For the last few months I have been so drawn to a specific and potent aroma. I can’t stop reaching for it and I got really curious about why my brain and my body has been wanting this one so much.
This divine floral is all about the heart, being vulnerable, and finding sweet moments of childlike joy.
This year has been a little rough in my world. Some aspects of my life have flourished into greatness, while other areas have been heart breaking and have brought about quite a bit of grief and sorrow.
Truth is, my heart has been hurting. There I has been some loss and with that opportunities for acceptance that are seeking to emerge.
Ahhh. So that is why my spirit has been craving this smell. It’s sweet floral is an instant soothing to the soul. And the heart.
One of the most fragrant among essential oils. In fact, it is being used as a critical ingredient in the legendary perfume Chanel No. 5.
Ylang Ylang helps us connect to our heart and become balanced by releasing negative emotions and deep emotional sadness. It calms the heart and balances emotions during times of high stress, crisis, tension, or depression.
More importantly, it opens the heart to receive more love and acceptance.
As a reflection of Ylang Ylang’s ability to restore a healthy flow of positivity in the heart, the essential oil helps encourage a healthy circulatory system. It improves blood flow, fights inflammation, and assist with other heart problems.
The Emotional Benefits:
The oil of a childlike heart • Powerful for melting the walls around your heart • Increases love, compassion, trust, empathy, and intimacy • Softly releases any negative emotion or trauma you’re carrying within • Use when you’re struggling to connect, put yourself out there, or be vulnerable and tender
Ylang Ylang, meaning “flower of flowers”, has its petals used in Indonesia to decorate the beds of newlyweds due to its aphrodisiac properties. Just so ya know.
Other health benefits:: • Promotes libido and hormonal balance • Favorite for heart health, including healthy blood pressure, healthy heart rate, and more • Calms the stress response in the body • Used for a very restorative sleep
It is just so good. The investment is so worth it because it is so versatile for uses. Check out this gorgeous ebook that breaks down the many uses.
“How can you live without knowing what your spirit is doing and what your spirit is saying to you?”
Caroline Myss
Learning to be in touch with who you are at the deepest level is the GREATEST gift you can give yourself in this lifetime. If you don’t know who you are, there is no chance you will live your best life, and that is a tragedy. One of the very first ah-ha moments when I had my great wake up was realizing that I was not my anger or my sadness or my physical form. I was learning that I was something much more powerful than that.
Part of being human is the tendency to want to control things. The trouble with this is that there is a whole Universe that exists outside of the realms of your control, and if you spend your whole life clinging to your PLANS you miss out on receiving what may often be a far better option than what you could have ever mustered up alone. When this clicked for me, my life truly changed. When I released the control, I began to flow with life and was open to the lessons and whatever was showing up in my life rather than holding so tight to the control of how I thought life should be.
I learned early on that in order for me to be my very best I had to create time each day to prepare my spirit for what was to lie ahead and at the end of the day to call my spirit back. This practice helps you to discern what you’re engaging in that either feeds your spirit, or takes away your spirit. When we connect to ourselves on this deeper level, we realize that we are not all the labels that have been stuck to us and we are not the outward expression of our body. We come to realize that our spirit is fed with being aligned with love and that some things steal that love, and steal our spirit.
Remember that each day is a new beginning. Your task each day is to learn the practice of consciously entering your body and your day. Begin by focusing attention on your entire day from morning to evening. Take a few moments to review where you need to go, and who you need to see. Ask yourself if you have expectations about the day and notice if you feel stressed or comfortable. Are you prepared? Then sit with yourself for a few moments and open yourself up to whatever comes during the day.
We go about our day so often asleep and unconscious. W go through the motions, allowing ourselves to get caught up in the whirlwind of expectations, judgments, and ultimately disappointments. We invest our energy into other people’s dysfunction and often hop on the familiar “what if” train. Sometimes we also give so much of ourselves that we feel unbalanced and drained.
This can all be exhausting.
Just as the morning practice of welcoming in and opening yourself is so important, the evening ritual is equally important. As you prepare to enter sleep, review how you used your energy during the day, how you invested your spirit, what you learned about the investments you should or shouldn’t have made. I like to imagine that I left tiny little sparks of light with each step, with each moment of eye contact, with each smile or touch. I think about my reactions to things that were not mine to react to. Did I waste energy in gossip, complaining, comparison or judgment? Those are all energy drainers. I watch my day in my mind and see where there was light left and where I contributed to a lesser energy that takes away the goodness of my spirit.
And finally, as you close out your review of the day, ask yourself, “How do I open myself to receive guidance as I sleep?”
Let’s face it, the world needs help. Many of us might even find that it has become our life purpose to bring a positive light into the lives of others. I would even guess it’s how many of us infuse our lives with meaning: trying to somehow leave the world a better place than we found it. At least I hope it’s how most people think.
Today I am grappling with this. I am questioning humanity and the intent of others. I realize it is not my place to do that and I am edging on being incredibly judgmental, but I’m also striving for honesty.
On days like today when I feel isolated and out doing my humble version of God’s work all alone my head gets jumbled as I look around me.
