A small evergreen tree, the aromatic Amyris is native to Asia, Haiti and other Caribbean islands, as well as Central America. Patience is required, as this tree that grows to be 2-4 meters needs approximately 30 years before it produces its sweet essential oil.

Amyris’ woody, balsamic aroma is relaxing and calming to the nerves.  Its cooling action also helps to relieve frustration and sexual tension as well as general stress and irritability. The scent is both uplifting and soothing with a strong anti-inflammatory action. This oil both slows the aging process and regenerates the skin, making it an excellent choice for facial care blends.

Amyris, also known as ‘West Indian Sandalwood,’ is a great choice for use as a base note fixative oil. Commonly found in soaps and other ‘Sandalwood’ products in place of ‘true’ Sandalwood, Amyris supports vibrant physical health by helping to remove physical and etheric toxins that congest and distort the body. An alternative choice in place of the endangered ‘true’ Sandalwood, Amyris is a healthy, inexpensive and sustainable substitute in many aromatherapy applications.

Connected to the planet Venus, Amyris suggests ‘amour’ (love) as she is both calming and nourishing to the heart chakra. Amyris anchors one’s energy in a state of receptivity and openness, thus enhancing the flow of grace by opening the pathways for love, inspiration, and transformation.

Helping us to balance in our natural rhythms and cycles, Amyris aligns us with the feminine energy of the moon. Heightening intuition, creativity, and imagination, Amyris is an excellent oil for dreamers, artists, musicians and poets as she supports them in connecting with creative source energy.

Blood sugar is a very interesting subject…it appears to be distinct and unique in its expression from individual to individual. The health of one’s body and mind is intimately connected to one’s blood sugar balance. Numerous inter-connected factors include but are not limited to: one’s eating patterns (timing, nutritional value of food, ); one’s patterns in relation to movement and rest; the use of stimulants (coffees, teas, white sugars, cooked chocolates, sodas, etc.); stress and cortisol levels; the health of one’s organs of digestion and absorption; the release of toxins from the system; and one’s patterns of thoughts and emotions.

To the best of it’s ability the bodies natural regulatory patterns are constantly seeking a harmonious balance. A spacious and investigative look at one’s life can prove beneficial in the quest for optimal health.
Blood sugar imbalances have been linked to ADD, ADHD, diabetes and hypolglycemia, eating disorders, drug use/abuse, emotional outbursts, obesity, depression, poor test scores, lower athletic performance, immune related illnesses, PMS, fatigue, and many other states of dis-ease including coma and even death. Studies indicate that prison populations have a higher than average levels of blood sugar imbalances.

Craving sweets is an indication that we need more minerals from living foods sources and more usable protein from high vibration sources. Additionally these cravings can have emotional and psycho-spiritual indications.  Ex. A feeling of lack of ’sweetness’ in one’s life.

Seeds and greens both provide high levels of bio-available proteins. The best seeds are flax, sunflower, pumpkin, and sesame. On average these seeds are 2 parts fat to one part protein.

Adrenal Health

Adrenal glands are no bigger than a walnut and weigh less than a grape. They sit like a tiny ‘pyramid’ on top of each kidney. Their location is spelled out in their name; ’ad’ ‘renal’ means ‘over’ or ‘above’ the ‘kidney’.

Important ‘control centers’ for many of the body’s hormones These powerful endocrine glands manufacture and secrete steroid hormones including coritsol, DHEA, estrogen, and testosterone, as well as adrenaline all of which are essential to ones health, vitality, and overall well-being.

The adrenal hormones support and affect every tissue, organ, and gland in your body. Their main purpose is to enable one’s body and mind to deal with various forms of stress including injury, disease, and adaptability to situations. The adrenals (largely) determine the energy response of your body to every change in one’s internal and external environment, in fact, every cell in your body responds to signals from the adrenals.

One of the essential functions of your adrenal glands is to draw all your body’s resources into “fight or flight” mode by increasing the production of adrenaline and various other hormones. I would like to re-name this response “fight, flight, or freedom”. When the adrenals are healthy one’s ability to respond to situations appropriately is enhanced. This renewed freedom allows for a whole host of possibilities.

When healthy, your adrenals can instantly increase your heart rate and blood pressure, release energy stores for immediate use, sharpen your senses, slow digestion and various other secondary functions. This function is extremely important in emergency situations.

