The Lovers – A Tarot Card Reading with Essential Oils

The Lovers - # 6 from the Rider-Waite deck

The Lovers – VI from the Rider-Waite deck

Ah the lovers. It’s always interesting when this card shows up in reading because there is hidden meaning in the symbols – as with all the tarot cards. When I was learning the tarot I always remembered this card was just as much about choice, as about love. You can see the resemblance to The Devil which is very much about choice.

The Devil - XV from the Rider-Waite deck

The Devil – XV from the Rider-Waite deck

Our lovers stand before us, naked, and representing Adam and Eve, with the apple tree and the snake in the background. The apples represent the choices between right and wrong, good and evil; however we know these degrees of behaviour lie within us, not without.The Bible story tells us that Eve had a choice to eat the apple or not. She did. The rest is history (or should I say her-story).

The sun is shining brightly indicating happiness and growth, and the 12 flamed tree behind our man indicates the 12 zodiac signs and his greatest desire for passion and sex.

Love - pic via eofdreams.com

Love – pic via eofdreams.com

And yes this card is about LOVE! Maybe it has popped up in your reading because you’ve just met someone interesting, maybe it’s because you are looking for love or maybe you need to love yourself more before you can share with another?

There is duality in this card as it is ruled by Gemini so these two could even be seen as the masculine and feminine parts of yourself, and a desire to achieve inner harmony. The love in this card is divined by God, represented by Archangel Raphael who is the healer. Maybe some of your relationships need healing?

Hey – and maybe this card is just about good old fashioned romantic love, orchestrated by the angels and created by you.

Let’s get into some great essential oils for love:

The classic Duralex glass dish is handy to make oil blends and quick perfumes in

The classic Duralex glass dish is a handy thing to mix your oil blends and quick perfumes in

1. 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!

“Feminine Love”

Nurture yourself –

Rose 3% straight from the bottle        * see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

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“Butterflies”

When you are a bit nervous with a new love or a first date –

Neroli 3% straight from the bottle        * see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

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“Come Hither”

Oils for seduction –

Ylang Ylang     1 drop

Sandalwood    1 drop

Mandarin         1 drop

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oil burner

An oil burner with a candle helps transform stagnating energy

2. Scent Your Space

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

“I’m Gonna Love You, Love You, Love You”

Get in the mood –

Cocoa CO2                  8 drops *

Orange                         5 drops

Cedarwood Virginian    6 drops

Palmarosa                    6 drops

* see my article for more info on CO2 extracts What are CO2 Extracts in the World of Aromatherapy?

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“Love is in the Air”

Try this light and breezy love blend –

Bergamot        12 drops

Patchouli           5 drops

Rosewood        8 drops

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Happy blending and remember to use your intention when you are creating your formulas. See my article about intention.

copyright suzannerbanks 2013

 

The High Priestess – A Tarot Card reading with Essential Oils

The High Priestess - II from the Rider-Waite Deck

The High Priestess – II from the Rider-Waite Deck

Listen to your inner voice.

Trust your intuition.

Allow the thin veil of illusion (maya) to fall away between your conscious and subconscious mind.

The High Priestess is the bold feminine, intuitive energy of the major arcana in the tarot. She is a the one who is connected to her emotions and the power of the moon and the invisible cycles. She is calm, contained, and her deep wisdom shines through. She is supported by the twin pillars of Boaz and Jachin, from Solomons Temple (a very long and interesting story there). The pomegranates also appeared on the twin pillars and are adorning the curtain behind the priestess. They represent possibility, sexuality and according to Biddy Tarot, duty.

The High Priestess is about the dark feminine knowledge, the witch, the power of psychic forces and the wisdom of the ages. She is the gateway to the underworld. She is the all-knowing feminine power.

Feminine power - pic via www.beliefnet.com -  by Julie Loar

Feminine power – pic via http://www.beliefnet.com
by Julie Loar

 

When The High Priestess shows up in a reading she may be asking you to recall ancient wisdom to help you on your present journey. You may need to take a break from the madness of everyday life, be calm and meditate.

You are wise, but at this time you may need to pay attention to your inner world more than your external world. It’s time to develop your intuition and rely on yourself.

Are you looking for a deeper meaning in your life? Maybe you have a new interest in philosophy and metaphysics? The High Priestess will help you with her knowledge of the collective unconscious.

