Aromatherapy For Summer Growth

Summer is here. Which means it’s a time of progress, of maturation and abundance. A time when the warm, penetrating sun is highest in the sky and the days are longest. And we see this energy expressing itself in nature through an abundance of vegetation, flowers and leaves all around us. 

You can smell summer in the air. A whiff of green grass, a garden of floral bouquets and humid, damp soil from summer storms. There’s a certain depth and intensity that starts to appear. There’s a feeling that everything is coming into itself… expressing itself fully. 

For us humans this time is a chance to slow down and bring coolness to otherwise hot and energetic surroundings.

Let’s talk about the ways we can harness the momentum of spring and capture the goodness that summer has to offer us.  

HOLISTIC RENEWAL

Integrating all elements of ourselves and our surroundings is beneficial when considering aromatherapy support. 

The Spirit 

While spring is a time of expression and renewal, the summer offers us the chance to grow and reach our full potential. It’s a chance to look within and identify what truly fulfills us. Because without this reflection, we lack the self-understanding to succeed in finding true joy. 

For the spirit, this means turning to the heart. As a symbol of love, the heart is both a receiver and giver of emotional warmth and, in turn, the origin of emotional harmony. 

The heart is a representation of not only our relationship with others, but also a symbol of the compassion and understanding that we have for ourselves. 

Essential oils that are particularly helpful for harmonizing the spirit - building confidence, elevating compassion and comforting the heart are floral essential oils:

• Jasmine absolute (Jasminum grandiflorum)

• Neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara)

• Rose absolute (Rosa x damascena)

• Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata)

• Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)

   

Take action: Make a bouquet blend of any combination of floral essential oils and diffuse in the morning for 10-15 minutes as you start your day. 

The Mind 

The summer offers us a chance to cool any mental anxiety and nervous tension that arises coming out of spring, and instead lets us soothe our mind to create space for joy. It’s also a chance to look inward for self reflection and build awareness for what’s truly important. For your mind this means more rest and comfort.

Essential oils that are particularly helpful for calm the mind are:

• Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)

• German Chamomile (Juniperus communis)

• Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)

• Sweet Marjoram (Origanum marjorana)

Take action: Carve 5 minutes out of your day to sit quietly and meditate. Let your mind focus. While doing this, diffuse a blend of lavender & clary sage to help calm the mind. Another activity is putting a few drops of lavender & sweet marjoram on a scent strip or cotton pad and placing it on your nightstand as you try to fall asleep. 

The Body

The summer brings a desire to slow down and rest. It’s a chance to store the energy built up from the spring. It’s a time for your body to feel lightness and take action, as well as to unblock and circulate stagnation. For your body this means

Essential oils that are particularly helpful for relaxing the body - releasing tension, maintaining circulation and cooling your body are: 

• Melissa (Melissa officinalis)

• Lemon (Citrus limon)

• German Chamomile (Juniperus communis)

• Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)

Take action: Make a 1oz (30ml) massage oil blend of jojoba wax carrier oil mixed with a 10-12 drop essential oil blend of cooling and relaxing oils like melissa & lemon combined with the calmness of lavender. Massage the neck, back and leg muscles regularly to relieve stress and tension from spring energy. 

The Environment 

In the summer, the environment is becoming warm as it emerges from spring. During this transition we see plants begin to grow in abundance, flowering and scenting the air. This transition offers us a chance to connect with nature, to go outside and immerse ourselves in our surroundings. 

Essential oils that are particularly helpful for making connections and showing compassion are floral essential oils:

• Geranium / Rose Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)

• Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum)

• Neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara)

• Rose Otto (Rosa x damascena)

Take action: Spend 10 minutes in your backyard (or on your balcony) and connect with the plants. Notice how they bloom and grow. Try doing this for 7 days in a row. What changes do you see? How are the plants evolving?

Another action is diffusing a blend of light floral oils (the heavy ones have difficulty diffusing in an atomizer) such as geranium with lavender and bergamot.

Or make a perfume rollerball blend of jojoba oil with neroli, rose, bergamot and sandalwood to apply to your wrist. It’s a way to make a connection and enjoy the aroma of the bountiful summer garden in an instant.