Aromatherapy

The Reeds Along the River Meander

Calamos laughs in delight as he catches up with Carpos. Carpos glances back over his shoulder sprinting towards the olive tree. The sun falls in soft rays around Carpos’ golden head, thrust forward now with effort as they run on a patch of green shore where the river lifts into the light from its long, […]

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Amyris and the Beauty of a Broken Heart

I remember the moment when I stopped trying to get on with my life, and I simply let myself live with a broken heart. I stopped trying to be bright, positive, or above it. I stopped trying to convince people that I wasn’t beaten. Instead, I gave in. I let my sadness rub against me until

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Holding the Amyris Torch for Others

The wisdom of amyris trees (Amyris balsamifera) tells us that humans experience loss, setbacks, obstacles, regret, and disappointment. Some of us seem to know instinctively how to maintain emotional balance, cultivate optimism, learn from mistakes, adapt to challenges, focus on the future, and move forward after misfortunes. Others of us find it difficult to cope

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I am AMYRIS and my story is RESILIENCE

I am AMYRIS and my story is RESILIENCE. I am the torch held aloft to light the dark seas and the pre-dawn path through the forest. I am the candle in the window and the candle on the altar. I am the bonfire at the center of the sacred circle. I invite you to warm your hands and

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Am I This?

It can happen in a moment, triggered by an interaction with a partner, a family member, or a work colleague. It can build up overtime, triggered by saying “yes” too often and the day-to-day effort of managing family, career, and self. It can happen because of work stress, a relationship break up, or a misfortune.

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Essential Oils for Tension Headache

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache with mild to moderate pain described as a diffuse tight band around the head. The muscles of the head, neck, and shoulders may feel tender. The exact causes of tension headaches are unknown. Factors include stress, depression, anxiety, poor posture, working in awkward positions, and clenching

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Cultivating Emotional Balance with Essential Oils

In general, humans try to avoid emotional turbulence by suppressing or ignoring difficult thoughts and their accompanying physical sensations. Suffering occurs in direct correlation to the amount of effort we expend to deny, avoid, or suppress feeling. Feelings are intensified by the beliefs and attitudes we hold towards emotion. If we view emotion as negative

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Essential Oils for Learned Odor Responses

Learned-odor response is a phenomenon where people naturally pair an aroma with a person, place, object, or event, creating an instantaneous memory link. This pairing of aroma and “thing” likely has ancient biological roots because remembering that a smell was safe or dangerous was essential to survival. In my own life, I have an example

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