Essential Oils & Specific Emotions

Essential Oils can aid our recoveries and help to bring holistic balance and well-being into our lives. I only use Young Living oils because they are 100% pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils and because Young Living has a proprietary Seed to Seal® guarantee, which is their commitment to purity and authenticity.  Also, Young Living owns their own farms and distilleries. You can even go visit the farms to help plant and harvest.  How cool is that?!?!

Anger

Anger can be brief or you can remain angry for an extended period of time and this can be very detrimental to your health. Professional help and anger management classes are available and you can also try using the following essential oils either in a diffuser in your home, at work or by placing a few drops in your hand and inhaling it. Try these oils to help relieve anger: Bergamot, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon, Neroli, Orange, Patchouli, Petitgrain, Roman Chamomile, Rose, Vetiver and Ylang Ylang.

Anxiety

There are times that we can't help but feel anxiety taking over. Whatever it may be that causes you feelings of anxiety, essential oils can help. Place a few drops in a diffuser or the palm of your hand to inhale. You can use one single oil or you can create your own combinations. Have fun with your diffuser! Try these oils for Anxiety: Bergamot, Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Neroli, Patchouli, Roman Chamomile, Rose, Sandalwood and Vetiver.

Confidence Booster

We've all been there and sometimes we need a boost of confidence. You can add these oils to your home diffuser, place a few drops in your hand and inhale or use a diffuser necklace. When you need that added boost of confidence try these essential oils: Bergamot, Cypress, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Nutmeg, Orange, Peppermint and Rosemary.

Depression

When depression strikes take some quiet time in a room and use a home diffuser with a couple drop of essential oil to help you relax. If you have prolonged depression please see a licensed professional. Try these essential oils: Bergamot, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Geranium, Grapefruit, Helichrysum, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon, Orange, Roman Chamomile, Rose, Sandalwood and Ylang Ylang.

Tired

Who doesn't feel tired or burned out? We are running around non-stop and expected to be superman or superwoman and there just doesn't seem like there is enough time in the day. If you need a boost try these essential oils: Basil, Bergamot, Black Pepper, Clary Sage, Cypress, Frankincense, Ginger, Grapefruit, Helichrysum, Jasmine, Lemon, Patchouli, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Spearmint and Vetiver. This is a great blend too - En-R-Gee.

Fear

It's ok to be fearful of things and it can be overwhelming at times. However, the main thing is to stay calm and relax (easier said than done sometimes). Use a home diffuser, put a few drops of essential oil in your hand or wear a diffuser necklace and try these oils: Bergamot, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Lemon, Orange, Roman Chamomile Sandalwood and Vetiver.

Grief And Sadness

Grief hits us when we least expect it and turns our lives inside out. It is difficult to deal with grief, but essential oils can help you get through whatever happened in your life. Try these essential oils in a diffuser, by placing a few drops in your hand and inhaling or wear in a diffuser necklace: Cypress, Frankincense, Grapefruit, Helichrysum, Lemon, Orange, Rose, Sandalwood and Vetiver.

Happiness

Need a little extra boost of Happy :) Let these essential oils bring a smile to your face: Bergamot, Cardamom, Frankincense, Geranium, Grapefruit, Lemon, Orange, Rose, Sandalwood and Ylang Ylang.

Insecure

If you are having feelings of insecurity don't let it get you down. There's an oil for that! Try these essential oils to help you feel better: Basil, Bergamot, Frankincense, Jasmine, Orange, Peppermint, Sandalwood and Vetiver.

Irritability And Moodiness

There are those days that everything makes us feel irritable and moody and nothing seems to go right. Take some time out to smell essential oils! Get the moody blue out by using the following essential oils: Lavender, Roman Chamomile and Sandalwood.

Loneliness

If you are feeling lonely or out of touch and can't get professional counseling, try these essential oils: Bergamot, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Helichrysum, Roman Chamomile and Rose.

Memory and Concentration

As we age our memories start to seem to fail us. Instead of stressing about that, use some oils! Also, concentration can be tough when we need to study for a test, remember something for work or just doing everyday tasks that let our mind wanter. If you need help with focus, memory and concentration try these essential oils in your home diffuser or inhaling a few drops from the palm of your hand or wear a diffuser necklace which can be very helpful during test taking and studying: Basil, Black Pepper, Cypress, Hyssop, Lemon, Peppermint and Rosemary.

Panic Attacks

It truly is a terrible feeling when a panic attack starts. No one understands what is going on inside of you and it seems like hours until you feel normal again. Make sure to carry a few essential oils with you to help when panic strikes: Bergamot, Frankincense, Helichrysum, Lavender and Rose.

Stress

Stress is something we have to deal with - it's going to happen whether or not we want it to. However, there are different ways of dealing with it and I choose essential oils. My ultimate favorite is a blend called StressAway. I just put a few drops on my wrist or temples and all is well. I also added a drop to my diffuser necklace to help keep the stress monster away! Here are some other essential oils that can help relieve stress and tension: Bergamot, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Geranium, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Lavender, Patchouli, Roman Chamomile, Rose, Sandalwood, Vetiver and Ylang Ylang

Bergamot: anger, anxiety, depression, frustration, sadness

Cardamom: apathy, emotional exhaustion, emotional tension 

Cedarwood: ADD, ADHD

Clary Sage: fear, sadness, worry   

Frankincense: emotional exhaustion, grief, stress

Geranium: anger, anxiety, moody tendencies, sadness, stress 

German Chamomile: frustration, emotional overstimulation, stress, moody tendencies, bitterness   

Grapefruit: anxiety, emotional exhaustion, frustration, sadness   

Helichrysum: emotional over-stimulation, grief, sadness, stress

Jasmine: anxiety, guilt, listlessness, sadness, stress

Lavender: anxiety, irritability, sadness, stress, worry

Lemon: anxiety, sadness, depression, bitterness, stress

Peppermint: anxiety, sadness, stress

Roman Chamomile: anger, grief, irritability, emotional over-stimulation, sadness, stress, worry 

Rose: anger, bitterness, emotional exhaustion, grief, jealousy, sadness

Rosemary: emotional overstimulation, stress

Sandalwood: anxiety, irritability, sadness, stress

Ylang Ylang: anxiety, emotional exhaustion, frustration, guilt, impatience, sadness, stress

Should you wish to get started with your own oils and products, I recommend that you 

enroll as a wholesale member in Young Living by purchasing the Premium Starter Kit, 

which gives you the Everyday Oils, a bonus oil called Stress Away, a Home Diffuser, as well as samples to try or share. This is an excellent investment in your health, as well as the health of your animals. 

You also have the option of joining as a Retail Member, as opposed to a Wholesale 

Member, so it is completely up to you. There are also options for monthly Essential 

Rewards orders, which earn you points that you can spend on additional products, as 

well as promotional items every month that you can earn for free, just by shopping for 

what you already need. 

Please ask me for additional information, or you may learn more by logging on to:

www.NaturalLivingEssentialOils.com  

Thank you for joining me on this wonderfully holistic journey. I am truly grateful to have 

you here with me and look forward to helping you any way I can! ♥

How to Clear Your Mind, Body & Soul . . . .

"How can I become more energetic and clear-minded?", you may ask or meditate on. The answer is for you to stop eating animals and animal products. “Why?” you ask, not understanding the connection. Well, when you eat the animal who has suffered, you are eating the energy of suffering. This is lowering your energy and spiritual frequencies. If this is difficult for you to understand, you truly need to take the time to research how animals suffer needlessly for food products that are not necessary for us to consume. Our survival and our lives do not depend on consuming animals, however the animals lives sure do!

Some of you may have stopped eating red meat long ago, due to health or dietary concerns, however you might still eat chicken and fish, along with dairy products, thinking that these are the "healthier" option. As a long-time vegetarian who still ate eggs, dairy and sometimes fish, I finally realized that aside from the fact that these things were clogging my energy, making me tired, sluggish and blocking my spiritual channels, these products were also the cause of incredible suffering for the animals that produce them. If you follow this page (or many of my other postings), or read up on the factory farming industry, you will hopefully realize how evil the meat and dairy industries truly are. Chickens, turkeys, cows and pigs are some of the most abused and terrorized animals on the planet. Once the eco-friendly lightbulb came on for me, it was all crystal clear. I could no longer support these industries with my hard-earned money, nor could I continue to ingest this energy of suffering. I was on a mission to clear myself and clean up my universe by finding appropriate vegan substitutes for these foods that I had been consuming.

There are two ways to change your diet and stop eating meat and other animal products. One is to wean yourself off slowly over a 30 day period, eliminating one food group at a time. The other is to jump in feet first and take the plunge! When you stop eating animals and animal products, you will notice a pretty immediate and profound improvement in your overall health, your energy levels and your clarity!

Next to go was leather. After all, I was ALWAYS against wearing fur . . . and leather is essentially furless-fur. I also learned that the leather industry is not a by-product of the meat industry. Cows are raised and suffer solely for leather. The chemicals used in leather tanning factories are horrible for the environment . . . much worse than the plastic industries! Fortunately, there are LOTS of non-leather options from sources that sell faux leather and vegan shoes and purses. You only need to be an informed consumer to find these amazing products, which are truly high-quality!

