Peppermint Oil! An Oldie but a Goodie!

Posted on February 10, 2014 by suzannerbanks

Ah lovely peppermint – pic via thebodyhut.com.au

Peppermint essential oil is usually Mentha piperita and comes from the family Lamiacae, and the genus Mentha. A supplier of mine also offers Mentha arvensis, but really when it comes down to it the variations won’t make a huge difference to the therapeutic value for most users of oils.This family also holds many herbs like lavender, sage, marjoram, patchouli, oregano, thyme and many others. It seems as though this family of plants has been around for thousands of years going back to, at least, the Romans, the Greeks, and it is even recorded in Egyptian records. These are hardy herbs and have wonderful medicinal properties.

Please see my article Essential Oils from Herbs are Spectacular for a more comprehensive list of healing herbs. I’ll be concentrating on these herbs over the next few weeks so stay tuned.

Peppermint lollies – pic via health.com

Peppermint essential oil is one of the most used oils in the world and this is because it’s use in food flavourings. Peppermint lollies are sweet, cute and fun and for all these reasons I also see peppermint essential oil as an oil of happiness. It appeals to many people, both young and old and is an easily accessible and inexpensive oil.

A typical analysis of peppermint oil shows it is high in menthol and menthane, and these constituents are the ones that give peppermint its heat. Funnily enough this warmth or heat actually translates to a cool feeling, and peppermint could be considered and anti-inflammatory oil.

Peppermint oil is used in aromatherapy today –

* as an antidote for nausea and travel sickness

* to help calm symptoms of irritable bowel (via products that contain peppermint oil)

* as a pain relief for muscles and nerve pains

* as a decongestant for the sinuses

Most people love peppermint - pic via www.milkandhoneyherbs.com

Most people love peppermint – pic via http://www.milkandhoneyherbs.com

I use peppermint oil –

* in a steam inhalation to relieve a headache (it really works well) and sinus headaches and pain

* and in any blend of oils to relieve pain – menstrual pain, muscle pain, aching limbs, arthritis pain

I would not use peppermint oil in many body oils, but I have added it to a blend for a client with psoriasis and eczema and it seems to cool her itchy skin.

Peppermint is good for pain!

It’s also great to clear your mind, wake you up and to make you feel refreshed. It will even do that when you have a good quality mint in your mouth.

Try these recipes –

Take a huge whiff to change your focus in seconds

1. Open The Bottle and Take a Huge Whiff

Peppermint will help with a headache, sinus congestion and a tired mind.

2. 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 articles “Ratios for Blending Essential Oils – A Reminder of the Basics” and “Aromatherapy – It’s Easy as 1 2 3”

“Calm Down”

For itchy skin or even an irritable feeling –

Peppermint 1 drop

Lavender 4 drops

Patchouli 2 drops

—————————————————————————————————————–

5. Scent Your Space

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

“Happy la la”

Clear the air and make room for some happy vibes –

Peppermint 8 drops

Orange 17 drops

——————————————————————————————————————

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

10 Recipes with Peru Balsam Essential Oil- Myroxylon balsamum

Posted on February 5, 2014 by suzannerbanks

10!

It’s 10 recipes time! Today we will feature the absolutely beautiful oil called Peru Balsam or Tolu Balsam.

This beautiful oil, is like a combination of benzoin and vanilla.

Peru Balsam is sweet and soft and has warming stimulating properties reportedly to be a great treatment for skin conditions. I suppose over-use of the oil can lead to the opposite effect – skin irritations. I have never seen any negative results from using this oil and actually love to use it as a perfume. It’s fantastic for vapourising to act as a soothing agent to stress, and add some sweetness and healing energy into the room. It is like a balm for the soul and when you take a deep whiff, it’s almost like you can smell a protective honeycomb, multi-dimensional energy field.

Peru balsam - pic via www.fragrantica.com

Peru balsam – pic via http://www.fragrantica.com

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 articles “Ratios for Blending Essential Oils – A Reminder of the Basics” and “Aromatherapy – It’s Easy as 1 2 3”

“Sweet, Soft Skin”

A beautiful oil to nourish your skin –

Peru balsam 2 drops

Lavender 3 drops

Geranium 2 drops

——————————————————————————————————————

“I Feel So Lovely”

Simply love your skin –

Peru Balsam 3 drops

Myrrh 1 drop

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

——————————————————————————————————————

Classic oil burner with a twist pic via top3.com.au

3. Scent Your Space

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

“Loving Myself Especially Well Today”

Be kind to yourself –

Peru Balsam 12 drops

Lemon Myrtle 5 drops

Bergamot 8 drops

——————————————————————————————————————

“Calm Down Kids!”

Explains itself really –

Peru Balsam 13 drops

Orange 10 drops

Vetiver 2 drops

—————————————————————————————————————–

Anoint your third eye and breathe! pic via buelahman.wordpress.com

4. 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 Protect Me”

Know that you ARE protected –

Peru Balsam 2 drops

Clove 1 drop

——————————————————————————————————————

“Get Me to The Church on Time”

A calming blend on a nervous kind of day –

Peru balsam 1 drop

Bergamot 2 drops

——————————————————————————————————————

“Soothing Balm for the Soul”

Relax –

Peru Balsam 1 drop

Frankincense 2 drops

——————————————————————————————————————-

a simple hairdressing mist bottle will do the trick for your amazing essential oil mist

4. Personal Aura Cleansing Mist & Room Mist

In a 50ml mist bottle filled with water add 25 drops of oil

(depending on the packaging you have, you may need to use a little alcohol -like vodka- at the bottom of your bottle first, so the oils disperse into smaller drops to prevent clogging the atomiser top. I’ve found sometimes it works just with water, and sometimes it doesn’t – very annoying!)

“Spritz Away the Stress”

A quick mist can make all the difference

Peru Balsam 8 drops

Petitgrain 8 drops

Patchouli 4 drops

Lavender 5 drops

——————————————————————————————————————

“Amethyst”

When you feel you need a layer of protection –

Peru Balsam 10 drops

Nutmeg 3 drops

Orange 10 drops

Sandalwood (Indian) 2 drops

——————————————————————————————————————

“Yes I’m SIngle”

Be vulnerable yet powerful –

Peru Balsam 8 drops

Cinnamon 6 drops

Lemon 11 drops

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

10 Recipes with Indian Sandalwood Essential Oil – Santalum album

Posted on January 27, 2014 by suzannerbanks

10!

Following my recent article on Sandalwood, with links to a great series on Indian sandalwood being grown in Australia, I thought I might start a series called “10 Recipes”. I’ll feature a different oil each week with recipes for body oils, face and hair treatments, room scenting, space and aura cleansing and natural perfumes.

Sandalwood and oil - pic via www.fengshuidana.com

Sandalwood and oil – pic via http://www.fengshuidana.com

The traditional sandalwood that we’ve all come to know and love is often referred to as Indian or Mysore Sandalwood as it hails from the subcontinent of India. It is the rich, creamy, deep wood scent that has captivated the world. It is expensive because we have managed to strip India of it’s entire forests (we are very bad), so now it’s being grown in Australia (very good). This new oil grown and produced in Australia is Santalum album, so don’t get it mixed up with Santalum spicatum which is called Australian Sandalwood. Got it?

nourish your skin with oil blends

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 articles “Ratios for Blending Essential Oils – A Reminder of the Basics” and “Aromatherapy – It’s Easy as 1 2 3”

“Snake”

Feel lithe and grounded –

Sandalwood 2 drops

Orange 3 drops

Rose Geranium 2 drops

——————————————————————————————————————

“Date Night”

Feel a little bit sexier –

Sandalwood 2 drops

Ylang Ylang 1 drop

Bergamot 4 drops

—————————————————————————————————————–

A clay face mask is the best and most natural clarifyng mask. pic vis chiclooking.com

A clay face mask is the best and most natural clarifyng mask. pic via chiclooking.com

2. Face Mask

Usually add 2 or 3 drops of oil to some clay and add water, floral water or hydrosol

For any skin type use white or pink clay –

Sandalwood 1 drop and leave it at that, sandalwood is strong enough

—————————————————————————————————————–

essential oil diffuser

3. Scent Your Space

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

“Buddha Breeze”

Connect to your spiritual energy –

Sandalwood 8 drops

Mandarin 8 drops

Palmarosa 8 drops

Vetiver 1 drop

——————————————————————————————————————

“Boudoir Baby”

Sandalwood 6 drops

Ylang Ylang 4 drops

Bergamot 12 drops

Lemon Myrtle 3 drops

——————————————————————————————————————

“Why Not?”

