaining your independence.

Honeysuckle You dwell on the 'good old days', thinking of happier times with rose-tinted glasses. You feel your happiest moments have passed and the future is unlikely to be that good again. It's hard for you to adapt to changing circumstances and new developments. You want to determine your own destiny, rather than to relax into life's flow. You have little interest in current affairs and no expectations for the future. You still regret lost opportunities or old relationships. You tend to hoard objects of sentimental value and have a poor memory of your early childhood. Taking Honeysuckle brings you present to now. You can see how the past has a bearing on the present. You're able to bring what's of real value from the past and create it anew in your current life.

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Low Self-Esteem or Lack of Confidence

Larch You feel others can do things better than you can, so you don't try. You compare yourself with those who shine and feel you couldn't match up. You assume there are limitations to anything you want to do and can always justify not starting something. You're actually very capable but have conditioned yourself to avoid failure. Illness can be a way of avoiding attempting something. Your position at work doesn't match your abilities. Taking Larch allows you to assess your personal strengths and weaknesses objectively. It strengthens your self-belief so that you can use your talents to the full. You're able to take opportunities with reasonable expectations and contribute your real worth to society.

Pine You have low self worth and are easily guilt-tripped. You accept the blame even when it isn't your fault and apologise profusely even for being ill or overworked. You have a strong sense of right and wrong and expect to be punished, often taking on burdens and sacrificing yourself. You don't feel you really deserve to be here. You judge yourself harshly and cut yourself off from love. Taking Pine gives you one of the greatest gifts we can have - self-acceptance. You accept everyone deserves to be here, including you. You accept yourself as worthy of love and are able to receve praise and appreciation. You understand the limits of responsibility and become clear where appropriate boundaries lie.

Centaury You find it hard to say no to others' requests. You find it challenging to put down boundaries and maintain them without feeling guilty. You give to the point of exhaustion and can be unrealistic about your time and resources so you often have no time left to look after yourself. You anticipate others' needs and leap to meet them, even to the point of denying your own. Taking Centaury makes you aware of your own needs and helps you to say 'no' when you need to. You're able to be in groups whilst staying true to your own goals and values.

Cerato You have little confidence in your inner wisdom and your ability to make decisions. You don't have much faith in your own judgement. You seek external advice rather than trusting your intuition. You ask lots of questions and obtain as much information as you can but are unable to act on it. You can be easily swayed by those who seem certain of themselves. You tend to cover all bases to avoid mistakes. When you take Cerato you're able to quickly form your own opinion and trust your inner guidance on any matter. You can stand by your decisions and you're keen to learn.

Gentian You can't trust the unfolding of events. You feel every delay or setback is a reason to give up or a sign not to continue.

Holly You feel guarded and suspicious when new people come into your sphere. It's hard to trust that there's enough love to go around. You question people's motives. Taking Holly allows you to open your heart and approach others with goodwill and compassion. You can let go of envy, distrust and suspicion and allow yourself to fully exchange love again.

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Wild Oat You feel disconnected from any drive or purpose, drifting without direction. You frequently feel bored, frustrated and dissatisfied. You tend to get involved in too many things and spread yourself too thin. When you take Wild Oat you feel your calling and are able to commit to a vision for your life which you can follow.

Gentian You feel disappointed at any setback to your plans. When you don't get the outcome you want, you assume this is a sign that the Universe isn't supporting you and you won't succeed. You're filled with doubt and need reassurance. Taking Gentian allows you to see setbacks and delays as learning steps and opportunities for review. You're able to maintain a positive outlook and feel certain of finding solutions. You're able to encourage others.

Mustard You feel totally negative. Nothing can lift your spirits and it's difficult to feel any loving connection. Taking Mustard brings joy; a feeling of being happily in the flow of life, taking life's ups and downs serenely.

White Chestnut Your mind won't stop. Your thoughts go round and round. It's hard to sleep and as soon as you wake your mind sets off again. It's difficult to prioritise or concentrate on one task. White Chestnut helps your mind to quieten so you can think and express yourself clearly. It helps concentration, meditation and stuttering. You can more easily get in touch with your inner wisdom.

Gorse You feel despairing. All hope is gone. Gorse restores your confidence in a positive outcome. It fills you with hope of a new beginning and helps you see that it's never too late to change.

Sweet Chestnut You feel abandoned by God. You can't bear your situation any longer and feel totally alone. You need to surrender but you fear this means the end of the road and disaster awaits. Taking Sweet Chestnut allows you to surrender - to 'let go and let God'. It facilitates deep transformation in moments of tremendous personal crisis.

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Confused - Need Advice?

If you'd like advice, Nikki will happily spend up to ten minutes clarifying your choice with you in confidence, just email or call to arrange a time between 9.30-6 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays. Email: info@spiritoftranformation.com Tel: 01273 773324.

Ready to Order?

By cheque or bank transfer - email Nikki with your choice of blend and you'll be emailed an invoice payable by cheque or bank transfer. Please include a delivery address. Email: info@spiritoftransformation.com

By credit or debit card or Paypal using the button below. You don't need a Paypal account to use this option. Postage calculates automatically when you click the 'Buy Now' button and you'll be asked for your postal address for delivery of the essences. N.B. Postage is calculated for the UK. If ordering from outside the UK please email and you'll be emailed an invoice with the appropriate postage.

Cost: A 25ml bottle is just £9.99 + p&p.

N.B. Essences are preserved in a very small amount of brandy or vodka and can be taken in water or under the tongue. Please mention if you have an allergy to alcohol when ordering, so that an alternative can be used.

After sending payment, please email your remedy choices to Nikki separately

For Faster, Deeper Shifts

If you'd like a Deep Acting Remedy blend to complement your Bach Flower Remedies, which can be taken simultaneously for very fast-acting change at a deep karmic level, then click here for more on deep acting remedy attunements.

Bach Flowers: Frequently Asked Questions, Dosages, Children and Further Reading

Bach Flowers Listed A-Z

Order Individual Bach Flowers and Emergency Essence Cream

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'Illness is the doctor to whom we pay most heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we make promise only; pain we obey.' Marcel Proust