So what does "grounding" actually mean, you may wonder? According to the Collins English Dictionary, "Grounding yourself, is the process of balancing your physical, emotional, mental and energy state and reconnecting them." It is the act of aligning your heart, mind, and body and bringing it to a level of homeostasis. Some symptoms that may indicate that feeling of 'misalignment' are physical attributes of heart racing rapidly, shaken nerves, inability to sit still, stressful thoughts, insomnia and worrying in the mind...this list can run quite long.
Essential oils or distilled concentrated fragrant plant material, carry particular elemental and aromatic qualities that align with the qualities of Aries and the Spring season. The sign of Aries is ruled by the planet, Mars in the astrological language. It is a fiery, hot planet and aromatically it is represented by aromas that are: spicey, sharp, herbaceous, citrus, mint.
The method of diffusion is one of the easiest ways to experience essential oils. It is the means of dispersing the molecules of essential oils into the atmosphere through an application that helps facilitate this process. One advantage of diffusing essential oils is the ability to affect not just yourself but others around you so they may benefit from the aroma. Diffusion is also a favorable way to use essential oils since it offers safer means for use around elderly or small children.
The art of distillation is both a sacred art and science-- it's the alchemy of converting plant material into an entirely new form and substance for supporting our mind, body and spirit. Most of us are familiar with this end result of plant conversion in an essential oil. But what many of us don’t know during this distillation process is it also provides the aromatic water of the plant known as hydrosol.
Palo Santo or otherwise known by its scientific binomial name as Bursera graveolens (important to note here and will be explained later), has been popping up everywhere-- yoga studios, spas, spiritual centers, even Whole Foods sells it now. It has become the modern day nag champa, an Indian incense that was widely popular, at least 20 years back. Back then, it was lit at the altar in virtually every yoga studio in NYC. Now Palo Santo seems to be taking its place. So why is it so popular and considered as a modern day staple by so many holistically and spiritually oriented enterprises? Well I cannot speak with any certainty to the hundreds of businesses and their reason for use,...