Garner some courage –

Sandalwood 8 drops

Lemongrass 10 drops

Black Pepper 8 drops

——————————————————————————————————————

Anoint your third eye and breathe! pic via buelahman.wordpress.com

4. 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!

“YEAH!”

Rejoice in life –

Sandalwood 1 drop

Rosewood 1 drop

Black Spruce 1 drop

——————————————————————————————————————

“Yep I’m Awesome”

Get vibing on yourself –

Sandalwood 1 drop

Petitgrain 2 drops

——————————————————————————————————————

a simple hairdressing mist bottle will do the trick for your amazing essential oil mist

5. Personal Aura Cleansing Mist & Room Mist

In a 50ml mist bottle filled with water add 25 drops of oil

“Alpha Brainwaves”

A meditative energy –

Sandalwood 6 drops

Lemon 12 drops

Lavender 7 drops

——————————————————————————————————————

“Settle Down Kids”

Mist around the kids to help them chill –

Sandalwood 4 drops

Orange 14 drops

Spearmint 7 drops

——————————————————————————————————————

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

The Benefits of Beeswax in a Body Cream

Posted on January 15, 2014 by suzannerbanks

nourish your skin with oil blends or should you use cream?

I love using oil blends on my body and try to do it daily, however I do know many people who just won’t use oil on their skin because it’s too high maintenance – meaning it’s too messy, or it ruins their underwear or it takes too long to soak in or blah, blah, blah! I may be preaching to the converted here but using oils on your body can be so beneficial. When I say “oils’ I am referring to coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil and other carrier oils. This past winter my skin looked like crocodile skin so I decided to whip up a batch of cream with beeswax, oils and cocoa butter (basically because that’s the stock I had available).

Bees and their beeswax – pic via sweetbeez.org

It did really help my skin and I remembered one of my clients saying that her facialist sometimes talked about the right time for cream and the right time for oil. So when your body skin is scaly and horrible, that would be the perfect time to use a cream.

Why?

In a body cream, if it’s made naturally, you’ll get oil, water and emulsifying wax at the very least. You may also get essential oils, beeswax, cocoa butter, mango butter or shea butter too, to make it rich and gorgeous. Then hopefully there will be some pure essential oils added to the mix to give you a scented experience and emotional support. If you have a cheap cream made in huge vats, by big companies that is sold all over the world you’ll get water with a whole lot of synthetic crap. So when I talk about using a body cream I’m referring to a beautiful hand-made cream or a high quality cream from a boutique shop, health food shop or a market.

Handmade cream – pic via tipjunkie.com

In a body oil blend you’ll be getting a carrier oil (or oils), and some essential oils which in itself is a wonderful treat but sometimes you just need a little more.

What’s the diff?

The wax. And beeswax is the bomb and adds so much more to a cream than a synthetic wax could ever do.

pola wax – a synthetic emulsifying wax

Most people will also use an emulsifying wax that is sure to combine the oil and the water into a smooth cream, although I’m sure others could make a beautiful cream with only beeswax. It is now much easier to find a 100% natural emulsifying wax but many waxes sold on the market will have synthetics in them. If your emuslifying wax beads are very white they probably have some synthetics in them. Anything with a number in it, like PEG-150 Stearate, is synthetic. A lot of synthetic preparations are safe to use but some are not. You can check the toxicity of ingredients at www.ewg.org/skindeep/

Wax will

* provide a mild barrier between your skin and the environment and give protection which is wonderful for dry skin and rashes and will help the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis

* make your skin feel beautiful and soft as it acts as an humectant (draws and holds moisture) and as an emollient

* have some mild actions including being an anti-inflammatory agent as it has been used over the centuries for wound healing

* mild anti-bacterial action as in honey (we know to use honey for coughs and colds because of this)

I recommend using a combo of both oils and creams on your body, and as in everything in life, mix it up a bit.

And from William Cowper’s poem, “The Task” (1785): “Variety is the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavor”.

5 Essential Oils to Get You Started with Vigour in 2014

Posted on January 8, 2014 by suzannerbanks

Happy shiny people - pic via www.breathezy.com

Happy shiny people – pic via http://www.breathezy.com

Christmas is over.

New Year celebrations are over. (Except we’ll be having another party for Chinese New year when we celebrate the year of the horse).

The year has started.

I’m lagging a bit behind and found it hard to drag myself out of bed this morning so looked to my trusty friends (my essential oils), to get me vibed up.

My last article 2014! The Universal Number of 7! was all about this year and its intrinsic number of truth. To seek the truth of your existence here on earth, you will need a bit of curiosity and of course some energy to keep you going. Some essential oils will open your mind and stimulate the frontal cortex, and other essential oils will give you body a bit of a kick start.

Flowering rosemary

1. Rosemary

Stimulate your mind with rosemary. Remember with rosemary. Study with rosemary, warm your body up and help sore muscles release tightness. It is an easily accessible and inexpensive oil with a long history of medicinal uses.

2. Lavender

Lavender will always be on every list of oils I create. It is a relaxing oil but also an oil of solidarity and bringing your energy together. It’s the stalwart – loyal, reliable and hard working.

Lavender can ground your energy, help induce a state of calm, help with pain relief and generally be a medicinal oil of great standing.

Black pepper

Black pepper

Forward ho! Black pepper is the spice that can warm your heart, open your mind and also be a warming tonic to your body. It is a great oil for finding your dharma and taking your unique brand of evolutionary energy into the world. Even though the spice itself is quite piquant, the essential oil of black pepper has a magical sweetness about it.

Lemongrass

I think this oil may be one of the most loved oils in the world. It has so many uses but I’ll always use this oil for a client who is lacking energy. It’s lemon scented goodness is backed up with a deep grassy green scent that represents freedom to me.

Need physical energy? Use lemongrass!

Basil

Basil

Oh you just can’t keep a good herb down! The herbs are so wonderful for healing and have been used for centuries. Basil is an oil for opening your mind and stimulating your brain. It is expansive and great for maintaining fluid thought and allowing universal intelligence to come through your crown chakra. Basil is for clarity and can be used on your body like lavender, as it has a high content of linalool which is an active ingredient in lavender.

How can you use these oils to stimulate your energy?

* try taking a whiff straight from the bottle

* put a few drops in the bottom of the shower (cover the drain for a minute with your foot or a cloth) and inhale

* make an oil blend for your body – for a coat of your body use 3 teaspoons of carrier oil in a little dish and, add 7 – 8 drops of essential oil and see my articles “Ratios for Blending Essential Oils – A Reminder of the Basics” and “Aromatherapy – It’s Easy as 1 2 3”.

* it will be best to use a combination of oils rather than just 7 drops of the one oil as, for example, black pepper is slightly sensitising and could be too strong for some people

* as a hint, use lavender and a citrus oil to one of the oils above to make a lovely blend

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

Justice – A Tarot Card Reading with Essential Oils

Posted on December 4, 2013 by suzannerbanks

Justice – XI from the Rider-Waite deck

Justice is number 11 in the major arcana and speaks for itself really. It looks a lot like the Hierophant and also The Emperor. This is the last article about essential oils and the major arcana so be on the lookout next year for a free e-book to download!

The Emperor – IV from the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck

The Hierophant – V in the Rider-Waite Deck

It’s a card about balance and justice for all, and if this card shows up in a reading it could mean many things. This could be a time for you to be making a decision that involves others and you are called upon to be fair and just. It’s important here to use your life experience, your mind (the double-edged sword) and your intuition (the scales). Use all the tools at your disposal to bring about the right outcome.

It could mean that you are one of the people having to accept a decision that has been made that affects you directly. Are you in the midst of a court case, a challenge or a dispute that requires mediation? You must accept this decision and carry on with your life.

A decision has been made

Perhaps this card is letting you know that you are in this place in your life because you have made good decisions throughout your journey. Maybe you are rising to a position of authority and this card is telling you to always remain fair, just and kind.

Anyway you get the drift! Kindness, fairness, good decisions, use your mind and your heart in all you do.

What essential oils could we use to embody this card?

? pic via biodagar.com

1. Open The Bottle and Take a Huge Whiff

Rosewood – flow of love in the heart chakra

Rosemary – stimulate your mind and memory

Basil – open your crown chakra to the wisdom of the universe

Ylang Ylang – release frustration and anger toward others and yourself

Classic oil burner with a twist pic via top3.com.au

2. Scent Your Space

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

What better way to help you make big decisions than to vapourise oils in your space?

