Advent Week One - Hope - Bergamot

Last year I wrote a blog for each of the four candles of the Advent Wreath and for each week in Advent I described the quality for each candle and the essential oils associated with this. If you'd like to re-visit this and create your own Advent Wreath this year you can read the First Week in Advent - Hope here.

The oil that I highlight for Hope here is Bergamot and as we look at how the days have gotten shorter and darker it feels appropriate to use Bergamot, which has traditionally been used for conditions such as SAD(Seasonal Affective Disorder, anxiety and depression, at this time.

In Spiritual PhytoEssencing Dr. Berkowsky says that:

The bergamot individual, like most decent people, is a benoni whose soul alternates between light and darkness. His conflicts arise because, despite a concerted effort to control the darker animalistic traits originating in his animal soul, he has only succeeded in training, not taming, the beast. What differentiates the bergamot type from other oil types are the specific issues around which these conflicts develop. These are: emotional constancy, commitment, fruitfulness,and illumination.

In her book, The Fragrant Heavens, Valerie Ann Worwood says that:

Bergamot lightens the shadows of the mind, bringing illumination and laughter. With this, it brings eternal youth and happiness, even to those who have put aside their problems, ignoring them until they have become so overwhelming they feel they cannot ask for help.

Robbi Zeck, in her book The Blossoming Heart says:

Bergamot brings a sunny, effervescent quality to the spirit through balancing the hypothalamus gland, the centre-spring of some of the deeper emotions, particularly qualities of fear and rage.

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine viewpoint, Gabriel Mojay in his book Aromatherapy, for Healing the Spirit says:

Bergamot oils' psychological action depends, on its ability to disperse stagnant Qi-energy. This condition can manifest as tension, irritability, and frustration and if never released or 'processed' can eventually result in depression... Bergamot oil encourages the release of pent-up feelings...Bergamot oil helps us to relax and "let go".

I feel that these quotes support the use of Bergamot as an oil of Hope at this time, and of course at any time where 'darkness' needs to be brought to the 'light'.

Are you thinking of making some of your own Christmas Gifts this year?  There are lots of ideas in the E-Book, Aromatic Gifts for All Ages and All Seasons.  I shared this recipe for Scented Stones or Ornaments some years ago and you might have fun trying it out now.

Always available:

• The self-directed home study Aromatherapy Courses.  When you are ready they are only a click away, a click that will lead you into a world filled with information, self-growth and delight! Perhaps they will be a gift you give yourself this year!
• Aromatherapy Caddy Chemistry Home Study Course
• E-Books and DVD
• Aromatic Gifts for All Ages and All Seasons
• Infant Massage
• Subtle Aromatherapy
• Aromatic Lords and Ladies of the Zodiac
• The Hawkins Protocol Book
• Aroma Massage DVD

American Thanksgiving

American Thanksgiving is celebrated this coming week.  While for many this is a time for getting together with family and friends, turkey and celebrations, it can also be a real time for reflection on just how much we have to be thankful for.

Last year in my blog on American Thanksgiving I shared the Thanksgiving Prayer of the Haudenosaunee First People and I built a special essential oil blend around it.  I certainly think it is worth revisiting again this year.

If you are going to mail out Christmas Cards this year, and it does seem to be a tradition that is dying out, you might want to start scenting your cards now so that they will be nicely aromatic when you are ready to send them out.  The blog on Aromatic Christmas Cards has information you might find helpful.

Gearing up for the Holiday System contains some ideas for Christmas giving, stocking stuffers or that special gift.

Upcoming Events
November 21.  
Cash Donation Day at Natural Comfort, Beverley is offering 30 minute seated chair massage sessions.  All proceeds go to DeltAssist Christmas Fund.

Sunday November 27, 2011.
Reiki Level I class.  Last scheduled class for 2011.  If you are interested in joining us please contact me directly.

Always available:

• The self-directed home study Aromatherapy Courses.  When you are ready they are only a click away, a click that will lead you into a world filled with information, self-growth and delight! Perhaps they will be a gift you give yourself this year!
• Aromatherapy Caddy Chemistry Home Study Course
• E-Books and DVD
• Aromatic Gifts for All Ages and All Seasons
• Infant Massage
• Subtle Aromatherapy
• Aromatic Lords and Ladies of the Zodiac
• The Hawkins Protocol Book
• Aroma Massage DVD

Remembrance Day 2011

Once again Remembrance Day (November 11) is fast approaching and here in Canada many people are wearing their Red Poppies to honour and remember the many men and women who have given their lives for their country and its people.  Each year around this time I blog about Remembrance Day.  A lot of what I have blogged about around this day can be used for other times of grief at losing someone as well so you might like to look back and read some of these blogs in full. 

In 2008 I blogged about how the wearing of the poppies started:

It was after the First World War that a French woman, Madame E. Guérin, made the suggestion to British Field-Marshall Earl Haig that women and children in devastated areas of France could produce poppies for sale to support wounded Veterans and it was in November 1921 that the first of these poppies were distributed in Canada. Each year in Early November until after the 11th, these bright Red Poppies are worn as a symbol of our remembrance.

In 2009 I shared the poem and the synergy I had created for this day.

Essential oils I've chosen for my Remembrance Day Synergy.
Rosemary for sure. Rosemary is for remembrance just ask Shakespeare.
Cypress so often associated with death and transition.
Yarrow often called the Military Herb.
Neroli for gentle easing of grief.

In 2010 I looked at Grief and how we could support ourselves with essential oils at this time.

Grief has limits, whereas apprehension has none. For we grieve only for what we know has happened, but we fear all that possibly may happen. Pliny the Elder
Happiness is beneficial for the body, but it is grief that develops the powers of the mind. Marcel Proust

I looked at Grief and discussed essential oils (In particular Marjoram) that could support one through times of Grief.  I also shared some information on crystals that could be helpful at this time.

This year I thought that I would address the element of Forgiveness.  Often part of what keeps one stuck in the grief stage is the fact that one cannot forgive, either one's self or another, so I thought that I would share the Hawaiian Forgiveness Practice - Ho'oponopono ("to make things right")

1. Sit comfortable and close your eyes. Bring to mind the person or situation and feel yourself connect. It doesn't matter whether the person is alive or passed on, whether the situation is in the present or in the past, energetically everything is connected and this is an opportunity to clear any negativity attached.
2. Put your hand on your heart and repeat these four phrases internally in your heart. It's about releasing the anger in your heart no matter who is to blame.  I'm sorry.  Please forgive me.  Thank you.  I love you.
3. The amount of times you need to repeat the phrases varies from one person to the next and one situation to another, but you will find that as you say them over and over the energy starts to shift and you feel the clearing of old emotions and healing of pain that has been held on to.  You might find yourself becoming emotional while doing this exercise and that is often a sign of the clearing that is taking place.

You might like to support yourself by diffusing a special essential oil synergy while you do this.  Essential oil you could consider to help with forgiving include: bitter orange peel; frankincense; grapefruit; jasmine; lavender; myrrh; neroli; patchouli; pine and sandalwood.

Upcoming Events

November 3.  Free Introduction to Spiritual PhytoEssencing at Natural Comfort Wellness Centre in Tsawwassen at 7.30 pm.

November 27.  Last scheduled Reiki Level 1 class for 2011.  In 2012 the Reiki classes will be offered the same way as all the other workshops, by arrangement.

Contact me if you are interested in attending either of these.