Aromatherapy Greets The Earth Ox

This year Chinese New Year took place on January 26th - it's the year of the Earth Ox. It is also called the Buffalo or Bull in some traditions.

Last year I wrote a little blog on this celebration. Click Here to read it.

Once again I thought that it would be fun to create a special blend that embodies the energies of the coming year, so I did some research and this is what I've come up with.

The Ox is a practical work animal, while the Earth element is steady and firm. Together, they create a kind of plodding energy that can be exasperating. Still, progress will be made in the Year of the Earth Ox; it will occur in slow, barely perceptible increments. If you stay patient and keep your nose to the grindstone, you will make the most of this ponderous energy. Oxen place great emphasis on authority and tradition. Therefor 2009 will lay an especially heavy burden on world leaders. Government officials, CEOs and community organizers will be expected to correct society's ills. If they slack off, they'll be thrown by the wayside. Substance is always favored over style in the Year of the Ox.

So what sorts of oils might be a support to us in this upcoming year?

Looks like we're going to need patience and endurance to make the most of what is coming up. So what oils can we choose from? From my e-book Subtle Aromatherapy here are a couple of ideas.

Roman chamomile promotes patience. It calms and balances the emotions. It promotes calm acceptance of one’s own limitations and eases the tensions associated with excessive ego such as frustration and resentment.

Cypress can promote confidence, patience and wisdom. It can be very useful in helping one to move on, which given the energy of the year might be very helpful.

Rose promotes love, compassion, hope and patience.

Black Pepper aids alertness and stamina.

And we could always add one or other of the oils considered to be good to increase prosperity such as Basil, Ginger, Melissa, Patchouli and Vetiver.

You will find mini profiles for many of these oils both on the website and earlier articles on the blog and the articles on Creating a Perfume with Essential Oils and
Your Own Special Blend are good places to start for inspiration.

My Blend for 2009 consists of: 1 part Roman Chamomile; 1 part Rose; 3 parts Cypress and 1 part Vetiver. What's your blend going to be?

Personal Blending

What sorts of smells appeal to you? Which essential oils combined together create just that right feeling of relaxation and peace for you? What is your favorite type of perfume? Ask 10 people and you'll probably get 10 different answers.

It has been said that a human is able to distinguish over 10,000 different odor molecules. All of this happens without our having to think about it and we utilize our sense of smell for a multitude of activities for instance smelling a rose can give one great pleasure, while smelling smoke can alert one to danger. Regardless of what we are smelling the mechanics remain the same.

Smell depends on sensory receptors that respond to airborne chemicals. In humans, these chemoreceptors are located in the olfactory epithelium — a patch of tissue about the size of a postage stamp located high in the nasal cavity.

1. Every time we inhale, currents of air swirl up through the nostrils to the top of our noses.
2. Here the inhaled air hits the olfactory epithelium. This is a patch of tissue about the size of a postage stamp and is located at the top of the nasal cavity. The olfactory epithelium is made up of three different kinds of cells: sensory neurons, each of which has a thin, hair-like projection called a cilia; supporting cells and basil cells, which regularly divide to produce a fresh crop of sensory neurons.
3. Specific odors bind to specific olfactory neurons as each receptor has a binding site that is just the right shape for a specific molecule or group of structurally similar molecules. The interaction of the right molecule with the right receptor causes the receptor to change its shape (structural conformation).
4. The olfactory bulb receives this sensory input from the sensory neurons in the olfactory epithelium and in turn passes this information via the olfactory nerve directly into the limbic system of the brain.
5. The limbic system is the oldest part of our brain. Two important parts of the limbic system are triggered by the olfactory nerve impulses, the amygdala and the hippocampus. In addition to the center of smell, it is here that the centers of memory, sexuality, emotional reactions and creativity is found. While the scent is being compared and labeled to scents already known by the individual, pictures and feelings from the past, which could include events, people, places and objects, are associated with the scent information As a result we can react both emotionally and physically through our autonomic nervous system to a scent.

Bearing this in mind it is easy to see how we would all have such different personal preferences.