“Heart and Mind”

Blend these two areas of power –

Rosemary 8 drops

Palmarosa 8 drops

Orange 9 drops

————————————————————————————————————————————–

“Empathy”

Try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes –

Lime 10 drops

Petitgrain 10 drops

Geranium 5 drops

————————————————————————————————————————————–

“Flow of Energy”

Ask the universe to help you get the right flow going –

Cardamom 5 drops

Pink Grapefruit 20 drops

Lemongrass 5 drops

————————————————————————————————————————————–

Nourish your body with a beautiful oil blend – pic via redbookmag.com

3. 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 articles “Ratios for Blending Essential Oils – A Reminder of the Basics” and “Aromatherapy – It’s Easy as 1 2 3”

“Ok Concentrate….”

Be clear in your mind by waking up your body too –

Ginger 3 drops

Lemon 4 drops

Basil 1 drop

————————————————————————————————————————————–

“Made with Love”

Use your heart’s intelligence –

Rose 3% 6 drops * see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

Cedarwood Atlas 3 drops

————————————————————————————————————————————–

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

Marjoram – A Must-Have Essential Oil for the Scent Enthusiast

Posted on November 25, 2013 by suzannerbanks

Marjoram is a dainty herb with a big scent – pic via thelastrevelation.com

Ah marjoram. I’m not sure if I’m addicted to this very strong, herbaceous, hardy oil but rarely a week goes by that I wont use this with clients, friends or myself.

I have written an article generally on the herbs “Essential Oils from Herbs are Spectacular”, but I think we may need to go deeper into each one.

We’ll start with marjoram because I just felt like talking about it. Often when I go to have my treatment, my aromatherapist also uses this oil frequently with me as it has some great indications for the body and spirit too (of course)!

Marjoram (Oreganum marjorana) belongs to the herb family called Lamiacae, and the genus of Oreganum. It may now be more obvious why marjoram and oregano (Oreganum vulgare) look very similar and sometimes it’s hard to tell the fresh herbs apart from each other.

Great pic comparing oregano and marjoram – pic via cookthink.com

Herbs are the ancient medicinal healers of our world and when I make a blend for a client that has a few herbs in it I always say to myself silently “ah the herbs’ and feel like I’ve created a very traditional therapeutic blend. This herb was used by the ancient Greeks and according to Salvatore Battaglia, the name marjoram means “joy of the mountains”. Aw lovely!

In aromatherapy marjoram is used for:

* aching and sore muscles

* general body pain

* as a warming tonic

* to help someone deal with grief

* to help with falling asleep

* to counteract stress

* as a sedative for distraught emotions

* generally for calming and soothing

* to reduce coughing

I use marjoram for all these things too, and particularly love the way it blends so well with all the other oils. I like marjoram and use it a lot along with lavender because they are so beautifully calming. Who doesn’t want to chill out when they have a massage? We all need a little help de-stressing from the ups and downs of daily life so in this respect it’s a great oil.

A client’s oil formulation with marjoram

Here are a few 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 articles “Ratios for Blending Essential Oils – A Reminder of the Basics” and “Aromatherapy – It’s Easy as 1 2 3”

“Release the Day”

Release the stress of the day by putting this all over your body after a shower –

Marjoram 3 drops

Bergamot 4 drops

————————————————————————————————————————————–

“Oh My Aching Legs”

Apply to aching legs and rest with your feet elevated –

Marjoram 4 drops

Lavender 2 drops

Rosemary 2 drops

(ah the herbs)!

————————————————————————————————————————————–

Anoint yourself with pure essential oils in a little carrier oil

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!

“I’m Ready for You Now Sleep”

Induce relaxation –

Marjoram 2 drops

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

————————————————————————————————————————————-

“Phew I’m Glad That’s Over”

Marjoram 1 drop

Rosewood 1 drop

Lemongrass 1 drop

————————————————————————————————————————————–

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

The Fool – A Tarot Card Reading with Essential Oils

Posted on November 20, 2013 by suzannerbanks

The Fool – 0 – From the Rider-Waite Deck

Ah The Fool! Courage, naivety, adventure, passion and living in the moment is the message of this card. You may have noticed the number of this card is “0” and it can be seen as falling at the beginning of the series of the 22 Major Arcana cards (0-21). As we journey through the major arcana, it is almost as if we are following The Fool on his journey through the material world, and experience the lessons he is learning too.

This card is the card of pure potentiality – anything can happen! If this card comes to you in a reading it may be indicating you need to jump into something wholeheartedly and trust the universe will support you through your ups and downs. Is it a business venture, a new romance, a move overseas? Whatever it is you are being encouraged to try it anyway. The white dog in the picture may represent your animal instincts that can warn you of any dangers ahead so what are you waiting for? Take a leap of faith as The Fool is doing here – let’s face it he’s just about to jump off a cliff without looking!

Have faith you will be supported – pic via abetterdream.com

He’s a happy chap our Fool. He has magical powers represented by the wand but he hasn’t enough experience to use them yet. The only way to discover your own magic powers is to go out in the world and give it a go! You’ve got the power! This card also has a feeling of lightness, and a sense of being carefree. Maybe you need to force yourself to do something different that will get your energy vibed up and allow a feeling of complete freedom.

New beginnings make for a bit of fun – pic via simplyblessed.heartsdeesire.com

Just as the fool is starting his journey by walking off the side of a mountain with a smile on his face, you too can have this feeling with adding some essential oils to your life.

Take a huge whiff to change your focus in seconds

1. Open The Bottle and Take a Huge Whiff

Petitgrain – my oil of pure potentiality

Palmarosa – flexibility

Black Pepper – courage

Rose – self nurturing

Frankincense – take a deep breath and do it!

Lavender – consolidate your energy

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

2. 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 articles “Ratios for Blending Essential Oils – A Reminder of the Basics” and “Aromatherapy – It’s Easy as 1 2 3”

“New Beginnings”

Starting things afresh can be a little scary so use these oils to help you –

Lavender 3 drops

Petitgrain 4 drops

————————————————————————————————————————————–

“Leap of Faith”

Take a leap of faith just like The Fool –

Black Pepper 1 drop

Mandarin 3 drops

Cypress 3 drops

————————————————————————————————————————————–

“I’m Never Alone”

The universe always responds to your creative endeavours –

Rosemary 1 drops

Rose 3% 12 drops * see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

Lemongrass 2 drops

————————————————————————————————————————————–

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

Everlasting Essential Oil Connects us to Our Immortality

Posted on October 28, 2013 by suzannerbanks

Helichrysum italicum “everlasting”. pic via calphotos.berkeley.edu

Aw this cute little daisy comes from the Asteraceae family along with the chamomiles, sunlfowers, safflower, marigold, globe artichoke, echinacea and chrysanthemum among many others. Also referred to as “immortelle”, can you guess what this essential oil is good for ? Immortality and the fountain of youth spring to mind when I think of everlasting, it’s great for skin and has many other benefits.

I was very excited to get a new bottle delivered the other day. It has a sweet, honey-like aroma with undertones of spice. Sometimes called the “curry plant”, everlasting does have a complex scent, maybe with a hint of curry – but don’t let that put you off. A few drops of this beautiful oil may be all you need to electrify and bend and add depth and sweetness to the scent. You may find everlasting n a 3% blend (see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba) or on it’s own but it will be more expensive this way.

Helichrysum bracteatum – essential oil does not come from this Helichrysum but you may recognise this flower from your local florist

In aromatherapy today everlasting is used for:

– formulations in skincare to promote cell growth and act as an anti-inflammatory agent

– as a stimulant to the lymphatic system to aid lymphatic drainage and therefore allow the skin to expel toxins more efficiently

– aiding the symptoms of dermatitis and excema

– diminishing scar tissue

– healing wounds

– coughs, coughing and asthma

– according to Salvatore Battaglia (The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy) everlasting is great for liver inflammation and the organs of the gall bladder, spleen and kidneys – all the organs helping in detoxification of the body. We can see how this relates to lymphatic drainage too.

infinity = immortality

I use everlasting energetically as a way to connect us to our immortality. The Fountain of Youth lives within us if we are able to see we are simply a manifestation of the energy of our spirits. Our souls will return to the oneness of the universe when our mortal bodies fade away. It’s seems so poetic to use the french word ‘immortelle’ for this beautiful oil, and I encourage you to use it with this thought in mind.

The Fountain of Youth by Lucas Cranach the Elder. pic via en.wikipedia.com

The Fountain of Youth by Lucas Cranach the Elder c 1546 pic via en.wikipedia.com

Here a a few recipes for our sweet immortelle:

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 articles “Ratios for Blending Essential Oils – A Reminder of the Basics” and “Aromatherapy – It’s Easy as 1 2 3”

“Sophia Loren”

Be as beautiful as this amazing lady who has said the Fountain of Youth lies in your creativity-

Everlasting 3% 12 drops

Rosewood 3 drops

—————————————————————————————————————————————

“Immortality”

Enjoy life in this moment for it will change form soon –

Everlasting 3% 9 drops

Sage 1 drop

Pink Grapefruit 4 drops

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

“50 is the New 30”

Be young through the expression of your unique qualities, and youthful looking skin –

Everlasting 9 drops

Palmarosa 3 drops

Lavender 2 drops

—————————————————————————————————————————————

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

Death – A Tarot Card Reading with Essential Oils

Posted on October 9, 2013 by suzannerbanks

Death – XIII in from the Rider-Waite deck

DEATH! Don’t freak out. This card is a little gruesome but in the end the messages are positive. The design and imagery are confronting but it doesn’t mean you are going to die (right now), however we will all die from our mortal lives at some time.

What do you think it means? It’s about a cycle, a situation or an emotional state ending. It’s a BIG ending, a purge, and it is not without difficulty. Notice that Death is riding a white horse which shows there is positivity and movement – movement toward something new. The sun is also rising showing there is light at the end of this death. The images on this card are similar to The Sun card too, which is a much happier and brighter card – perhaps it could even be construed as the opposite to death.

what’s next?

So if you are wondering “what’s next?”, perhaps you need to look at patterns and old ways that need to be removed from your life. By detoxing from the old, you will have space to create the new. Many tarot cards carry similar messages but of course it also depends what other cards come up in the reading too. The Death card asks you to make BIG changes, clear the slate and start again.

clear road ahead pic via alatlatequator.wordpress.com

You may need to initiate this change yourself because you are feeling stagnant, or this may be thrust upon you like The Tower card. What essential oils could help you transition?

1. Open The Bottle and Take a Huge Whiff

Juniper – detox, release the unwanted

Rosemary – stimulate your mind to consciously change

Cinnamon – add some sweetness and find what you love in life – follow your dharma

Lavender – garner strength and energy to help you through this change

nourish your skin and create change with oil blends

2. 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 articles “Ratios for Blending Essential Oils – A Reminder of the Basics” and “Aromatherapy – It’s Easy as 1 2 3”

This is a great way to nurture yourself and cover your self with the protective energy of essential oils.

“Change Change Change”

When you need to almost force yourself to make changes –

Cardamom 2 drops

Rosemary 2 drops

Lemon 4 drops

————————————————————————————————————————————–

The sun is always shining somewhere pic via wallpaperswide.com

“Even Though It’s Cloudy, I know the Sun is There”

Try and see the positive side of this big shock –

Peru Balsam 3 drops

Mandarin 3 drops

Rose Geranium 2 drops

—————————————————————————————————————————————

“Remain Calm”

Stay calm and soothe out of control emotions while going through the Death energy –

Marjoram 2 drops

Rose 3% 12 drops * see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

Lime 2 drops

—————————————————————————————————————————————

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

suzannerbanks

scent . intention . consciousness . essential oils

Tag Archives: nourishing aromatherapy body oil

Peppermint Oil! An Oldie but a Goodie!

10 Recipes with Peru Balsam Essential Oil- Myroxylon balsamum

10 Recipes with Indian Sandalwood Essential Oil – Santalum album

The Benefits of Beeswax in a Body Cream

5 Essential Oils to Get You Started with Vigour in 2014

Justice – A Tarot Card Reading with Essential Oils

Marjoram – A Must-Have Essential Oil for the Scent Enthusiast

The Fool – A Tarot Card Reading with Essential Oils

Everlasting Essential Oil Connects us to Our Immortality

Death – A Tarot Card Reading with Essential Oils

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: