I can’t believe it’s already the middle of October! But here it is, autumn is upon us. That time of soft melancholy and heartbreaking beauty. This is the time of Metal in the Chinese 5 element theory. A time for letting go of that which is no longer necessary and gathering energy within. Metal issues may be …
So many aromatics, so little time! The world of essential oils and aromatic extracts is full of exciting possibilities. When we first start out it is easy to become overwhelmed by choice. And it’s not cheap! People often ask me which oils they should start out with. It’s a difficult question to answer, and while …
Lentisk Pistacia lentiscus Commonly known as mastic or lentisk, this large shrub/small tree is widespread around the Mediterranean basin, Iberian peninsula and most famously Crete. The plant flowers in spring with peculiar small deeply red flowers, which contrast with the deep green of its leaves. All parts of the bush are aromatic. The pea-sized red …
Ancient Art It is Midsummer, and I’m writing this as I sit beside my cauldron distilling St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum). I feel delightfully connected to an ancient lineage of healers and alchemists stretching back into time immemorial. All those others who have gone out on Midsummer day to gather this magick plant and transform …
Lavandula Viridis I have a new love in my life! Green Lavender (Lavandula viridis) is her name. For me getting to know an essential oil has the same frisson as any new love. The growing intimacy, the surprising characteristics that are revealed, the unknown, the edge of mystery. And then the friendly familiarity. This rare …
A Rare Lavender – May be the answer to fungal infections Read More »
Spring! Everything’s full of energy and vigour and new life, bounding around enthusiastically like a foal. It’s time to shake off the sluggishness of winter and get ready for summer fun. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Spring belongs to the element Wood, which also rules the Liver and Gallbladder meridians, so this is the best time …
It’s spring time. I guess it’s natural that things ‘hormonal’ should become an issue. First of all Dharma Dog’s mammary glands expanded, and she was gaining weight. I kept running her recent heat through my memory, checking if whether there had been ANY opportunity for her to have slipped away. Despite being 99.9% sure she couldnt …
Jasmine absolute inspires quiet confidence. Especially for animals who bully others because they feel insecure.
Today I have been putting together video for the Animal PsychAromatica Level 1 on-line course. This involves diving deep into my video archives as I look for the best possible examples of animals self-selecting essential oil. I came across this clip taken at a workshop I did in Wisconsin some years ago. It’s such a …