The huge homes and fancy cars that surround me as people whiz by going to their next luncheon or appointment. The shopping centers that line nearly ever corner are packed with shoppers consuming more and more. The extravagant lifestyles may seem as though they are living their best life, yet I know that nobody escapes the pains of being human. We all have our own version of loss, disappointment and pain. The fancy houses and new cars are simply a shell that contains the human conditions we all face.
I suppose the question that begs to be answered as I ruminate with bitterness and probably envy—how are you making the world better? What are you doing to contribute to humanity?
As I wander around the big city doing my work I want to stop and ask people that question. I want to knock on doors and ask. I want to know, because today, I feel like there aren’t many people out there contributing. I see a society that is mostly focused only on themselves and consuming as much as they can.
I like to think that I am a very even keeled gal who rarely gets rattled. I go about by day doing what I believe I here to do and I usually pay zero attention to how others live their life. The old triggers rarely get pushed anymore and I have less care about what people do or don’t do with this one very precious life.
But today, nope. I am wallowing in judgment and perhaps even some disgust.
There are so many ways to contribute to the greater good and sadly so many people miss the chances on a daily basis because they are wrapped up in their own self absorbed life.
Look, you don’t have to be a hero or do remarkably hard things to create a better world. It’s starts by thinking of others before yourself.
Simple.
We can simultaneously make major contributions to society—both to help other people and feel good about our choices—while making a difference in our everyday lives. We can do things both large and small, for others and ourselves, every day if we choose to.
Smile
Be a neighbor
Pick up trash outside
Buy someone coffee
Listen without solving
Use your skills for good
Volunteer your time
Say thank you
Donate unused items to those in need
Give grace
Compliment others
Think of others before yourself
Stop complaining
Write notes of gratitude
Stop making excuses why you can’t
Get off your butt and do something
Maybe the realization that you do truly have to be different if you desire to make a difference in the world is hitting me hard today.
The mundane lives people live all around me are begging me to look inside and see that I am wrestling with bitterness and envy.
Here is the realization and lesson I dug into. Days like today bring up the old wounds of feeling like I don’t belong in a world where fancy things are the focus—back then it was because I was broke and trying so hard to make a life for my kids in a neighborhood I could barely afford—today it’s because I choose the life I have. I choose to do the work that I do. I choose to be as busy as I am and don’t have the time to longer over fancy lunches. I choose this.
I choose to be different. And, once I landed on the fact that I CHOOSE this, the bitterness faded and I remember the gift that I have and the choice I make to use it.
Awwwww…..getting to the heart of the matter. I recently got asked to be on a podcast to share my story and while part of me was terrified, the other part was excited to speak hard truths and share how I learned to say yes to my life, even the challenging parts.
I hope that you will listen and be inspired. From my heart to yours.
WHEN OUR FIRE IS STRONG, WE DARE TO LIVE OUR DREAMS AND BE OUT THERE IN THE WORLD DOING WHAT WE BELIEVE IN, LIVING IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHO WE ARE.
The heart chakra colors our life with compassion, love, and beauty. Driven by the principles of transformation and integration, the fourth energy center is said to bridge earthly and spiritual aspirations. The heart chakra, or Anahata, deals with unconditional love and emotional power. At its core, this chakra is emotional and propels us to enhance our emotional development. The heart embodies a gentle wisdom that teaches us the ways of love and compassion. This chakra is responsible for the balance between earth (foundational, material, prime creation) and our emotions (ethereal, spiritual, metaphysical creativity)
Understanding the subtle changes in our physical body and emotions can lead us to understand more about who we are. By paying close attention we can find out throughout self discovery what we need to feel more balanced and harmonious.
Balanced: When the heart chakra is open, you may feel being deeply connected, the harmonious exchange of energy with all that is around you, and the appreciation of beauty. When our heart chakra is open, waves of love and compassion flow within us, enabling us quickly to forgive, and accept others and yourself. Balancing the heart chakra allows us to release our emotional pain through unconditional love.
Excessive: If the heart chakra is overly open, it may be overly demanding, especially close family or partner. We might also have a need to fulfill other people’s perceived needs to the cost of one’s balance, which may result in the tendency to feel like a victim. A person with an excessive heart chakra may lose a sense of personal boundaries in a way that is detrimental for well-being. When our heart chakra is overactive, we get disconnected in our relationships and get controlled by emotions, experiencing immense feelings of happiness, jealousy, sadness, love, grief, anger, and possessiveness.
Deficient: When our heart chakra is underactive, we feel lack of compassion for self and others, lack of empathy and become cold-hearted, we can be emotionally inaccessible, or overly sensitive. An underactive here chakra makes us feel scared to love or be loved because of your fear of betrayal & hence we continue to hold on to bitterness, sorrow and grief and do not trust others, become judgmental, critical and intolerant.
ESSENTIAL OILS FOR THE HEART CHAKRA
Apply the essential oils to the bottoms of the feet and/or roll along the heart.
Aromatically: apply the oils to your palms and cup your nose and take deep, long breaths.
