The wonders of Thieves oil

Ahhh…. Thieves essential oil blend is one of my favorites to use in my diffuser, especially this time of year when the onslaught of colds and flus are upon us! If you don’t know, Thieves blends can vary but, most contain essential oils of Rosemary, Lemon (orange), Clove, Cinnamon and Eucalyptus. Each oil is effective on their own, but together they do pack a powerful punch. It is said that its name comes from the thieves that would use the blend to guard against contracting the bubonic plague whilst robbing the sick and dying. Whatever the reason I, like many people, will add a few drops in a diffuser when the germs start milling around and inhale it’s splendor.  This versatile blend can be used in more than one way during flu season! You can add it to a carrier oil and massage it into your feet, chest and back to ease congestion. Four of the five essential oils are warming and are quite soothing. I will often add a drop or two of pine, or my favorite, Siberian fir. Pine has long been noted with opening up bronchial tubes helping ease spastic coughing. You can also dilute Thieves in a spray bottle and spritz a little on your pillow, car, even on your hands in place of sanitizers. You can add to your bath salts with a little frankincense for a therapeutic soak in the tub. I mean the uses just go on and on and I haven’t started with the cleaning uses! There are a host of studies that show a drastic drop in air borne microorganisms in as little as twelve minutes with Thieves blend in a diffuser! That being said, before you begin dumping it on, always, ALWAYS dilute and use in moderation. Undiluted and over use can cause contact sensitivity and skin irritations. So, try a little Thieves this season and help clear away those germs!

Tell those stories

As I embark on my third Brave Soul Day, a day to celebrate the bravery in all of us, I am reminded of how EVERY person has a story, an inner world that we are unaware of. It’s an amazing thing to be a witness to the healing that happens when people are able to come together, open up and share their stories. We all have shadows, parts of ourselves that we view as unpleasant, and all of us feel that we are the only one, but of course no one is immune to idiosyncrasies of life. The amount of energy that we put into trying to stuff down our unpleasantries, our stories, takes a great toll on our health and our being as a whole. It is the voicing of our stories and working through them, that help us heal. Sharing our stories, our feelings and view helps to lighten the load and gives others permission to do the same. Have you ever been stewing on something that is keeping you up at night and consuming your thoughts, and the moment you actually voice it out loud, it may not be resolved, but you instantly feel lighter? All of a sudden just hearing it out loud gave you a new perspective? That’s what sharing those stories and hurts does. There is something that happens that instantly changes the energy behind it, reducing the charge. I won’t lie, it’s not easy. It takes a whole lot of nurturing, support and patience, from ourselves and others. It’s admittedly uncomfortable, even painful. Every person feels that they are alone in their struggles. Every person has felt that they need to do it on their own and suffer in silence. Well, we are not alone and silence actually perpetuates the suffering. There is always love and support, we need only to be willing to accept it. No one does this life alone and no one is free from the feelings that come with their stories. We all have our dark clouds, but behind those clouds, I know there is magic just waiting to be set free!

What is it you do again?

What is it you do again?

As a Reiki Master, one of the most common questions I get asked is, “What is Reiki and what is it that you do?” Reiki is working with energy. Nikola Tesla was noted as saying, 'If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.' How right he was, because at the end of the day, every thought, action, belief, emotion and physicality is beautiful Energy!

Although trying to explain energetic practices is like trying to explain theories in quantum physics, let’s try a simple analogy. Imagine you are a tricycle. You have the body and 3 tires (emotion, mental and spiritual/belief) When maintained, everything works great. When we neglect our tricycle, then we have issues. We can wash, paint and detail the body of our trike all we want, but if we don’t maintain even one of our tires then we simply don’t ride as well. If you ignore the value of the trike body, then too will things eventually deteriorate. Everything is connected. Ignore any of your processes and it does show up in discomforting ways. Reiki practitioners help you to realign all of your energetic processes, bringing the body, the mind, emotions and spirit back into harmony. We work with the energetic field outside the body down to the cells within. We do this by allowing ourselves to be conduits of nurturing and compassionate energy. We help you to relax, because it is only in a relaxed state can the body heal. We awaken the recipient to their own natural ability to listen, trust and heal themselves. That’s right. Your practitioner doesn’t do the work for you, we guide and support you in your healing journey, which is why energy practices work brilliantly in conjunction with other treatments you may be involved in. Reiki is all encompassing and as a Reiki practitioner, I help you see your own powerful self.

 

Too much of a good thing

Too much of a good thing.

Oh, how I love essential oils! They have so many applications from the most notable being aroma therapy to helping ease our aches, pains and a host of other ailments. Of course, we have a tendency to assume that because they are natural that they are totally safe.

Not quite.

 There are a growing number of concerns with the safety of essential oils, and rightfully so. Essential oils are concentrated forms of herbs/plants. It is the difference between enjoying 1 small bouquet of lavender or filling your entire house to the rafters with lavender. Too much can have adverse affects. Used undiluted on the skin can cause serious reactions like light/sun sensitivity, rashes, and even burns. Too much in our diffusers also create havoc with our senses. In this day and age with the overly scented ‘Everything’ that’s out there, it messes with more than just our sense of smell. From developing scent sensitivities, asthma, headaches, to mental and emotional disruptions, the overuse has us quite disorientated. The old thinking of the 80’s, more is better, does not apply. In reality that mentality should have been left behind with our big hair and Aqua net hairspray.

So how do we use them safely?

Get familiar with your oils. Ask someone that works with them regularly. Research them, and don’t just trust the brand sites. Their main concern are sales. Always, always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil of your choice when applying to your skin.  Read your diffuser manuals. Mine says to use between 3 and 5 drops. I guarantee you most people add far more than the recommended amount. When used properly, essential oils can be a useful aid to any daily routine. They can lift us up, calm us down and have the potential to aid us in managing and healing our ailments. As with anything in life, moderation is key.

What in the Soap!?

What in the Soap!?

I am often asked, 'What soap will help with my dry skin, acne, oily skin...etc. Is it safe for my kids, babies and so on.’? Simply put, switching to a natural soap already puts you ahead of the game. Commercial soaps contain a lot of unfriendly stuff, which is why your skin will often feel tight and dry with them. My basic recipe is the same for most bars of soap, because there is no need to over think it. You need your soap to be cleansing and moisturizing, not stripping and drying, even with oily skin.  I am happy to say, that when it comes to soap and any skin and body care, simplicity is best. When purchasing a handmade bar of soap, keep in mind the more 'luxurious and extravagant' the proposed additives are, the higher the price. I do enjoy the look and feel of tea bits and flowers in my soaps. It is esthetically appealing, but in the end, it goes down the drain! We literally lather up and watch our soap scoot down the drain. Our skin is absorbent, but it’s not quite as quick as Sham Wow! It is like buying a great herbal tea for the healing properties and giving the tea bag a quick dip in your hot water and then tossing it out. The benefits come from the steeping, that’s why I like to keep the higher end oils and additives for the after-care part of one’s shower. Clays, particular oils and herbs are fantastic for your skin when they are allowed to sit on the skin as a mask, herbal astringent, lotion or body oil, but there is little benefit in soaps. It’s your after-care products, when the nutrients can be absorbed, where you yield the benefits. Simply made, hand crafted soaps, are safe and effective for most skin issues and for any age group. Your skin enjoys simplicity.