Lifting the Spirits

I’m in the process or reviewing our main website which is currently proving quite costly to run. Do we move hosts? Or do we look at doing things differently? I favour doing things differently to the way we have had a website for the last 18/19 months. So we are looking at closing the current website, moving products to our Etsy shop and to The Handmade High Street http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.handmadeshopping.co.uk%2F&h=eAQH04emr while continuing to get out and about to meet friends new and old, customers and extend our range of contacts etc at fairs, markets and other events.

While looking through all the work that has gone into the current website I’m pulling my old blog entries into a document on our PC.  This was one such post which I share with you again.  Apologies if you have read it before

“The Free Online Dictionary (http://www.thefreedictionary.com) defines Joy as  (joi)n.

1. a. Intense and especially ecstatic or exultant happiness.b. The expression or manifestation of such feeling.

Why have I put that in. Well this morning I woke with a sense of expectation so I sat for a while to explore this. I noted an undercurrent of joy and peace too so thought I would share this lovely state with you.

Often we expect these things to be triggered by something outside of ourselves, more important and helpful are the times when these feelings/emotions appear to be unrelated and come from a deep well within. They then allow us to maintain a contented state and peace in our hearts and heads of our own accord. This state allows us to manifest more accurately and speedily that which is of benefit to us and positive. It allows us to overcome the small niggles in life and deal more effectively with the bigger issues we may face.

We are more attracted to someone who smiles and appears genuinely happy.

As I was pondering I thought I’d explore some of the tools we can use to help us experience these emotions.

Essential oils  

There are a number of essential oils which can be classed as uplifting and we often each have our particular favourite or sometimes favourites.

As a general guide the citrus oils are considered uplifting. The scent of orange in particular brings a touch of the sun to our lives, something which we often feel in need of at this time of year even though the days are lengthening. Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is one citrus oil which has been used in studies of essential oils and depression with positive results. Grapefruit (Citrus grandis) also scores highly in scientific studies.

Valerie Worwood in her book The Fragrant Mind recommends the following for Joy

Sandalwood, Frankincense, Lemon, Rose Otto, Petitgrain, Orange, Ylang Ylang, Neroli, Chamomile Roman, Bergamot, Linden Blossom, Mimosa.

Many of these are also suggested for Peace with the addition of Juniper, Melissa, Angelica Seed, Spikenard, Yarrow, Jasmine and Carnation.

Again a number of the Joy oils are suggested for Contentment with the addition of Cypress, Lavender, Patchouli and Clove.

A low dilution (2 drops in 10mls) blend of those that attract you most used in a roller ball or small bottle to carry and apply to your pulse points would be highly beneficial on a day to day basis.

Please let me know if you would like more information or a blend prepared for you.

Wishing you all joy, love and light 

Amy xx “

I have found that working with Gratitude helps with maintaining a state of Joy and Peace.  This then allows us to live that experience in the moment. According to Gregg Braden in the 7 Essene Mirrors this is the first mirror reflecting back to us what we experience in the moment. What a wonderful experience to be surrounded by others who reflect our state of Gratitude, Joy and Peace back to us. 

A thought to ponder maybe

All blessings to you

xxxAmyxxx

Choosing rather than giving up

A few time in the last few days I’ve been asked what I’m “giving up” for Lent, as I’m sure have many of you. However I am not a christian so prefer not to follow the christian calendar choosing instead to work with the moon phase if I wish to let go of something that no longer serves me. 

This morning it struck me that focusing on what we are giving up and denying ourselves may not be the best way to look at it. Maybe if the focus is on what you choose to promote in your life may serve us better. 

Rather than say giving up caffeine and struggling to resist because that seems to be all that is around, rather focus on naturally energising my body. 

Rather than giving up negativity focus instead on choosing to be positive. 

Somehow when we make a positive choice things (the Universe) conspire to help us achieve this. As a result the things we are choosing to let go of or know we need to remove from our lives or diet have less of a hold on us. Or this is how it seems to work for me. 

So in this waxing moon phase what am I seeking/choosing to grow?

I choose grounded, balanced, energised and compassionate living and maybe more raw food!

Friday blessings 

Amy

xxx)O(xxx

An Esscentful Year – Day 16/17

Gosh time seems to disappear!  And I struggle with linear time as it is!

My last post reflected briefly on some pertinent issues within the Aromatherapy industry. And I left it wondering where to go next with a view to reflecting more deeply on each item in the article.

Today my attention, once again, was caught by a mixture of safety and quality. Or maybe it is simply one of lack of understanding. A local wholesaler listed information for Cinnamon essential oil. This time of year Cinnamon for me is a boon because it helps me keep feet and hands warm in conjunction with Clove, Ginger, Rose and Sweet Orange. But that was not the issue. Another reader of the post asked about cold sores. My recipe for a suitable balm includes Melissa essential oil. The leaves only contain about 0.4% essential oil and consequently it is very expensive. I know that dilutions of Melissa in a carrier oil are available – not from the wholesaler who had posted I must add – and mentioned this. The wholesaler then mentioned that they carrier Melissa blend.

Yes, I checked their website. The blend they carry is of fractionated essential oils. It may smell like Melissa but it won’t give you the same results from an aromatherapy – or for that matter spiritual or magical – point of view.

I also spotted that the same outlet is selling Fragrance oil as essential oil. Grr!

I resisted the temptation to pick them up on this in a public forum. I have yet to decide what I will do.

Why is this an issue?

Well firstly from my point of view it is potentially unsafe. It shows lack of understanding and knowledge or possibly even a lack of honesty. In view of the nature of the website I suspect the former rather than the latter.

It also means that people purchasing these products in good faith are not getting what they are hoping for. For some of the fragrance oils if unwittingly substituted for an essential oil and applied to the skin this could result in a nasty reaction  and potential damage.

Seeing this on a website always makes me wonder whether we would be better off insisting that only those with an aromatherapy or suitable other qualification should retail essential oils.

While this may seemingly reduce access it could mean that retailers could be trusted and would be knowledgeable and able to suggest alternatives if necessary. Purchasers could be sure that they were buying what they need.

It’s a tricky one I think but underlines the need to do some research and only buy from trusted suppliers with whom you can build a relationship.

Mini rant over!

Until the next time

Amy

xxx

An Esscentful Year – Day 14/15 I think!

Hello again!

Yesterday and today I’ve been pondering an article in the latest issue of International Therapist a magazine I receive from my professional organisation. This article covers a number of “issues” within aromatherapy at least one of which has raised its head recently in this article

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/frankincense-is-doomed.html

Yes – Sustainability

Other issues covered in the article include safety and storage including toxicity and contraindications and quality and integrity which also covers purchasing, identification and trade organisations.

Safety and Toxicity are issues that have raised their head in relation to a number of essential oils in particular and uses such as Raindrop Therapy.

I’m not sure yet where to take my pondering – I can feel a reflective piece coming on but may have to focus on one part of the article at a time. I do believe that all of these issues are intertwined and as an aromatherapist they feed into my day-to-day relationship with my essential oils and the products I make as well as the choices I make for my clients. I work intuitively as well and wonder whether and how much these things affect those choices.

If access to specific oils is restricted by availability and/or cost it is important to know and understand what can be used as a substitute depending on what you are using and why. The impact of the why can be very different in intuitive energetic work because you are not just basing the choice on the aroma and chemical profile but on the energy/colour/complementary colour and the synergy with other oils is even more important.

As an incense maker as well as an aromatherapist there are further issues to be considered and I feel as local a supply as possible is vital for maintaining the energies of the ingredients and products. However I recognise that there are ingredients that have been used for hundreds if not thousands of years that are fast becoming difficult to get hold of and this will have implications for these products too.

I will give this more thought and come back to it.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead

Amy xxx

 

An Esscentful Year

Two long and tiring days at the day job have put a hole in my hopes to make it through Project 365 with only a couple of posts missing. Surely I’m not the only one who struggles with this? The main issue for me here is that I don’t want to just make a random meaningless post. Maybe I’m challenging myself too much? Part of the plan for this year is to realistically find a way to have less hours within our nursing jobs and more income from our products and therapies. This is going to take time and there is a lot to enjoy along the way.

The smell of freshly sawn wood; the smell of mist in the air; of leaf mulch and fresh compost; my daughter’s hair, of herbs, resins, oils, freshly mown grass, rain on hot tarmac, hot chocolate, fresh coffee, baking, hot charcoal discs, watching the cats fuss each other and being asked for a fuss rather than just for food; chill winter days, mild spring days, opening flour buds and the delicate scent of primroses and snowdrops.

All these are things I look forward to, sights, sounds, colours, smells, flavours. All can provoke wonder, emotions, associations, joy at the experience, a sense of awe and compassion for those that lose a sense only to find heightened experience through another.

I wonder what shall come this weekend. Yes there is that which is planned already but I look forward to the unexpected, the synchronous, the inspiring. Do you?

Friday blessings to you

Amy

xxx

An Esscentful Year Day 10

Browsing my Facebook wall this morning I found this link. Apparently scientists have now demonstrated why certain aromas are “psychoactive” and have found what they think is the part of the brain that is triggered by these aromas.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080520110415.htm

” An international team of scientists, including researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, describe how burning frankincense (resin from the Boswellia plant) activates poorly understood ion channels in the brain to alleviate anxiety or depression. This suggests that an entirely new class of depression and anxiety drugs might be right under our noses.”

Aromatherapists have known for a long time and healers and spiritual seekers for even longer that this is the case and not just for frankincense but also other resins and essential oils. We can probably all identify aromas that help lift our spirits. Sweet Orange and Cloves and Cinnamon at Christmas time, freshly brewed coffee, freshly baked bread are quite common ones. Research has been done on the citrus oils in particular and Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) has been recognised as beneficial in some mental health diagnoses. Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) may be helpful in managing Seasonal Affective Disorder along with light boxes and an understanding of how we are programmed living in a seasonal environment which can come from working with the wheel of the year.

Other uplifting aromas can include some of the florals notably Jasmine and Neroli, some of the woods such as Sandalwood, but we all respond differently. This is not just about our memory, personal or communal, but also about the interaction of our energies with the oils we choose to work with.

So while neuroscientists may have isolated a specific compound and demonstrated its effect on a specific brain pathway, the actual process and individual specifics may be even more complex and not something our current level of scientific understanding is able to “prove”

Love, light and blessings

Amy xxx

An Esscentful Year Day 9

Once again I have pondered what to write about. I’m keen to elaborate on some of the ideas presented over the last few days  and will do so.  What stood out today though was a news report on one of the children’s channels about a school which is using smell to help it’s pupils learn, communicate and even make decisions.

Here’s the link

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/16474149

What do you think?

Full moon blessings

Amy

xxx

An Esscentful Year Day 7/8

Oops again! Although I’m still not quite 100% yet and doing more work on my Base Chakra to anchor the new energies and keep myself anchored to Mother Earth.

I mentioned the Base Chakra when looking at Vetiver essential oil. This is part of an energy system based in Ayurveda – the healing system of India. The Chakra system as it is widely understood in the West consists primarily of the seven major energy centres aligned along the midline of the body (roughly down the spine). Increasingly energy workers are referring to an additional five centres including the Earth Star which is about 6-12 inches below our feet and our primary anchor to the Earth and the Soul Star which is similarly placed above our head and our main filter and channel for connection to the Universe (Spirit or the Divine).

In Ayurveda the energy system consists of thousands of energy centres and channels called Nadis from which the Chinese system of Acupuncture points and Meridians is believed to have been derived.

Generally when I start working with someone from an energetic perspective I start with the seven chakra system.  A chakra is a spinning wheel or vortex of energy. The word comes from the Sanskrit word for wheel. Each chakra resonates to a particular frequency and can be strengthened, balanced and optimised with a variety of tools including hand mudras, mantras, crystals, essential oils, asanas and food. Dysfunction in each one may present as physical dis-ease, mental or emotional issues or even relationship issues.

There are a huge number of books on the topic and resources on the internet if you want more general information. A useful video on Hand Mudras is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyz59DO5Nss

The Base Chakra “lies” roughly at the perineum – the area between the vagina and rectum in women and the scrotal sac and rectum in a man.

My understanding of the base chakra is that it is our foundation. While the Earth Star anchors us to the Earth and her energies the Base Chakra is the foundation of our human experience. As such it is linked closely to our first relationship – with our mother, and survival issues. At a physical level this chakra corresponds to our hips, legs, feet and to a degree also our hands and wrists. This is where our life-force and vitality come from. Many whole body dis-eases sit here or may be related to issues of survival or grounding. So you may find here a link to weight issues, Chronic Pain syndromes, Eczema, Lupus, Osteoarthritis. Emotional issues which may relate to dysfunction of this chakra include Anger issues, fear of moving forward, depression, issues relating to motherhood, indecisiveness and wanting to run away, also guilt.  In an optimised state the Base Chakra facilitates stillness, stability, manifestation and security. It enables us to be fully present and supports the work of all the other energy centres.

This Chakra can be stabilised by the colour black and energised by the colour red. In essential oil terms this chakra can be strengthened by grounding oils including Vetiver, Spikenard, Patchouli and energised by Stimulating oils such as Black Pepper, Cinnamon and Clove. Rose, Sandalwood and Benzoin can also be useful here for nurturing depending on the issues encountered. Further grounding can be found in eating meat, walking barefoot and activities such as gardening.

Appropriate crystals include Hematite, Garnet, Ruby, Petrified Wood, Obsidian including Snowflake Obsidian.

If you sense an issue maybe connected to this chakra take some time in stillness to go within and ask the questions you need to ask then step out and take that action. Support yourself with whatever tools resonate with you and nurture yourself.

With all love, light and blessings

Amy xxx

An Esscentful Year – Day 6 – Clary Sage

Yesterday I mentioned extrapolating from the physical to the spiritual/mental/emotional. An example of how this can be “done” is with Clary Sage - Salvia sclarea a herb which is native to southern Europe but grows extensively worldwide in the Mediterranean, Russia, the USA, England, Morocco and central Europe. For perfumery the French, Moroccan and English Clary are deemed of superior quality. In my experience the whole plant is highly aromatic and self seeds very readily. 

In the Middle Ages Clary Sage was used to intensify wine, hence it is also known as muscatel sage. Other synonyms include clear eye, see bright. This species is closely related to common or garden sage and Spanish sage.

A mucilage of the seeds was traditionally used to remove foreign bodies from the eye and for treating tumours. The herb was highly esteemed in the Middle Ages but has now fallen out of use. It was traditionally used for digestive disorders, kidney disease, uterine and menstrual complaints, for cleansing ulcers and as a general nerve tonic.

The herb is also considered cooling for inflammation and can be especially useful for throat and respiratory infections. Interestingly Joseph Miller considered it warming and it is suggested for fridigity or infertility. Among its actions in aromatherapy are listed anti-convulsive, antidepressant, antiphlogistic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, astringent, bactericidal, carminative, cicatrisant, deodorant, digestive, emmenagogue, hypotensive, nervine, regulator (of seborrhoea), sedative, stomachic, tonic and uterine. According to the work of Dr Marie Lis-Balchin antibacterial action was demonstrated against 11-18 of 25 different bacteria and 9-15 of 20 Listeria monocytogenes varieties. 1 in 5 bacteria were affected by the vapour. There was also slight anti fungal effect against 3 of 5 fungi but moderate to good action against 3 of 3. Clary Sage can induce a feeling of euphoria and make concentration difficult.

Its chemical constituents include linalyl acetate, linalol, pinene, myrcene and phellandrene. According to Caddy the main constituents are esters (linalyl acetate, geranyl acetate and neryl acetate) and alcohols (linalool, sclareol, alpha-terpineol and alpha-bisabolol) and the oil contains small quantities of ketones and up to 4% sesquiterpenes (caryophyllene, germacrene, bourbonene). The essential oil also contains up to 1.8% oxides (1,8 cineole).

Clary Sage essential oil is generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating, non-sensitizing and non-phototoxic. Avoid during pregnancy or if you have or are likely to drink alcohol. Clary Sage has GRAS status (Generally Regarded as Safe) from the FDA. LD50 toxicity for oral and dermal administration demonstrates safety, Irritation was found to be Nil in humans at a level of 8% (16 drops of essential oil in 10mls of carrier).

Oil usage:

In traditional aromatherapy the oil has a number of uses including skin care where it is useful for inflamed conditions, acne, boils and balancing oily skin and hair. It is possibly also useful for more mature skin. It can be helpful for high blood pressure, muscular aches and pains, asthma and throat infections, colic, cramp, dyspepsia and flatulence. Within the genito-urinary system it may be helpful for amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, leucorrhoea and labour pain. It is also useful for helping with depression, frigidity, impotence, migraine, nervous tension and stress-related disorders. Robert Tisserand also lists the oil as Yang, rules by Mercury with an odour intensity of 5 (reasonably low) and an evaporation rate of 82 (moderately low)

Energetic uses:

I was reminded of this oil while reading a book by Sri Ram Kaa and Kira Raa. Talking with Archangel Zadkiel about conscious creation, the Archangel says

“The purpose of receiving Angelic Communication is so that one may have an opportunity to first remember and reconnect with their Authentic Soul knowing.

In the reconnection, in the knowing, and in the being-ness of your Authentic Soul, all decisions are readily apparent. They come from a centre of love that can only be expressed from the soul level. It is not the illusionary love that has conditions, boundaries and judgements. It is the love that goes beyond self-service, and the love that says, “I see with clarity; therefore, I am able to be a conscious co-creator.””

Given the herb’s traditional uses we could extrapolate that the energetic uses relate primarily to the brow and sacral chakras. The colour of the oil tends to also suggest solar plexus (kidney). Chiazzari gives the healing colour rays as Magenta and Violet indicating a higher energetic frequency. According to Chiazzari the violet ray activates the central nervous system, the red vibration energises the kidneys enhancing energy flow through the body and helping with grounding. The purple ray balances and harmonises the crown chakra.

Herbs that are considered cooling carry a degree of blue energy (throat/brow).

Loughran and Bull suggest the following for the given chakras:-

General Calms and uplifts

Sixth Increases dreaming. Strengthens our inner eye to “see” more clearly. Inspires.

Valerie Worwood lists the emotional healing uses of clary sage as “to encourage calm, confidence, grounding,regeneration, tranquillity, revitalization, valance and restoration.

Use in massage, burners or for anointing. Apply in dilution over the chakras or to the feet, throat or abdomen. The lower dilution the higher the vibration. If using for breathing work or in a burner, visualise the scent reaching the appropriate part of the body or simply breathe in with intent and watch where the scent/colour goes in your body.

Clary Sage features in my Moonstone Crystal Blend and in my See Clearly Aroma Essences. Both these essences will support the energetic uses suggested above.

Sources:

Lawless, J. The Encyclopaedia of Essential Oils

Davis, P. Aromatherapy A-Z

Schnaubelt, K. Advanced Aromatherapy

Tisserand R and Balacs T. Essential oil safety

Tisserand R The Art of Aromatherapy

Davis, P. Subtle Aromatherapy

Loughran J.K. and Bull R. Aromatherapy and Subtle Energy Techniques

Loughran J.K. and Bull R. Aromatherapy Anointing oils – spiritual blessings, ceremonies and affirmations

Worwood V. The Fragrant Heavens

Chiazzari S. Colour Scents

Cunningham S. Magical Aromatherapy

With all love and blessings xx

Amyx

An Esscentful Year – Day 4/5 – Vetiver

Oops!

Yes I missed yesterday, although I have the excuse that I was feeling very light-headed and dizzy and quite nauseated so sitting at the computer for any length of time and focussing wouldn’t have helped.

Feeling better today but still light-headed and wobbly. Is this my caffeine detox? Over the last 36 hours or so I’ve felt a need to further ground myself but still lift my spirits and feel comforted.

Vetiver is a wonderful oil for this purpose. When I intuited the layout of my oils in a sine wave from lowest note (musical) to highest Vetiver came out lowest. It is earthy, almost peaty and mossy, slightly smoky. Vetiver is another oil that I used during pregnancy.

The essential oil of Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides) is steam distilled from the roots.  In perfumery Vetiver is classed as a base note and considered a valuable fixative in Fougere, Oriental and Chypre perfumes. The fragrance is highly potent and could easily overwhelm others if used in too high a dilution. It is also one which polarises opinion. Some people (live me) love it and others have a strong aversion to it.  It is one of the oils which prompted the following thought process

“In traditional aromatherapy we are taught that if the person does not like the smell the essential oil should not be used. In crystal therapy we are taught that often the stones we do not like are the ones we should work with to deal with the issues that they are uncovering which are the reasons we feel uncomfortable with that stone. Should we be working with essential oils we do not like – in low dilution for energetic work – for this reason?” which is in my Facebook note “Aromatherapy in the Now”  http://www.facebook.com/notes/amy-j-phillipson/aromatherapy-in-the-now/45141774206

Chemical constituents include Benzoic acid, vetiverol, furfurol, alpha and beta vetivone, vetivene and vetivenyl vetivenate.

Suzanne Fischer-Rizzi  describes Vetiver as ” the scent of mother earth, mysteriously hidden in a deep, dark recess, drawing on the fullness of her life-giving force. This essential oil can be used for physical and emotional burnout resulting in total exhaustion.”

It is a protective oil at an energetic level helping us to shield from psychic energies we do not want to absorb, help us ground and anchor which in turn promotes manifestation of our ideas and allows us to bring positive energies through and into our being.

Vetiver is soothing to states of irritability, anger and even hysteria, it helps pacify behaviours that thrive on stress and tension. According to Salvatore Battaglia Vetiver oil is often recommended for treating PMS caused by deficiency of either oestrogen or progesterone which tends to cause feelings of unworthiness and loss of purpose. He also suggests that as the oil seems to have an effect on the secretion of both hormones it would be an appropriate choice during menopause.

As Vetiver oil is also considered nourishing and moisturising to skin it is recommended for dry, dehydrated or irritated skin. It is vulnerary (helps wound healing) and cicatrisant (helps proper scar formation) and has been suggested for use to prevent and reduce wrinkles and stretch marks during pregnancy and improve the tone of slack or tired-looking skin.

Suzy Chiazzari considers its healing colour to be yellow although from a chakra point of view I would consider it more golden-brown with hints of white. For spiritual purposes she suggests using Vetiver in conjunction with gold colour breathing for a protective shield for the aura; with a gold gemstone to the base chakra for grounding and spiritual calmness and in meditation with gold for finding purpose in life.

Applying a drop to the crown chakra can enhance peace of mind and bring a degree of clarity this can be useful for insomnia, depression, debility and nervous tension. Applying to the feet and/or solar plexus may be useful for disorientation, again through assisting the grounding process.

Vetiver is an oil where we can probably extrapolate from the physical to the mental/emotional/spiritual, but there are others so I will leave that thought there for now.

In my opinion Vetiver is a truly valuable oil for many of us at this time as we seek to ground, bring dreams to reality, work through the layers that stop us moving forward and nourish ourselves.

Till the next time

With all brightest blessings

Amy xxx