The Isle of Pines and Pine Oil

Video

Hey lovely friends, on my recent trip to New Caledonia I was fortunate to visit the tropical island paradise of The Isle of Pines, “Kunyie” in the native language. There were many kinds of pine trees including Araucaria cooki, Araucaria heterophylla, Araucaria columnaris (the pines which Captain Cook named this island after), Pinus pinaster, Pinus radiata and more – up to 14 kinds of pines on the beautiful isle.

So it got me thinking about pine essential oil, Pinus sylvestrus ….

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Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Barnes & Noble      Booktopia AU      Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as an ebook and paperback

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And here are my thoughts on film –

 

 

This island is sometimes referred to as

‘île la plus proche du paradis (“the closest island to Paradise”).

Wikipedia

 

Araucaria columnaris or cooki? Not sure ..

Araucaria columnaris or cooki? Not sure ..

Paradiso majorana

Paradiso majorana

Stone totems protecting a scared site in St Maurice Bay

Stone totems protecting a scared site in St Maurice Bay

Araucaria columnaris or cooki? Not sure

Pinus radiata

My tropical island sojourn was one I’ll never forget.

Have you been to The Isle of Pines?

How do you use pine essential oil in your life?

copryright SR Banks 2015

 

FESTIVUS 2015! Aromatic Insights into the Best Holiday in the World!

Festivus is here again and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve created some new recipes to stand alongside the key parts to this wonderful day. What is Festivus you may ask? It’s the holiday that crushes Hanukkah and Christmas, allows a coming together of like minds, and gives a day of fun for those who are not religious. Celebrated by George Costanza’s father, Frank, (from the comedy show Seinfeld), let’s embrace this fabulous celebration!

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Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Barnes & Noble      Booktopia AU      Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as an ebook and paperback

**************************************************************************************************************

Festivus for the rest of us! pic via www.tshirtbordello.com

Festivus for the rest of us! pic via http://www.tshirtbordello.com

To be more precise it’s the family of the writer of this episode who created Festivus:

Festivus was conceived by editor and author Daniel O’Keefe and was celebrated by his family as early as 1966. In the original O’Keefe tradition, the holiday would take place in response to family tension, “any time from December to May”.] The phrase, “a Festivus for the rest of us”, also derived from an O’Keefe family event, the death of Daniel O’Keefe’s mother.
Wikipedia

 


The Festivus Pole

The Festivus Pole

The Festivus Pole replaces the Christmas tree and stands unadorned:

“Frank Costanza cites its “very high strength-to-weight ratio” as appealing. During Festivus, the pole is displayed unadorned. According to Frank, “I find tinsel distracting.”

Wikipedia

I love the simplicity of the Festivus pole and I’m hoping it can inspire you to simplify this Christmas Here are a couple of blends for yourself, to help to feel less stressed and more streamlined.

Method: Nourishing Body Oil Blend

For a coat of your body use 3 teaspoons of carrier oil in a little dish and, add 7 – 8 drops of essential oil. It’s always best to patch test first, before you apply all over.

***** Always put the drops of essential oil into the bottle or dish first, then add the carrier oil. It gives the scents time to create a synergistic fusion.

For a 50ml bottle of oil add 25 drops and see my articles “Ratios for Blending Essential Oils – A Reminder of the Basics” and “Aromatherapy – It’s Easy as 1 2 3”

Silver

Lemongrass                  3 drops

Cedarwood Virginian     2 drops

Peru Balsam                  2 drops

*************

La Verité

Bergamot                     5 drops

Geranium                     2 drops

Vetiver                          1 drop


 

 

The Airing of Greivances

The Airing of Grievances

Ah yes the Airing of Grievances, straight after the Festivus dinner, seems a good way to finish off the year and start the new year afresh. Here are a couple of blends for your space to support this difficult yet necessary part of Festivus.

Method: Scent Your Space

In a traditional oil burner with a candle or a diffuser add 25 drops of oil

Release Frustration and Anger

Mandarin         12 drops

Ylang Ylang       6 drops

Marjoram           4 drops

Frankincense     3 drops

**************

 

Forgive

Orange          10 drops

Palmarosa       8 drops

Lavender         4 drops

Patchouli         3 drops


 

Feats of Strength!

Feats of Strength!

The Feats of Strength championship finalises the Festivus celebrations. As depicted above, when the head of the household is pinned to the ground, the day concludes. here are a couple of blends to help you find inner strength this holiday time.

Method: Pure Pulse Point Perfume

In a little dish mix these oils and anoint your pulse points or chakras – 3 drops of essential oils and dilute with a few drops of carrier oil – always patch test first!

Courage and Endurance

Lavender                1 drop

Black Spruce         1 drop

Lime                      1 drop

*********

Inner Calm

Melissa                   1 drop

Vanilla CO2             1 drop

Indian Rosewood    1 drop


Whatever you’re doing this Christmas season, whether you celebrate or not, I hope you are able to reflect on the good things life can bring – even if they are very small.

How will you be celebrating and which oils are calling to you?

Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.

copryright SR Banks 2015

 

 

 

Essential Oils and their Keywords – Part 3

Essential oils tend to be grouped together as to their physical healing properties – but what about the way they treat our spirit and minds too? For example marjoram, lavender and rosemary are great for muscles; rose, geranium and patchouli are wonderful for skin health; fennel and juniper can help relieve joint swelling. Of course essential oils often have more than one quality and the art of aromatherapy allows synergistic combinations to be formulated to expand their individual powers. Read on to discover how I feel about some of my favourite oils.