Lavender encourages a calm mind and specifically the insecurities that are felt when one risks their true feelings. Lavender addresses a deep fear of being heard and seen. Lavender is a great choice for those who seek to release the tension around their heart that stems from fear of expressing themselves. This oil encourages emotional honesty to give the experience of unconditional love, acceptance and peace of mind. This calming and expressive oil is a great choice to bring about a feeling of being loved, seen and heard.
Cypress aids in transition, transformation and renewal while helping to release the need to control and to feel more trusting of life. Cypress encourages a person to cast aside their worries and tension around the heart and learn to enjoy the thrill of being alive. This oil brings out feeling of trust, being flexible and emotionally adaptable through allow life to flow through you.
Laurel Leaf essential oil promotes a courageous heart as it opens the heart to goodness. It empowers you to target clear mind function, better gut instincts, body health and breathing, and a positive emotional state with less fear and anxiety. This confidence building essential oil is a perfect choice for a brave heart.
Whisper is a beautiful blend being out a kind, gentle spirit as it softens the heart. These oils work together to bring out a feminine energy in both men and women, and in doing this allows the person to let go of the tough exterior and allow gentleness and emotional connection to come forth. This helps to reduce feelings of hostility and anger. This blend includes patchouli, bergamot, sandalwood, rose, vanilla, jasmine, cinnamon, vetiver, labdanum, cocoa and ylang and ylang.
Lemon is a delightful oil engages the mind however it is also a great choice for those seeking genuine joy. This bright aroma immediately beings a lightness to the spirit and helps one have a natural playfulness and buoyancy in the heart.
Wild Orange oil addresses a wide variety of emotional issues. By inspiring abundance, creativity, fun, spontaneity, and playfulness will orange brings out the the joy in our lives. Wild orange also assists in our natural creative sense and inspires limitless solutions to our lives. Wild Orange is a great choice for an abundant heart full of love and compassion.
GEMSTONE FOR THE HEART CHAKRA
Rose Quartz is the stone of Unconditional Love. Rose Quartz purifies and opens the heart at all levels to promote love, self-love, friendship, deep inner healing and feelings of peace. Calming and reassuring, it helps to comfort in times of grief. Rose Quartz dispels negativity and protects against environmental pollution, replacing it with loving vibes.
Green Aventurine is the stone of opportunity. Green Aventurine comforts, harmonizes, protects the heart, and can help attract love later in life. It is one of the premier stones to attract luck, abundance and success. Green Aventurine has a particularly soothing energy behind it, and is recommended for working through unresolved emotional issues.
YOGA FOR THE HEART CHAKRA
When we feel stuck, we often isolate ourselves or seek to escape. Unfortunately this creates a cycle of feeling alone and disconnected. A balanced solar plexus chakra can bring with it sense of positivity and connection to own’s personal power. Balance your solar plexus chakra with the following yoga postures.
Cat/Cow: We create emotional balance when we practice cat and cow. While Cat and Cow may look “easy,” it is a powerful pose for the mind. The breath synchronized movement increases coordination, fosters intentional focus, and invigorates the vital life force in the body. It is associated with increased emotional balance and stability of the mind and reducing feelings of stress while creating a sense of calm. Cat/Cow Pose strengthens and improves flexibility of the spine through utilization of the reciprocal relationship between the upper and lower back.
Lunge Pose with Backbend: Lunge strengthens your quads while creating flexibility in your hips and the backbend elevated the energy of the heart. This shape, combined with the squaring of the hips and full plant of the ball joint of the back foot, requires that one have a great perception of where their body is in space. The lunge with a slight backbend is great for opening the heart and developing courage. This pose has you standing really strong: one leg back, one leg forward, hips facing forward, and your chest (and heart lifted.). This powerful stance can help you gain inner strength while also letting you open up your heart to yourself and others.
Bridge Pose: Bridge Pose is a gentler variation of Wheel Pose and it begins to create flexibility and strength in your spine and as a result, the heart is opened. As our heart rises above the head in this posture, we allow the mind to quiet and we can truly begin to lead with our heart. Staying in this posture for 5-10 breath cycles is soothing for overactive emotions (supported with a block or not).
Cobra Pose: Cobra pose strengthens and tones your arms while creating flexibility in your spine. This lifting of the heart is another powerful reminder of the lift that we can achieve by letting our heart guide us. This posture reduces stress and anxiety which allows us to feel more joy and happiness. This pose is one that invigorates the heart while also improving circulation.
Eagle Arms: Creating space between the shoulder blades we allow the heart to also radiate through the back as a symbolic reminder that all experiences bring lessons. We can learn to open ourselves up to the past with a sense of unconditional love for all things. In this pose we are, in a way, constricting the flow of blood through our bodies. This happens when we cross arms and squeeze them together. This is similar to the pressure we experience during a massage. This massaging action is a great way to stimulate and release the flow of fresh, immunity yielding blood throughout the body, thus providing excellent benefits of circulation on many levels.
To learn more about essential oils, yoga, chakra balancing and more, just visit me at this gorgeous page.
