Aromatherapy - Grief And Healing The Heart

The healing journey is a very personal process for each of us.

When do we grieve?

When someone close to us dies or someone close gets sick, leaves home, moves far away and more.

There are 4 areas in which the grief process shows itself

1. Feelings- sadness, anxiety, misery, heartache, blame, hurt, frantic, rage, fear, guilt regret, anger.

2. Thoughts- going over and over the past, going through the what if's and if only.

3. Behaviour- yelling for no apparent reason, bursting into tears, talking to self as if the person is there, wear the lost persons clothes or jewellery

4. Physical symptoms- loss of appetite, lethargy, restlessness, sleeping too much, breathlessness, waking through the night or very early, hair loss.

How can we help!

One of the most important things we can do for people who are grieving is to give them a safe place in which to experience and express their pain. It very is important for the person grieving to be able to express their feelings and talk about their loss or traumatic experience. This helps one to feel supported and know that they are not alone, and that they are being heard. Comfort is so important for the grieving person.

Comfort is to soothe in times of distress or sorrow.

Take a moment to think about what essential oils can support you.

What essential oils bring a smile to your face, uplift your emotions and remind you of happy times. Remember essential oils are sourced from an abundant array of flowers, leaves, bark, woods, herbs, spices, fruit and more. They offer their own insights, transitions and healing. As we make our way through different journeys in life these wonderful beauties from nature subtly integrate any changes taking place.

Self care is never a selfish act. It is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have. The gift I was put on Earth to offer to others. Anytime we can listen to our true self, and give it the care it requires. We do not only for ourselves, but also for the many others whose lives we touch.

~Parker Palmer

Here are some suggestions of ways in which you can soothe your emotions, being mindful of the moment.

Sit and be quite breathing slowly and deeply

Have Aromatique Baths while playing some music that you enjoy listening to.

Use your Aromatherapy burners, room or body sprays, remember to choose oils that remind you of happy times and uplift your emotions, giving you courage and support

Take time out for you and your friends

Exercise daily, take walks on the beach or woodlands, hug a tree

Write yourself some positive affirmations

Thomas Moore once said ~ The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.

Affirmations for healing your Heart - Inspired by Robbi Zeck

My heart blossoms with quiet assurance as peace flows through me now.
Paradise is an attitude of the heart, Joy cascades through me now.
Life supports me as I support life; my heart and my wisdom are one.
I love what I do and do what I love.

Essential oils:

Bergamot- balancing, uplifting, gentle, kind, supportive
Basil- strengthening, focus, determination
Chamomile- nurturing, supportive, healing, uplifting
Cedarwood- hold fast, strength, courage
Cinnamon- warming, abundance, supportive
Clary sage- balancing, supportive, embracing, to see clearly
Cypress- transition and transformation, strengthening, courage, cleansing, moving forward
Everlasting- supportive, healing, calming, love
Frankincense- supportive, healing, spiritually cleansing, grounding, comforting, gatherings
Geranium- balancing, calming, supportive, nurturing, uplifting
Ginger- courage, strength, emotionally warming and energising
Grapefruit- boldness, courage, strengthening, cleansing, protection, happiness
Jasmine- supportive, nurturing, balancing, empowering, loving
Juniper- strength, support, expansion and growth
Lavender- nurture, calming, supportive, emotional warmth
Lemon- clarity, happiness, lightness of being,
Lime- happiness, supportive, freshness, bubbly
Mandarin- gentle, caring, support, happiness, calming,
Melissa- for matters or the heart, comfort, heeling, strengthening
Myrtle- supportive, gentle, love
Neroli- supportive, loving, protection, rescue remedy, nurture, matters of the heart, uplifting
Nutmeg- strengthening, warming, courage, emotional pain
Sweet orange- lightness, happiness, fun loving,
Patchouli- grounding, supportive, warming, stability, healing, protective
Rose- love, self love, nurture, calming, protection, balance, support, uplifting
Rosewood- kind, healing, gentle, calming, supportive, grounding
Sandalwood- balance, protection, stability, calming, soothing
Vetiver- grounding, connectedness, protection, strength, balance
Yarrow- nurturing, caring, supportive, gently soothing
Ylang ylang- happy, vibrant, balancing, heart oil, love

Aromatherapy Bathing to Nurture Your Soul

3 drops rose, 2 drops Jasmine, 1 drop vetiver of sandalwood
4 drops bergamot, 2 drops geranium, 2 drops patchouli
2 drop ylang ylang, 3 drops lemon, 2 drops rosewood

Burner recipes to Uplift and Balance your Emotions

4 drops bergamot, 3 drops sweet orange, 2 drops cardamom
4 drops mandarin, 2 drops lavender, 3 drops geranium
3 drops clary sage, 2 drops geranium, 2 drops neroli, 2drops sandalwood (night time blend)

Room and Body Sprays to Shift Your Energy

In a 100ml glass bottle, coloured or opaque fill it half way with filtered water add your essential oils and then top up the bottle with more filtered water, place on spray top, gently shake and spray around the room and around your body.

10 drops each lavender, geranium, juniper
15 drops lemon, 5 drops sandalwood, 10 drops myrtle
10 drops each grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, 3 drops geranium, 5 drops rose

Remember that grieving is a part of the healing process, I am sending you my love and support, be courageous, face your pain and allow your heart to heal so that you may move forward and love some more!

I wish you smiles, happiness, and love.

Original article

Intimacy Opens Your Heart to Beautiful Lovemaking

Often a subject that some may find difficult to talk about, yet secretly desire to.

Discover how to awaken your senses and experience the passion within you through the art of using essential oils and other delights for love-making.

Here, I will share recipes and essential oils, however keep in mind that our own smell preference is vital. We each are individuals and may have some aromas that we either love or simply cannot stand to smell for whatever reason and is not always known. Be mindful of the essential oils you choose to use and make sure that both you and your partner find the chosen scents pleasing.

The Senses

Smell plays such an important role in our everyday living and if we enjoy what we are smelling it will assist in improving our health and wellbeing as well as stimulate our senses. Smell can evoke pleasure, on all levels emotionally, psychologically and physiologically. When choosing your essential oils for love play take the time to smell them, take note of how you feel, what you feel, are you smiling, do they do it for you?

Taste how sweet and satisfying it is when we eat our favourite food, this alone can be a sensual experience. Some of my favourite sensual fruits are figs, pomegranates, juicy mangoes, strawberries and lychees. Chocolate of course is always associated to love. Spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and chilli are very exotic. Seafood especially caviar, crayfish and oysters can be incorporated by having a sensual dining experience. The colour, texture, aroma, flavour and look can all give a hint of sensuality. Even the way you eat. The simple act of eating with your fingers can be very sensual. Experience tasting morsels of food shared with your partner by feeding one another.

The power of touch, slow gentle caressing, massaging, using feather light fingers or feathers themselves. On hot balmy days and nights gently massaging with an ice cube can be a very sensual experience. There is something to be said in having lush cushions, silky sheets and soft thick blankets to lie on.

Having beautiful things to look at such as a fire on a cold chilly eve, fragrant candles burning to create a soft ambient light. On hot balmy days and nights hanging curtains that are light and gently move in the breeze, essential oils diffusing and having a bunch of beautiful flowers on display. Setting the scene taking and into account the visual affect will have a positive impact.

Hearing music is a must, nothing like heavy metal where you feel like the walls are shaking, well that could work for some people. There is so much beautiful music available to choose from something soft and sensual or some can be very romantic and even music that evokes a more passionate tone, we all have our favourites.

Setting the Scene

Create a magical space for your sensory awakening. Above I have touched on the senses, use some of the examples to help create your magical space. Let us start with soft lighting using fragrant candles or t-lites in pretty glass jars placed all around the room. Incense and essential oils can be burning as the aromas gently disperse and enhance our feelings, music to help with relaxing and getting into the spirit of the moment. The temperature of the room should be warm and cosy. Fragrant fresh bed linen, soft comfy pillows and cushions, you may have a fire going in winter or a beautiful breeze gently blowing through an open window on hot balmy nights. Flowers or petals can be scattered, a bowl of exotic fruits and vegetables prepared and ready to indulge with. Warm, spicy mulled wine or champagne with Hibiscus flowers and syrup to sip on.