Rely on, and develop your intuition (from curvyoga.com)

Rely on, and develop your intuition (from curvyoga.com)

 

What essential oils could help you look within?

1. Scent Your Space

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

“Sacred Space”

Create a beautiful space to meditate in –

Frankincense         10 drops

Rose Geranium        8 drops

Lime                        6 drops

Spikenard                1 drop

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“Retreat”   

Have a break from the outside world –

Juniper               10 drops

Fennel                  6 drops

Mandarin              9 drops

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“Dreams”

Allow your dreams to point the way –

Clary Sage            5 drops

Peru Balsam        10 drops

Nutmeg                5 drops

Lavender             5 drops

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Anoint yourself with pure essential oils

Anoint yourself with essential oils

2. 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!

“Psychic River”

Open your psychic channels – anoint your third eye chakra

Basil                1 drop

Frankincense   1 drop

Bergamot        1 drop

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“Speak the Truth”

Let your knowledge flow – anoint your throat chakra –

Sage          1 drop

Myrrh         1 drop

Geranium   1 drop

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“The Heart Knows”

Rely on your intuition which may speak through your heart –

Rosewood     1 drop

Rose 3%        2 drops * see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

Patchouli        1 drop

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Happy blending and remember to use your intention when you are creating your formulas. See my article about intention.

copyright suzannerbanks 2013

 

 

 

 

Temperance – A Tarot Card Reading with Essential Oils

Temperance - XIV from the Rider-Waite deck

Temperance – XIV from the Rider-Waite deck

My tarot card and essential oil series continues with the lovely card called Temperance.  This card is a bit like the Hierophant card for me – gentle, mild and sometimes it just doesn’t jump out at me with gusto. Depending on what other cards are in the reading, I find it hard to translate.

A beautiful Angel appears before us in a calm scene in nature. This card has a feeling of peacefulness and happiness. In the tarot the water represents emotions and also the subconscious mind. In this card the water is supposed to be flowing upward – from the bottom cup to the top cup. The overall meaning of the water symbols in this card, is balance between the subconscious and the conscious mind. It also represents the balance we need to find between humanity and spirituality. The angels toe in the water also reflects the interconnectedness between humanity and the divine.

It's all about balance - pic via www.homelifesimplified.com.au

It’s all about balance – pic via http://www.homelifesimplified.com.au

You may need to consciously work on balance after a big change in your life, or simply be more mindful of taking care of yourself as much as you do with others. This card could be asking you integrate your spiritual side with your human side to become whole and to find a deep richness in your life.

This is not a time to rush and achieve but to be calm and stress less. Leave all your anxiety and tension behind you as this is the first day of the rest of your life – a life of peace and serenity.

Flow with nature and reap the benefits - pic via www.southernwilderness.com

Flow with nature and reap the benefits – pic via http://www.southernwilderness.com

The flow of the water is asking you to become harmonious with nature, and with yourself. It’s a message to acknowledge how far you’ve come and instills an energy of beauty to help you carry on.

There are many essential oils that can help inspire peace, beauty and wholeness:

1. Open The Bottle and Take a Huge Whiff

Rose – nurture and love yourself

Fennel – be gentle with yourself too

Orange – inspire sweetness and innocence

Rosewood – enhance the flow of love in your heart

Frankincense – breathe deeply and relax

Anoint yourself with pure essential oils

Anoint yourself with pure essential oils

2. 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!

“Peace”

Allow a sense of peace to fall all around you –

Patchouli        1 drop

Mandarin        1 drop

Frankincense  1 drop

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“Gratitude Gives”

By being grateful you will open up to more beauty and gentility –

Geranium                       1 drop

Australian Sandalwood   1 drop

Petitgrain                         1 drop

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“Bubbling Brook”

Flow like a little stream –

Cardamom      1 drop

Lime                1 drop

May Chang      1 drop

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Happy blending and remember to use your intention when you are creating your formulas. See my article about intention.

copyright suzannerbanks 2013

 

Spikenard – an Essential Oil with a Rich History and a Heady Scent

Nardostachys grandiflora or Nardostachys jatamansi pic via www.medievalcookery.com

Nardostachys grandiflora or Nardostachys jatamansi pic via http://www.medievalcookery.com

In a recent article I included spikenard in one of my recipes – see The Hierophant – A Tarot Card Reading with Essential Oils. It is commonly called spikenard, nard and the Indian name jatamansi (which is what I call it in my mind).

When I posted the link on my Facebook page one of my friends read the article (thanks Jason), and wanted to know more about this oil. My brief comments went something like this:

It’s an oil of the bible and the story is that Mary used this to bathe Jesus feet, and it was said to cost as much as a year’s wages. It has history in other religions and appears connected to the first and second Temples of Jerusalem. Used in Ayurveda it’s great for healing and a deep connection to spirit.

So that is a quick look at the oil and I thought I’d elaborate because it’s so amazing. This is a strong oil and belongs to the same family as Valerian, Valerianaceae. I must say I’ve never used Valerian oil in my practice, as even the scent of Valerian tea is super strong and if you’ve ever taken an herbal sleep formula with Valerian, you can smell it as soon as you open the bottle!

So spikenard has the same deep, base, intensity that valerian has, and also the vetiver root (even though vetiver is more like a grass). As with vetiver oil, the rhizomes of the spikenard plant hold the essential oil. It’s sweet, heavy and almost syrupy as it flares out of the bottle. One or two drops is enough in any formula to invoke the meta-physical properties of the oil, and to bring an oil blend together and give it substance.

spikenard flower - pic via www.rkessentialoil.com

spikenard flower – pic via http://www.rkessentialoil.com

As with many essential oils, the plants have been used for centuries for both healing and  religious and spiritual ceremonies. We are relying on ancient texts to illuminate us on the uses of these plants and also the scholars who translate them. It is always fascinating to me that thousands of years ago great healers knew what the plants were good for even though they had no scientific means of measuring their components. So is this intuition, trial and error, or a combo of both? However we look at it, it is a gift from the universe and our modern medicine would be nowhere today without this ancient knowledge.

There is so much to write about here I’ll just touch on the most interesting references to this oil. Said to have been used in the Temple of Solomon, the First Temple of Jerusalem (circa 800 BC)  and the Second temple (circa 530 BC onward to about 70 BC), in the incense called Ketoret mentioned n the Hebrew Bible and other texts. Ketoret is also very similar to the Egyptian incense called kyphi too which was recorded in the Pyramid texts dating back to 2300BC. Also talked about in the Bible, as mentioned above, this plant was used in Greek and Roman healing and ceremonies, and even used in medieval cookery. And as jatamansi, it’s been used in Ayurveda for thousands of years too, especially for grounding Vata, helping digestion and and as a heart tonic.

spikenard - pic via www.aroma-pure.com

spikenard – pic via http://www.aroma-pure.com

Ok so what is spikenard used for in modern Aromatherapy?

* as a calming tonic for someone freaking out (as is valerian and vetiver)

* to induce sleep

* to act as a calming digestive tonic

* as a wound healing oil by acting as a anti-bacterial agent and also an anti-inflammatory

* as an oil for meditation to induce a soothing, calming energy to connect to higher consciousness

* as a base oil to bring an oil blend together

* to stimulate hormone production

* for mature and dry skins

When you use this oil, use it sparingly like you would do with Vetiver. The secrets of the universe are encoded in every drop of oil!

copyright suzannerbanks 2013

The Tower – A Tarot Card Reading with Essential oils

The Tower XV1 from the Rider-Waite tarot deck

The Tower – XVI – from the Rider-Waite tarot deck

OOOOOOO The Tower card. It usually freaks everyone out when they see it. However saying that, if someone is having a tarot reading and this card pops up, they are probably in the throws of the tower energy, just experienced it, or can feel it looming.

So what is it about?

As you can see by the picture, people are leaping from a burning tower, screaming, plunging to their death. Lightening and flames surround and break down the tower. The structure will crumble and die, along with the inhabitants. Oh dear.

When I was learning tarot, something about this card stayed with me. The fact that this seems to be happening as an “act of God” via lightening, is an illusion. It is actually something that you have probably created yourself, but are unaware of the fact. For example: feeling that you hate your job and really need a change but don’t do anything about it. You think these thoughts over and over again but don’t take any steps to change. Then “all of a sudden” you are fired and completely freak out as your regular job and wage – your stability – is ripped out beneath you plunging you into change and fear! The same could be said of any situation like a relationship breakdown, sudden illness or death.

