Take a walk in Wild Beauty

 information on natural ingredients and their skin benefits
ideas about beauty lived from the inside out
musings on big questions and small ones
make it yourself skin care recipes
anything else that might support your life's safari
Free Lion Body Care
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Care for the Body >
      • Body Butters
      • Body Therapy
      • Body Lotions
      • Body Scrubs
      • Natural Deodorant
      • The Soap Bar
    • Radiance for the Face >
      • About Face Chai
      • Face Chai Face Care System
      • Beard Care
      • Shave Care
      • Lip Care
    • Scents for the Soul
    • Aroma Jewelry
    • Pet Care and Wellness
    • Gifts & Bundles
  • About
    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy
    • Exchange and Refund Policies
  • Wild Beauty Blog
  • Contact
  • Category

The grounding power of Aromatherapy

8/3/2020

1 Comment

 

Why being grounded is so important right now and some Essential Oils that can help

Grounded person with roots growing from feet
A few days ago, an artist friend of mine posted on her social media wall, wondering how the rest of us were dealing with pandemic depression. Those that replied weighed in with helpful suggestions and loving support. In the current social distancing scenario, social media is serving as a window we can lean out of to talk to our neighbours and maintain some kind of human connection. That's a very good thing. 

But social media is also the site of many fearful, traumatizing stories that can put us off balance. We are in such a deep transition, and it is not clear how it's going to turn out. Being mindful of our thoughts and feelings is important to our mental and emotional health right now. It's also useful to remember that thoughts and feelings become things. This is how we create our collective reality. Metaphysics for Life explains:

"Thoughts become things when they are given substance with feelings in the Mind.

Thoughts are the DNA of the Universe. They contain the information that gives form to our physical life experience. Without feeling or substance, we would not be able to perceive the thought-forms in our Mind.

The feelings we use to give substance to the thoughts in our Mind come from one of two sources: fear or Love."

Group sitting in meditation together
Our thoughts and feelings affect our body's pathways, creating hormone release and affecting our energy flow. Fear thoughts will release stress and anxiety hormones and prolonged stress can lead to dis-ease. Love thoughts will release endorphins and happy hormones which leads to sustained health and well being.

The collective consciousness is also affected by the predominant thoughts and feelings of any group. Studies have shown that group meditation, for example, can do things like reduce crime rates and promote peace. How does this work? According to Thrive Global:

"An experiment conducted during the Lebanon war in the 1980s showed that when 1,000 people in Jerusalem meditated on world peace, war deaths in Lebanon went down by over 75%. Not only did war deaths go down, but crime and other destructive happenings also went down on the days the group meditated. There are many such experiments and given such huge positive social changes brought about by group meditation, it is very much possible that large meditation gatherings will become very popular very soon, just as meditation has become mainstream."

So for the good of ourselves, each other and the planet, choosing Love over Fear, following our hearts and inner guidance, seems critical at this time in our human history. Aromatherapy can play a huge role in helping us maintain our sense of rootedness on the earth in these winds of change.

WHY IS BEING GROUNDED SO IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW?

Woman laying in greenery and yellow flowers
Being temporarily ungrounded is a pretty common experience these days, especially in our current, fast paced, rapidly changing world. We are constantly bombarded by fear thoughts, and feelings of depression or anxiety. We worry about what's going to happen in the future (anxiety); we miss how it used to be (depression). Yet we are all being called upon to dream a new future for ourselves and the planet, individually and as a species. In order to make the best choices for ourselves, we have to be able to hear our own inner voice, our own personal creative muse. This is where being grounded comes in. When we are, we are choosing to place our trust in something much older and wiser than our fears.  We are choosing to love and honour our soul's journey and this beautiful planet we call home. She's been here a lot longer than we have; and this too shall pass

Being grounded refers to being physically, emotionally, mentally, energetically and/or spiritually rooted. This doesn't mean staying rigid or unchanging; it means that, like trees, embracing the flow of the breeze; following the sun and growing while being energetically connected to the earth.  The emotion behind being grounded is Trust--in the unconditionally loving connection between ourselves and the earth. People who are grounded are fully present in the moment, alert and aware of their physical experience and boundaries. They tend to be solid, clear and comfortable in themselves. This is a useful way of being, especially in the face of the unknown. Aromatherapy is an effective tool for helping us get back into our bodies, anchoring us so that we can manifest our dreams for ourselves and our planet.


HOW DO I KNOW IF I'M GROUNDED?

woman smelling essentiall oils
It's my experience that our bodies have a way of telling us. Here's how you can get ready to listen. First, become present in your body. Take a deep, cleansing breath in. Fill up your lungs and hold it for 5 seconds; then exhale out. Take a couple more deep breaths and begin to notice sensations in your body. When you feel relaxed, pick up your essential oil bottle and bring it to your nose. Inhale. Hold your breath for a few seconds and notice any sensations you might be feeling, primarily in the your chakra system, from the base of your spine to the crown of your head. Grounding oils usually speak to your Root Chakra, found at the base of your spine. When you inhale, you might feel a drop in your lower pelvis area--that's your Root Chakra responding to the oils. Or you might be aware of an energy sensation running down your legs to your feet. You might also sense your feel feeling solid and firmly planted. These are all messages from your body that you are anchored in the present moment. If you don't feel the Root Chakra drop right away, inhale again deeply. Repeat until you feel grounding sensations in your body

Now take a minute to notice your feelings. If you are grounded, you will notice an overall feeling of calm and relief, as though you just put a big burden down. You might also notice some feelings of hope in the space between calm and relief. That is the feeling of trust taking root.


MY FAVOURITE GROUNDING ESSENTIAL OILS

essential oil bottles with plant cuttings in them
My blog post, Aromatherapy, Memory and the Art of Creating Scents explains the science behind how aromatherapy works in your body. The entire process from the moment of breathing in the oil aroma to the corresponding gland secretion in your body, takes place in a matter of seconds. This is one reason why Aromatherapy can be so powerful in effecting change to your mental, emotional and physical state.

Essential oils that are grounding tend to be derived from tree bark, needles and resin. Or they come from the roots and rhizomes of herbaceous plants. No surprise here. Nature is wise that way, creating what we need to ground with her quickly, leaving clear clues for us to find it. She literally seems to be saying, "Make like a tree and get rooted."

Here are  my favourite  essential oils that provide grounding and the Free Lion Scents that holds each one

CEDARWOOD

path through cedar trees
Cedarwood has been used traditionally by Native Americans for its spiritual energy. It is grounding and centering while also helping to open the upper chakras. The Druids believed Cedar to be a relative of the Tree of Life, holding an energy that is deep, ancient, and protective. Cedarwood essential oil brings forth feelings of safety, grounding, support, love, and comfort. Its fragrance is purifying and safeguarding. It powerfully  facilitates deep connection to the wisdom and sacred truths of the earth.

I use this one a lot.  You'll find it in our Rose Garden, Sandalwood, Citrus Cedarwood and Tofino Breeze blends as an anchoring base note.

FERN
Fern leaves
Fern is a staple of Native American self-care preparations. Spiritually and energetically, Fern helps build an earth-sky connection between that in you which needs to soar free, and that which needs to stay anchored and stable so that you don't lose your way home.

It's a much lighter scent, leafy and herbaceous. a "green" sort of smell.  I use it in our Namika scent blend to give some grounding depth to green tea and jasmine.

JUNIPER BERRY
Juniper berries
Juniper Berry is the oil of transitions and new beginnings. Its warm and comforting smell evokes feelings of safety and security, like being in the presence of tall trees standing guard. Juniper berry is a powerful tool to purify, cleanse and detoxify the body, mind, spirit and environment. It supports us during times of stress, works to calm negative emotions and facilitates communication between the heart and mind.

It has a slightly fruity note to its otherwise woody smell, giving it a gentler presence. You'll find it in our Rain City and dancing with the citrus notes in our Citrus Cedarwood

PINE
Pine essential oil with pine sprig on a wooden table
Pine instantly connects on the deepest level with hundreds of years of tree wisdom with its restorative assistance and present-time perfection. Revered by Native Americans as the "Tree of Peace," this nourishing oil expands the chest as you inhale the fresh scent of revitalizing evergreen. I use it in our Rain City blend.

FRANKINCENSE
Frankincense resin and essential oil
Frankincense is said to hold the wisdom of the universe, reconnecting you with spirit. It is elevating yet calming and grounding. It helps remove blocks and negativity to support faith and trust, creative vision and concentration. Frankincense was used by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks as an offering to the gods. It is said that it was gifted to Jesus by one of the three wise men.

The scent is less woody and more resinous. You'll find it in our Citrus Cedarwood and gently grounding the sweet, warm tones in our Mombasa.

OAK MOSS
Oak Moss on tree twig
Oak Moss evokes the scent of the wet forest, truly connecting you with the earth. It helps us connect with the earth plane, and to realize that we are on earth for a reason.  I use it in our Tofino Breeze.

