Summer solstice or midsummer, also known as Litha in pagan culture, is the time of year when Earth’s axis is most aligned with the sun, blessing us with the year’s longest day and shortest night. It is also a perfect time to celebrate fertility and abundance, to experience our full potential, unlock our creative flow, and visualize and manifest our goals. As I considered synergies that would support this intention, I naturally orbited around oils that resonate with the solar plexus chakra, and the color yellow. Our third chakra, located two inches above our navel and just below our sternum, READ MORE
Blog
Essential Oil Allies: German Chamomile
German chamomile essential oil is distilled from the flowers of Matricaria recutita and often grown and distilled for its essential oil in Hungary as well as other parts of Eastern Europe, North America and Australia. Native to temperate parts of Eurasia, M. recutita best expresses itself when grown in this type of terroir (see chemistry section). As most plants classified in the Asteraceae family, this annual plant is happy to spread its medicine by readily re-seeding itself. Matricaria comes from the Latin "matrix," meaning "womb." If you take a bi-section of the flower you will find the READ MORE
Multi-use Blend for Easy Summer Self Care
Here in NYC, as we jump from the days of trekking around in the bitter cold with layered clothing into days where we can’t take enough clothes off, a question I am often asked is “What are your plans for summer?” At this time of year, we are all thinking about escaping the city heat. At least for a brief stint. Personally, I have a love-hate relationship with this city in the summer. I’ve lived in Brooklyn my whole life, but if I were ever to relocate, being reasonable distance to a beach would be non-negotiable. On the other hand, when the heat waves do break, there is no way to describe a READ MORE
Essential Oil Allies: Rhododendron
About Rhododendron Essential Oil: Rhododendron essential oil is obtained via steam or hydro distillation from the aerial parts of Rhododendron anthopogon; its leathery leaves being the most aromatic part of the plant. Also called "Sunpati" in its native Nepal, this short, evergreen shrublet is categorized into the Ericaceae family-which includes azalea, bog Labrador tea, blueberry, bayberry and wintergreen-a commonality being these plants generally thrive in acidic soil and infertile, yet moist, growing conditions. Anthopogon is considered to be one of the smallest plants in the READ MORE
Celebrating Mother’s Day
Celebrated for over a century every second Sunday of May, Mother's day is the perfect opportunity to honor the many aspects of motherhood. There are a million ways to be a mother and that is the beauty of it. You may be a mother, grandmother, or a mother's daughter or son but all of us have some connection with the focus of this day. Whichever mother figure you are celebrating, three major themes stand out when it comes to motherhood: unconditional love, compassion and gratitude. Let us explore the emotional realm of six essential oils, and how their special aromas can help celebrate a READ MORE
Violet
Written by: Lindsey Fpausch Latin name: Viola spp. Family: Violacaea Energetics: Cooling, moistening Taste: Sweet, mucilaginous, cool, minerally The Violet by Jane Taylor Down in a green and shady bed, A modest violet grew; Its stalk was bent, it hung its head As if to hide from view. And yet it was a lovely flower, Its colour bright and fair; It might have graced a rosy bower, Instead of hiding there. Yet thus it was content to bloom, In modest tints arrayed; And there diffused a sweet perfume, Within the silent shade. Then let me to the valley go This READ MORE
Aromatic Relief for Spring Allergies
To be honest, I am one lucky person who never experienced any kind of respiratory discomfort during springtime. When I met my husband in 2013, he told me how annoying and sometimes painful these seasonal allergies could be. His started when he was a kid, and since then, he tried absolutely everything to get rid of them. Injections, over the counter medicine, you name it. Little did he know I would soon make him my long term case study! Being the owner of a restaurant, his allergies really get in the way of everything. Can you imagine serving dishes when you need to sneeze every ten READ MORE
Thrive and Glow for Beltane
The days are noticeably longer for those of us residing in the Northern Hemisphere-signifying Earth's transition into the realm of Beltane. Also called "May Day", this marks the mid-point between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. We are ready to welcome summer with its promise of sun, growth and fruition. The sun is in the sign of Taurus where daylight continues to increase and life focuses on building. Like a seed in the ground, you may have spent the winter and early spring months resting and planning-now is the time to manifest those plans into action. Have you noticed how READ MORE
An Essential Oil Synergy to Deeply Connect with Mother Earth
Every Earth Day, millions of people gather around the world to celebrate our planet, increase environmental literacy, and advocate for support of environmental protection. Business leaders, farmers, students, artists, and politicians come together to remind each other of how everything we need, and everything we create and rely on, comes from Nature. It’s easy to forget, as our lives have become so reliant on technology that we only need to speak our desire and Siri or Alexa deliver. Even our fresh, organic food can be express shipped in artful packages, trimmed and cleaned without a trace READ MORE
Be A Force Of Change
All winter long you’ve been making plans to start or change something and you’ve probably made spring the deadline to take action. This makes perfect sense. Since the beginning of time, spring has been a season for growth and change. Nature in general is bursting with expression. Flowers and trees are exploding with color. This is an ideal time to tap into your personal life force and support your own expansion. In case things are springing slowly for you, here are a handful of essential oils to help things along. Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea) A supreme balancing oil. If the winter season READ MORE