Those that have followed my blog for a while now will know that I’m prone to anxious feelings, rage attacks and full blown melt downs.. those that know me well will know that I also get low, doubt myself, let my ego take over and have struggled to managed my moods and emotions. I tend to bottle things, push the tears back in and then totally lose my s$%*.. it’s not pretty and generally ends badly for anyone involved, especially if the poor sod is the little straw that breaks the camels back.. anyone feeling me? I know you are because you’re human!!!
When essential oils came into my life I was incredibly relieved because it provided me with a totally natural and safe option for supporting myself emotionally that actually worked. I was amazed, so let’s delve in and understand exactly why and how this works a little more. One of my favourite books of all time which I highly recommend purchasing is Emotions & Essential Oils by Daniel McDonald. You can purchase it here or try Amazon if it’s out of stock there as it often is.
As Daniel explains in his incredible book essential oils support emotional well-being in five stages.
The five stages are:
- Essential oils assist in supporting the physical body
- Essential oils assist in healing the heart
- Essential oils assist in releasing limiting beliefs
- Essential oils increase spiritual awareness and connection
- Essential oils inspire the fulfillment of our life’s purpose
Reading that back I’m not surprised that I thought essential oils and aromatherapy were a load of hippie codswallop. It sounds ridiculous really. But having experienced the results and seen them in my children and in hundreds of other people I understand the power and magic of plants and why they have been used for centuries in so many cultures around the world.
Healing the Heart
As the oils support our physical health, and that’s where most of us start when we start working with essential oils, by supporting our bodies and that of our families (recipes here) and detoxing our homes of toxic cleaning and personal care products (recipes here) we are then able to be opened up to receiving the emotional benefits of the oils.
As Daniel explains-
“They provide us with the energy needed to penetrate the heart and enter the emotional realm. Essential oils raise the vibration of the physical body (Stewart, 2003). AS the body lives in higher vibrations, lower energies (such as suppressed emotions) become unbearable. These feelings want to release. Stagnant anger, sadness, grief, judgment and low self-worth cannot exist in the environment of balance and peace which essential oils help to create.
Emotional healing occurs as old feelings surface and release (Moreton, 1992). Sometimes this experience is confused with regression. People may perceive they are going backwards or that the essential oils are not working. we are so used to symptomatic healing that we have been conditioned to view healing as the immediate cessation of all physically and emotional pain. In reality, the oils are working.”
Release and Receive
It is important to understand that emotional work is a process. There are two main principles involved, release and receive. As Daniel explains-
“We must release trapped negative emotions before we can receive positive feelings. The old must go to make space for the new. We often want to skip this step, but it is a necessary one. We must be willing to experience the cleansing if we truly desire the results. Resisting the cleansing process makes it more painful. We must surrender to the experience so that we may continue on the path of healing. The more we let go and trust, the more enjoyable this healing process can be.
Essential Oils Don’t Do Our Emotional Work for Us
“Essential oils assist individuals in taking an honest look within. They foster the right environment for healing, but they will not do the work for us. In gardening, it is a common experience t pull the weeds while leaving the roots. This is particularly true for hard and rocky soils. To ensure we uproot the whole plant, we can add water to the soil, which allows the entire weed to be removed. Similarly, essential oils prepare our emotional soil so that weeds may be removed with greater ease. However, they do not do the weeding for us. If one neglects to do the work of pulling their weed, they have simply watered the problem. On the other hand, those who combine essential oils with emotional work reap the fruit of their labor.”
Tools for Emotional Work
I personally use tools such as meditation, seeing an energy/shamanic healing (I see Kurt the Meditation Mechanic) getting enough sunshine, eating well, spending quality time with family, getting regular massages, deep breathing, spending time in the ocean/water, doing what I love, getting counseling, writing and having safe people to talk to as well as of course working daily with the essential oils. Supporting yourself emotionally takes conscious effort on a daily basis. Some other tools include yoga, colouring, gentle exercise, journaling etc.
The following are some of my favourite essential oils to work with on an emotional level and how they assist me. I like to use them in an ultrasonic diffuser such as doTERRA’s petal diffuser or in a carrier oil topically on my wrists or on aromatherapy jewellery or even just inhaling straight from the bottle.
Purify- Cleansing Blend
Known in the Emotions and Essential Oils book as The Oil of Purification, Purify
“Assists individuals in releasing toxic emotions and entering a cleansing state. It revitalises the energy system, washing away negative influences. This blend supports individuals who feel trapped by negativity or toxicity. This blend provides freedom from past habits and patterns. It is especially helpful in combating toxic feelings of hate, rage and enmeshment and in severing other negative attachments.
Like Lemongrass, the Cleaning Blend makes a wonderful space cleanser. It can clear negative energy from the household and the environment, as well as cleanse the air of odor and environmental threats. Diffused in the air, this oil can facilitate emotional breakthroughs. In order to heal, we must receive. But in order to receive, we must first release what is blocking the new, clean energy from entering in. This blend supports individuals in constantly releasing the old so they may be open to the new.”
Bergamot
Known in the Emotions and Essential Oils book as The Oil of Self-Acceptance
“Bergamot relieves feelings of despair, self judgment and low self-esteem. It supports the individuals in need of self-acceptance and self-love. Bergamot invites individuals to see life with more optimism.
Bergamot has a cleansing effect on stagnant feelings and limiting belief systems. Because of individuals’ cor beliefs of being “bad”, “unlovable” and “not good enough,” they seek to hide behind a facade of cheerfulness. They may fear revealing their true thoughts and feelings. Bergamot’s powerful cleansing properties generate movement in the energy system, which in turn brings hope.
It awakens the soul to hope and offers courage to share the inner-self. Reigniting optimism and confidence in the Self, it imparts true self-acceptance. Bergamot teaches individuals to let go of self-judgment by learning to love themselves unconditionally.”
Ginger
Known as The Oil of Empowerment
“Ginger oil holds no reservations. It has a purpose and it will fulfill it! Ginger powerfully persuades individuals to be fully present and participate in life. It teaches that to be successful in life one must be fully committed to it.
Ginger addresses deep patterns of victim mentality. A victim mentality is evidence by feelings of powerlessness, believing everything is outside one’s control, refusing to take responsibility for life, or blaming life circumstances on other people or outside influences. The victim feels stuck, as they decentralise or disown responsibility and blame others for their misfortunes.
Ginger empower individuals in taking complete responsibility for their life circumstances. It infuses a warrior-like mentality based on personal integrity, centralised responsibility and individual choice. Here, the individual sees themsevles as the creator of their own life. No longer waiting for outside circumstances to change, they choose their own destiny. The empowered individuals assumes full responsibility and accountability for the consequences of their actions or inactions.”
Lime
Known as The Oil of Zest for Life
“Lime imbues the soul with a zest for life. When an individual has been weighed down by discouragement or grief, Lime elevates them above the mire. It instills the courage and cheer in the heart and reminds them to be grateful for the gift of life.
Lime cleanses the heart, especially when there has been an accumulation of emotional toxins due to avoidance or repression. This oil revitalises the heart space, giving room for light and joy. It clears discouragement and low vibration thoughts and feelings. Lime shines light on the inner motives hidden in the heart and encourages emotional honesty.
Lime can also assist the individual who has overly developed their intellectual capacities but has neglected to develop themselves emotionally. This oil encourages balance between the heart and mind. It clears congestion from the heart region, assisting one in feeling safe and at home in their heart. Lime dispels apathy and resignation and instills hope, joy, courage and the determination to face all of life’s challenges.”
White Fir
Known as The Oil of Generational Healing
“White Fir addresses generational issues. Patterns and traditions are passed down from family member to family member. Some of these patterns are positive, while others are negative and destructive. Examples of negative patterns may include; addiction, abuse, alcoholism, anger, codependency, eating disorders, pride, the need to be right, etc.
White Fir assists the individual in unearthing these negative patterns from the hidden recesses of the body and soul. As they are brought to the light of consciousness, they can be dealt with and put to rest. The individual can choose not to participate in destructive family patterns and thereby break the tradition. White Fir aids this process and increases an individual’s chances of success. In breaking these patterns, it offers a refuge of spiritual protection and helps individuals stay true to the path of healing, even if their family members oppose them in leaving behind their traditions.”
PastTense- Tension Blend
Known as The Oil of Relief
“Formulated to relieve headaches, the Tension Blend also assists individuals in releasing the stress and emotional tension that may have contributed to or caused their headache.
Tension Blend synergistically combines the powerful relaxation qualities of essential oils to assist and teach the body how to calm and relax. It can also help individuals release the fears that create tension and pain in the physical body. Tension Blend can calm severe stress, soothe trauma and bring balance to the body and energy system. This blend also helps in regaining equilibrium following periods of overwork, burnout and fatigue.
As physical and emotional discomforts are relieved, Tension Blend fosters feelings of appreciation. It reminds individuals to be grateful for an enjoy their many life experiences.”
HD Clear- Skin Clearing Blend
Known as The Oil of Accepting Imperfections
“The Skin Clearing Blend was formulated for acne and general skin health… it emotionally supports suppressed anger, guilt and self-judgment. The individual in need of this blend may harbor feelings of guilt or anger from the past. These deeply buried feelings may exist outside the individual’s conscious awareness. Yet, these feelings of pain or anger literally “boil” to the surface. If the individual does not deal with these feelings appropriately, they may come out “sideways” through lashing out or blaming others.
Skin Clearing Blend supports individuals by increasing self-acceptance and self-love. It assist them in seeing their inherent worth, regardless of physical appearance. It encourages the healthy release and expression of feelings of anger. Skin Clearing Blend invites individuals to look past menial imperfections and to replace self-judgment with self-acceptance.”
These are just a few examples, all of our essential oils and blends have incredible emotional as well as physical benefits, I can’t recommend the book enough. To get started with essential oils read this post.
Notice to Readers:
The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any emotional or physical condition, illness or injury. The information is in no way intended as a substitute for medical advice. All readers should obtain medical advice from a health care professional.
