One of the challenges for a modern Pagan is to take the sense of the
sacred, the elation and joy we experience in ritual circle and weave it into everyday life. Aromatherapy has always been a cornerstone for me in threading enchantment and happiness throughout everything I do and it is achieved through both the types of scents I choose but also the divine experience of of intermittently smelling an ephemeral scent throughout my day.
Take this week. Work was proving somewhat stressful and challenging. I experienced this as feeling this cloak of something unhappy closing in around my bright centre; smothering me. At times like this there is always a special trio of oils I turn to:
Lemon - As I have said before, this does what you expect and smells of lemon. It's powerful citrus scent is like experiencing a bottle of sunshine and it is the most joyful, carefree and uplifting oil I have ever used.
Lavender - a clean and herbal scent which is something of a cure all. It balances your mind and body, de-stresses and it a generally, aids relaxation and reduces stress. Really something of a wonder herb!
Rosemary another clean and herbal scent but with an extra kick of something, Rosemary wakes up my whole brain. If I need something to get me focussed and to keep me sharp then Rosemary is always my first port of call. The herb has traditionally been associated with good memory - even in Shakepeare's time when Ophelia says "There's Rosemary, that is for remembrance".
On tough days at work I use a combination of either Lemon and Lavender or Lemon and Rosemary dabbed on the neckline of my clothing, perhaps on a seam where the oil won't show but where I can smell it easily. In both cases the Lemon is a really bright and uplifting scent which makes my mood light and joyful.
- In combination with Lavender it clears my mind but acts as a
gentle stress reliever.
- In combination with Rosemary it doesn't have the same stress
relieving punch but my mind works like a clear and clean
supercharged machine.
By using the scent on my clothes it wafts around me all day and I am constantly absorbing the uplifting, clear and stress relieving
effects. Everytime I consciously notice the scent I use it as a
memory trigger. This reminds me to bring myself back to my centre of calm and joy and this happens several times in the day.
In this way there is an ambient effect and more powerful individual instances of mindfulness. I have often heard other people remarking on the lovely smell and so in some way I feel like I can be the centre of a wave of joyful calm in the office.
My only words of warning on this gorgeous practice are:
1. The oils can stain your clothes so be careful about where you apply them, you might prefer to use a tissue tucked in somewhere.
2. Oils such as Lemon can irritate the skin so don't put it somewhere where the oil will be able to soak into your skin.
3. Don't use the same oils everyday as your nose will become accustomed to the scent and you won't be able to smell it any more. Using more and more oil will solve this temporarily but will
get expensive and eventually you'll end up overpowering the office.
Better to only do it a couple of days a week for maximum effect.
Happy Scenting!
sacred, the elation and joy we experience in ritual circle and weave it into everyday life. Aromatherapy has always been a cornerstone for me in threading enchantment and happiness throughout everything I do and it is achieved through both the types of scents I choose but also the divine experience of of intermittently smelling an ephemeral scent throughout my day.
Take this week. Work was proving somewhat stressful and challenging. I experienced this as feeling this cloak of something unhappy closing in around my bright centre; smothering me. At times like this there is always a special trio of oils I turn to:
Lemon - As I have said before, this does what you expect and smells of lemon. It's powerful citrus scent is like experiencing a bottle of sunshine and it is the most joyful, carefree and uplifting oil I have ever used.
Lavender - a clean and herbal scent which is something of a cure all. It balances your mind and body, de-stresses and it a generally, aids relaxation and reduces stress. Really something of a wonder herb!
Rosemary another clean and herbal scent but with an extra kick of something, Rosemary wakes up my whole brain. If I need something to get me focussed and to keep me sharp then Rosemary is always my first port of call. The herb has traditionally been associated with good memory - even in Shakepeare's time when Ophelia says "There's Rosemary, that is for remembrance".
On tough days at work I use a combination of either Lemon and Lavender or Lemon and Rosemary dabbed on the neckline of my clothing, perhaps on a seam where the oil won't show but where I can smell it easily. In both cases the Lemon is a really bright and uplifting scent which makes my mood light and joyful.
- In combination with Lavender it clears my mind but acts as a
gentle stress reliever.
- In combination with Rosemary it doesn't have the same stress
relieving punch but my mind works like a clear and clean
supercharged machine.
By using the scent on my clothes it wafts around me all day and I am constantly absorbing the uplifting, clear and stress relieving
effects. Everytime I consciously notice the scent I use it as a
memory trigger. This reminds me to bring myself back to my centre of calm and joy and this happens several times in the day.
In this way there is an ambient effect and more powerful individual instances of mindfulness. I have often heard other people remarking on the lovely smell and so in some way I feel like I can be the centre of a wave of joyful calm in the office.
My only words of warning on this gorgeous practice are:
1. The oils can stain your clothes so be careful about where you apply them, you might prefer to use a tissue tucked in somewhere.
2. Oils such as Lemon can irritate the skin so don't put it somewhere where the oil will be able to soak into your skin.
3. Don't use the same oils everyday as your nose will become accustomed to the scent and you won't be able to smell it any more. Using more and more oil will solve this temporarily but will
get expensive and eventually you'll end up overpowering the office.
Better to only do it a couple of days a week for maximum effect.
Happy Scenting!
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