**************************************************************************************************************

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Barnes & Noble      Booktopia AU      Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as an ebook and paperback

**************************************************************************************************************

Patchouli leaf - pic via toptropicals.com

Patchouli leaf – pic via toptropicals.com

Patchouli

peace, earthly: nurture your body

Peppermint

removes resistance

Petitgrain

potentiality

Peru balsam

softness, protection

Pine

abundance through others

Rose is the Queen of oils

Rose is the Queen of oils

Rose

divine love, self-love, self nurturing, Cleopatra

Rose geranium

cheeriness

Rosemary

remember

Rosewood

giving and receiving; flow of love in the heart

Sage

wisdom; courage

Sandalwood

opens the chakras; sacred sexuality

Spearmint

Spearmint

Spearmint

lighten up

Spikenard

chill out, stop thinking

Tea tree

purge negativity

Thyme

detox

Vetiver

centredness; tranquility

Ylang Ylang

release anger & frustration

Revelation! Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Revelation! Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

All the oils and their keywords are quotes from my book. You will find the links to buy the book at the top of the post.

Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.

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Like our Facebook page to stay tuned for more info on the inaugural

Australasian Artisan Botanical Perfume Expo in Sydney, 24th April 2016

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copryright SR Banks 2015

 

 

 

Vanilla Weddings in the South Pacific – Video

Video

A vanilla wedding in the South Pacific? How about hundreds of them every year? Forge on to discover how organic vanilla is grown on the tropical island of Lifou in New Caledonia, with my mini movie and gorgeous pics!

**************************************************************************************************************

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Barnes & Noble      Booktopia AU      Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as an ebook and paperback

**************************************************************************************************************

The vanilleraie on Lifou

The vanilleraie on Lifou

 

On my recent trip to New Caledonia I found a small organic vanilla plantation in the Botanic Garden on the island of Lifou. Watch the story unfold ….

 

In a nutshell:

  • Mexican vanilla was introduced by the missionaries in the 1800’s
  • The plantation is growing each year as more vines are planted – cuttings are taken from the original vines
  • It takes about 7 years from planting to produce beans
  • The plant flowers in October to November
  • The flowers are not scented
  • This is the beautiful vanilla flower

    This is the beautiful vanilla flower

     

  • As the plants are an introduced species the local insects and birds do not pollinate the flower – this has to be done by hand
  • The male organ in the flower is gently touched to the female organ – this is the pollinating process
  • Pollinating must be done in the morning as the flowers close in the afternoon
  • Once the flower has dried and died, the vanilla beans grow
The young vanilla bean

The young vanilla bean

  • When the time is right the beans are picked and plunged into boiling water for 3 minutes
  • The beans are dried in both sun and shade for 3 months then placed into aging boxes to develop – just like wine
  • Lifou currently sends all its harvest to Noumea but is aspiring to export worldwide when the crops are more bountiful
My wonderful guide

My wonderful guide

It was so hot and the tour continued onto other beautiful sights, like a tribal hut and he Cliffs of Jokin. I wish I had asked a few more questions but the tour party pressed on. And I can’t believe I forgot my guide’s name. The heat got into my brain!

The Cliffs of Jokin

The Cliffs of Jokin

The picture does not do the water justice – it was a stunning turquoise blue. We also spotted a shark swimming around.

Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.

copryright SR Banks 2015

Essential Oils and their Keywords – Part 2

Essential oils tend to be grouped together as to their physical healing properties – but what about the way they treat our spirit and minds too? For example marjoram, lavender and rosemary are great for muscles; rose, geranium and patchouli are wonderful for skin health; fennel and juniper can help relieve joint swelling. Of course essential oils often have more than one quality and the art of aromatherapy allows synergistic combinations to be formulated to expand their individual powers. Read on to discover how I feel about some of my favourite oils.

**************************************************************************************************************

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Barnes & Noble      Booktopia AU      Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as an ebook and paperback

**************************************************************************************************************

Gentle warmth with ginger

Gentle warmth with ginger

Ginger

warm and approachable

Grapefruit

lightness, appreciation; gentle energetic cleanse

Jasmine

sensuality

Juniper

release watery emotions; spontaneous lightness

Lavandula stoechas, my own pic thanks yes it is wonderful

Lavandula stoechas, my own pic thanks yes it is wonderful

Lavender

solidarity; solid foundations, acceptance; regeneration

Lemon

refresh, reload; brighten up

Lemongrass

energising; vitality

Lime

counter-acts negative thinking; a moment of silence

Mandarin

openness; simple choices

Marjoram

relief

May change essential oil is distilled from the fruit

May change essential oil is distilled from the fruit

May chang

a sunny heart

Melissa

softness, communication; soothing

Myrrh

heals deep wounds of the past

Neroli

seduce your soul

Nutmeg

mysticism

Orange

innocence, sweet simplicity

Palmarosa

flexibility; new ideas about love

Revelation! Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Revelation! Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

All the oils and their keywords are quotes from my book. You will find the links to buy the book at the top of the post.

Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.

*******************************************************************************************************

Like our Facebook page to stay tuned for more info on the inaugural

Australasian Artisan Botanical Perfume Expo in Sydney, 24th April 2016

******************************************************************************************************

copryright SR Banks 2015