Featured in:
Janey Lee Grace’s website Imperfectly Natural October 2019
Dorset Magazine’s June 2019 edition p.110
The article below includes excerpts from my book, Essential Oils for Mindfulness and Meditation, released Autumn 2018 by Inner Traditions, Bear & Co.
At the epicentre of the storm, there is calm; at the centre of chaos, stillness; at the heart of being, peace.
Meditation returns consciousness to the peace, stillness, and calm at the epicentre of our being. Thus, remaining mindfully aware, we are present and consciously engaged in the here and now.
Everything we need and can handle in life is present-ed to us a moment at a time. Thus too, meditation is a moment-to-moment experience. It is an ancient practice. In deed, “breath focus” features as an aspect of many disciplines, ancient and modern, from prayer and yoga, to the practice of relaxation techniques.
Although incredibly simple, however, meditation can sometimes appear to be the hardest thing to do. I can find time, create a space, and sit with every good intention …… then, suddenly, I wonder if I turned the oven off, I become aware of the clock ticking in the next room, my mind drifts along the threads of whispered thoughts and musings. Don’t despair! This is what the minds does, and continues to do even when we are asleep. Simply notice it’s rambling, but don’t give it your attention. Instead, focus your awareness on your breath as it rises and falls within, allow your minds incessant chatter to drift to the sideline: observe, notice, acknowledge, but remain consciously aware of your breathing. Thus we sit within, patiently, compassionately, at the gateway….
Meditation is not a magic wand that waves all our cares away and whisks up our ‘happily ever after’. It may still rain on your wedding day; your flight may still be cancelled as you are about to embark on the holiday of a lifetime; you may not win the game, or get the promotion you hoped for.
What meditation does is enable you to stand (or consciously ‘be’) at the centre of each moment and observe, and, thus, gain a greater sense of awareness of what ‘is’.
The outcome of meditation is often very subtle. Initially, there is a sense of calmness, then as we get on with our daily lives, we may notice that we respond, rather than react to thoughts and events with a gentle sense of control; our attitude may alter, the glass becomes half full instead of half empty; we become more aware and aligned with our bodily sensations, we notice the nuances of change and motion in the rhythm and flow; we actively listen, and consciously speak; when we are disturbed, for what ever reason, we are able to move through the experience and return to a sense of equilibrium with greater ease; we may feel a sense of contentment for no other reason other than we are simple content.
The moment never offers more than we can deal with, yet, the outcome of present-centred awareness and meditation is manifold. It’s a little bit like “re-wilding” the soul. An over-ploughed and depleted field, abandoned and barren of life after years of repeatedly growing the same crop, left to its own devices, will suddenly begin to bloom again as nature magnificently reclaims its territory. In rediscovering our own magnificence, we then notice that life is full of miracles that completely outshine rain on our wedding day.
Essential oils are gifts of nature, one of many manifestations of earth’s nurturing abundance, that provide amazing supportive qualities. Observing the scent of essential oils, we are aware of our breathing and, consequently, of the immediacy of the moment.
Essential oils comprise of a complex mixture of volatile organic molecules, extracted, usually by steam distillation, from various parts of a plant: leaves, blossoms, fruits, seeds, bark, and so on. Essential oil molecules instigate various responses within the body, the most significant of which in terms of meditation, is their influence on the limbic system and their consequential ability to calm, ground and uplift mood and emotion, aid memory and improve alertness, and inspire a sense of pleasure and joy. They are adaptive, and tend to normalise or balance rather than simply stimulate or sedate. They are physiologically protective, restorative, and healing.
Used to support meditation, essential oils can aid focus and concentration, wakefulness, instil a sense of peace and calm, or clear the sinuses to ease breathing. Cedarwood instils feelings of peace. Frankincense and patchouli slow and deepen breathing. Myrrh revitalises and stimulates, yet is also calming. Spikenard inspires a sense of peace and tranquillity.
A carefully selected single essential oil, or perhaps a simple blend of two or three, will work very effectively for a range of needs and requirements. Remember, the sense of smell is personal. Simply, our response to scent usually indicates what is good for us and what is not. We can initially use this instinct to gauge which essential oil(s) will be supportive at any given time. Below are some examples.
To calm anxiety
Carrot seed
Cedarwood
Chamomile, Roman
Frankincense
Lavender
Patchouli
Spikenard
Vetivert
To aid focus and concentration
Cajeput
Cypress
Petitgrain
Rosemary
Tea Tree
To aid wakefulness
Cajeput
Peppermint
Tea tree
To uplift mood
Galbanum
Geranium
Mandarin
Orange Bitter
Rose
To aid sleep (in small amounts)
Chamomile, Roman
Frankincense
Lavender
Spikenard
Vetivert
To deal with feelings of addiction
Vetivert. Bach Flower Remedies: gorse, rock water, willow
To aid a sense of balance and control
Cedarwood
Cypress
Frankincense
Lavender
Lemon
Orange Bitter
Spikenard
To aid a sense of self-confidence
Jasmine
Neroli
Rose
Rosemary
Sweet Marjoram
To aid a sense of feeling grounded:
Cedarwood
Patchouli
Black Pepper
Thyme linalool
Vetivert
Essential oils should not be applied neat to skin, or taken internally without medical advice. Always dilute them in an emollient, such as grapeseed oil, coconut oil, or a non-perfumed cream or lotion, adding no more than two or three drops of essential oil at a time to 5-10 ml of your emollient. This rule applies for massage, skin care, adding essential oils to a bath, and creating perfumes. For further information visit Safe Use and Application
Reference:
Heather Dawn Godfrey Essential Oils for Mindfulness and Meditation, Healing Arts Press, Inner Traditions, Vermont USA 2018
Heather Dawn Godfrey Essential Oils for the Whole Body, Healing Arts Press, Inner Traditions, Vermont USA 2019