Oils that uplift the Spirit

A fantastic and mysterious relationship occurs between plants and their environment. The plants bodies absorb and alchemically transform the soil, water, sunlight, moonlight, and air. The bodies of the plants convert the elements of the Universe into elegant art forms, foods, medicines, and fragrances. The plants create their aromatic fragrance from the nutrients of the soil and its symbiotic relationship with its environment. The rhythm of the celestial heavens is cultivated by the plant as it develops under the radiant sun, the luminous moon and the sparkling stars. The natural flow of rain, underground rivers and streams, as well as mountainous snowmelt brings the living water into the plant. The winds and breezes blow the air and ether around the plant as she continues to refine her beauty and gifts. Aromatic plants and flowers are arguably some of nature’s most incredible creations. The earth’s garden of plants and flowers is glorious and vast containing highly effective medicines for every nature of physical and non-physical ailment.

In humans, the olfactory (sense of smell) region is an area of about 2 and a half square centimeters and is located in each of the two nasal cavities between and below the eyes. Containing approximately fifty million primary sensory receptor cells, this region is highly intricate. Incredibly, the olfactory sense is 10,000 times more perceptive than the sense of taste and is able to distinguish a nearly infinite number of element compounds at very low concentrations. When compared to sight, we find that olfaction is more complex. In order to span the visible spectrum humans’ use only three types of photoreceptors; in contrast, the sense of smell relies on hundreds of distinct classes of receptors.

Wise Woman skin care: using essential oils for natural healing.

Wise women will notice that therapeutic grade pure essential oils are often found in the highest quality beauty care products designed for mature skin. It is known that essential oils have many beneficial and therapeutic properties including the stimulation of cellular metabolism, the regeneration of tissues, reduction of oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory effects, as well as various hormone-like activity. These known benefits are the therapeutic fundamentals for wise woman topical support of the health and beauty of aging skin. Not only are these natural (nature made) essential oils good for the skin, they are much kinder to the planet than synthetic concoctions made in a laboratory and the results of using pure therapeutic grade essential oils on one’s skin can certainly be as profound. Beyond these obvious benefits, the wise woman (that’s you) can make a skin care blend that is precisely suited to her skin’s personal needs and at a fraction of the cost of the high-end synthetic blends. Many of the ingredients that are required are available locally at your health food store. The more exotic items found either on the internet or through mail order from providers of therapeutic-grade aromatherapy and apothecary supplies. As a curious woman you may ask, “What makes essential oils and their complementary carrier oils so effective for natural skin care?” The answer is found in nature herself. It happens that their elemental structures of the plant oils are beautifully and decidedly compatible with that of our skin. The truth is, essential oils are easily absorbed through the various layers of the skin and even through the skin’s individual cell walls. This compatibility makes them extremely simple to create and use your own formulas.

Evidence shows that the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, Japanese, Russians, and Indians all worked on the feet as a tool to encourage good health. Originally known as ‘reflex zone therapy’, Reflexology is a holistic healing method that involves pressure and massage of the reflex points found on the feet and/or the hands. Reflexology teaches that one’s vital energy circulates between the organs of the body, permeating every living cell and tissue. If the energy becomes “blocked”, the part of the body relating to the blockage is affected. These reflexes found on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hands reflect the health of the whole organism. Through stimulation of the circulatory and lymphatic systems, and by encouraging the release of toxins, Reflexology supports the body in healing itself.

A method for “activating the healing powers of the body”, modern Reflexology is both a science and an art. As a science, it requires careful study, practice, technical knowledge, and skill. As a healing art, Reflexology works best when the therapist works with patience, dedication, intention, and (most importantly) loving care.

Reflexology is not a “foot massage”. Reflexology does not diagnose illness. Reflexology does not treat specific diseases. However, when combined with sound healing practices, reflexology can help to facilitate healing.

Many benefits of Reflexology:

• Stress Reduction and Relaxation- Reflexology assists in alleviating the effects of stress by inducing deep relaxation. The nervous system is allowed to rest and consequently functions in a more balanced state. As the body moves toward homeostasis, healing can take effect.

• Cleanses toxins and impurities from the body- Gravity pulls toxins downward. Inorganic waste material (such as uric acid and calcium crystals) can accumulate in bottom of the feet. An experienced Reflexologist can break up these crystals with various reflexology techniques.

Beginner’s Guide To Using Aromatherapy With Children
Essential oils are pure aromatic plant essences - they are distilled from flowers, fruit, leaves, resins, roots, seeds, and wood. The are used for their healing properties the world over. We are blessed to have fabulous resources for essential oils here in the United States - but with this comes with some important cautions: Only some of the essential oils available are suitable for children; others are not suitable for children and some are even dangerous to children (children with epilepsy should not come in contact with stimulating essential oils).

When used correctly however, essential oils can be of great benefit, and will not conflict with your child’s medically prescribed drugs. Always research the oil of choice thoroughly before using with your infant or child - ask advice from a qualified practitioner, or see the references at the end of this article.

