Aromatherapy

"Science is always discovering odd scraps of magical wisdom and making a tremendous fuss about its cleverness." - Aleister Crowley

What if I told you that you could inhale the aroma of a magical potion made from an enchanted plant and it would magically create change in your life? You might think I'm a little out there. You might think I read too many fairy tales. (Probably true.) You might say I'm crazy, and you wouldn't be the first. But stay with me, I have something very real here.

These magical plants are no secret. The potion recipes are not kept hidden. The ingredients are not difficult to obtain. In fact, they can be found in our own backyards. They are all around us in abundance and we have full access to their magical powers whenever we want them. And all we have to do is inhale their wonderful scents and change will occur. Yep, it's true.

Throughout history humans have been aware of the power of nature and the effect plants have on our minds, bodies and emotions.

In early civilizations, the rarest, costliest and most aromatic plants were offered in sacrifice to goddesses and gods.

Fragrant plants were worn and the fragrances inhaled to heal the body

The Native American culture burns incense, sage and other herbs in ritual, ceremony and prayer, to heighten spiritual awareness, clear negative energy and as a
spiritual cleanser.

The seductive aroma of certain elegant flowers were worn by maidens to attract love.

During World Wars I and II essential plant oils were used to treat battle wounds, burns, and psychiatric problems.

Specific scents were utilized in religious ritual to attain the correct state of consciousness.

The healing benefits of plants has been common knowledge for many ages. We nourish our bodies with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from plants through the foods we eat. Plants and herbs have been used for their medicinal values for many years. All modern medicine was derived from the herbal lore of native people. Many drugs
commonly used today are of herbal origin, and most contain at least one active
ingredient derived from plant material.

Plants are storehouses of energy. They are Nature's most precious gifts. They are a natural source of energy from the earth. They are resources to be used for our physical, emotional and spiritual well being. Everything we need to heal our physical, mental, and spiritual ailments is right here on earth!

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine in which pure essential oils from flowers, herbs, plants and trees are in haled to produce a desired physiological, psychological or emotional effect for the purpose of affecting a person's well-being and health. It is an ancient healing art based in nature and it affects the whole person - mind, body and spirit.

The sense of smell is extremely powerful. It is estimated that the average person can identify over 10,000 different odors and scents. A smell can instantly affect our state of mind and cause us to feel a certain way. Science has proven that scent has physiological and psychological effects. When a scent is inhaled, an area of the brain called the limbic system is activated. The limbic area of our brains is also called the emotional brain. It is where memories are stored, emotions are processed, and moods are stimulated. This is why smells can trigger our emotions and alter our moods.

Each plant essence has an effect on our body, our mind (thinking, memory, and emotions), and our spirit. The essences of plant oils can uplift our mood, relax our bodies and calm our minds. As we inhale all their wonderful scents, they can energize us and increase our physical energy or sooth and relax us and promote meditation and restful sleep. They can ease tension and stress, increase mental alertness, and take us to a new level of spiritual awareness.

We know that all change starts from within. This is the basis for the law of attraction. Thoughts are energy. Energy forms matter. Therefore, our thoughts form our reality. We are conscious creators of our own realities. Everything begins in the mind. If the sense of smell can alter the mind, can it not also alter reality?
Yes it can! We can work with the essences of Mother Earth's flowers, plants, leaves, and woods to create change in our lives. When we breathe in the powerful scent and the emotional effect is triggered, the energy is set out into the atmosphere to manifest the change.

You can use essential oils to maximize the effectiveness of any change you wish to create. Use aromatherapy to assist in meditation and visualization when you want
to bring about a specific need or change such as attracting love, a new job,
increasing financial abundance, healing yourself from illness, or to protect
yourself, your home and your family from harm.

By carefully selecting a fragrance with intention and inhaling it with concentration and visualization, true magic occurs. When we use the true essence of nature with visualization, we are making the most of earth's plant energies and using their subtle powers through our own powers of thought. Ah! See, I don't sound so crazy now, do I?

To get true therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy all natural ingredients must be used. Read about the benefits of some familiar scents below..

Cinnamon
Physical Benefits-Energizing, elevates your mood, a good "pick me up" Good for exhaustion, & low blood pressure, relieving respiratory infections, has antiseptic properties that figh virus, bacteria and fungus, relieves cold and flu symptoms, relieves premenstrual syndrome, improves circulation.
Mental/Emotional Benefits-Warms your mind and emotions, dispels feelings of loneliness. Encourages creativity & expression. Supports good verbal communication.
Magical/Metaphysical/Spiritual Uses- Energizing, warming, used in drawing prosperity and psychic awareness and to ward off negativity.

Eucalyptus

Physical Benefits Light and lemony, is a great air freshener and good
for clearing the air and killing germs. Stimulates the mind to heal the body,
good for use in sick rooms. Used as a decongestant and cough suppressant, and It
has a anti-fungal property and is great for removing musty smells such as
basements, cigarette smoke and is also recommended as an insect repellant
Mental/Emotional Benefits-Mental clarity, energizing, helps focus
and concentration, clears negative energy and allows for positive thoughts and
productive thinking.
Magical/Metaphysical/Spiritual Uses Use to purify a room or house of negative psychic energy, particularly when people have been engaged in verbal, emotional or physical combat. Induces psychic healing & protection.



Grapefruit

Physical Benefits- Refreshes and energizes the body, stimulates
detoxification, is an airborne disinfectant
Mental/Emotional Benefits- Lifts melancholy, frustration, irritability and moodiness.
Magical/Metaphysical/Spiritual Uses- Self purification, for transformation of heavy emotions to renewed optimism. Reminds us to be forgiving ourselves and others, cleansing, refreshing, uplifting and purifying.

Jasmine
Physical Benefits- Muscular pain, painful periods, relievs anxiety and
nervous exhaustion, helps improve sex life, libido and impotence
Mental/Emotional Benefits- Lifts melancholy, frustration, irritability and moodiness. relieves repressed feelings, bitter, jealousy, low self-esteem, guilt, emotional abuse.
Magical/Metaphysical/Spiritual Uses - Spirituality, improves sleep and psychic dreams, peace, sex and love, heightened spiritual awareness and psychic connection with higher source energy.

Lavender

Physical Benefits- relieves stress, tension and headache, promotes
restful sleep, healing to the skin, lowers high blood pressure, helps breathing
and is used for disinfecting.
Mental/Emotional Benefits- balances emotions, relieves stress, calms strong emotions such as frustration, irritability, nervous anxiety, panic, hysteria, and insomnia. Soothes the heart, allowing for a release of anger and volatile emotions that lead to severe depression.
Magical/Metaphysical/Spiritual Uses - Associated with spiritual love, encourages forgiveness and compassion, allows for creative expression of ones individual self. Heals and releases all discord and conflicts.

Lemon
Physical Benefits- uplifting, refreshing, energizing cleansing. It balances the nervous system, is used as a disinfectant, for purifying the body.
Mental/Emotional Benefits-Improves memory and concentration and helps relieve bitter resentment, distrust, irrational thinking and apathy.
Magical/Metaphysical/Spiritual Uses - Spiritual healing, purification, purification, longevity, and love.

Lemongrass

Physical Benefits- vitalizing, cleansing, refreshing, uplifting, toning, good for concentration, diuretic, eases irritability and headaches, good for colic and indigestion
Mental/Emotional Benefits - Antidepressant, diuretic, Magical/Metaphysical/Spiritual Uses - Increases psychic awareness, used for purification

Orange
Physical Benefits- Brightens mood, evokes happiness, reduces stressed, cleansing, used as an environmental disinfectant
Mental/Emotional Benefits - Relieves stress, apathy, emotional abuse, worry, addiction, burnout, hopelessness, slef-consciousness.
Magical/Metaphysical/Spiritual Uses -Self purification, physical energy, joy, spiritual energy.

Patchouli



Physical Benefits, regenerates tissue, used as a fungicidal and
anti-depressant, antiseptic, increases libido and relieves PMS symptoms.
Mental/Emotional Benefits - exotic, rich, sensual, seductive, aids in anxiety and depression
Magical/Metaphysical/Spiritual Uses Used to increase sexual energy, fertility and prosperity
Sandalwood


Physical Benefits - Promotes calmness and serenity to lift melancholy,
enhances meditations, heals the skin, helps breathing, for calming and reducing
stress, restful sleep, disinfecting, and as an aphrodisiac.
Mental/Emotional Benefits -Relieves possessivenes and lack of forgiveness, helps to let go of negative emotions and dwelling on the past, good to use for cynicism, insecurity, loneliness, fear and nightmares.
Magical/Metaphysical/Spiritual Uses - Self purification, physical energy, joy, spiritual energy. Induces spirituality and the peace of religious union. It lulls the conscious mind and prepares us for rituals of all kinds, it creates the proper mood. Can also be used as an aphrodisiac in stimulating sexual activity.