Travel Blends

I'm off to Haiwaii for a few days so I have been looking at oils and blends to take along. I'm considering taking along a blend for Jet Lag, one for refreshing the Hotel Room and one for Sunburn.

I think that a little care kit made up with some of your favourite blends will make the trip a whole lot more enjoyable. Of course there is the challenge of not having a lot of room to take along lots of different essential oils and blends, but with a bit of judicious planning one can come up with the blends you really need. I will be taking most of my blends in 10ml roller top bottles so they don't take up much room. The only spray bottle I'll take along is for my Hotel Room Spray - nice for clearing the room of anyone else's germs and making it feel more comfortable.

Cypress - Cupressus sempervirens

While so many trees are losing their leaves, Cypress remains evergreen and unchanging throughout the year. It is a great oil for many condition from the physical to the emotional and spiritual. It is part of the special synergy blend that I use on my legs every day and it is an excellent oil to use in times of transition, particularly death. So at this time of transition from Summer to Winter, when many people are finding the 'loss' of summer, Cypress might be an oil to consider using whether in spritzers to freshen the house, as part of a synergy to diffuse and set the mood or part of a meditation synergy.

You can find a mini profile of Cypress on my website. On a subtle level Cypress helps one to maintain balance, to stay centered and aligned with Spirit regardless of the emotions raging around one. Cypress brings strength and comfort. It eases the pain of losses of all kinds particularly when one is experience the loss of someone close. It is very helpful in time of transition. It also supports a willingness to change and transform. It can promote confidence, patience and wisdom. It can be used for blessing, consecration and protection. Cypress can be used to help one move on.

Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitizing. Avoid during pregnancy.

Joy reflected in Essential oils.

I'm back from spending Thanksgiving with my family. What a joy little ones are and what great teachers they are about being in the present moment. It was wonderful to spend time focused on the little things, and seeing just how much joy there can be found in every little event.

It got me thinking about how Joy can be found in the simplest of actions and how it is a choice we make each moment of every day as to whether we will live this moment in Joy or not. Of course just living in this world means that there are every day challenges that pop up at every turn that we have to deal with and staying in the Joy can become very difficult. It can become a whole lot easier to operate from Joy more consistently if we have support that we can fall back on. A well crafted essential oil blend could be that support!

Keep in mind that aroma preference are very different and an aroma that brings joy and joyful memories to one, may not work as well for another so it is important to find your own special Joy Blend. 8 - 10 drops of your blend can be put into an individual inhaler and carried in your pocket to be sniffed at those times when you need a little lift. You could also put a few drops on a tissue and keep that in your pocket although you will find that the aroma evaporates from this much quicker.

My own personal favourites are Grapefruit, and Neroli, or a blend of Neroli, and Petitgrain. A couple of sniffs help to bring me back to my own Happy Place.

My blends:
Grapefruit 6 drops and Neroli 3 drops
or Orange 5 drops, Petitgrain 3 drops and Neroli 2 drops.

Essential oils traditionally associated with Joy include: Bergamot, Roman Chamomile, Frankincense, Lemon, Neroli, Orange, Petitgrain, Rose, Sandalwood, and Ylang Ylang.

Essential Oils around Thanksgiving

With Canadian Thanksgiving just around the corner, October 8, signs of Harvest and Plenty are all around. It can also be a time to take stock of where we are in our lives and to be grateful. Even when we don't have everything we want or need, there there are so many things to be grateful for if we just look. Often the small things that we take for granted are the ones we should be most grateful for.

To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put offthe word or action for the expression of gratitude.- Albert Schweitzer

Thanksgiving conjures up thoughts of Turkey Dinners and Pumpkin Pie, Family Feasts and Gatherings. A time to reconnect and be with the ones we love. While in some families this can be a gentle, loving time, in others it can be very stressful, full of tension and trauma and of course everything in between.

Perhpas designing a lovely essential oil blend that can be diffused over the season when everyone is together would be a good way to prepare for this special time ahead. Here are a few ideas.

Peace: Benzoin, Roman Chamomile, Frankincense, Jasmine, Rose, Spikenard (Deep inner peace), Ylang Ylang
Harmony: Basil, Orange
Patience: Cypress, Frankincense Lavender, Marjoram Rose
Love: Bergamot, Clove, Ginger, Jasmine, Juniper, Lavender, Melissa, Rose, Rosemary, Ylang Ylang
Also it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without adding one or two of the spice oils to the blends:
Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg

I haven't quite decided on my blend for this year but I'm leaning towards
Benzoin - 3 drops
Cinnamon - 1 drop
Orange - 6 drops
Rose - 2 drops
But it might change a bit once I start tweaking it.

What will you put in your blend?