If you are interested in creating a personal perfume you might find the article I have on my main website Creating a Perfume with Essential Oils and Perfume Recipes helpful. By combining these guidelines with your own personal preferences you can come up with just the right blend for you. Also don't be afraid to change things around a bit or substitute your favorite oils for the ones in the blends.

If you need help in choosing the oils for emotional reasons my E-Book Subtle Aromatherapy might be helpful or if you are looking for recipes to make up fun products Aromatic Gifts for All Seasons and All Ages might have just what you are looking for. You will find links for these as well as the Aromatherapy Courses that we offer under the Links section of this page.

Vetiver - Vetiveria zizanioides

You will find a mini profile on Vetiver on the WCIA website.

Did you know that vetiver is considered by many to be a money scent? There are some who will place a piece of vetiver root in the cash drawer to increase business. Of course most of us don't have access to the rhizome but anointing the cash with the essential oil or putting a cotton bud impregnated with the oil in the cash box could do the trick.

On a subtle level, vetiver helps to ground and attune one to the earth. It is an excellent oil to use if you are wanting to energetically clear or cleanse a room. It dispels the negative and brings in positive energy. Certainly an oil to consider using for those times when one feels prone to being over-sensitive. It is also thought to help promote self-esteem. It can be particularly helpful for those who feel like they are a psychic sponge or those who feel too sensitive to outside forces.

Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating non-sensitizing and non-phototoxic.

Aromatic Astrology - Capricorn

Now that the holidays are over and things are getting back to normal for me here is the next sign of the Zodiac - Capricorn December 22 to January 19.

Ruling Planet: Saturn
Element: Earth
Quality: Cardinal
Symbol: The goat-fish
Polarity: Feminine
Physical Correspondence: The bones, joints, teeth and knees
Stones: Onyx, beryl, white sapphire, black diamond, jet, amethyst, garnet
Flowers: Coltsfoot, black poppy, pansy
Colors: Indigo, gray, dark green
Herbs: rosemary, dill, tarragon, caraway, chamomile, heartsease, lambs ears, marjoram.
Bach Flower Remedy: Mimulus
Essential Oils: Vetiver is the signature oil for Capricorn. Cypress, Oakmoss, Patchouli.
Positive Traits: Reliable, determined, ambitious; careful, prudent; a sense of humour; a sense of discipline; patient, persevering.
Negative Traits: Rigid outlook; over-exacting; pessimistic; conventional; miserly, mean; a ‘wet blanket’.

Once again I will use the signature oil identified by Patricia Davis, Vetiver, as the anchor for both Lord Capricorn and Lady Capricorn . As Patricia Davis says in her book Astrological Aromatherapy Vetiver reflects perfectly the earthy nature of Capricorn, even to the extent that it is extracted from the roots of the parent plant. . . . It is valuable for rheumatic and arthritic pain, reminding us that joint pains are common among Capricorns. . . . In the Far East where this fragrant grass is grown, it is known as the 'Oil of Tranquility' and may help the conscientious Capricorn who worries unduly about work or personal issues.

For Lord Capricorn I have combined Vetiver with its wonderful earthy, grounding fragrance with cypress which brings inner strength and comfort and lime which brings with it an uplifting freshness. For Lady Capricorn I have combined the earthy, grounding Vetiver with Patchouli, another grounding essential oil that taps into the energies of Mother Earth and Neroli, which can help one to help one to develop the inner trust which in turn will allow self-acceptance and produce feelings of security and protection.

Lord Capricorn
Vetiver - 1 drop
Cypress - 5 drops
Lime - 6 drops

Lady Capricorn
Vetiver - 1 drop
Patchouli - 4 drops
Neroli - 6 drops

As always you can adjust the drops to suit your own aroma preferences.

A few quotes reflecting the qualities of Capricorn:

"Do not entertain hopes for realization, but practice all your life." - Milarepa
"There is nothing left to you at this moment but to have a good laugh." - Zen Master
"The believer is happy. The doubter is wise." Greek Proverb
"Bellygoat boom At ache of Day bang." Jack Kerouac

With things getting back to normal January is often a month when we consider taking a course or increasing our knowledge in different areas. If you have been thinking about studying aromatherapy in a more formal way perhaps our self-directed Aromatherapy Courses are just what you are looking for. You can check them out by following the link under West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy.