The Red Phoenix Feng Shui

Easter Greetings!

04/08/2012 09:42:00

Easter fills us with hope, joy and warmth. It is a time to get together with friends, family and loved ones and celebrate this joyful time. Easter is my favorite holiday of the year! Today is Good Friday ... in past years, I would have been at a church service every night this week. This year, due to a very busy schedule and lots of homework and work-work, I will be happy to make the Sunrise 6am service on Easter Sunday.

Nevertheless, I am (for the first time in I think 4 years!) honored to be hosting a Traditional Easter Dinner for my family. Now, when it comes to me and "tradition," one never knows what tradition we will follow. Will it be the tradition of my youth? Will it be the Swedish Tradition of Easter filled with Easter Witches, Chickens and feathers on trees? Will it be an Irish Tradition of Easter with staying up all night roasting a leg of lamb on an outdoor grill (as one of my brothers does)? Will we honor my husband's heritage and do a Traditional Polish Easter of decorating hard boiled eggs with wax and food coloring and eating garlic, bread, honey and vatruska, and going to Kramarczuk's for the traditional Polish Easter foods? Or, will this be the year we learn another new tradition?

Easter shopping is one of my favorite things to do. This year, we did not to the traditional trek to Kramarczuk's Deli for the traditional Polish foods. However, I did find the Easter Lamb-shaped butter at Cub! Who would have thought Cub would have my lamb-butter! We bought a smoked bone-in ham, will have mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, a wonderful goat cheese and cracker appetizer, spring vegetable salad (thank you Emily!), a basket of fresh fruit (thank you Sabrina!), a pretty spring-time cake for dessert (thank you Kathleen!) and family photos (thank you Michael!).

My husband and I celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary a couple of weeks ago in New York. It was beautiful, wonderful, and magical, but.... we missed our children. Being this is a second marriage for both of us, our children were at our first wedding. So, Easter Sunday, we will be re-enacting our renewal of vows with our children and grandchildren present. This year our tradition theme is "I-am-blessed-to-have-a-beautiful-family-tradition." This means we will have a simple fun-filled day. We will re-enact our wedding vows, our son is a photographer and will take family photos, our daughter bought a small "wedding" cake, and we will have an Easter egg hunt for our grandsons.

There are many symbols that go with Easter. One of them is the egg. Eggs are a sign of hope and of resurrection. Jesus comes forth from the tomb, just as the chick breaks the shell of the egg at birth. Because of this special meaning, it is fitting that we bless and decorate our Easter Eggs with symbols of Easter. The Egg also represents Springtime; it represents fertility, and wholeness.

Barbara Biziou taught me that this year as we celebrate Easter, we should take a hardboiled egg, hold it in your hands, and really think about what new beginnings you want this year. This is a special time of year and we have the potential for miracles and grace. Think about what it is that you want to bring forth or birth now. Place that intention into the egg, and then symbolically, eat the egg, so you are embodying these choices and visions for the future. If you do not like eggs, then give it to the earth – bring it outside to a park, let the animals eat it. You do not ever want to throw it away. This is a time of new beginnings-- what are your visions for your future?

I'd like to share our Easter Blessing for our dinner and please, feel free to use it for your.

"May this home be a place of happiness and health, of contentment, generosity and love, a home of creativity and kindness. May those who visit and those who live here know only blessings and peace."

Blessings and Peace to all of you,

Dorine

My 2012 Water Dragon Home Office

02/25/2012 20:46:00

We are getting ready for our next remodel project -- my home office! We began discussing this project a few months ago. Keeping the big picture of what we need to accomplish before I "retire" from my current corporate job into working The Red Phoenix Feng Shui full time in mind, we moved our guest room furniture to our youngest, daughter's cabin in Culver Mn. A few weeks ago, we moved our bedroom into the guest bedroom. Today, we moved my office furniture to what used to be our bedroom. I am keeping in mind all the good Feng Shui for the office. My desk faces the door (my opportunities come through the front door), I have a free standing mirror positioned to see down the hallway (no surprises coming my way), I am on the side of the room with the full ceiling (no slanting ceiling to oppress me), the full book cases are across the room from me. The one with most of the books in it is behind the open door (no chatter coming from the books), the other book case is my vision wall. The lower shelves are filled with books and behind doors, the upper shelves are open and hold pieces of art and decorative items that I love. There are plants in front of both the East facing windows, one with pink flowers. It's a comfortable room and I think I will be happy and productive here. I also face North which is my Sheng Chi (Wealth). The room is in the Southeast Sector of my house, which is my Fu Wei (best overall), and the most East room which is my Yen Nien (Relationship). My desk chair is in the Tien Yi Sector of the room (my Health). I would say, this is a good spot for me.

I am still a student at The American College of Healthcare Sciences studying for my Diploma in Aromatherapy. I need a space to study. This room is bright and airy and is painted a soft minty green with white trim. When we were choosing the colors for this room we worked with a 5-Element palate. All five of the Elements are represented; Water (black aubusson carpet), Wood (the minty green walls and plants), Fire (a bit of pink in the white ceiling), Metal (white woodwork and white lace curtains), and Earth (the brown color of the furniture, and the 20mm yellow crystal hanging in the center of the room). This room spans the entire front of my second floor and holds the Northeast, East, and Southeast corners. In Black Hat Feng Shui, it holds the Knowledge, Career, and Helpful People areas of the second level of my house.

The 2012 Water Dragon Flying Star says that this year, the East holds the Wisdom Star. This is excellent for studying and for anyone in academics. I placed a Golden Pagoda on a piece of green wood in one of the East Windows. The pagoda represents knowledge, enlightenment and tranquility. This semester I am studying Chemistry and need all the knowledge, enlightenment and tranquility I can get! I am also placing four stocks of lucky bamboo in the Black Hat Partnership corner of my desk.

The Northeast holds the 2012 Happiness Star, which brings good fortune and excellent prospects for the future. To benefit our relationship and marriage (25 years in March!), I will place a Double Happiness Couplet on the Northeast wall. Scott is framing it for me today. My desk faces the door (North) and the Northeast corner of the room will always be in my peripheral vision - this means my relationship and marriage will always be in my vision while I am in this office - I like that!

This little Dragon Turtle is a legendary Chinese creature that combines two of the four Celestial Animals of Chinese mythology: with a body of a turtle and a dragon-like head. It is a positive ornament in Feng Shui symbolizing courage, determination, fertility, longevity, power, success, and support. The Dragon Headed Turtle with a baby on its back while standing on a pile of coins represents a new business venture with prospects. This resonated with me because as I graduate this spring, I will be spending more time working The Red Phoenix Feng Shui before I retire from my corporate job in October. The symbolic meanings of the animals are dragon (luck); tortoise (long life), baby tortoise (new beginnings, fertility or excellent descendants luck) and the Coins represent the Money that can be made. The dragon is said to be blowing good breathe to people and carrying Ru Yi which signifies power, high rank and doing everything well. Placing this dragon in the home is said to bring the occupants good luck, wealth and feeling of security. The Dragon Headed Turtle also protects a home from negative energies. I am placing this Dragon Turtle in two places in my office. One sits in the Northeast corner this year to benefit my marriage and relationship and one sits in the window behind my desk to signify support, longevity and prosperity for my new business.

The Southeast is the 2012 direction of the Grand Duke. My understanding is that we never want to tick off the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke symbolizes tragedies, sickness, losses, accidents, calamities, and obstacles to overcome. I want to negate his destructiveness, so we placed a small metal wind chime on our main level and I am also placing a Red Pi Xiu (facing Southeast) in my new home office. The Pi Xiu is an ancient Chinese mythological magical beast. He is regarded as an auspicious creature that possesses the divine power of drawing wealth from the five directions. Legend has it that the Pi Xiu is a fierce protector. He is known to banish evil and disease. This area is also the Black Hat Partnership area of the room, so is an important area for me. A table in that corner holds our wedding picture, another picture of the two of us (taken when Scott still had dark hair and before I used artificial methods to keep mine red), and a small vase of pink silk flowers Scott gave to me one year for an anniversary gift, along with a small lamp and a pink candle. The Pi Xiu sits behind one of the photos facing Southeast.

I am very excited about this coming year and the changes it will bring to me, my business and to my family. I hope some of the adjustments I am making in my home and in particular, in my home office will help you make some adjustments in your home. If you want personalized information on Feng Shui, a Feng Shui Appointment, or a Ming Gua Consultation, give me a call or send me an email.

Wishing you Good Feng Shui and Health From the Inside Out!

Dorine

612-825-8425

Dorine@TheRedPhoenixFengShui.com

Jook

01/19/2011 00:28:00

The New York Time Diner’s Journal - By Mark Bittman

Time: at least 2-1/2 hours

Yield 6 Servings

1 c. short grain rice

2 c. chicken stock, or water (homemade is best)

1 - 3-inch piece of ginger, peeled and chopped

¼ lb. slab bacon, optional

¼ c. crispy cooked bacon, minced, optional

¼ c. minced scallions

½ c. roasted peanuts, optional

sesame oil for drizzling, optional

Soy sauce or salt to taste

Wash rice, and put it in a stockpot with chicken stock or water. Place over high heat until stock boils, then add about 4 cups water. Bring to a boil, and turn heat to low. Partly cover pot, simmer for about 1-1/2 hours, stirring occasionally and adding water as necessary (about 2 cups more).
Add ginger and slab bacon, and simmer for an hour more or so. Jook should have porridge like consistency. If it becomes very thick, add water. When done, jook will be soupy and creamy, like loose oatmeal.
Remove slab bacon, and serve jook in individual bowls. Season with salt or soy sauce, then garnish with minced bacon, scallions and peanuts. Drizzle with sesame oil if desired.

Variations:

For jook with vegetables, Step 1 remains the same. In step 2, omit bacon. Soak 4 or 5 dried black (shiitake) mushrooms in hot water until softened, then remove stems, and chop. Add them to mix, along with ginger and 2 carrots, peeled and finely diced, and a large pinch of salt. When jook is almost done, stir in 1-cup fresh or frozen peas, and cook 10 minutes or more. Proceed as above.
Jook with meat: Step 1 remains the same. In step 2, about 15 minutes before jook is done, add ½ bound sliced uncooked sirloin, ½ pound sliced uncooked chicken breast, or ½ pound crumbled uncooked ground or sliced pork. Proceed as above.
Jook with seafood and cilantro: Step 1 remains the same. In step 2, during the last 10 minutes of simmering, add ½-pound shrimp, peeled, deveined and roughly chopped, or ½-pound whitefish fillets, skinned and sliced (or use both shrimp and fish). Proceed as above, adding at least ½ cup chopped cilantro leaves for garnish.

Morning Revive, (revised!)

10/26/2010 07:54:00

Like the mythical Red Phoenix, I love essential oils. I love the aroma, I love that I can use them to balance my health and my life.

I am very lucky to be able to study Aromatherapy. I want to make all the recipes I have come across in studying Aromatherapy. I use many of the recipes found in my manual and in the books I have on my bookshelf. I do not think a day goes by that I do not use an essential oil for something. In fact, I have an energetic blend mixed specifically for the emotional and energetic qualities of the oils. This blend is mixed using fractionated coconut oil as the base oil. I use it when I feel I need extra protection from a stressful situation, or person. I use it when I go on Feng Shui Appointments or sometimes just because a day seems particularly stressful.

While reading the material for my current study module, I became quite excited about the uses for our three oils in the Materia Medica, Essential Oil of Rose, Essential Oil of Sandalwood, and Essential oil of Rosemary. In particular, I am very interested and excited to begin using, blending, and formulating Essential Oil of Rose and Rose Attar. My daughter has migraines often, and issues with menstrual pain. I make a balm with essential oils of rosemary, peppermint and eucalyptus but after reading about essential oil of rose and rose attar, I want to make some products specifically for her and to treat her ailments.

She (as well as my other three children) will be getting an array of products containing essential oils for Christmas. They will get shower gels, bath oils, massage oils, balms, tinctures, talc, bath salts, and whatever else I can think of… That will come later… for today, I decided to make the “Morning Revive Shower Gel." What I did not have on hand, I substituted.

I had only 2 ounces of unscented soap so made one/half the recipe and did not have any Petitgrain so substituted Lavender instead.

Here is the recipe I used:

Morning Revive, (revised!)

2-oz unscented Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap (pure-castile soap)

8 drops Essential oil of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

5 drops Essential oil of Grapefruit (Citrus paradise)

5 drops Essential oil of Tangerine (Citrus reticulate)

3 drops Essential oil of Lavender (Lavandula officinalis)

My husband and I will use this shower gel and I will use the oils made in my last Blog Post as pre-bath oil and/or oil in my evening bath water. Remember, I made two oils (one with sesame oil and one with olive oil) mixed with essential oil of Lemon. Using the Morning Revive, with the citrus oils will compliment the bath oils.

Rosemary(Rosmarinus officinalis)

Characteristics: Strong, clear and penetrating, a refreshing and stimulating herbal fragrance.
Properties: analgesic, antidepressant, astringent,
Mind and spirit: Strengthens mental clarity, improves memory
Body: valuable for respiratory problems such as common cold, sinusitis, asthma, relieves pain – helps arthritis, stimulates blood circulation – good remedy for low blood pressure.
Precautions: not suitable for people with epilepsy or high blood pressure, or pregnancy

Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)

Properties: Antidepressant, antiseptic, diuretic, disinfectant, stimulant
Mind and spirit: has an overall uplifting and reviving effect – good to use in states of stress, depression and nervous exhaustion
Body: lymphatic stimulant, useful for treating water retention, is detoxifying and diuretic – good for treating cellulite, stimulating for digestive system.
Skin and hair: helpful in treating acne and oily skin

Tangerine (Citrus reticulate blanco)

Properties: Antiseptic, antispasmodic, sedative
Mind and Spirit: a relaxant and helpful in relieving stress and tension
Body: has a tonic effect on the digestive system, popular massage oil during pregnancy, reduces stretch marks, fluid retention and stimulated circulation.
Skin and hair: use in massage oils for acne, oily skin, and treatment of stretch marks.

Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)

Properties: Analgesic, antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, bactericide, decongestant, deodorant, diuretic sedative
Mind and spirit: sedative, good for treating depression, insomnia, migraine, nervous tension, good for treating migraines and headaches
Body: Lavender is antiseptic good for treating coughs, colds, sinus, flu, etc…
Skin and hair: anti-inflammatory properties have a balancing effect on the skin – good for treating dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, boils and acne.

References: The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy – Salvatore Battaglia

Aroma 101 Introduction to Aromatherapy Manual, pages 309-314

Saturated vs. Unsaturated Fats

10/10/2010 12:00:00

As winter approaches, I become concerned about protecting my skin against the cold wind and other drying elements. This gets me thinking about natural ways to protect and moisturize my skin. What can I use that is natural, not too expensive, and will fortify my skin? What do I already have in my cupboard that could be used as a base oil for aromatherapy? I took a survey of the saturated and unsaturated fats in my kitchen.

What are saturated Fats vs. Unsaturated Fats?

Saturated fat is one of the two main categories of fats that appear in foods. It is distinguished from unsaturated fat in that there are no double bonds between carbon atoms in its chemical makeup, so that the fatty acids are saturated with hydrogen. Naturally occurring saturated fat, such as the fat found in animal-based foods, congeals when cool, while naturally occurring unsaturated fat, such as olive oil, remains fluid. Saturated fat is less likely to spoil than unsaturated fat and more stable during cooking.

The two Saturated Fats I have in my kitchen are:

Coconut Oil

Butter

The unsaturated fats are:

Olive Oil

Canola Oil

Peanut Oil

Sesame Oil

Flax Seed Oil

Toasted Sesame Oil

Olive oil

moisturizer for dry skin
hair conditioner, makes hair soft and shiny
cuticle treatment
makeup remover
a skin healer for sunburn and other minor skin irritations

Sesame oil

Has been used for thousands of years as a healing oil
antibacterial
anti-inflammatory
useful in unblocking arteries
used in the treatment of Hepatitis, Diabetes and migraines.
an antioxidant and will neutralize oxygen radicals.
One study showed that rinsing your mouth with Sesame oil, resulted in an 85% reduction in the bacteria, which causes gingivitis.

Lemon

Botanical name: Citrus limon
Properties: Anti-anemic, antimicrobial, anti-rheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, bactericidal, tonic
Mind and Spirit: Refreshing and cooling when feeling hot and bothered. Research in Japan has found that lemon improves one’s ability to concentrate. …"Hums like a bumblebee" and lifts the spirits during times of mental fatigue.
Body: prized for its high antibacterial properties, improves the functioning of the digestive system, counteracts acidity in the body, makes the stomach more alkaline, has a tonic effect on the circulatory system and is useful in treating varicose veins, high blood pressure.
·Skin and Hair: Astringent – has a cleansing effect on greasy skin. Antiseptic – useful for cuts and boils
Precautions: May cause dermal irritation or sensitization reaction in some people (See post regarding Skin Patch Test). Photo toxic so avoid using on skin and then exposing to the sun.

Using Olive Oil and Sesame Oil as the carrier oils in my study, I used a 2% Dilution Ratio (2 tablespoons carrier oil to 12 drops Lemon essential oil).

I used the two oil-mixtures as a pre-bath moisturizer. The Lemon-Sesame Oil was used on one side of my body and the Lemon-Olive Oil on the other. After dry skin brushing, I applied the oils, and then took a bath. The bath ran a bit warm and was almost hot. Having the oils on my skin prior to taking the bath, added some protection from the hot water. I settled in and read a book. After falling asleep and almost dropping the book in the water, I decided it was time to dry off and go to bed.

After the bath, I blotted my skin dry. I notice that in addition to the emollient feeling I have from dry skin brushing, my skin was still protected from the hot water by the oils. I felt moisturized, but being 57 years old, decided a little extra oil would not hurt. I applied more of each of the oils to the respective sides of my body and went to bed.

This morning, my skin still felt clean and moisturized. I am not sure I have a preference one way or the other for the oils. I like the way the olive oil carrier feels and I like the way the sesame oil carrier feels. However, after reading about the qualities of the oils, I am leaning toward using the Sesame Oil in future skin treatments.

Blessings,

Dorine

References:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-saturated-fat.htm

http://www.ehow.com/facts_4867130_beauty-benefits-olive-oil.html

http://www.natural-holistic-health.com/benefits-of-sesame-oil/

The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy – Salvatore Battaglia

SKIN PATCH TEST

10/06/2010 07:40:00

Test #1: 2% ratio (for 1-ounce of carrier oil):

I have wanted to put together a blend of Neroli, Ylang Ylang, and Sweet Orange for a while – this is a good blend for the end of the day, for a relaxing bath and/or massage. Using the 2% ratio for 1-ounce of carrier oil, I first made a synergistic blend and did the patch test with the blend on my right inner elbow.

Neroli:

Latin name: Citrus aurantiun var.
Properties: Antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, bactericidal, carminative, cicatrisant, cordial, deodorant, digestive, stimulant
Mind and Spirit: effective sedative, used as a natural tranquillizer for anxiety
Body: relieves muscle spasm

Ylang Ylang:

Latin name: Cananga odorata
Properties: Antidepressant, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, sedative
Mind and Spirit: According to Susanne Fischer-Rizzi: “The spirit of ylang-ylang usually fits the person naturally drawn to it. Upon inhaling ylang-ylang with its heavy seductive, sweet aroma, one can imagine a fiery, temperamental passionate and erotic person with an awesome radiance and confidence, never losing her balance. She would always dress in bright and colorful clothing and loves to wear jewellery.” Ylang-ylang has tension-relieving properties and is beneficial for nervous depression that is accompanied by severe tension.
Body: reduces rapid breathing and heart rate, lower high blood pressure, beneficial for treating PMS

Sweet Orange:

Latin name: citurs sinensis.
Properties: Antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, digestive, sedative
Mind and Spirit: The cheerful, sensuous and radiant nature of orange conveys warmth and happiness. It assists people to relax and unwind.
Body: properties overlap with Neroli

Process:

I washed the area with Dr. Bonner’s unscented soap and water. Rinsed well and patted dry.
I applied 1-drop of the synergistic blend to the crook of my right arm.
Closed arm (hand to shoulder) for five minutes.
Opened and closed once again.

Results:

The outside right area of my right arm had some swelling. No pain, no discomfort, just some swelling. Two hours later, the area is still a little bit swollen – still no pain.

I repeated the process, using the crook of my husband’s arm. His arm also had some swelling but not as much as mine, and two hours later, all swelling is gone.

I added two tablespoons (1-ounce) of almond oil to the bottle and will use one teaspoon of it later tonight as bath oil and/or massage oil. It smells great.

My recipe:

2-drops Neroli

5-drops Ylang Ylang

5-drops Sweet Orange

2 T. Sweet Almond Oil

Test #: Clary Sage:

Process (using my left arm):

I washed the area with Dr. Bonner’s unscented soap and water. Rinsed well and patted dry.
I applied 1-drop of Clary sage to the crook of my left arm.
Closed arm (hand to shoulder) for five minutes.
Opened and closed once again.

Results:

No adverse affects.

Clary Sage:

Latin name: salvia sclarea
Properties: Antidepressant, antispasmodic, deodorant, sedative, tonic
Mind and Spirit: dispels depression, especially when arising from nervous burnout. Clary sage may be used to center and ground scattered thinking and absent-mindedness
Body: Its antispasmodic properties make it useful for helping with cramps in the lower back. This oil promotes oestrogen secretion, helps in menopause when symptoms such as hot flashes, dissiness, headaches, night sweats, are prominent.

Reference: The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy by Salvatore Battaglia

Aroma Association Test and the Placebo Effect

09/23/2010 20:31:00

This is a report I wrote for my Aroma Therapy Class.

My assignment was to conduct an aroma association test on my family or close friends. Put some lavender oil onto a perfume-testing strip and have them waft it under their nose, and tell you the first thoughts that come into their mind. Do you suspect any aroma associations, conditioning or response bias?

I used my co-worker Mary as my test subject. Mary is familiar with essential oils, uses them on occasion. She has four grandchildren ranging in ages from 4 months to 6 years old. She often has them visit her house. We coordinated our break so we could conduct the test.

First, we picked a table in the common break room on a floor away from our workspace. There is someone on our floor who has issues with scents, so did not take any chances of any complaints.

We centered ourselves and quietly breathed for about 1 minute. I then set out two vials of essential oils: One of Lavender (Lavandula officinalis) and one of Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis). The Sweet Orange labels were covered so she could not see what the oil was. I also laid out some paper towels, and perfume-testing sticks, and a small container of coffee grounds to clear our palate. I told Mary this was an Aroma Association Test.

I placed a drop of Lavender (Lavandula officinalis) on a perfume-testing strip. The oil quickly ran up the blotter and left no color. We each put a drop on our finger and felt (for just a moment) a slick sensation – but the oil quickly absorbed into our finger – we rubbed the remaining oil into the palms of our hands.

Mary held the blotter under her nose and breathed in the scent. She said it made her feel calmer, somehow quieter, and then told me how she uses Lavender. She uses it often when she has her grandchildren overnight. She puts it on their pillow when she puts them to bed. She feels it calms them down. She said it reminded her of bath time when her grandchildren stay overnight. She said “Nighttime with my grandchildren.” She was smiling.

I went through some of the qualities and therapeutic uses for Lavender telling her about it being analgesic and helping to relieve pain when applied directly to bruises, headaches, insect bites, migraine, and teething pain. I gave her the dilution of essential oil to almond oil for teething and the directions. As she started writing it down, I realized adding essential oil information to the classes I teach would be a good thing. We went through some more of the therapeutic uses including it being an antispasmodic, helping to relieve sore throat, good as a gargle, good for cough and indigestion, household uses, and talked for a bit about Lavender helping to keep away ants. Mary said she just bought some Lavender and that she has ants. She could not wait to get home to see how it will get rid of the ants she saw in her kitchen that morning.

We then moved on to the Mystery Oil.

The second part of my assignment was: With the same person, tell them that you are going to have them smell an unpleasant essential oil, and have them smell sweet orange. Do you see any evidence of placebo effect?

We used the coffee grounds to clear our palate.

Next, I told Mary I wanted her to smell an essential oil that many people find unpleasant. I could see her physically bracing herself.

I put a drop of the Sweet Orange essential oil on a test-blotter (remember, the label was covered so she could not see what it was). The oil quickly ran up the blotter and the color was a light bright orange. We each put a drop on our finger. Again, it felt thicker and somewhat greasy. We again, rubbed the remaining oil into the palms of our hands.

I gave Mary the blotter and asked her to smell it. She took a breath to steel herself against the “unpleasant” oil. She put the blotter under her nose and took a smell. She looked at me as her eyes lit up! She said with a surprised tone in her voice, “I like it!” When I asked her to describe the smell, she said:

Lemon-y

Cheery (as in happy)

Bright

It makes her feel “good”

Energizing

In addition, said, “I kinda like that one! What is it?”

Sweet Orange:

Latin Name: Citrus sinensis
Properties: Antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, digestive, sedative, stimulant
Mind and Spirit: The cheerful, sensuous and radiant nature of orange conveys warmth and happiness. Is assists people to relax and unwind.
Body: The properties of orange oil overlap with Neroli (also obtained from orange blossoms). Orange oil appears to have a normalizing effect on the peristaltic action of the intestines; it is recommended for the treatment of constipation and is helpful for treating chronic diarrhea. It stimulates lymph fluids, which is helpful in treating swollen tissue.
Skin and Hair: The oil is beneficial and soothing to dry, irritated, or acne prone skin conditions. Mary knew about the calming qualities of Lavender, which is why she uses it with her grandchildren. I think her knowing she smelled Lavender instantly brought her grandchildren to mind, and as she smelled it, she was picturing them and the nighttime routine they have.

Aroma Association, pre-conditioning: Mary knew about the calming qualities of Lavender, which is why she uses it with her grandchildren. I think her knowing she smelled Lavender instantly brought her grandchildren to mind, and as she smelled it, she was picturing them and their nighttime routine.

Mary was prepared not to like the “unpleasant” oil, but was pleasantly surprised at how much she liked it! I have a feeling Mary will add Sweet Orange to the Lavender she uses with her grandchildren and their nighttime routine.

Note: As I was writing this report, I repeated the blotter tests for myself. Later, I asked my husband to smell the first blotter (Lavender, but I did not tell him what it was). I asked his opinion about the oil and what it brought to mind. He said it reminded him of putting his head under a towel tent and a steaming bowl of water. I told him that he has smelled this oil often, but never under a tent with a bowl of water. I then told him what is was and reminded him of what we have used it for. We use it for many things, but it is mainly used in our first aid kit. If he cuts his finger, I put a drop of Lavender on the finger. If there is a cut or scrape, we use essential oil of Lavender. He smiled and shook his head in recognition.

I then asked him to smell the second blotter (Sweet Orange – again, not telling him what it was). What did this oil remind him of? He immediately said “orange”. It reminded him of when we make orange marmalade, and of when we put orange zest into cakes or cookies or jellies. He liked the smell and it made him smile.

I asked him what he thought of the two blotters together. He really liked the blend. I also smelled the blotters. I liked the combination as well.

Here is the interesting part about that. I asked him if I made a blend using these two oils, would it be something he would like to use in the morning or the evening. He was resonating more with the Sweet Orange oil and wanted to use it in the morning. He said it was an “exciting” combination.

I thought it would be a nice combination to use in the evening before bed. I guess I was resonating more with the Lavender. It made me feel relaxed and wanting to “settle in.” In the end, we decided we should both use it at night, since it excited him and relaxed me! I wonder how it will go with flannel?

Happy smelling and Blessings,

Dorine

Cleaning the Bathroom with Essential Oils

09/21/2010 21:48:00

I decided to conduct an experiment using Essential Oils to clean my bathroom.

I have a cat that lives on my main floor, so chose not to use the essential oils in that bathroom. It is late and she will be closed into the adjoining room for the night. Cats do not tolerate essential oils very well. I learned this the hard way when I first started using oils. I had a diffuser going in the adjoining bathroom for 6 to 8 hours a day (this is where the kitty-box is). I would shut the diffuser off at night but after that many hours during the day – the room she sleeps in was pretty saturated with essential oils. This is a story for another time, but she was a sick kitty for a long time. She is now happy and healthy. She is a sweet cat with a very strong will to live a long life. I try not to use essential oils around her and move her to a different part of the house when I am preparing oils for use.

With that said – I used the bathroom where she will not be. I also use Norwex antibac cloths for cleaning. Essential oils work very well with these microfiber cloths. They are made with a combination technology of silver (antibacterial qualities in silver) and microfiber. These are great cloths and because of the antibacterial qualities of the fabric, I do not use chemicals to clean.

I have been using homemade baking soda, borax and essential oils to clean the bathrooms for about 5 years. Tonight, I filled a bowl with warm water, and 2 drops of eucalyptus essential oil. I cleaned the sink, the bathtub and the toilet with the cloth and water. My porcelain is clean and shinny. My faucets are also sparkling. The bathroom has a pleasant aroma and I am looking forward to taking a bath in the freshly cleaned tub.

After reading about Eucalyptus Oil in The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, I will be using eucalyptus oil throughout the fall-winter-cold-and-flu-season.

Eucalyptus:

• Latin Name: Eucalyptus globules

• Properties: Analgesic, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-neuralgic, anti-rheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, astringent, (it is pretty much anti-everything and is a good oil to have in your apothecary closet).

• Mind and Spirit: Psychologically, eucalyptus oil serves as a refreshing and stimulation substance. It also assists concentration.

• Body: The expectorant activity of eucalyptus oil has the property of reducing the swelling of mucous membranes and of loosening phlegm, thus making breathing easier. Anecdotal evidence also indicates that eucalyptus oil supports the pancreas and lowers blood sugar. The clean, crisp smell results in easier and deeper breathing, and good clean air has always been associated in folk medicine with good health. This is valuable oil for treating the respiratory system. Eucalyptus stimulates the immune system.

• Precautions: When taken internally eucalyptus oil is toxic.

Happy Cleaning and Blessings,

Dorine