Be creative and allow Venus the Goddess of Love and Beauty to guide you

Conscious Breathing

Here is an exercise that you can do together. Sit opposite one another either on the floor, lying down facing each other or sitting on a chair if that is more comfortable, keeping your back straight. Place one hand on your partner's heart chakra. Breathing in and out at the same time, slowly and rhythmically count to 10 for each breath, 5 on the in breath and 5 on the out breath, do this for ten minutes or more. This will connect you on all levels spiritually, emotionally and physically. As you breathe together you will feel the flow and connect as one. From here you may enjoy gently caressing each other, gently playing and keeping the connection with your breathing.

Breakfast in Bed

Imagine waking up and your bed has been sprinkled with fragrant rose petals or freshly picked jasmine flowers! What a beautiful fragrant and pleasurable experience. A glass of champagne with guava juice and breakfast in bed, eating sensual fruits and chocolate croissants.

Bathing

Water Play can be cheeky, sensual and exotic, a prelude to a sensual massage. Share some juicy mangos, grapes and strawberries as you sip on champagne. Gently wash each other. Explore each other and take your time.

Sensual Massage

Start by applying your essential oil blend (not too much) all over your partner's body as you apply your fragrant and sensual massage blend take your time to feel the softness and smooth texture of your lovers skin, do this with some pressure, however not to firm. Ask if the pressure is to light or to firm, we all have our own preferences. Explore and enjoy your partner's body. Breathing is important, breathe and caress with intention and rhythm. Move with the music as you caress allowing your imagination to flow. To finish massaging, use a large soft feather, your finger tips, a soft fragrant flower, or a soft fluffy mitten, gently, lightly moving from top to toe.

The Erotic Banquet

Sensual Fruit ~ Pomegranates, juicy mangoes and peaches, grapes, lychees, figs drizzled with rosewater honey.

Sumptuous Finger Food ~ shredded crayfish, crab meat and fish, oysters and caviar, asparagus, sliced salad greens dripping with your favourite dressing.

Sweet Sensations ~ Belgian chocolate mousse with cream and fresh berries, dark soft Belgian truffles coated in cinnamon sugar and cocoa, chocolate waffles or pancakes, drizzled with fresh pouring cream and rosewater honey.

Scented Notes and Love Letters

Use beautiful parchment paper and handwrite with a fountain or calligraphy pen, you can also add a drop or two of essential oil to the pen ink. Place a drop of your lover's favourite essential oil or perfume that you wear on your love letters and for all of you beautiful sensual women leave a lipstick kiss as your signature.

Sensual Fragrances Captured from Plants

Rose, Jasmine, Tuberose, Cinnamon, Ginger Co2, Neroli, Sandalwood, Cacoa Co2, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli, Pimento Berry, Basil Tulsi, Geranium, Nutmeg, cardamom, Vanilla Co2, Peru Balsam, Clary Sage, Black Pepper and Coriander.

Recipe for a Seductive Champagne Cocktail

In a Champagne flute place 1 hibiscus flower and a teaspoon of hibiscus syrup or a spoon full of frozen crushed raspberries and half a teaspoon of coconut sugar. Top up with your favourite bubbly!

Recipe for Belgian Chocolate Truffles

400g of finely chopped dark Belgian chocolate
180ml of fresh pouring cream

Good quality cocoa powder, organic coconut sugar and cinnamon powder to dust, you can even add a pinch on chilli powder! Or keep it simple and use cocoa powder.

Shredded coconut is also a wonderful coating and gives added texture.

Place the chocolate and cream in a saucepan over low heat and stir until completely melted and smooth. Line a bowl with non-stick baking powder and pour this mixture in, place in the fridge and leave for around 3 hours or until set. Using a teaspoon roll the truffle mix into balls and dust with the spiced cocoa powder. Place on a beautiful plate with dried pink rose petal.

You don't have to wait for Valentines day to enjoy sensuality!

Original article