It's ok if you are freaking out - grab a bottle of essential oil

Don’t fear “The Tower” – just use some essential oils!

The Tower represents dismantling of your current circumstances whether you like it or not. And we all know that when something crumbles, we learn how to survive and create new ways of approaching life. We may be awakened, when prior the the event we were blissfully unaware. The universe is demanding that we evolve. Our subconscious is doing the same. It’s our ego that doesn’t like it!

The Tower forces us to confront situations, thoughts and emotions that do not serve us, but that we hold onto as a security blanket. You may be being asked to let go of outdated structures in your life so you can spiritually evolve.

we are one

Embrace change

So what essential oils and essential oil blends could represent this card, and it’s meanings for you in your day? Try these recipes –

1. 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.

***** 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 article “Aromatherapy – It’s Easy as 1 2 3”

“OMG!”

To de-stress –

German Chamomile 3%   9 drops *see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

Melissa 3%                      9 drops *see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

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“Get it Together”

Help your major anxiety –

Vetiver          1 drop

Bergamot     5 drops

Lavender      2 drops

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Anoint yourself with pure essential oils

Anoint yourself with pure essential oils – but test first!

2. 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!

“Angels Please Help Me”

Help your heartbreak –

Rose 3%          as many drops as you need

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“Guides Give Me Strength”

Open your crown chakra to receive help and guidance –

Petitgrain       2 drops

Basil              1 drop

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essential oil diffuser

essential oil diffuser

3. Scent Your Space

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

“I’ve Got the Power”

Be your own cheerleader in hard times –

Juniper            10 drops

Sandalwood      5 drops

Mandarin         10 drops

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“Peaceful Sleep”

Try and get a good night’s sleep to restore your energy –

Rosewood    8 drops

Lavender       8 drops

Marjoram      8 drops

Vetiver           1 drop

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Happy mixing and remember to use your intention when you are blending.
(See my article about intention)

copyright suzannerbanks 2013

The Start of How to be Completely Amazing

colour and movement

colour and movement and essential oils

1. Use Essential Oils

Yep I know this is a bit obvious coming from me, but it’s true.

Use essential oils instead of perfume. It’s natural vs synthetic. In this case natural is much better than synthetic.

Use essential oils to clean instead of toxic products.

Use cold pressed carrier oils for moisturiser. Simplicity is back in fashion.

Do it!

How?

Lavender    1 drop on your wrists – it doesn’t need to be any more complicated than that!

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inspire someone today

inspire someone today

2. Inspire Someone Today!

You’ll be amazed at how great you feel when you inspire someone else. It’s quite infectious and you’ll want to keep doing, it I promise. It sort-of gets you into an upward spiral of positivity.

There’s no better way to help yourself, cancel out your self-doubt and quash those little negative self talks. When you inspire someone else – you’ll be inspired 10 fold.

Do it today! And use essential oils.

Sage         1 drop on your throat chakra to speak the truth with others and share your abundance

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be kind to animals

be kind to animals, always

3. Be kind to Animals

Always be kind to animals, it’s our duty to protect them. Let’s face it there are some totally fantastic animals out there.

Your kindness will send ripples into the universe. Hopefully some of those ripples will join up to more kindness waves and wash over us all! Maybe then we can all be kind to each other, but maybe that’s a bit too simple? Or not.

Be kind to an animal today. And use essential oils

Rosewood   1 drop on your heart chakra to allow the flow of love, inward and outward.

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Use your intention to create something new (via www.tribalharmonix.org)

Use your intention to create something new (via http://www.tribalharmonix.org)

4. Use Your Intention Everyday

Start each day with an intention. A good intention. Create the vibe of your day. You’ll automatically rise up to meet that intention.

Create your day…..your week….your life.

This is another duty we are bound to, if we want to evolve into a peaceful community. We are living in a time of great expansion. We need your help.

Use your intention today. And use essential oils

Basil       open the bottle and take a huge whiff to open your mind to possibilities.

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This is just a start to the influence you can have in your world.

Make it a good influence and share your knowledge.

Talk about what you know and aspire to.

Connect with others.

But most of all use essential oils. You’ll smell great and you will be able to harness their healing power, absorb it, and give it back to your world with joy, times infinity.

infinity

infinity

copyright suzannerbanks 2013