January never feels like the start of the year to me. It’s simply too cold and dark to be the start of anything! It is however a time of rest, of germination and gathering energy. Already there are signs of life promising new growth and life. I see Winter and January as a time of reflection and thinking, of setting your intentions and paths. January is named after the Roman god Janus. Janus is the god of doors, a  god with two faces, one looking back to the past and one looking to the future, I love the idea of a god of doors. it conjures up fantastic  imagery for me and reminds me of a children’s book that many of you are probably familiar with. The Lion,The Witch and The Wardrobe pivots around the magical wardrobe and the door at the back of it that leads to magical other worlds. As adults we can lose our belief in the magical and fantastical and can limit our horizons by what we believe we should be doing rather than allowing our hearts to soar and wander freely. How many of us take time to dream, to imagine or simply wonder what alternative lives we could be living. If you’re feeling stuck or distanced from your inner dreamer then oils that have a coniferous fragrance energy can help to open and dispel stuck energy Try Cypress, (Cupressus Sempervirens) to encourage the lungs to open, It has a freshening, opening, revitalising energy. It’s woody, balsamic fragrance is comforting and also uplifting, perfect to take our dreamer to new realms. Some might say that dreaming is a waste of time and many times in my life I’ve been accused of having my head in the clouds, but then I find having a bird’s eye view on life is sometimes a useful perspective to have. I agree that looking to the past can be useful if we use it to learn and grow from, it’s when we live in the past or get stuck caught up in the grief and pain of what has happened that we don’t let go or move forward. If you find yourself stuck in the past or in habitual behaviour that won’t allow you to move on then oils that have a camphoraceous fragrance energy can help us. Think Olbas oil, it’s the cineole  in this that makes it camphoraceeous. Oils such as Rosemary, (Rosmarinus officinalis ct cineole) Eucalyptus ( Eucalyptus globulus) and Sage ( Salvia Lavandulaefolia) Can all help to disperse any stagnant energy and revitalise us, So why not  take time to dream this year, after all, if you don’t have a dream how can you have a dream come true ?

I was fortunate at the weekend to visit several local artists as part of the Shrewsbury Open Studio weekend. It was obvious to see their passion, enthusiasm and drive reflected in the amazing and varied work on display.

I could have asked the same question today at a ladies’ networking event and had 80 different answers but all with one thing in common, they were driven by their passion and love of what they do. The noise levels in the room were testament to that.

So back to my original question, what is it that makes you tick? I took some time out to have a holiday recently and to look at just that. Having had  a decidedly difficult 18 months I was feeling out of touch with me and what made me tick. A week away gave me time to reconnect and look at what I value and cherish in my life.

As many of you know I’m quite a chatty person and many people I spoke to were on holiday to escape their lives. Which started me thinking. Unlike many people I met on holiday I didn’t want to escape my life, I realised that I have an awful lot to be grateful for and don’t want to escape from it at all. I smiled wryly when one man said it’s back to reality tomorrow, as for me the holiday was still my reality.

What helped me to connect to my passion was the wonderful, fragrant, exotic and enchanting scent of Jasmine which hung thickly in the night air. I’m sure many passers by thought that I was either mad or drunk as I stood on tiptoe to inhale as much of the magnificent scent as possible. For me my passion is aroma and essential oils. Applying them through massage is my current choice of profession and it does make me tick !

Jasmine is a particularly appropriate oil to use if you have forgotten what makes you tick. Sometimes we get so bogged down with the minutiae of life that we lose who we really are and what we are doing with our lives. Jasmine has powerful restorative qualities that can help to reconnect mind, body and spirit. It is good to use when we are out of touch with ourselves physically and unable to express our emotions as loving gestures or actions. It’s an oil much used in labour and childbirth not just because of it’s comforting aroma. Jasmine has many therapeutic properties including being anti-spasmodic, anti-depressive and analgesic. I could dedicate a whole newsletter to the amazing properties and uses of Jasmine, in fact I could talk all morning about it ! But this isn’t the time or place to do that.

Sometimes taking time out to discover just what makes you tick is a really valuable exercise and helps to appreciate our lives.  We can’t escape our reality but we can make it the best it possibly can be, we do have the power and control to do that.

It’s that time of year again. Most of us have been hiding our bodies away behind bulky knits, warm socks and long trousers. Now the sun is here it’s time to dust off our summer clothes and get ready to expose our bodies to the sun and the world at large. Sometimes trying last Summer’s clothes on can be  real shock especially when you discover a favourite item no longer fits, however what can be more of a shock is the state of our skin. Covered up for 6 months our skin can look tired, dull and lets face it often hairy ! Hands up how many of us neglect our skin over the Winter only to do hasty DIY as soon as the sun shines?

Here are some skin facts that may amaze you

• Our skin is our largest organ weighing up to 4 kgs.
• It can vary in thickness form less than 1mm to 5mm
• It has 3 distinct layers, the dermis, epidermis and sub-cutaneous layer
• We absorb 60 % of what we put on our skin in to our bloodstream.

Many people come to see me complaining of dry skin and ask me what they can do about it. Care for our skin is more about what we put in to our bodies rather than what we put on our skin to try and rectify the problem. The key to healthy, happy skin is a nutritious balanced diet and plenty of water. There are however things we can do to maintain the health of our skin. Avoid using harsh products on the skin or products containing parabens or SLS. These products can strip the skin of its natural goodness leaving it feeling dry and flaky, we then apply more of the product to make it better, to only really make it worse. Try natural, organic products designed to work with the skin. (See the links on the side for some reputable stockists) A daily skin care routine will also help maintain the condition of your skin. A routine that exfoliates, cleanses, tones and moisturises will leave your skin in tip top condition with a fresh and healthy glow, and yes that’s all over, not just your face ! Aromatherapy and massage can also be beneficial. Massage improves the circulation and speeds up the elimination of toxins. Certain base oils such as Rosehip are rich in Vitamin A, ideal for re-generating skin cells and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. There are 6 key essential oils that benefit the skin; Lavender, Sandalwood, Rose,  Geranium, Palmarosa & Roman Chamomile. These oils are beneficial when used in a massage or can be blended with various base products to form a natural skin care product unique to your needs. Herbal oils such as Calendula are also brilliant when treating the skin and can be included in the massage blend or added to the base product. To find out more about using essential oils look out for our forthcoming workshops and our monthly e-zine subscription due to be launched this Summer. In the mean time, enjoy the Sunshine and remember to use sunscreen to protect your skin.

By the time you read this Valentine’s Day will have come and gone so you maybe questioning why I’m writing  this now?

We are lead to believe that Valentine’s Day is the day to show those we love how we feel. The media goes mad with ideas on how to spoil our loved ones, you can’t fail to have missed all the shop windows enticing us to buy special gifts and wondrous luxuries to make the day special. Mark and Spencers were given a good run for their money with Sainsbury’s and Tesco doing their best to offer gourmet two for £20 deals for a way to find a way to our loved ones’ hearts through their stomach. Was I the only groaning at all the hype by the end of the day? Surely we don’t need a special day to show people we love them? Surely we should be doing that everyday ?

For many people Valentine’s Day can be a bit of an emotional minefield and that’s not just those that are single. Many people can feel trapped in relationships where the love simply isn’t there anymore, if it ever was in the first place. Many people are worried about ending a loveless relationship as they simply don’t know how to be single or how to cope by themselves. Many of us fear the repercussions of splitting up, the impact on family and  friends, not to begin to mention the legal side and very often the financial implications of managing on one income, are also serious considerations, especially if you’ve been out of the workplace for sometime. Sometimes the loneliest place to be can be in an unhappy relationship. Valentine’s Day can also be really difficult for those that are single whether recently or long term. Many people become acutely aware of their status and the supposed absence of “love,” in their lives. We are lead to believe that if we don’t have that special someone to lavish gifts on or treat to beautiful meals that we are somehow missing out on something the rest of the world is enjoying.

So where am I going with this? I’m not anti- Valentine’s but I do think we need to reconsider the notion of love portrayed by Valentine’s Day. What is love to you? Is it just that romantic image of a happy couple or is it more than that? We are all surrounded by love. It is everywhere we look we just have to choose to let it in to our lives. Love can be shown in the smallest of actions it doesn’t have to be overstated or flamboyant. Love can be between family and friends and just being grateful for all that we have in our lives. We don’t need champagne and roses to know we’re loved. Love is about giving as well as receiving, if we appreciate the love in our lives and begin to share that with others then we open a door for love to come in to our lives, it can start with just smiling at other people or doing something selfless that makes someone else feel good.

If you feel unable to express or receive love. if you genuinely feel stuck and unable to open your heart to the powerful love surrounding us all then a few oils that might help you are, Neroli ( Citrus aurantium var amara) This is  a beautiful floral oil extracted from the blossom of the Bitter Orange tree. It’s scent is powerfully uplifting and helps us to relax and let go.Jasmine ( Jsminum grandiflorum) A warming slightly, spicy oil  that warms our hearts and removes fear and inhibitions. Patchouli ( Pogestemon cablin) is not an obvious choice of oil and not an oil particularly liked by many people but it is a powerful anti-depressive and instantly lifts the spirits making the soul lighter. These oils are safe to use in a bath or a burner and will blend well with citrus oils. They can also be used in massage but please seek advice before using essential oils at home.

Another beautiful way of describing love and the perfect heart is shared by Paulo Coelho in his blog The Perfect Heart

http://paulocoelhoblog.com/2010/10/04/readers-story-the-perfect-heart/

• a beautiful hand made candle made of natural fragrances and Soy bean wax, much better for you than the tradtional paraffin wax.
• A luxurious hand made soap made from natural ingredients with no harmful chemicals.
• A 5ml bottle of Lavender essentail oil which can be added to a bath, burner or pillow to promote natural sleep patterns.

A perfect combination to use in a relaxing bath, where you can shut the door and have some time to you.

It truly is an abundant year for berries and hips. The trees nearby are laden with fruit.  It felt natural last week to be harvesting this fruit and preparing remedies to see us through the Winter months, already friends are suffering with colds and flu like symptoms so the timing  of my Rose-hip Syrup and Elderberry Cordial couldn’t be better.

I was surprised by the reactions of passers by to me harvesting Rose Hips and at the reactions of people when I told them what I was doing. Some were worried that I was going to poison myself, some were curious and some had no idea what a rose-hip or elderberry looked like and no knowledge about what they are used for. I think it’s sad that we have lost touch with our natural heritage and rely so much on mass produced pharmaceuticals, surely they are more alien to our systems than the natural remedies surrounding us?  I’ve included pictures of all stages to show exactly what to look for and expect.

Both fruits are rich in Vitamins A &  C and rich in anti-oxidants. The recipes below are intended to give you an insight into where to begin and are by no means a  definitive guide to making syrups from wild fruits. If you aren’t sure about anything ask someone who does know and never eat anything you’re not certain about.

Rose-hip Syrup

I collected approx 500 g of rosehips. I topped and tailed them then roughly chopped them in a blender. This can be done by hand but take care with the hairy seeds which make a particularly lethal itching powder ! I then added them to a litre of boiling water, brought back to the boil then left to infuse off the heat for half an hour.

Rosehip infusion

I then strained the infusion, you can use a jelly bag, a muslin cloth or a clean tea towel. Return the hips to the pan and repeat the infusion process. Strain the hips again and combine the liquids. Bring to the boil in a clean pan. Boil rapidly until the mixture has reduced by half. I then added apporx 500g of sugar and continued to boil until the mixture thickened. Bottle in sterilised containers and in small batches as once opened it has a short shelf life of about a week. Take it by the spoonful, drizzle on porridge or be  indulgent and add to icecream, white wine or champagne. It has a beautiful citrus aroma and flavour and my syrup was a beautiful amber hued liquid.

Elderberry Cordial

Elderberries

Harvest Elderberries on a dry day, otherwise they may go mouldy when you store them, if you use them straight away I’m sure it won’t make much difference. Rinse the berries and remove the heads with a fork. I collected about 2kg but simply use what you need and remember to leave some for the birds as they rely on them too.

Add berries to a pan and cover with boiling water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 30-40 mins until the berries are softened. Strain the berry infusion using the same method above and return the liquid to the pan. I added a handful of Cloves, Star Anise and a few Cinnamon sticks for added flavour. You could experiment with flavour and maybe add Ginger as an alternative. I added 1kg of sugar to approx 2 litres of liquid and continued to boil til I had the desired consistency. To make a thicker syrup simply add more sugar and boil for longer.

Bottle in a sterile container. This can be diluted and drank like a cordial or in boiling water as a hot drink, you could add lemon and ginger at this point if you wished. It can also be added to wine or champagne to make a lovely natural cocktail such as Kir. What better way to ward off colds and beat the Winter blues !

It’s a beautiful Bank Holiday Monday, streaming sunshine and blue sky, totally out of character for a British bank Holiday. I’m in the middle of making a lovely celery and apple soup, both ingredients in abundance at the moment and it prompted me to write this post.

I buy all my ingredients at the local market and have got to know the ladies on the veg stall really well in the last couple of years. They asked me on Saturday if there was anything I would recommend for limp lifeless hair, which put me on the spot at first and made me think. Then I remembered that Rosemary essential oil is really good for hair. It stimulates the scalp and promotes healthy hair growth.  I recommended it to them and they asked me to bring them some.

I’m going to blend Rosemary Essential oil with Coconut oil and give them a 10ml sample. I would recommend warming the oil and then massaging it into the scalp after shampooing. It can then be left on the hair for approximately 10 mins as a warm hair mask. The combination of oil and  massage will stimulate the scalp and promote hair growth. An other suggestion would be to rinse the hair after shampooing with Rosemary floral water, this will give the hair a lovely glossy shine. Both remedies will work best given a little time and persistance  but I’m sure the lovely invigorating effects of Rosemary essential oil combined with a lovely scalp massage will be felt straight away.I’ll let you know how they get on.

Meanwhile best get back to my soup which is now a lovely blend of red and green and smells amazing, think it needs some nutmeg and sage then simmering for a bit longer.