New Year’s Eve. Typically a time for reflection and resolution – planning all the things we’ll do better next year, often setting unrealistic expectations of ourselves and setting ourselves up for failure! It’s a trap I frequently fall into and I don’t want that this year.
In the past few months, I’ve been exploring the practice of taking more restful moments to disengage from the hectic, “busyness” of modern life.
Taking time to be creative, to engage with nature, to sit quietly and journal my thoughts or get lost in a book has proven to be so much more beneficial than just making me feel less stressed! I’ve found I have become more productive and focussed rather than flitting from one unfinished task to another in a bid to keep on top of the never-ending “to do” list.
I am not throwing myself into 2024 with a crazy weight-loss plan, fitness regime, huge list of work and life goals which must all be put into action on Day One or I will have failed. Instead, I want to ease into the year – in the natural world, this is a time of hibernation, deep rest to draw strength and prepare for Spring. Why should it be different for us?
With this in mind, I wanted to create an essential oil blend for myself to mark the end of this year and take me gently into the year ahead. A blend that provides a sense of nurturing restfulness, shedding the stress and hectic pace of life allowing space for strength and growth when the time is right and to enable me to move into the new year with a clear head, not overburdened by all the things I should be doing/have done.
I tend to work intuitively and the oils I was instinctively drawn to for my blend were Elemi, Ho Wood, Rosalina, Vetiver and Juniper Berry.
Placing a single drop onto a scent strip I sat with each oil in turn, checking in with how it made me feel, physically and emotionally and then combining the strips to see how they played together.
Initially I had just 4 oils, without Juniper. The combined fragrance instantly gave me a sense of clear-headedness, my shoulders physically relaxed and I felt my breathing deepen and calm. It was definitely the sensation I would like to take with me into the new year! But I also felt something was else was needed.
I left it alone while I took the dog for a walk between the showers and whilst out in the fresh air, Juniper Berry popped into my head as the missing piece of the jigsaw. As soon as I got home I tried it in the mix and it felt complete.
Once I was happy with the combination of essential oils, I again sat with each individually and read up on what they represent.
Here are the notes I made.
“A candle in dark times to guide you forwards to where you need to go.” – Helen Nagle-Smith, Working With Unusual Oils
Calming and uplifting. Name means “Heaven & Earth”.
Useful for nervous exhaustion and when struggling with times of transition. Enables us to relinquish the need for control and accept that we can let go safe in the knowledge that all will be well.
Also a useful respiratory oil, enabling the deep breath and clear head sensation.
This has such an intriguing fragrance that seems to change on each inhalation. It made me smile as soon as I opened the bottle.
“A soothing comforter bringing peace when needed.” – Helen Nagle-Smith, Working With Unusual Oils
Calming and soothing, especially to raw emotions. Useful when feeling overwhelmed and overburdened to help relax and let go.
Also powerful antibacterial.
I felt the tension in my shoulders let go as I inhaled this one – it’s like receiving a warm hug that let’s you know you are safe.
“An ethereal healing presence.” Helen Nagle-Smith, Working With Unusual Oils
Feminine and nurturing. Calming and relaxing for the nervous system. Pacifying in times of conflict. Emotionally supportive and gently uplifting. Instils a sense of grace, peace and calm.
Also powerful respiratory oil.
When I first added this to the scent strip it instantly felt helpful in clearing and calming my busy mind.
Nourishing, calming, uplifting, restoring and reconnecting. Strengthening and grounding.
“Relaxing an overheated, hyperactive mind and nurturing an insecure self-identity, the oil imbues us with the calm, reassuring strength of Mother Earth, and her deep sense of belonging.” – Gabriel Mojay, Essential Oils for Healing the Spirit
I adore this oil – it just helps slow everything down and I always sleep very soundly if I’ve been using this oil.
“Fortify – Unburden – Empower” – Gabriel Mojay, Essential Oils for Healing the Spirit
Cleansing, purifying, releasing “stuckness”/stagnancy. Drives out negative influences. Stimulates will power.
“Juniper oil helps to purge us of the worry and self-absorption that is rooted in a fear of failure. Restoring our determination to overcome life’s obstacles, it replaces stasis and isolation with movement and openness.” – Gabriel Mojay
I was actually quite surprised when this called to me as it’s not an oil I often reach for as I don’t usually like the fragrance. I did question whether it was just the “obvious” cleansing and detox association that comes with all the New Year, New Me stuff that brought it up. But today I enjoyed the fragrance and the “Fortify, Unburden, Empower” words really struck me.
I will add a couple of drops to my room diffuser this evening and I’m also going to use it in a shower gel base to use in the bath tonight and the shower in the morning.
I should add that this is a personal blend, it’s not “The Blend for 2024”. I believe essential oils and aromatherapy are most effective when used for an individual purpose at a particular point in time. If you would like me to create a blend for you, please get in touch.
So 2024, let’s see what we will explore as the year evolves!
Wishing you all a very Happy, Healthy, Peaceful and Prosperous year to come.
