Coping with Stress ... Changes ... Fear: How Engaging with Personal and Spiritual Work can Help

This blog topic is a response to a few questions from several people.   Yes, I am still completing my book writing project, but I have placed it on hold temporarily.

You can visit our new website ... it is still under construction ...  www.souhlcenter.com
 

 

I may not post for a while ... so as I have said before ... go over the existing entries... see if you can learn new things....

Are there ripples in your life ... feeling chaos and stress?
  How can you experience peace and calm amidst this?


 

If one thing is constant, it is the fact that things are always shifting and changing.  We have likely all heard this at one time or another.


Even in nature things are never exactly the same - every moment there is newness and subtle shifts in everything we can experience ...  light and dark ... rest and motion ... growth and decay.   How does that apply to you and me?



If we experience things as shifts and changes in energy then we can apply this to ourselves: our physical bodies, our mind and its fluctuations, our emotions in motion and various other inner and outer states we can be aware of.  Here, at Souhl Center, this is a key for you to work with ... but first, let's look at stress and change a bit more.


I view the inevitable stresses we experience along our journey in life, in its many arenas, as shifts in energy which - depending on how we respond - corresponds to subsequent changes in the physical manifestations all around us in our world and within our own lives.  Energy first ... then shifts in the denser manifestations; our bodies for example.



Things around us change all the time and often many of us are not able to manage these changes and shifts in our lives with balance, harmony or grace - neither can we influence these changes if they are the result of things outside our control or influence.   Many times, our lifestyles change  dramatically due to external forces we have no control over on an individual level: war, natural disasters, closing of companies we work for, spouses leaving, family dramas, people around us or close to us dying or very ill and so on.   We experience change as a stressor sometimes. 




Other times we are the ones engaging with hectic work schedules, social 'obligations' and other external demands that we allow to exert pressures on ourselves - unnecessarily; people often fail to understand how they are personally responsible for creating their own unmanageable stressful life situations ... imagining that things are happening to them instead of seeing the direct connection between their own choices and the results of these choices.




One of the things we need to clarify is whether our stressors are completely out of our control (in this case we can work with our own inner reactions, attachments, identifications and coping tools), or whether our stressors are of our own making (in which case we can work to make new choices over time).



Many of us attempt to exert more force or effort into changing things around us ... we do this because we view things externally and feel safer when we think we are in control of things around us.   We can see, however, that this illusion or addiction of control over external things often leads to disaster ... think of this in the environmental sense ... or ponder the political, religious and economic disasters over history.   In our attempts to control things we have often had to deal with our own unintended consequences: poisoning of our water and air; brutal dictatorships leading to death and chaos; wars over natural resources and religious beliefs; inequity of the sexes in our societies; unnecessary health risks due to bad practices in the food and health industries and so on.   We also attempt to exert control over our own personal lives via trying to control other people in our lives ... how they behave or respond to us ... what they do, how they think, what they wear, what they believe and the choices they make.   This too, leads to unintended consequences!



How can you learn to cope effectively with the inevitable stresses in life ... the changes in your lifestyle that you are finding difficult to move through and the various stresses and fears you may experience as a result of changes in your life cycles: moving through adolescence with its various pressures and stresses ... the shift into adulthood with various changes in responsibilities, growing older and many things in between.  



The biggest step to take is to look within first ... most of us look out and try to control or make changes on the outside.


When the inside truly alters ... much will appear to alter ... and will also indeed alter on the outside.

     Embrace the opportunity to discover your True Essence ... to do so, you must go inwards ... this also involves some work  ... both personally and spiritually.

 

 



So how can we find a peacefulness amidst the various chaotic energies surrounding us at different times in our lives?   Engage with personal work.   Doing your personal work and personal growth will assist you with finding peacefulness amidst chaos and stresses in your life.

 

Things we can learn to do and apply:

 

Personally ... when you get started:


-- As simple as this sounds, it is often challenging for most people to apply these basic balancing points:  Proper exercise on a regular basis (the Moving Arts we teach are whole-body movements which take care of exercise while offering other benefits as well) ... proper breathing ... a diet right for you ... enough pure clean water ... clean air (many people do not air out their homes effectively and even work in environments where the air flow is poor and not fresh) ...


-- Find and apply a natural rhythm to your life ... listen to your body and mind when you need rest or play or proper nutrition ... or support and personal connection with others.


 

-- Seek out counselling and guidance ... as needed.  Address any traumas you may have experienced ... look at recurrent dysfunctional patterns in your life.  Use counselling to assist you when you feel stuck or find something difficult to work through.  Learn more about yourself.  Over time, this Work can assist you with becoming more integrated and transformed as a person ... more aligned with your Self ... more functional in the world ... more satisfied with your relationships ... more balanced in your mind and emotions ... more in touch with who you really are in essence and so on.



-- Learn how to effectively cope with your inner reactions to people, places and things.  Learn how to respond to various people, places, and things with more balance, control and harmony.  This can also be addressed in counselling.



-- Engage with and experience various body therapies and energy work ... examine your lifestyle habits ... diet ... relationships ... etc.   Looking at all the aspects of your life and experiencing various body work and energy therapies can be a door opener to moving in deeper with your personal work.   You can learn things like how deeply connected the body is to mental and emotional processes ... and so on.


--  learn relaxation and meditation ... then do it regularly


--  Learn more about your body, mind and emotions ... your patterns ... your specific breathing patterns and holding patterns in your musculature (the ways you hold tension) ... then engage with methods and tools which can assist you with creating more balance in these areas.  APPLY ... APPLY .... APPLY ... many people know all these things intellectually but their bodies, minds and emotions demonstrate they are not engaging with their own work nor APPLYING what they seem to know... I always stress this as it is a great illusion I have come across ... most people know far more than they actually apply ... then they act as though they are doing something or are growing personally or spiritually ... knowing is not doing... your own level of being will clearly show exactly where you are at ... be willing to look at yourself honestly.





If you desire something deeper, you may feel also feel called to engage with a deeper Spiritual Path or Work.

Personal work comes first:
Here we begin by examining our rippled reflections
 in the realm of our mental/emotional patterns, stresses and dramas.
Like the butterfly, we can experience real transformation... growth
into something new ... our true Essence reflected clearly.

Spiritually ... when you desire to work and are ready to move deeper ...



--  Working to evolve Spiritually is different from personal work ... though personal work is vital to begin with.













--  Engaging with personal work is different from fully immersing yourself in a School, as engaging fully in a School is a deeper commitment ... will involve more consistent work ... and will offer you more tools ... When you want to take things to a deeper level, seek out a School.




-- Study at a Spiritual School ... learn its tools ... apply them with enthusiasm, persistence and consistency.  A true Spiritual School offers you the tools you can apply to walk in life ... you have an opportunity to learn how not to get caught up in things around you to the point where you experience high levels of stress, imbalance, illness etc.. It also works with you in a deeper way ... can assist you with aligning and Knowing your own True Essence...

-- Working to Know One's Self and developing or evolving Spiritually... A Spiritual School can assist you with this ... this will be individual as it depends on many things you need to also bring to the Work:  the right attitude;  diligence in doing the practical tools presented;  your own level of being ... you can learn to understand many things on a deeper level and evolve from where you are at.








--  Spiritual Work, at Souhl Center, also involves things that some people might call mystical teachings ... and includes things that people may call spiritual or peak experiences ... enlightenment ... or connecting with the Divine ... there are so many words and phrases.... I view many things people consider para-normal abilities or psychic abilities or mystical or peak experiences etc. as nothing more than the unlocking of normal human potential ... we can and do have the opportunity to evolve.  I do not place my focus on these things - nor do I discount them... I find they naturally unfold when engaging with a true Spiritual Path ... in ones own unique time and way.




Energy

Earlier in this blog I said that I view stresses and changes inside and around us as various forms of and shifts in energies. 

You experience stress around a certain person ... what is the energy they are engaged with .. what energies are you engaged with ...

There is a particular form of energy within the minds and bodies and emotions of the people who start wars ... who do not care about the environment etc. etc.  ... and then there is the energy of your particular responses to these things...

Energies are shifting and changing within you when you are an adolescent ... an adult ... a senior ... you can learn how to manage these energies from within

There is a lot we can learn from the approach of understanding and working with energy ... but first we must begin with ourselves... energy first ... then the impact of this energy on manifestations.  

  

A last note on Fear..

I have often said that at the root of many things is fear.  Many of us have heard this over and over.  People judge, condemn, ridicule, hate, destroy and so on ... things which they fear ... out of a lack of understanding.   So fear is also related to things like misunderstanding... and to stress - how can we not be experiencing the negative effects of chronic stress in our bodies, minds and emotional states when fear runs rampant within us...



We fear change ... the changes in our lives during the many various cycles in life.  Fear freezes our movement .. our energies ... restricts us in Life ... in truly living.


Come to know fear and how it relates to you personally ... what are you afraid of ... how does it operate in your life ... step up to it and look at it directly ... and take the necessary steps to alter its hold on your life and your energies ... do your personal work ...






















Arrogance or Confidence? ... Obsession or Passion?

Today's blog topic covers a few ideas and misconceptions that arise when working on a Path of this nature...   It is an answer to several different questions I have had over the last few weeks...

Let the Light of your Spirit guide you and shine out into the World ...

Full of spirit, energy, vitality, and aligned with your passion, step out into the world with genuine self-confidence.

Work to cultivate these things within yourself and make a difference!

Arrogance or Confidence?

Self-confidence and 'spirit'...

Many movement arts ... such as Kung fu speak about cultivating a sense of self-confidence in students.   Many come into an Art like Kung fu (or other Arts called `Martial Arts'), looking to develop self-confidence ... among other things.

Here at Souhl Center, cultivating the inner 'spirit' of the person is vital and self-confidence arises out of this inner 'spirit'.   Here, the word 'spirit' is used to mean "full of energy... enthusiasm... determination" (this is not to be confused with the word 'Spirit' which relates to something else we study and work to align with in our Work).  The way I am using the word 'spirit', here today, is directly linked to the word 'spirited'.   When one is 'spirited', one can also more easily align with a natural sense of inner self-confidence.  When one 'lacks spirit', one will find that one's self-confidence diminishes as well.   This inner feeling and outward manifestation of `spirit' is not the false sense of confidence and energy that appears in someone who is arrogant. 

Though on the outside arrogance can look like self-confidence, and can appear much the same in various behaviours, arrogance is something different and is quite pretentious.   Self-confidence is genuine.  Why, then, is it often confused with arrogance?  First of all, the two are often misunderstood in basic meaning.  Secondly, many people are not self-confident themselves; most individuals operate from a false personality and do not really know who or how they really are and some of these people have false ideas about what 'humility' means and how it manifests in outward behaviours.  Walking around feeling very 'humble', they judge and criticize anyone who seems to have a natural sense of vitality, energy, spirit and self-confidence.  Arrogance is not self-confidence, and we clarify that word below.

When we observe someone who is not self-confident, we may sense, observe or feel that they are lacking or low in energy, enthusiasm ... perhaps even vitality ...  A person without self-confidence may appear deflated or perhaps we get a feeling that the person is somehow repressed or subdued ... not really "comfortable in their own skin" ... as the saying goes.   When one is not confident, it may be very difficult to express one's unique talents and gifts with the world to one's true potential.

If someone does not feel confident ... and lacks energy and vitality, developing these things and a 'spirited' feeling and attitude requires Work along certain lines for some period of time ... until it is something integrated within one's psyche ... or soul ...  and therefore more easily accessed and expressed naturally from within.  

For many people, developing self-confidence comes in the form of attempting to alter one's behaviour by reading a book or attending a seminar.   These things can help if there are very practical things one can apply to one's daily life on a regular basis.  We do not change by information or concepts alone.   We must be able to apply very practical things into our everyday life in order to develop real lasting inner changes ... like developing 'spirit' or self-confidence. 



Arrogance....

Arrogance is not confidence ... although sometimes the two are confused - especially within the individual expressing arrogance... or the individual who is not aware of the difference between arrogance and self-confidence. 

Well then, what is arrogance?   ... some people call this 'ego', but the word 'ego' also holds many other deeper layers of meaning, so this would not really be a good word to use.  A person is arrogant when he/she expresses an exaggerated sense of their perceived importance or abilities.   The word 'exaggerated' is key here.  If one expresses a genuine ability one has with the intention for instruction or to motivate or to be an example to others of one may attain, how can this be arrogance?  In the definition, arrogance is an exaggeration.   Having said this, one can, perhaps, more clearly realize how easily one can mistake self-confidence with arrogance ... or vice versa.   When we lack true understanding ... awareness ... consciousness... we mistake one thing for another quite easily.  Arrogance might learn something from humility - self-confidence does not need to.

Some people imagine that Arts like Kung fu teach a student to become arrogant (or angry... aggressive etc. etc.).  This is a myth.  Teachers are different and students are different.  Some teachers are arrogant - others are self-confident and full of spirit.  Some students are arrogant - others are self-confident ... how can this be otherwise?  It is the same in the world around us!

Some students become arrogant due to a lack of their understanding or inner development along a spiritual path (some people call this having or developing an 'inflated ego').  Sometimes it is a phase they go through ... some may never come out of it.     Other students lack self-confidence and feel plagued by inner doubts and rather than expressing arrogance; they slip into self-pity or diminished inner views of themselves.  This has nothing to do with the teacher or the path ... it is an individual thing ... personal 'inner demons' one must face and transform.  It is a person's own inner work.

It is true that a 'path' ought to have and teach principles and tools which students can learn and get real results with.    Along with this, we also must consider that the proper mindset and attitude towards Work ... 'true understanding' of things taught (we are so plagued with distortions at times) ... consistent diligent use of tools over time .... many things, really, are dependent upon the student.  This is why many teachers who possess keys of a genuine spiritual path lament over not being able to find a 'worthy student'.  This is not an arrogant thing for them to say ... it is simply a sad reality.  One must be of a certain mindset or level to be able to be teachable.

If you are self-confident and full of energy and spirit, it will naturally shine through in the way you are at various times; some people will judge you or label you or misunderstand you ... be your natural self and ignore negative responses coming towards you.

Arrogance? ... or Confidence?   Make sure you understand this difference prior to making assumptions or judgements... of yourself or others...

Humility is another word that we misunderstand and misuse ... but we are not discussing that one today.

Obsession or Passion?

 

 



What is an obsession?

This word comes from the word 'obsess' and so we need to look at that word.  To obsess over something or someone is to have that thing, thought, idea, picture, person etc. to fill up so much of your thought patterns that it becomes troubling to you in your life in some way.

The root of the word 'obsess' comes from the late Middle English... and can point to another meaning: haunt or possess... as in what some refer to as an 'evil spirit'.  Possession comes in many forms... we can 'become possessed' by people, places or things.  So, in this way one can see how something like being obsessed with money can mean that one is haunted or possessed by the 'spirit of greed' for example and how an obsession with money could 'possess' someone to do things which are not healthy, legal, balanced, loving and so on.

Example:  Someone is obsessed with money.  Perhaps this person becomes a workaholic and eventually develops a chronic illness due to the long hours he/she works and a lack of self-care and balance in his/her life.  In this case, observing from the outside only, one would think work was the obsession ... but underlying this particular person's motivation, the obsession is money.  In another example with money, the underlying obsession could be work related: obsession with status, power, control or perceived social recognition and so on.

People can become obsessed with power, status, recognition, applause, sex, a particular person, a political cause, a religion, a cult... we could go on and on.   Sort of sounds like an addiction, huh?  They are often deeply related.   Work on ourselves from the inside out is the way out of these things ...

People often confuse passion with obsession... or the other way around.

Obsessions may initially look like passions, but inevitably obsessions create chaos, havoc and suffering later on when they become chronic.



What is passion?

The word 'passion' is either used in its older meaning or in its more modern context.    People understand this word differently depending on how they have learned of its meaning.   Many words are like this; in order for us to understand one another ... and knowing that we have, indeed, altered the meaning of many words over time, it is crucial that we understand what we really mean when we use a word.

Some people have told me that they have heard that some religious beliefs use the word 'passion' in a way that means 'suffering'.   I was raised Catholic, and know of  'The Passion of Christ', but never used the word in that way outside of church.  I never understood the word in that way, because I have always used it in my everyday language in its more modern development of meaning which points more towards 'arousing great enthusiasm'... which has a more positive slant.   I do not equate the word 'passion' directly to suffering or to any sort of emotional or 'ego' imbalance - though I am also aware that some Buddhist teachings use this older meaning of the word as well.   Because we have accepted the more modern definition of this word into our English language, while maintaining the older usage of its earlier meanings, we then need to be careful that we are talking about the same thing!!!  Isn't this so ... of many things?!

Looking at the root of the word 'passion', we can understand, perhaps, where this came from.   Origin: Middle English: from Old French: from Late Latin: 'passio'(n-) ...(chiefly a term in Christian theology) .... from Latin pati: 'suffer' ... We find that the phrase... 'The Passion' ... is the suffering and death of Jesus.

We can then imagine that for a long time the word 'passion' meant suffering, and that some people still use this word in this way.    Today, however, many people have come to use the word 'passion' to describe something we feel when we are very enthusiastic about something... like: " He has a passion for gardening, so he became a gardener and is very happy in his work these days."   This use of the word has led to many people talking about looking for ... discovering ... or expressing their passion in their work in order to align themselves with something they feel deeply they are 'called to do in the world'.  Sometimes we suffer on our way to discovering who we really are or what our 'passion' in life is ... or we sometimes suffer as we work at aligning ourselves with who and what we are and how that is expressed in the world.   Just because we are 'passionate' about something or someone does not mean there will not be hard work involved or suffering of some sort along the way in Life.  Having said this, though, I still do not equate 'passion' with suffering ... directly.


Obsession?  ... Or Passion? ....   Once again, we need to be careful about what we are saying and that we really understand what we ... or someone else is saying....   there are so many layers to understanding ... as we evolve, we understand things on deeper levels... we only understand up to wherever we are at.

Answering Questions About: Illness and Contributing Factors and Co-dependency

This blog is an answer to some questions I had from individuals earlier this week.  I come across these same questions so frequently that I decided to post a new entry ...  I have been quite busy and have neglected this blog for a while - so it is time for a new entry anyway.

Question 1:  Illness and Contributing Factors

What do you feel is one of the major causes of my current illness?  OR it's also been worded to me:  Do you think my current chronic health condition might be related to something other than a purely genetic cause?


In my experience of working with people over the years, anyone who has come in to see me will recall that I do an extensive autobiography with them.  If they are a serious student, they will have completed this autobiography as an assignment and we will have spent some sessions on it.  I also ask a lot of questions about current lifestyle and potential sources of mental/emotional/physical and spiritual stress.  Why?

I feel that most of what plagues us come from our histories and lifestyles.   What about our histories and lifestyles?  We are energetic ... mental ... emotional ... physical and spiritual beings.  We are always experiencing and perceiving through our own unique energetic filters and responding to what we perceive and experience in our own unique ways.   At various points in our lives, some of what we experience and feel is too overwhelming for us to process mentally/emotionally/energetically at that time and so it remains `in the dark' and is therefore not processed like other mental/emotional material we have an easier time with.   The stuff that remains `in the dark'  tends to get buried in various ways within us and indeed affects us in our daily life without us even knowing.   In my opinion this is a major factor that contributes to illnesses and dis-eases today.

Being a practitioner of various body and movement arts over time, I have seen in others (and have personally experienced), how various daily stressors tend to create tensions in our bodies ... in our musculature ... organs and so on.  When these tensions become chronic over time, they contribute to and are often the root cause of various illnesses we tend to develop.

We are affected by everything from our first environments as children ... to the foods we eat ... the many impressions we receive from the people and the world seen/unseen alike all around us ... and by everything we encounter along our journey in life.  We are impacted by the quality of the air, the way that we breathe and the quality of the water we take in... We are nurtured or traumatized by various people and experiences....we act on and react to things all the time. Are these various factors contributing to constructive or destructive forces in your life?

Many of us deny the realities of our internal stresses and tensions - either not aware of them or afraid to admit to them or face them directly (imagining it is some sort of weakness to admit to feelings of various sorts ...or that it would be far too challenging to delve in and face certain things).  When we are caught up in denial, we block our own potential for growth and healing.  Sometimes, we have to wait until we are ready to do the real work; we have to respect that -  both in ourselves and in others.


Balance and harmony contributes to health ... from the inside out!  Imbalances and disharmonies contribute to destructive forces within and all around us ... whether in our psyches or bodies ... most of the time it's both ... hence the term 'psychosomatic medicine' or body/mind/spirit holistic approaches to well-being and health.  Psychosomatic illness does not mean it is `all in your head' ... as though what you are experiencing is not real.  It really means that what is going on within your psyche ... `in the dark' ... is directly affecting your physiology and requires your attention.


Read some of my other entries on the topic of healing ... which were also responses to certain questions some of you have asked me.  It is useful to review those posts again.

Some additional reminders relating to healing and illness:  Do you have ....

-- supportive, loving, positive, and mutually energy-exchanging relationships?

-- meaningful work or sense of contributing in some positive way? ... balanced with relaxing and leisure activities (also free from harassment and abuse in the workplace) ?

-- a natural rhythm to your life?

-- healthy balanced diet appropriate for you? ; clean air; healthy pure water; clean living environment?

-- movement and breath ... Do you know what healthy movement and breathing is?

Did you answer 'No' to some of these?  Take some action to alter this.

 

When we are in our natural state and in touch with our True Essence, we can contribute our beauty, gifts and talents to the whole ... in this way, the world is a better place because of the unique piece we bring to it.

Question 2. :   Codependency

I was asked similar questions by several people this past week relating to Codependency.  I do not find this surprising, as relationships are often the reason people come in for one-one work and many of our relationships today suffer from characteristics of co-dependency. 

I did write about this already in my book ... and this comes directly from my book, so it is copyright material and I ask that you respect that.  No, my book is not done yet, but it is very close!  Here is a bit about codependency for the ones who recently asked me some questions about it:

There is a lot of material on codependency today.  This drama affects a huge portion of our population.  Working as a counsellor, I found this at the root of most issues people have come in to see me about when it involved a relationship of some significance.  

I highly recommend that you look up a good book on codependency if you feel that this is likely a huge drama in your life.   You can also seek out counselling from someone you resonate with in order to get one-one additional support in relation to how this may apply more specifically to you and your relationship ... and how this may be impacting your life.

 

What is Codependency?

 

I don't like labels, but for the purposes of explanation and lack of another way I have found to word it, I refer to individuals stuck in this pattern as `co-dependents'.

There are many ways in which I have found this drama defined.    To me, an individual is codependent when he/she focuses so much on worrying about, assisting, fixing or 'helping' someone else that they fail to work on their own inner dramas and issues which require healing and change.  As a result, they often become tired, drained, sick, depressed, anxious, stressed, locked into a denial pattern and have plenty of ideas about how to assist others when it is clear that they themselves have enough to work on before they can attain a level of balance and harmony within themselves and in their own lives. 

Codependents often struggle with their own issues of control ... rather than place their attention on the balance and control over their own lives and inner self, they place it outwards and feel the need to control someone else's out of control behaviour(s).  They, however, do not see this as controlling and are often submersed in denial of their own issues. 

  A codependent person is often involved with someone who struggles with addictions - which come in so many forms (workaholism, thrill seeking, pornography, foods, alcohol, sports, technology, sex, prescription medications etc.).   Codependents can also be involved with individuals who are obsessed with or involved with cultish organizations, groups, associations and/or religions.

A codependent will focus so much on the obvious addiction patterns and ignorant behaviour of the other, that they can only see the other as having a problem.  

If a codependent individual admits to having areas they need to work on, they will usually minimize this, unless they are aware of the drama pattern they are caught up in.  In reality, the codependent may also have or develop addiction issues that are unaddressed due to their intense focus on the other and their own denial patterns.   Intensely focussing so much on the external leaves the codependent individual less and less in touch with how they are really feeling or what is going on in their own inner life and outer world.   Due to the high amounts of stress that usually comes with dealing with others who are dysfunctional, the codependent often turns to various external substances to numb, to cope and to comfort themselves.  Most of the time, they will deny that they do these things.  The problem then escalates as this downward cycle spirals into its various dramas.

A codependent relationship is highly dysfunctional and serves neither party towards healing and wholeness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seeking out support in the form of counselling can assist you in developing new and healthier patterns in your relationships.

Our Tongue Is a Sword

When we study in this Art, there are various aspects to the Work. 

Surely we are using our physical bodies and therefore gain the many benefits health-wise that this can provide.  Some individuals enter various Movement Arts for this alone.  This is fine if that is the only aspect one is interested in.  Surely, though, there is more to us ...

We also work spiritually which some practitioners in various other Arts or disciplines of spiritual study find challenging to understand.   My teacher once said that this path is for all people; however, not all people are for this path.  I have found this to be very true with personal reflection and experience.  

 Additionally we are working on our psyche - if we Work to understand and apply to our lives the many philosophical and psyche+logical (psychological) teachings and tools we learn along the Way.
One such teaching is the teaching of one of the deeper meanings of the sword (yes, there are other meanings to the sword too).    Today's blog topic discusses one tool which can assist us in the development of our psyche.

In this Art and Path, we are taught that our tongue is a sword.  It is used to formulate words and we also use tones and power behind our words that come forward and vibrate into the environment around us.   Some of us laugh when we recall hippies from the sixties talking about 'good vibrations' around certain people and environments.   Although there were some things they did that led to their poor reputations in the eyes of some, they did pick up various practical philosophies - many of their sayings hold truths.  Some of these hippies were influenced by Eastern philosophies ... but there were some who were not taken seriously with all the mind-altering drugs they did and so on.    And no, I do not condone the use of drugs ... nor do the philosophies we teach.   We can learn to feel good and cope with things in other ways!

So our words do vibrate into the air around us.  Imagine the last time you were speaking with someone who was yelling or very angry or full of grief.  Can you recall how it felt to be around them?  Can you recall another instance when someone said something gently to you with kindness and affection?  How did that feel?  Of course - even if you are not touched physically, you can sense and feel the vibrations and intentions of someone with the use of their mouth and voice alone.

There are older stories of bards and people of power using their voices to influence things around them.  You might find some of these if you look for them.

Think of a very powerful speaker.  I once worked with a business mentor of mine who was very powerful with his voice.  He was able to cut away 'bullshit' as well as stir up the emotions of those around him - all with his presence and voice alone.  He walked into the room with such flair and presence that I would feel the energy in the room change immediately.

Think of someone with healing abilities - perhaps a therapist you have seen: massage therapist, counsellor, energy worker, a friend ...   If you have ever worked with or been around someone like this, perhaps you can recall times in your experiences when something shifted within you because they were able to hold the space for you to let down your defenses and show yourself in that moment.  Perhaps they said something to you in a way that touched you very deeply.  We can heal when we are provided with a loving space within which we can relax and allow our innate abilities to come forward.

Yes, indeed, what we say and how we say it impacts us and others deeply ... depending on how open and receptive we are to that moment.   Yes, just as you can block or learn to block with a sword, you can block or learn to block out the negative things directed at you from others ... you can also block out the positive coming your way too.

Your tongue is a sword - it can cut away all that is false.  Sometimes we have to slice away at the false pretenses around us - or cut away lies, deception, dishonesty, illusions, denials, buffers, false beliefs, harmful patterns of addictions and denial ...  When we do so, if others are not aware of the intent to reveal truth or to cut away at darkness, the intent may be interpreted as hurtful.  If you are speaking your truth and others wish to stay boxed in illusions, pretenses and darkness, hold your sword ... use your sword ... and be prepared for the consequences if you choose to use it in this way.   As always, I recommend that if someone is not open to this, you can walk away, choose another approach or simply allow them to continue to be as they are ... people will not shift even if you use your sword well ... if they are not willing or able to do so at that time. 

On this Path you learn to become a warrior, a healer and a priest/priestess in your own life first.  As a warrior, when we cut away at darkness, the darker aspects of people (and within ourselves when we clear out our own) will not be impressed and will holler at us and avoid us and misinterpret us and label us and judge us.  When you find clarity and wisdom within yourself, hold your sword strong and use it to reveal the light.

Children are very susceptible to the use of our tongues.  This is because they are more open when very young.  Use care, love and caution when speaking to children.  Own up to your mistakes (because we all make them, will continue to make them to various degrees and we are not perfect) and work to see the areas you can continue to improve within yourself.   In my experience, children appreciate honesty and are very forgiving.   Children, in my experience, do not expect us to be perfect as they grow and mature (very little children sometimes imagine we are) - they do desire us to be real and authentic ...

Some adults are very open and sensitive - like children ... so they can often feel your intent and negativity even if you do not feel you are doing anything 'wrong'.   These individuals can be assisted by learning how to shield themselves while continuing to be able to sense things in others and in their environments.   There is nothing wrong with being sensitive - many individuals lack this ability to be sensitive to what is around them and what is in others and themselves.    This lack of sensitivity is due to the intensive armouring and buffers they have developed over their lifetime ... their own grief, pain, suffering and so on that is blocked and held tightly from consciousness and from feeling.  

Use your sword wisely: cut away darkness and 'bullshit' with accurate movements and promote love, peace and healing when you find a way in.   Of course, we will make mistakes as we develop discernment and wisdom. 

Practice with your sword; observe the results and reflect on what is working and what is not.  Cultivate patience within yourself ... patience and honesty ... look into the mirrors of self-reflection all around you in your life.   Over time we can learn to master the sword.

What prevents our progress:

--   avoiding our own inner work
--   forgetting to practice the sword with awareness and reflection
--   using the sword on others before we have practiced long enough with ourselves to Know it well
--   illusions, denials, addictions, buffers and so on

What assists our progress:

--    using our sword with awareness and reflection
--    willingness to work on ourselves first
--    gaining a level of proficiency before using it on others
--    facing our own illusions, denials, addictions, buffers and so on prior to assisting others


Will you practice with your sword today?  Have you done your own practice on yourself?  How will you use it in the world today?    Is there anything you desire to cut away?  Do you know of any situations that require your gentle loving strokes?

The Kung fu Chi Kung Life System is a Physical and a Spiritual Art

The Kung fu Chi Kung Life System is both a physical (and it is practical and directly applicable to daily life) and a spiritual Art.  We are both physical and spiritual beings.  These older Arts have been around for a very long time; they have reaped the benefits of evolution and expansion via the many individuals who have walked this path before and who have contributed to it from their direct life experiences and accumulated knowledge base.

There is one thing that continuously amazes me about this Art:  when I go to a book store or search on the internet, I find many books that quote scientific discoveries and discuss the ``new findings`` of science/medicine in terms of health, well-being and longevity.   Every single time, the end result of the application of what is new and recently discovered can be found in some older traditions and spiritual paths of study.  I laugh every single time I hear that this is a ``new discovery``!  All of the research and lab time, microscopic investigations and studies on athletes and the aging population come up with conclusions and recommendations that have been a part of many older traditions and Arts like Yoga, Kung fu, Chi Kung, Tai Chi ... and good old common sense!  

Why do we waste our time and money to find out things that already exist?!!  Topic for some other time, perhaps.   One clue may be that in these cases, individuals are not valuing information that comes from older  or more spiritual traditions ... some people have to prove these things on a physical and scientific level before they accept them as real or valid!

We think, we feel, we sense, we intuit, we take action in our physical world and we have the potential to connect/engage with something that is more than this ... some call this Spirit.  In this Art, all of who and what we are is considered and worked with, so we do not worship the body at the expense of the Spirit - nor do we exalt the Spirit at the expense of the physical existence we have in the here and now.   Either extreme moves us into imbalance of one sort or another. 

All we have to do is look around and we can find imbalances of both sorts in individuals we meet all around us every day.   This is the Work we do when we embark or a path of this nature: to come to know who and what we really are: to connect with the essence of who we are ... and to do the Work required in order to get there. 



We are both physical and spiritual beings

 
When we are disconnected for a period of time from either our physical reality or being ... or our Spiritual Nature, we can experience many various forms of chronic imbalances: various illnesses, mental/emotional disturbances, worries and fears, anxieties and anger, pretenses etc.

 I have found that the Art I work with has assisted me in so many ways on my journey in this life ... with all that I encounter/have experienced: light and dark, illness and health, strength and weakness, grief and joy, pain and pleasure ... the physical and the spiritual ... along with many other states in between.  I have learned what it is to feel wide open as well as to work within certain limitations.  I have experienced the inexplicable as well as the mundane (like doing the laundry and changing diapers!).  

The yin/yang symbol, in this blog topic today, is being used to express that this Art is both physical and spiritual ... it holds symbols of all things we can experience here on our journey.  It holds many ideas within it ... we could write a book on just this one symbol alone ... so profound it is. 

Walking along the path of life with this Art we can come to experience for ourselves what this symbol really means to us both on a physical and a Spiritual level.   It really matters very little what I say; to experience these things for yourself is to feel what I am saying ... to live it ... to be it ... to transform along side it ... to really Know it in some way inside and outside yourself.

As a whole, this symbol represents all we are and have the potential to be.  That in itself is worth meditating on!


This Art and path I walk offers us keys with which we can unlock, uncover, discover, rediscover, recover, explore all our uniqueness and potentialities.   It addresses our lives in practical ways as well as mysterious and spiritual ways.  We have the potential to work with the mind, the physical body, the emotions and connect with Spirit.   We can come to Know the Essence of who and what we are.


The system ... or Path or Way that I have come to know and walk in my life is both a practical and a Spiritual Art.  In this sense, it is an open system - meaning that there is room for its knowing and understanding to evolve and expand ... as in fact it has over the many centuries of its existence.  

Basic Aromatherapy

Introduction to Some Basic Usage of Essential Oils

 

`I expect that essential oils may someday prove a vital weapon in the fight against strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.  Lavender, thyme and tea tree (melaleuca alternafolia) oils have been used for centuries as antiseptics; their chemical compounds appear to kill microbes on contact.’     Andrew Weil, MD

 

Good quality therapeutic essential oils are vital for aromatherapy usage.   Depending on which oil you choose, they can have any or all of the following properties: antibiotic, anti-fungal and anti-viral and anti-septic.  They can also be very aromatic and come in a variety of scents depending on the nature of the plant or flower chosen.

 

 

This blog is for those of you who are new to the use of essential oils – or it’s a good review for those who may not have used oils in some time.  I prepared this in response to some questions, so try out these suggestions and enjoy the wonderful benefits and fragrances of these natural therapeutic oils!

In the Oxford dictionary of English, aromatherapy is defined as the use of aromatic plant extracts and essential oils for healing and cosmetic purposes.

Aromatherapy is ancient; although gaining more popularity today, it has been practiced for centuries in various cultures.  In this blog, I answer some of your questions on the basic household uses of essential oils:  for purposes of healing common complaints, as well as spiritual and other basic applications – all of which are easy to apply.  I have included some basic recipes as well. 

 

PRECAUTIONS

Aromatherapy is also considered an art and a science; therefore these recipes and suggestions do not qualify one to act as an aromatherapist, and it is not wise for someone to experiment with these oils without proper training as some of them can be potentially toxic in nature or in the amount or frequency of usage.  They can also trigger allergic reactions or sensitivities in certain people. 

There are precautions to be aware of such as oils to avoid during pregnancy, the interaction of oils with medications and other natural remedies (like homeopathy).  There is a certain synergy one can create with oils and combinations are often picked according to precise calculations and knowledge of the interaction of the chemical constituents of these oils and their combinations with each other.   Certain citrus oils should not be applied to exposed skin if one is going to be in the sun for a while during the following 24 hr. period.  So it is useful to consult an aromatherapist for safe usage guidelines. 

Precautions being said, the recipes included in this paper can be used with confidence.  A skin test on the inner arm of a person is a great way to check for allergies or sensitivities.  After applying the skin test, wait a good 12 hours prior to a body application of the product suggested... such as bath recipes or skin applications such as skin oils (softeners) and massage.  If you have no reactions, use your product as intended.

 As an added precaution, if you have not checked out the oils you desire to use and the method in which you are going to use them with an aromatherapist, avoid direct sunlight for extended periods of time over the following 24 hrs. if you have applied oils to your skin

 

USING ESSENTIAL OILS FOR COMMON COMPLAINTS & SYMPTOMS

Stress is a well-known word of our times.  Doctors are aware of the impact of stress on the human body, mind and emotions.  At the root of most illness lies the stress we experience in our daily lives and we are further impacted by the way in which we respond to this stress.  If the body, mind, emotions and spirit is unable to reach balance and harmony, physical symptoms manifest... if these are ignored, acute and chronic illness set in.  Essential oils can be useful in assisting us with dealing with stress, working with all parts of our body to assist in our natural healing mechanisms and restoring our natural state of balance.

To be sure, we have to examine our mental/emotional, physical and spiritual states and address any issues which may be contributing to our physical symptoms; the suggestions which follow are to be used as a tool to assist us while we deal with the root of our presenting disharmony.

 

INSOMNIA AND RESTLESS SLEEP

In the home, essential oils may be used in a variety of ways, depending on your needs and intentions.  For example, many people suffer with insomnia or restless sleep patterns.  Essential oils can used to assist a person with this imbalance by using oils with calming and soothing qualities in a bath, on the pillow, as a spray in the room, in a diffuser, in a glass bowl of warm-hot water, or in a blend to apply in self-massage or massage given by someone else.

To make a bath blend, use 1 oz. Sweet almond oil, and add 4 drops lavender, 2 drops chamomile and 1 drop bergamot.  A teaspoon of this can be added to a warm bath, or massaged into the skin – shoulders, neck and upper back are particularly useful areas to apply   these blends, but they can also be used like a moisturizer – all over the body.  The drops of oil without sweet almond may be placed in a warm-hot glass bowl and left in the bedroom for a while before bed.  The drops may be placed on a tissue and placed into the pillow or mixed with a carrier of distilled water and placed into a small spritzing container – linens, pillows and the room can then be sprayed prior to bed.  An electric vaporizer for essential oils can be purchased.  Many of the better ones will come with clear instructions, and then any of the oils we provide in recipes may also be used with this method.  When using a vaporizer, it is not necessary to use any carrier oil, but water is added to a reservoir.

Young Living Essential Oils are wonderful ... a lot of them are now Kosher and many can be ingested for their dietary and therapeutic properties as well.  They tend to be a bit pricy, but they are worth it.   A nice blend for assistance in relaxing before bed is a blend called Peace and Calming.  Place a drop or two on your pillow about a half hour before bed ... diffuse several drops in your room for half an hour before bed ... take a bath with a few drops of this oil in the tub about a half hour before retiring to bed.  Make a spritzer and spray yourself before you leave the house – it makes a lovely relaxing scent and you get the therapeutic benefits as well.

 

HEADACHES AND HEAD TENSION

Headaches and head tension can be soothed with the cooling properties of peppermint and calming lavender.  Use 1 oz. Sweet almond oil and blend in 2 drops of peppermint with 4 drops of lavender.  You may use this to massage the temples, back of the neck and upper shoulder area.  A cooling compress could also be used: Add the essential oils mentioned to a bowl or cool water.  Place a clean cotton cloth into the bowl, wring it out and place it on the forehead.  Relax into a comfortable chair with eyes closed.  This can be repeated a few times as necessary.

  

FEELING RUN DOWN OR OVERWORKED?

When feeling overworked and/or rundown, combine 1 oz. Sweet almond oil with 4 drops tea tree, 2 drops of lemon and 1 drop of frankincense.  This blend will stimulate the immune system and assist the body with getting back into balance.  You can use this in a diffuser once in a while to promote this balance or for a few days when needing extra assistance.  A teaspoon of this blend can be used in a soothing bath, and can also be applied directly on the skin via massage.   When working, a bit of this blend may be placed on a tissue and can be used by sniffing the tissue periodically during the day.  This tissue can be protected by placing it into a plastic baggie which one can reseal after each use. 

 

SPRING DETOX TIME

While you can make the following water drink at any time of the year, in the spring, it is an especially useful practice to tonify and detox your liver.   

Young Living lemon and grapefruit can be ingested safely.  Place a couple of drops of lemon or grapefruit into your water bottle and sip on it during the morning.

We also have liver blends that you can place into your bath and massage oil in the spring to assist your liver in its detox and refreshing period.

 

FLU SEASON

Vaporizing can be used with practically any blend you can create.  It is effective and preserves the therapeutic value of the oils by not subjecting them to extreme temperatures.  The following is a blend which is great to use during flu season: 50 ml. distilled water, 8 drops eucalyptus, 6 drops lavender, and 8 drops lemon.  Place this into a 50 ml. dark glass bottle. Shake the bottle a bit to disperse the oils prior to each use.  You could also use this blend in a spritzer and spray your sheets, pillows and room before bed.  Using the above blend, you could also add 3 – 4 oz. sweet almond oil instead of the 50 ml. of distilled water and now you have a blend for bath, and massage.

 

I have a number of wonderful recipes to use depending on the nature of your flu symptoms, so come in to see me if you’d like a special blend prepared for you specific to your complaint and/or symptoms.

 

 

SKIN:

MINOR BURNS, INSECT BITES AND PLANT IRRITATIONS

 One of my favourite oils is lavender.  I love it for its many applications and its gentleness on the skin.  It is one of the few oils which can be applied directly to the skin without a carrier and without irritation.

 I was having a fire one night in my backyard and was burning some brush leftover from the fall before.  As the fire was burning, I went to pick up what looked to me like a very thin branch on the side of the fire which I wanted to move more deeply into the fire.  I went to pick it up and burned my hand across all my fingers and was suddenly in severe pain.  Looking closer, I realized that it was a hot piece of wire that I had picked up.  I remembered what I learned about lavender and its healing properties – particularly with burns, so I ran into the house and liberally poured lavender across my fingers.  My fingers had already started to swell and were throbbing with pain.  I did this a few more times and then made a cool compress with some lavender on it and kept it across my fingers.  The pain subsided and there was no burn mark except for one small area on one finger – which healed without a scar.  I literally had no sign of being burned within hours. This was my most dramatic experience with essential oils, but I was a huge fan afterwards!

 I had a burn some months ago which was not nearly as bad – hadn’t been near my lavender and dealt with the pain for hours, had a longer period of healing time and ended up with a small scar.   My experience convinced me of the effectiveness of essential oils and their healing, restorative and regenerative potentialities.

 I keep a lot of lavender handy and use it for insect bites, burns, and one of the oils I use the most in my own blends.  Chamomile is also useful for insect bites, but lavender is one to keep handy, as it has multiple purposes.  It is an adaptogenic oil, so it will be used by the body in the areas it is needed.

A synergistic blend which can be used as a disinfectant is 2 drops lavender, 4 drops thyme and 2 drops of eucalyptus.  This blend can be made in larger quantities by doubling or tripling the recipe and kept in a dark sealed glass bottle.  Then 8 drops can be added to a warm-hot bowl of water in order to make a disinfectant wash.

 This particular one is especially effective for insect bites and other irritations which can be encountered out of doors while gardening or while kids play.  It is a great little blend to take on a camping trip or to keep handy for the home.  The above blend of 8 drops of essential oils could also be added to 1 oz. of sweet almond oil and used on the skin as a moisturizer  for a week or so prior to your trip.  This ensures the oils are well into your system. The rest of the blend can be taken with you on your trip and used daily – you may be pleasantly surprised that the insects are not as interested in you due to the oils in your system.

 I have personal experience with this as well, though everyone is different, so give the blend a try.  Many people use citronella oil for insect repellent in a variety of ways; however, I have not chosen to use that oil in this discussion, as I personally do not enjoy the scent as much as other oils which will do the same job.

 

SPIRITUAL APPLICATIONS

 

 Oils and incenses have been used throughout time in spiritual and religious practices.   We can still find some of them used in contemporary churches as well as in other more ancient spiritual practices.   Frankincense is one of the more well known oils.  Other oils have also been known throughout history for their uses spiritually and religiously: sandalwood, myrrh, cassia, cedarwood, cypress, galbanum, hyssop, myrtle, onycha, rose of Sharon (cistus), and spikenard.

The use of essential oils adds a wonderful addition to any rituals or ceremonies you do.

When looking more deeply into the balance, rhythm and harmony of a person, we come to consider the aspects of the person which are not related to the material or physical only.   There are many ways in which oils can assist us when we are working on these subtle levels.  Below is one example that you can easily work with for some time.

Being that we are essentially energy, we can approach wellness, healing and balance by reaching for higher levels of consciousness and freeing the flows of energies throughout our form.  By doing so, we can also relieve stress, heal imbalances and restore the natural flows of energy in the more subtle aspects of our being.

 One way of doing so is through working with the 7 major chakras (wheels or vortices of energy residing along the main central channel of the body...or spine for a visual).  These centres of energy become blocked by stress, life experiences and our responses to them and other factors, restricting the flow of the universal life force energy which permeates and sustains all things.  While we can also work with these energy centres via breath and movement and visualizations, we can also do the following meditation with the use of crystals and essential oils. 

Lie down on a flat surface like on a mat on the floor or a massage table or your bed.  Pick out about an hour of instrumental, calming music that you like and put it on low.  It is useful to have a friend assist you with this process, but if you are prepared, you may do it alone. 

1.  Place a small hematite or garnet stone at the base of your pubic area.  If this is unstable... balance it on the pubic bone - place a drop of cedar, cypress or rosemary on it.

 2.  Place a piece of coral, gold topaz or aventurine about an inch below the navel with a drop of myrrh, sandalwood or pepper on it.  

3.  Place a piece of amber, tiger’s eye or citrine on your solar plexus with a drop of lavender, chamomile or lemon on it. 

4.  Place a piece of jade, rose quartz or emerald on your heart area with a drop of rose or jasmine on it. 

5.  Place a piece of lapis lazuli, topaz or aquamarine on your throat with a drop of eucalyptus or peppermint on it. 

6.  Place a piece of blue sapphire, opal or blue tourmaline on your third eye area (middle of forehead) with a drop of lemongrass or violet on it. 

7.  Place a piece of amethyst, rock crystal or diamond at your crown chakra with a drop of rosewood on it. 

 In various sources, some of these stones and their corresponding essential oils are different... there is more than one choice possible for uses of this type of meditation and chakra clearing, so remember that you can choose from several options you might have available.   If you study the chakra system more deeply, you will understand the correspondences and possible substitutions.

Once you are all set up, lie down with your spine and neck straight and properly aligned.  Close your eyes and relax.  Breathe in the aromas, listen to the background music and move deeper into your self.  

 If any thoughts come into your mind, let them pass like a cloud in the sky in a gentle breeze.  This is not time for thinking or analysis or anything but relaxing, breathing in the lovely aromas, and quieting your mind and body.

 Let your CD play until the end and then slowly, as you are ready, open your eyes and begin to remove the stones.  You can clean them by laying them out in the sun or moon, with a soft cotton cloth and incense, water and sea salt or a little bit of organic soap, but refer to a crystal book for information on cleaning stones, as some of them do not like water submerging, and can get damaged.

 

Candle meditations

Another way to use oils is to place several drops of an oil or an oil blend into your diffuser.   Frankincense is a great oil to use during meditations, but we can suggest other oils and blends for you as well.   Sit quietly in a comfortable position and simply gaze at the candle and the moving mist from the diffuser.  Take in the aroma and quiet your mind.  Simply observe your thoughts as they arise and let them pass as a cloud would in the sky in a gentle breeze.

Light a pure beeswax candle beside your diffuser (other regular candles emit chemicals into the air when burned, so use pure candles).   A diffuser is a great tool to have for the use of oils in your home and during your meditations.   Many people enjoy the use of these oils during their spiritual practices such as yoga, chi kung, tai chi, meditation and healing sessions etc.   Be sure to know the amount of oil to use and how long it is appropriate to diffuse, as these oils are therapeutic and need to be used with care ... Enjoy!

 

COSMETIC APPLICATIONS

 Essential oils are very popular in the area of beauty and cosmetics.  Virtually all products we use can be made with natural ingredients which include essential oils.  From shampoos, to soaps, moisturizers, creams and deodorants, essential oils can be a part of your daily beauty and cosmetic applications.

 In order to learn more about creating unique recipes, taking an aromatherapy course is very useful; otherwise, there are plenty of books on the market written by certified aromatherapists which include dozens of recipes you can make at home once you have the proper ingredients and tools.

To make a delightful anti-wrinkle night oil, add 2 drops patchouli, 3 drops lemon, and 5 drops of rose to 2 drops of evening primrose oil and 1 teaspoon (10 ml) sweet almond oil.  Blend this well and apply it to your face and neck at night.

A really nice aftershave soother can be made by adding 4 drops of sandalwood, 6 drops benzoin, and 4 drops of chamomile to a bottle with 4 teaspoons (20 ml) of hazelnut oil.  Warm a tiny amount in the hands and then apply to the area after shaving.  This aroma is especially appreciated by men, but can be used by anyone who likes the heady rich aromas it provides.

For those who are athletic, here is an after-sports shower formula: add 2 drops of rosemary, 2 drops of pine and 4 drops of lemon to a handful of unscented shower gel.  Work this into a  lather all over the body with a shower sponge or cloth.  This is both refreshing and invigorating.

You can make a very nice hair and scalp tonic to use prior to shampooing by placing 10 drops of juniper, 7 drops of cedarwood, 8 drops of rosemary to 1 ½ oz. of olive oil and massage this into your hair and scalp.  Wrap your hair up into a warm towel and wait for about 2 hours before shampooing.  Before wetting your hair, massage your shampoo into your hair to assist with removing the oils.

At the end of a busy day, you can refresh your hot and sweaty feet with a nice footbath.  Place 4 drops of citronella, 3 drops of cypress with 2 drops of tea tree and soak in warm-hot water.

For greasy hair you can add 2 drops of lemongrass to a bit of unscented shampoo and wash your hair.

You can make a nice skin replenisher by preparing the following recipe for yourself in a glass dark battle you can seal:  4 teaspoons of sweet almond oil with 3 drops of rosewood, 3 drops of frankincense and 3 drops of sandalwood.  Seal the bottle and shake before use.  Use this mixture over your face and neck and dry skin patches, using gentle circular strokes over the skin.

EVERYDAY HOUSEHOLD USES

 We have already mentioned how essential oils can be used to freshen rooms when added to distilled or spring water in a spritzing bottle.  This can effective for unwanted odours such as cooking, animal and other unwelcome smells.  Prepare a bottle with distilled water and put 5 drops of lemon, 3 drops of eucalyptus and 2 drops of lavender per every 2 ½ cups of water...depending on the size of your bottle, you can adjust this recipe accordingly.  This mixture can be used to spray and wipe counters after cleaning them in order to disinfect and add a lovely scent to the kitchen.  It can be used to disinfect and deodorize any room in your house, but due to this particular combination, it is useful in areas like the kitchen and bathroom.

I was given the following recipe by a woman at an aromatherapy shop years ago.  She told me to dissolve ½ cup of Borax into boiling water.  Immediately remove from heat.  Let this cool and then add 30 drops of lavender and 20 drops of eucalyptus with 2-3 drops of organic liquid soap – like dishwashing liquid.  Place mixture into a gallon container and add water to the top.  You now have a concentrated cleanser for the house.  This is meant to be diluted just as you would dilute another household concentrated cleaning product.  I dilute this product and use it to clean my ceramic floors, bathrooms, fridge (not stainless steel) and counters... dilution is important as this is a potent cleaner.  It works well and leaves the house refreshed and disinfected.  I use this product on ceramic, tile or concrete flooring – diluted properly out of your prepared gallon container, it cleans the floors nicely.

For carpets, use Borax – for each tablespoon in your prepared mixture, add one drop of lemon essential oil.  Mix this well.  Sprinkle the carpeted areas and let sit for about 15 minutes, then vacuum slowly over the sprinkled areas. 

You can infuse your clothing with an essential oil, cut a piece of cotton about 4 inches square and place 2 drops of one of the following oils on it – depending on what you like: for a fresh scent, use lavender or rosemary.  For a floral scent, use pettigraine, palma rosa, neroli, or Bois de rose.  For a romantic essence, pick jasmine, or ylang ylang.  Put the piece of cloth with your chosen oil into the dryer with your clothing.

Essential oils are versatile.  They may be used therapeutically for healing, wellness and preventative measures.  They can be used in spiritual practices and for cosmetic and household purposes.  With proper training in the use of essential oils, we can have the knowledge necessary to use more natural products in our everyday life.