Essential Eve's Garden Apothecary Has Been Born!

Wow -- It is the end of the year - the end of this decade -- the first on in this new era we are entering into.  I remember coming into the year 2000 -- how amazing was that!!!??? With the Y2K scare --- with the awesome celebration world-wide.  I remember watching all the various fireworks from all around the world then.  this past decade has produced more changes, more quickly than we have ever had -- and yet, my sense is, that what we are entering in -- for the next decade -- this past decade won't be able to hold a candle to!!!

Why the Essential Eve line has been born at this time -- is well -- amazing.  I have resisted this line for 10 years.... since there were and are so many different lines out there already -- I didn't want to become -- just a "me too" line.  Yet, I have to say -- working with the Elder Care Concept - over these past months - has brought home to me the importance of caring for our elder -- and more importantly -- for their health and wellbeing -- bring the holistic aspect in.... for comfort and well being.  It is indeed shocking to see how our elders are "taken care of" -- and how we seem so bent on the "dumbing down" of our treasured, wise people -- in the elderly.  The oils, along with diet, yoga and breathwork, with meditation -- will be pivotal in turning things around for our precious history and wisdom - embodied in these souls.  Just as we do -- they need quality -- in all areas, and we can make the change that is needed from the love and caring of our hearts. 

I've been very excited about the work with Dr. Rivera -- to meet a doctor who is willing to work toward a more healthy environment for our elders -- was something I had dreamed about.  Well, spirit brought him forth, and helped me to crytalize my thinking even -- so a new year coming!!   This will take me in the direction of clinical trials, and more research -- which I am very excited about.

I'm also happy to be able to produce the facial. hair and body care products under the Eve's label -- they actually have their own magnificent label -- thanks to Megaera's suggestion.  And the first aid and healing products are up to 10 now!!  -- and I never did this before -- but I have "roll-on" products -- making it easier for sleep therapy, sinus relief, etc.  And I am thrilled to be working with Megaera and her handmade soaps -- with the precious essential oils in them.  We are putting up a new website for these -- and will be joining with others of our community to host/ link other local talents and products to make the site dynamic and fun.  I will be switching to a new blog site soon -- that will integrate better with the systems that are being set up.  I have to say -- that the oils have, do and will keep us steady and grounded into this new, dynamic "Year of the Tiger" -- as we herald in the new year -- with the Divine Feminine.

Love Light and Blessings to All!!

Tea Tree and Thyme

Oh my --- it has been a whole month since I wrote anything -- and yes the oils have definately been speaking with me - waiting patiently for their turn..... Tea Tree and Thyme -- like two little soilders -weary of my delay getting back to writing -- but aware that I needed to move through the changes that I have been going through -- this time -not relationship, but career.  Yes another change -- leaving me adrift for a moment -- like in the void, but with a knowing that the Phoenix was soon to arise!!  After six months of working many, many hours on launching my new project using the essential oils with elder care and alzheimers/dementia -- I found that I needed to terminate the partnership I was about to sign off on.  The game that we started was delaying, changing -- and was not turning into the vision that I had originally.  So for the first time in my life -- I stopped.  I reevaluated, did alot of soul searching, and counseling (it is not easy for me to give up something that I committe to -- ergo.... any relationship), I let go.  What an experience that was -- a sense of relief that was so different for me.   Normally, I would pursue, work hard, grind -- and sad at the end that it didn't work out.  As I moved on, an amazing thing happened.... I wrote out (like a professional brochure) who I was, what my skill set is and what I am offering in the world.  I had never done this before -- it was an amazing healing.  I then created the opportunity to go back to CEO space and further what I wanted to happen.   The next day that I got back...... I connected with an MD of Psychiatry -- an intention of ten years fullfilled!!  Amazing, for he had been working for the same period of time (six months) on applying aromatherapy and building his case results.  He is also a yogi and meditator and very versed in the power of healthy eating and daily practices.  Their was such a powerful alignment -- I was in awe and immensely grateful -- for it looks like together, we will be able to compliment eachother and forward this great work.
Okay --- that is all background -- back to the oils -- the fact that Tea Tree and Thyme were standing by all this time, waiting to be expressed is so perfect!!!  Tea Tree (a very medicinal oil) -- what I would call a down to earth "worker" oil, is known for its anti-infectious properties -- with few rivals, and can be safely used for a wide range of bacterial, viral, and fungal infections -- more later.  Emotionally, and here's the cool thing, it so supports the body being with strength and confidence -- as Thyme brings courage, drive and morale -- also a very powerful antibacterial, used for infections.  I could see why these oils, or the energy of these oils -- were just "hanging out" with me -- strength, confidence, courage, drive -- were all what I needed though a transition like this.   So let's hang out with these two -- and I'll give you more on their amazing properties, in a bit .... and I promise it will not be a month.

BTW -- I was thinking -- after all the beauty of frankinsence and rose... they have such a commanding pressence.... they needed the space between them and our two new oils -- see don't they all have a personality?

The lover visible, and the Beloved invisible, whoever saw such a love in all the world

Rosea Damascena -- the mystic rose -- a symbol of the soul since ancient times, the signifier of the Presence of the blessed Mother Mary.  The most precious of all heavenly scents, the glorious Rose enfolds the soul within its own fragrant song, aligning one wih the higher angelic realms.  As I work with the sublime yet -- pervasive presence of Rose, I feel the exquisite fragrance of the velvety rose calling forth a sense of deeper identity and belonging.  One of the beauties of this fragrance -- it often shows up when one feels unloved and isolated.  As she moves with her fragrance, I experience these lonely moments as a point to turn deeply within -- she takes me there -- I contemplate how is this moment a mirror -- to learn a new way of being - and she pulls out a force that calls me into a greater, new way of being, a greater love into my life.  They say... the most meaningful journeys need to be undertaken alone, in a solidary fashion -- and yet, that point of quiet isolation brings an alchemy -- that transforms my life.  Rose takes me into that refuge -- that sanctuary of silence.  I feel it quietyly caressing and softening my heart.  The Rose of life and love spirils in fragrant celebration as I embrace the divine Beloved within.  This is the Heart -- this is the Divine.  The compassion of the Rose increases my ability of self love and nuturing, restoring trust and love again.

I could go on and on about the attributes of the beautiful Rose -- I especially like it in my facial lotion that I make -- since it is so nourishing, purifying and soothing to the skin, releiving tension, wrinkles and maturing skin.   It is a cell regenerator and moisturizing for all skin types, especially dry or inflamed skin. In terms of Oriental medicine, Rose is cool and moist in nature, clears heat and inflammation, and helps restore the body's yin energy.  It also helps to regulate the Liver, and stagnant conditions that result in tension, irritability, headaches and costipation.  Rose's remarkable healing powers extend to the cardiovascular, digetive, and nervous systems, including countering the effects of alcohol and the symptoms of hangover.

Thank God, for the blessed Rose -- her gift to us is unimaginable. 

The Wonder of Rose -- Love, Trust and Self-acceptance

Ah yes, we have been feeling the rise of Rose, cupped in the grounded beauty of Frankincense -- rising, delicately out of the deep aromatic base of Frank -- Rose has been showing her sweet budding presence -- ever so gently, ever so slowly.  Ah, yes, she has always been there -- and today she emerges inside of my heart.   A great sage once said:  "The Heart is the Hub of all Sacred Places... go there and roam."  I awoke this morning -- lying in bed -- feeling the void feeling I was with last nite -- as I contemplated the "sadhana (or journey) of the heart".  I was having trouble grasping the heart -- "what is the heart" I was saying to myself.  As I lay there with my eyes opened -- the Sage's words came clear as a bell (and I was having so much trouble remembering the full phase for a long time).  "Sacred Places!!!!" I suddenly remebered!! Yes! -- when I mentioned the loss of my lover -- a friend remarked:  "Oh my!  Sacred Wounds!"  -- it struck me -- the sacredness of our experience of life! -- that, what I was experiencing, is the sacredness of my journey -- could I be present to that?

I felt a movement stir in my chest -- I thought of the magnificant Rose oil -- known as "the Queen of Flowers" -- but more than that, Rose -- the gentle, exquistite, sweetness of its aroma -- gently touches the heart, calming, nourishing the heart -- and powerfully connecting our individual heart to the Supreme Self -- the Great Light of Conciousness.  The sweet budding of Rose began to unlock something in my heart!  Oh my!  could we ever understand all the aspects of Rose, of the Heart?  So sublime, so complex -- but the exquiteness of Rose, began to connect me in my heart -- something began to awaken, to remember.

What began to unfold was so profound, I was speechless!  We have two hearts!  Indeed!! On the individual level is the center of our feelings, thoughts, sensations, memories and past impressions --the psychic instrument in the physical body. This heart makes us experience ourselves as individuals with distinct characteristics and personalities. Sages speak of purifying this heat "piercing the knot" -- that the heart must be completely purified in the fire of grace".   On the Spirtual level, we are told of the tiny "heart" next to our physical heart -- called, in Sanskrit the "Anahata" which means the "unstruck sound".  This is the sound of Conciousness -- the Great Void, the Great Silence of the Supreme Light.  When I allow that quiet space to arise within - Rose begins my journey of the heart.  (see why cedarwood and orange oil came up first in this blog?! -- go back and read it if you do not remember.)  My Teacher once said:  "Approach teh Present with your Heart's consent. Make it a Blessed Event".  So this is the purification of my heart.  Thank you precious Rose.  We will speak more on the complexity of the oil.

Go Beyond the always-changing waves of one's own mind -- more on Frank

Guess I wasn't meant to get off of the subject of Frankincense today -- I thought I was -- but no -- so much more coming up from deep, rich frankincense.   As I contemplated  "wonder" in my last post,  I find myself reflecting back on the area where frankincense grows - the desert.  The contemplation of petrified waves of the sandy dunes -- stretching for miles, constantly shifting, changing, inspiring me to go beyond the always-changing waves of my own mind and connect with bare infinity and eternity.  This is a perfect contemplation for me today -- as I feel a bit lost in expansion of life at the moment -- is it wonder?  is it overwhelm? is it just the loss I feel?
more.....
In the desert -- the most extreme climate of the planet --  the raw, intense cosmic activity promotes the formation of gum and etheric oils.  Frankincense comes fromthe Bureseracae family -- known as Dry Fire -- where we also find Myrrh (another whole chapter).   From the middle east - particularly the Arabian peninsula -- very extreme climate --  you can detect a very thin cloud of these etheric oils around these plants, which filters the sun's rays and freshens the air around them - hence the strong anti-inflamatory action -- Burseraceae acts against the inner fire in the body.  Powerful action in bronchitis, cough, a known opponent to tumors.  Consider the intense heat and dryness of the desert -- ah, was indeed the bush of frankincense -- the "burning bush" we know of in the old scriptures!!!  Think about that thin cloud around the bush -- think of the intense heat --think of the wonder of it all!!   Wow!!! such a metaphor for where I am in my process right now!! 

Are you getting a sense of why this oil has been so powerful and used so much over antiquity!!  We often know it as being burned in churches and temples.  The Egyptian women, mixed the ash and made kohl - used around the eyes (today -- we call it make up) -- to keep the eyes cool.  (Yes! there is a practical reason for all things -- ususally -- we've lost that reason -- and make up a bunch of other reasons)

Blessins to our beloved frankincense plant that has brought so much to this world and bring so much into our lives!

Wonder

As I inhaled the fragrance of Frankincense this morning…. My mind filled with the wondrous mystery of life itself. The glow of that golden sun, as it rises, lighting our path – filled with the mystery, filled with wonder. In Kashmir Shaivism, “wonder is the essence of life. To be incapable of wonder is to be a dead and insensitive as a stone. We live and enjoy the vitality, virya, of Conciousness to the degree in which we are sensitive to the beauty of things around us.” This wonder is the pulsation of Consciouness that permeates all experience. Blessings on this day.

More on Frank......

Ah yes, I was feeling the pain today – so the energy of Frankincense was very supportive.



It is both curious and yet, understandable that both Frankincense and Rose would appear together – for they come in with such a balance to each other – and yet such a purpose! So – let’s continue to look at Frankincense. It is a small tree that grows 9 – 20 feet with narrow leaves and white or pale pink flowers. The oil actually comes from the resin that is produced from the bark of the tree (thus the “wound-healing” as mentioned before). What is interesting, is that it grows in the harsh environment of the desert – and this resin is the evolution of the plant for it’s protection against the harshness of the desert. It is also considered a “monotheistic oil” – meaning the worship of one god – we can see this in the references in the Bible of Moses and of the Egyptian – Ra and of the Babylonian sun god Bael. It has a very male energy. It facilitates a state of single-pointed concentration, and has the power to focus our spiritual consciousness and imbue a potential for transcendent awareness. As we know, it was given to the new born Jesus – carrying the male energy of the times (as God was known as a very powerful, unforgiving male God, at that time), marking the beginning of the transition of this energy toward a new time, a new energy . We will discuss Rose – which comes at the end of Jesus’s life, and its heralding of the feminine energy, later. This points to a new transition from the harshness of life – a deep wound healing, if you will, of the power and majesty of Frankincense.



Frankincense oil’s most important sphere of action is the nervous system. Here, its ability to relax and yet revitalize make it excellent for treating nervous tension and nervous exhaustion. It smoothes the flow of stagnant Qi-energy whenever an accumulation of stress has led to restlessness and insomnia. (That was me this morning – I awoke at 4:30 am!) As a mild tonic, it also helps to uplift – and is an important anti- depressive oil – see why it came up for me!!! It also is known to have expectorant properties to “deepen the breath”, and relive “tightness” in the chest. The breath, as we know is our connection to Spirit.



Ahhhhh, next, the graceful and beautiful Rose………