That said, essential oils can be a wonderful way of supporting your child’s health, happiness and well-being. Essential oils can be very therapeutic and nurturing to both your child and you, the caregiver. Essential oils are used externally (on the outside of the body) in your child’s bath, body lotions, oils, creams, gels, compresses, foot baths, or in a oil warmer. The effects of aromatherapy will generally fall into one of three main categories: 1) Assisting in healing from minor illnesses and accidents, 2) Supporting your child’s overall sense of well-being, and 3) Assisting your child in getting quality rest.

When using essential oils with your child, it is imperative that you find a reputable supplier of high vibration therapeutic-grade essential oils, using organic or wildcrafted varieties when possible. Synthetic copies of oils commonly used in perfumery are not appropriate, and may even be harmful to your child’s health. To maintain efficacy, essential oils should be kept in dark amber or cobalt glass containers, in a dark and cool location, away from the child’s access. Wooden storage boxes from craft or other local stores can make a nice container for the bottles.

”The responsibility of knowledge is to share it’ Hollis Littlecreek, Ojibwe elder.

I am writing this as an opportunity to support the dynamic and diverse energies in each of the women in our lives. As women we encompass many different aspects of the goddess. Initially we are daughters and (perhaps) sisters as well. We are apprentice priestesses and maidens as young ladies and we carry these aspects with us even as we grow and learn and age. We may choose to marry and birth children becoming wives and mothers all the while the daughter aspect, the priestess, and the maiden still inform and present themselves in our lives. All women eventually realize that they are sisters to all other beings and a part of the beautiful matrix of life. In the indigenous Cherokee tradition, it is said that we become an adult at 52 years of age. It is a wholistic approach that it provides ways and means for an individual to live their whole life as a dynamic process of spirituality in action.

Some questions to ask of your heart: Where are the places you have lost or given away your power? What beliefs do you hold that deny your power? What helps you to re-connect to your divine self?

Like each woman, each flower holds a powerful, dynamic, and unique potential. The following flower essences may prove helpful in nourishing, healing, deepening, and expanding your connection to your essence:

Alpine Lily: Alpine Lily flower essence stimulates the integration of the feminine and female selves, promoting circulation between the higher and lower energy centers. The soul learns that its full energy and potential depends of the utilization of the bodily female as well as the spiritual feminine from this flower essence.

Are You Addicted?
The following questions come from the fabulous book, ‘Addiction-Free Naturally’ by. Master Herbalist and Living Foods Educator: Brigitte Mars

1) Do You feel that you don’t want to stop indulging in a particular substance-caffeine, sugar, tobacco, drugs, alcohol-right now, although you could at any time?

2) Have you tried to stop for a week but been unable to do so?

3) Do you resent the advice of others who express concern about your substance use?

4) Have you ever tried to control your addiction by switching to an alternative addictive substance? For instance, have you taken up smoking so that you could give up drinking?

5) Do you envy people who can indulge without getting into trouble?

6) Has your substance use created problems with friends and family?

7) Do you try to avoid family or friends when you’re using your substance?

Have you lost relationships because of substance abuse?

9) Are your friendships determined by whether others indulge in the same substance as you?

10) Do you indulge in your substance alone?

11) Have you ever neglected your family or work for more than two days in a row due to substance abuse?

12) When substances are limited or unavailable at social events, do you try to obtain some anyway?

13) Have you missed time from work during this past year due to substance abuse?

14) Has your substance of choice stopped being fun to use?

15) When you are low on your substance, do you feel anxious or worried about how to get more?

16) Do you plan your life around your substance use?

17) Do you ever consume more of your particular substance than you intend to?

‘Deep within our hearts a fire glows. It spirals out, expanding, filling the body with warmth and a great sense of peace. The body is filled with light. The inner body becomes ever more clear. The seed of most pure mind arises untarnished from the stream of thought. The mind sees many images unfold; many feelings, many thougths float on that stream. The wise human being cultivates those thoughts which are nurturing. Be not attached to the stream of fear, anger, or doubt. Recognize the stream of pure mind.’ - Cherokee Wisdom Elder Dhyani Ywahoo (Voices of our ancestors)

If you assumer that there’s no hope, you guarantee that there will be no hope.
If you assume that there is an instinct for freedom, that there are opportunities
to change things there’s a chance you may contribute to making a better world.
That’s you choice.
- Noam Chomsky

‘Hope is not the closing in your eyes to the difficulty, the risk, or the failure. It is a trust that if I fail now - I shall not fail forever; and if I am hurt, I shall be healed. It is a trust that life is good, love is powerful, and the future is full of promise.’ - anonymous

‘Each thought, each action in the sunlight of awareness becomes sacred. In this light, no boundary exists between the sacred and the profane.’ - Thich Nhat Hahn (Peace in every step)

‘Love and compassion are necessitites, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive’ - H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama