March Purchase


March 2017 AroMagic

Welcome to a new month of AroMagic! I am so excited to continue this journey deeper into the world of aromatherapy using herbs and oils with you. No matter if you’re brand new to aromatherapy or knowledgeable and experienced, this class is a place for all to take their knowledge deeper. This month, we will be focusing on herbs and oils for healing and cleansing across all planes (physical, mental, spiritual, auric), of which you received wonderful examples of in your AroMagic kits – turmeric, lemongrass, calendula flower, and rosewood. As healers we must first stand in our own healing and personal truth if we want to be a conduit for others. So now let’s talk about herbs and oils!

Please note that the oils in your kit, if you purchased it, are undiluted and should be suspended in a carrier oil or lotion base before use on your body. And please do your own research surrounding any personal contraindications, illnesses, or issues you may have, and always check with your doctor, especially if you take any medication.

Herbs

Lemongrass – cymbopogon

Lemongrass, is a genus of plants found in Asia, Africa, and Australia, as well as many of the tropical islands around the Southern Hemisphere. It is often cultivated as a culinary herb due to its citrusy-lemon scent and flavor, and as a medicinal herb for its astringent properties. It is also known as barbed wire grass, citronella grass, fever grass, cha da dartigalongue, and gravati chaha to name a few. Lemongrass is highly used across Asia and India for teas and herbal flavoring, especially in Ayurvedic medicine.

 

Properties of lemongrass

AroMagic LemongrassOne of the primary attributes of lemongrass is its cleansing properties. It has a relaxing and mildly sedating scent, unlike other citrus herbs and oils which tend to be more stimulating and uplifting. It is a favorite herb in both Hoodoo and Mexican Folk Magic due to its purifying properties. It’s one of the staple ingredients in Van Van oil, as it removes unwanted energetic “pests” and clears obstacles in your path. Pair it with Durva Grass for a powerful offering to Lord Ganesha. It’s a nurturing herb that can shift perceived bad luck to good, while also fostering clear open conditions for growth.

Being ruled by Mercury, lemongrass can be used to clarify, enhance, or sweeten communication issues as well. The mildly sedating and relaxing effect of this herb makes it a wonderful addition to dream pillows alongside mugwort and lavender, and it has been used for centuries in teas intended to increase psychic and divination powers. Lemongrass corresponds with the element of Air and the direction of East so it can be used as an offering or to call in either of these when needed.

Calendula flower – calendula officinalis

Calendula, aka marigold, is a beautiful flower with deep orange to yellow petals similar to its close cousin the common garden marigold. There is a difference though. Regular garden marigolds give off a strong, unpleasant aroma; calendula is comparatively milder. The calendula we are working with is native to northern Africa and the southern-central European region. Europeans and the early American colonists relied on the bright, sunny character and gentle immune boosting properties for protection against the damp, cold of winter. It was a common “pot herb,” meaning it was often used in soups and stews, as well as a regular ingredient in daily herbal infusions and beauty treatments. Ancient Egyptians used it to rejuvenate their skin while the Greeks and Romans used it as a culinary garnish.

Properties of calendula

Calendula is a bittersweet, salty herb that stimulates the liver, gall bladder, and uterus. It soothes the digestive system, clears infections, and is believed to support the heart. Calendula is a wonderful herb for treating skin problems and irritations, but as always with any herb or oil, spot test your skin for sensitivity before using and consult your doctor. Historically it has been used to soothe inflammation, control bleeding, and heal damaged tissue. It was most effective as a poultice to help heal wounds – particularly slow-healing wounds and skin ulcers – and has shown to stimulate the development of granulation tissue. It has immune stimulant properties as well as an estrogenic effect. It is a popular choice for making skin soothing soaps as well.

Calendula also carries properties of protection and prophecy. Metaphysically, it’s an herb of action, working to move anything that is energetically stuck in our systems of defense. A masculine herb of the sun, calendula resonates with the element of fire, thus making it a potent herb for Solar Plexus related chakra work.

Oils

Turmeric – curcuma longa

A potent protective and healing member of the ginger family, turmeric has recently come into the spotlight in the western world for its anti-inflammatory properties. This magically potent remedial spice has been used for centuries throughout China and India. It is a cornerstone of Ayurvedic medicine and practice where it is classified as an herb that’s good for all tissues of the body. The Indian wedding ceremony, haldi, is a sacred beautifying ritual that takes place the day before a wedding, wherein a paste of turmeric is applied all over the bride’s and groom’s bodies. The bright yellow color of Turmeric along with it’s ability to purify are part of the reason it’s been included in a variety of rituals, including weddings and baby-naming ceremonies.

Properties of turmeric

In Eastern medicine, especially Ayurveda, turmeric is also used to help ease depression and control pain. For many it has held the key to reducing or even eliminating NSAID use to manage pain from conditions including arthritis and osteoarthritis as well as sprains, strains, and other musculoskeletal injuries. These days, as more and more studies are conducted, even western doctors are giving credit where credit is due when it comes to turmeric treating overall inflammation and promoting circulation.

Turmeric is an excellent liver herb, and it is used for jaundice and to stimulate gallbladder activity. It is a great digestive aid for breaking down fatty foods. Clinical trials have shown it to successfully reduce cholesterol levels. Turmeric has germicidal properties and studies have shown that it can effectively combat H. pylori, which is now found to be the major culprit in causing heartburn and gastric ulcers. Chinese medicine has used turmeric for treatment of shoulder pain, menstrual cramping, and arthritis.

Keep in mind, turmeric is not recommended if you’re pregnant or trying to conceive because it is a mild uterine stimulant. Potentially, it can cause uterine contractions. If you are on any medications or under a doctor’s care for any medical issues, please check with a medical professional before working with oils and herbs in any way.

Rosewood oil –  aniba rosaeaodora

The health benefits of rosewood can be attributed to its properties as an analgesic, antidepressant, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, antibacterial, cephalic, deodorant, insecticide and stimulating substance. It is extracted from the rosewood tree, which Brazil is famous for. Due to the high demand of rosewood for furniture, art, and home decor, rosewood oil is becoming harder and harder to source and naturally more expensive as well. It is extracted from the woody matter of the Rosewood tree with the help of steam distillation. Its main components are alpha terpineol, alpha pinene, benzaldehyde, cineole, camphene, geranial, geraniol, neral, myrcene, limonene, linalool and linalool oxide.

Properties of rosewood

This soft healer brings overall balance throughout the system, while also offering a gently soothing and uplifting effect. It’s a high vibrational oil and makes a wonderful ally for meditation. You can diffuse or anoint with it (be sure to mix with a carrier oil) before sitting in meditation to amplify your practice. It’s healing to the physical body, so it’s a great additive to lotions and massage oils. And did you know, rosewood is an aphrodisiac which is why it is used in Chanel No.5!

Rosewood essential oil has a very pleasing, warm, and woodsy aroma that has been used in aromatherapy for spiritual, uplifting, and strengthening purposes. Rosewood works wonders for the skin and facial rejuvenation, cancerous and pre-cancerous cells, as well as emotional and physical health and well-being. It has been known to be used in love, attraction, abundance, and passion spells, as well as Heart Chakra healing. And rosewood has been long used in feminine wisdom and initiation rituals. It blends very nicely with the essential oils of orange, bergamot, neroli, lime, lemon, grapefruit, lavender, jasmine and rose.

Being the gentle oil that it is there are no dangers or health risks associated with rosewood essential oil.

BONUS SESSION 3/21

Rosemary – Dew of the Sea/Biberiye/Compass Weed, Mediterranean Basin

Zodiac sign: Leo, Gender: Masculine, Element of Fire, Planet: Sun

Rosemary is an ancient evergreen shrub with spruce-like leaves, cultivated for its culinary, aromatic, and magical uses. It bears many therapeutic properties, specifically useful for increasing energy, circulation, and mental clarity. It is also used as an overall healer, protector, purifier, stress reliever, and memory enhancer. Magically speaking, it draws love and fidelity, and wards off evil.

Properties of rosemary

According to Christian folklore, a rosemary bush will grow and flower for exactly 33 years before it dies – the age Christ was when crucified. This herb was used as part of the embalming ritual in ancient Egypt. And it is associated with the Greek goddess Aphrodite, thus it’s used in love rituals and potions to attract love, friendship, and lasting union. It can also help boost fertility.

The principal magical uses of rosemary are its cleansing, purifying, and protective properties. It can be burned as a way to “fumigate” for illness and negativity, or added to water to create sacred ritual baths for blessing and purification. Carrying rosemary with you or placing it in the home is a way to ward off evil spirits, curb nightmares, and protect the bearer from the evil eye.

Rosemary is also scientifically proven to be a powerful memory aid, and is thus a common herb used in spells and rituals to enhance memory for test-taking, for general success in school or academia, and for dream recall. Another way to reap these benefits is to place a sprig of rosemary under your pillow while sleeping, or to use as a bookmark while reading.

Finally, anointing with rosemary essential oil is another way to reap all of the above magical, aromatic, and healing benefits. Direct application to the skin will also help improve circulation and bring relief from aches and pains.

Angelica Root – Archangel/Chanda/Chirakabbeda, North and Northeast Europe (esp. Syria), Russia, Iceland, Greenland, Himalayas

Zodiac sign: Taurus, Gender: Unknown (dual?), Element of Fire, Planet: Venus

Angelica RootAngelica root, a sugary member of the parsley family, is cultivated for culinary, aromatic, decorative, and magical use. Associated with the archangels Michael and Gabriel, this herb was used in ancient Syria to prevent plague, ward off evil, and act as a curative for many different illnesses. Tall and aromatic, its height, firework-like blooms, and bright green coloring make for striking ornamental use. Today it is commonly used to beautify floral arrangements, added to potpourri (its fragrance keeps for a long time), and stewed with acidic fruits to add natural sugar. Its main magical uses are protection, longevity, and luck.

Properties of angelica root

According to legend, an angel visited 14th Century physician Mattheus Sylvaticus in a dream and revealed that angelica root was a cure to the plague (hence, the name of the root). It is a close relative to Dong Quai, the most respected root in ancient Chinese herbalism. Angelica root is a powerful birthing aid, which can assist delayed labor and ease menstrual cramps. Women who are pregnant should avoid angelica root, as it induces labor. When ingested, this root also aids and/or relieves indigestion, colic, gas, hepatitis, nausea, heartburn, ulcers and various other digestive issues. Externally, it can be applied to wounds as a healing and cleansing agent. Aromatically, angelica root boosts mood, enhancing overall wellness and feelings of harmony. It also improves circulation, thereby alleviating chronic headaches and general body weakness.

Angelica root is used as a magical tool for hex-breaking and warding off evil, and can also be used contrarily to bring blessings.