OUD or AGARWOOD
Picture
Oud or Agarwood is known for its spiritual and calming properties. It is used  to clear the negative and destructive energies that surround the human aura, while increasing mental functionality, and a feeling of harmony and contentment.

I have a huge attachment to the smell of Oud. It reminds me of sacred ceremony. You'll find it in our Mombasa, in a sacred dance with Frankincense.


PATCHOULI
Picture
Patchouli has a comforting yet stimulating scent that supports both creativity and sensuality. It is both balancing and grounding, helping with manifestation of earthly matters. Basically, it helps you ground your creative intention. You might be able to feel this one in your Sacral Chakra too, just below your belly button. You'll find it in our Sandalwood blend.

SANDALWOOD
Picture
Sandalwood evokes sacred, wise energy. Both grounding and spiritual, it is a wonderful aid in mediation or to create a sacred space. Sandalwood is an aroma that is said to stretch out into the universe, into the hallowed space between heaven and earth, connecting you with your divine presence. What a way to meet your inner voice! You'll find it in our Sandalwood blend

What are your favourite Essential Oils to use for Grounding?


Picture
Sherazad Jamal is founder, formulator and chief bottle washer at Free Lion Body Care. When she's not testing out a new formula, making batches of Body Care products or fulfilling orders, she can be found puttering about in the garden, hanging out with loved ones, working on an art project or staring into space, dreaming a new dream. 
1 Comment

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    August 2022
    February 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017

    Categories

    All
    About Body Care Products
    Aches And Pains
    Acne Care
    Aloe Vera
    Anti Aging
    Anti Oxidants
    Aphrodisiac
    Aroma Jewelry
    Aromatherapy
    Autumn Rituals
    Avocado
    Ayurveda
    Be The Change
    Biology
    Body Butter
    Body Lotion
    Body Scrubs
    Body Therapy
    Byron Katie
    Calendula
    Changing Limiting Beliefs
    Chia Seed Oil
    Coconut
    Cold Weather Skin Care
    Comedogenicity
    Covid19
    Crystal Healing
    Designer
    DIY
    DIY Cold Remedy
    DIY Hair Care
    DIY Skin Care
    Donations And Partnerships
    Dream Board
    Dreams
    Earth Cycle Celebrations
    Emotions
    Energy Healing
    Essential Oils
    Exfoliants
    Face Care Routine
    Face Chai
    Facial Oils
    Fall
    Flower Power
    Foot Salve
    Fragrance
    Galentine's Day
    Gardening
    Ginger
    Gratitude
    Hair Care
    Harvest
    Head Balm
    Healing Teas
    Health
    History
    History Of Perfume
    Homeschooling
    Honey
    Ho'oponopono
    Hydration
    Imbolc
    Improve Membory
    Ingredient Hot Lists
    Ingredients
    Inspiration
    Irritated Skin Balm
    Journaling
    Konmari
    Krista Tippett
    Lavender
    Leaky Gut
    Lemon
    Lifestyle
    Lip Balm
    Macadamia Oil
    Mango
    Manifestation
    Meditation
    Memory
    Mex Pup
    Mindfulness
    Moisturizing
    Natural Ingredients
    Natural Remedies
    Neem Oil
    Nutrition
    Oily Skin Care
    Paleo
    Parenting Styles
    Paw Wax
    Pay It Forward
    Plant Powders
    Recipes
    Relationship With Food
    Rosemary Essential Oil
    Scent
    Science
    Seasons Wheel
    Self Care
    Shea Butter
    Skin
    Skin Function
    Smoothie
    Spring
    Stress Effects
    Sun Balm
    Sunflower
    Sun Protection
    Think Piece
    Thoughts On Beaurty
    Turmeric
    Valentine's Day
    Weight Watchers
    Wellness
    Women's Empowerment
    Yogurt

    RSS Feed

Home

About

Shop

​Wholesale

Contact Us

Copyright © 2015
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Care for the Body >
      • Body Butters
      • Body Therapy
      • Body Lotions
      • Body Scrubs
      • Natural Deodorant
      • The Soap Bar
    • Radiance for the Face >
      • About Face Chai
      • Face Chai Face Care System
      • Beard Care
      • Shave Care
      • Lip Care
    • Scents for the Soul
    • Aroma Jewelry
    • Pet Care and Wellness
    • Gifts & Bundles
  • About
    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy
    • Exchange and Refund Policies
  • Wild Beauty Blog
  • Contact
  • Category