Answers always come after we stop asking questions.
Amor,
You, Sir, are a tough nut to crack! Can’t help but razz you a bit elsewhere. 
What is supposedly ‘essence’ is ‘form’ to another essence at a different level which in turn is ‘form’ to another essence and all the way down to some turtle back and infinite regression.
For example the external human body organs are the forms while its essence are the cells.
Whilst cells are essence to organs as forms, cells are forms of the essence of the individual human DNA.
The individual DNA is form to the essence of human species.
The human species is merely a universal that do not exists in reality.
Here we end up with the till the cows come home ‘Problem of Universal,’
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_(metaphysics#Problem_of_universals
On the mental side the human essence is drilled down to human consciousness which is another till the cows come home issue.
So what we have is, what is the human’s essence, is always relative and conditional to a perspective, e.g. human_ness in terms of DNA or thoughts in terms of consciousness.
Thus as long as the human essence is qualified to some condition or perspective, there are no issues. This is the empirical self, the “I think” that is conditioned up living humans and terminate upon mortality.
Often the main contention is the claim of an absolute human essence [the constant permanent soul] that do not die after physical death but continue to live eternally in some heaven or location.
It is impossible for a permanent essence or soul [the “I AM”] that survives after physical death.
Prism,
I disagree. Soul’s exist and are eternal, hence my reason for the question of essence. But out of desperation, I was willing to settle for any unchanging id of an individual, however presented.
As a positive claimant, you’ll have to prove there is a permanent soul that can exists after physical death.
I’m no scientist, just blessed with such knowledge through experiences. I can share my knowledge but not the actual experiences wherein the evidence lies. You would have to embark on an astral journey yourself to gather your proof. I can offer suggestions in the astral dept. for effective travel but the onus lies on you if it compels you to knowing.
Uh hum, Mongoose you owe me an apology for accusing me of derailing your thread as this was your hidden agenda that I was suggesting (which you now fully admit).
Everyone here, well most everyone, knows that I believe in an eternal soul which in this thread I equate with my unchanging essence, however it is up to you to recognize what remains constantly you. I’m not asking you to acknowledge your soul, just yourself. And damn, you’ve fought me tooth and nail with your paranoia so no apology for you, better luck next time. 
Mongoose, thank you, I will take this as an apology as a don’t expect a proud person to be any more generous in spirit than this.
Hey, stop adoring me right now! 
Believe it or not, I actually do.
:-"
Fortunately, I don’t have emojis enabled but if I did I would have one of two people hugging.
it’s where your breathe derived from
Well, my essence is unknown to me.
Krisswest, it really should be known by you at this stage. We make it harder than it should be.
Essence is the essential qualities that make one wish that is a permanent feature of what makes them who they are, and without which, one wouldn’t be what one thinks they are, or that feature that one thinks others think they are.
Either way, the core of you is essential to you. Some people don’t believe in that core, some do Depends on where they are coming from.
I really believe that the core survives, if it is strongly, very strongly and unrevokably attached to who they think they are, and they cannot let it go.
The question still remains, as to what happens to a dis attached core? Does it float away into the great blue yonder, and end up as ghostly apparitions, disembodied energy packs, hopelessly floating around, hoping against hope to find another body, or they disintegrate as do particles os sand caught in a severe desert storm?
Or, if not let go, part and parcel, do they immediately reincarnate by the strong binding force of their personality, joining forces with some satanic cult to steal souls, so the can have their bodies?
And what of the stolen bodies of some worthy soul, who was too naive to feel an evil presence?
Are they in better shape as far as that goes? They certainly can not play a Faustian trick and reclaim their bodies, since they are simply too ‘good’ for that.
Most people seers included would opt in that case for the special case, that the kind of naive goodness required to be able to disbelieve in any kind of evil presence, must have reached the realms of satori, of immediate and intentatinous enlightenment, where time and space cannot constitute a restraint, and there is nowhere no time to go, because they are everywhere at all times, or nowhere at any time.
Such essences are never noticed, because they adapt to variable levels of size and shape, becoming unnoticeable at times, at others, stand out as Giants and gods.
Depends on Their mood and disposition.
At my core I liveto learn, desire a body that is not filled with pain for as long as I can remember, and the continued obstinacy that ignores the pain and finds love, laughter and really damn cool things in this life. My essence then would be fighting and never quitting.
My essence here on earth is everything that I am in the body and everything I am in the mind, and it would be on course towards change too.
Your bare essence is comprised of consciousness and your mere mortality … Postulated therefore by my suggestive theorem.
Pneumatic,
Your claimed essence, not the overall essence of humanity. Who are you?