The use of essential oils is becoming more and more common as we begin to understand the healing benefits that these gifts from nature provide us. Essential oils come from different parts of a plant, which can include the roots, stem, bark, leaves, flower and/or seeds. We are most familiar with the ways in which essential oils can heal our physical bodies such as when we are experiencing pain, discomfort or even to boost our immune systems. As well, essential oils can be used to easily replace common household products that we use in our homes for things like cleaning and skin care.
Did you know, however that essential oils have powerful emotional healing benefits? This is what fascinates me the most, and what I love sharing with others. A common emotion that we all experience in our lives is fear. We may have a fear of the unknown, of failure and even of success. Fear can be pervasive and strangling. It can prevent us from taking risks to move forward in our lives. As we become more and more fearful about a situation, we begin to create "worst-case" scenarios in our minds that create even more fear, quickly becoming a vicious cycle that we can't see our way out of.
When we inhale essential oils, they quickly connect with the emotional ("feeling") part of our brain, which is where shifts and transformation can begin to take place. Particular essential oils can be used very effectively to help us understand our fears and work through them, especially when we include powerful exercises such as meditation and journalling.
Juniper berry is very detoxifying and cleansing, not just for our physical bodies, but for our emotions as well. It can support us in seeing fear as a teacher, helping us to confront what scares us, so that we can experience a greater sense of wholeness. Add a drop of juniper berry oil to your hands and take a number of deep breaths. Imagine yourself inhaling "trust" or "courage" (to deal with the fear), while exhaling "fear". From this point you can begin some meditation or journalling, reflecting on questions such as What is this fear here to teach me?, and What do I need in order to release this fear?
Oftentimes, our fears cause us to slip into a scarcity mindset, where we don't feel as though we have what it takes to move past our fears. These feelings can make us feel powerless, as we find ourselves looking "up" to our fears rather than "down" upon them. Wild orange essential oil is a beautifully energizing oil that is often known as the oil of abundance. The uplifting scent of wild orange oil can assist us in seeing possibility as we release limiting beliefs caused by fear. Using wild orange oil as we reflect on all that we have to be grateful for (big or small) can open us up to being receptive to even more to be grateful for.
Consider incorporating essential oils as part of your personal growth journey. Although fear will always present itself in our lives at one point or another, we don't have to let it take over and block us from moving forward. Nature's gifts of essential oils can connect us back to feeling protected and whole, which we all deserve to feel.
Milissa Harding, Essential Oils Educator
Milissa teaches women how to use essential oils to balance emotions, improve mood, mental clarity and energy. Learn more at www.mydoterra.com/milissaharding