I used to be somewhat of a quiet vegan until one day, something triggered my outrage more than usual. The more I paid attention, the more I heard about the overwhelming cruelty, inhumane treatment and horror stories from the world of factory farming. I immersed myself in books and videos to educate myself further as to the suffering of these sentient beings. I became incredibly angry that this was going on day in and day out . . . right under our noses, yet behind closed doors hidden away from public view. If more people would take the time to understand where their food actually comes from and what happens to these precious animals on these factory farms, they would become physically ill and stop eating meat altogether. Or, if they paid a visit to a farm animal sanctuary and spent some time with these individual animals and learned that they each have their own distinctive personalities, feelings, emotions, intelligence, and a sense of community . . . people's (and animals) lives would be changed forever!

Equally disturbing is the fishing industry . . . dolphins, whales, tuna and scores of other kinds of fish. This industry is causing not only the suffering of these sensitive sea animals . . . it is also destroying our oceans and the delicate balance of the eco-system. Then there is the horrific act of capturing animals for zoos, aquariums, circuses and theme parks. This is no different than the horrendous way that millions of chickens, turkeys, pigs, cows, lambs, sea animals and other sentient beings are tortured and slaughtered each day! This realization made me want to leave the planet. I can’t even fathom how people can be so cruel and cold-hearted to kill and exploit these beautiful animals! I honestly wondered just how I would be able to remain here, stay grounded and finish my spiritual mission amongst so much brutality. I wrestled with this for a long time. My answer came after much prayer and meditation, when I got the very clear message to educate others as to the benefits of a vegan lifestyle . . . or, for those of you who misunderstand the meaning of the word 'vegan' . . . a plant-based diet, which is really not a 'diet' . . . it’s a way of life.

The only way I can keep going on this planet is by trying to bring counter-balance. It is estimated that vegans each save between 50 to 200 animals lives per year with their plant-based diets. They also help the environment, because livestock are the largest consumers of water, and the largest polluters of the ozone layer. You may want to read: “Diet for a New America” for more information, or watch the documentaries, "Forks Over Knives" and "Vegucated".

It is for these reasons that I post about a compassionate vegan lifestyle and it's why I wrote this article and continue to advocate for the animals and for the planet. Please know that it is NEVER about trying to make you feel guilty and I am truly NOT judging any of you. I am simply presenting facts, and the opinions of those whom I admire and respect, as well as my own passionate opinions and experiences. If you feel guilty upon reading my posts, please meditate upon why that is. If you feel I am judging you, please meditate upon why you feel that way. You’ll find that those feelings are because somewhere inside you, you agree with me, but you’re just not ready to make the change. Also, PLEASE understand that I must teach about living a compassionate, vegan lifestyle in order to keep MY sanity while residing on this violent planet.

What about those who say that their health (as well as their perceived pleasure) depends upon eating animal products? Well, I'm not sure where those justifications come from or who might be telling you that, so, to that I would say please read the book, "The China Study", by T. Colin Campbell (and perhaps "The Engine 2 Diet", by Rip Esselstyn, for a different perspective) and then make up your own mind. The China Study is an amazing compilation of scientific studies that show how cancer, tumors, and other deadly health conditions all come from eating animal products, and how those same conditions reversed themselves when a vegan diet was introduced. Visit: TheChinaStudy.com. The Engine 2 Diet is written by former tri-athlete and current Texas firefighter, Rip Esselstyn, (son of the world renown cardiovascular surgeon, Caldwell B. Esselstyn), who compiled the amazing plant-based 28-day Save-Your-Life Plan. Visit: Engine2Diet.com.

Please love and respect yourself and respect all life on this planet by choosing a plant-based, vegan lifestyle. 

(The accompanying photo is of a mother cow and her baby, which shows the deep love that animals feel for their families. Does she not deserve to be with her baby, just like we do? In the incredibly cruel dairy industry, her baby is taken away from her at birth and killed, or raised in a tight pen so it won’t develop muscle. That baby is called “veal,” which is a by-product of us spending money on milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. To me, no amount of pleasure from eating dairy is worth giving this mother and her baby so much pain . . . and eventually a horrific death.)

Recipe ~ Guacamole Reinvented :)

Once the flesh has been scooped out, halved avocado skins make pretty single-serving cups for guacamole; serve them on saucers, surrounded by tortilla chips. They make a tasty preamble to a vegan chili supper or a Mexican-style vegan stew.

What You Need:

3 small avocados
3 small oranges
2 cups radishes, diced
1 ½ cups finely chopped romaine lettuce
6 green onions, finely chopped (1 cup)
3 drops YL Lime Essential Oil
¼ cup chopped cilantro
1–2 drops hot sauce, optional

What You Do:

1. Halve and pit avocados. Score each avocado half 7 times lengthwise and 7 times crosswise to dice. Scoop out with soup spoon, and place avocado dice in large bowl. Reserve avocado shells.

2. Cut peel and pith from oranges with knife, then slice each orange into 4 slices. Cut each orange slice into 6 small triangular pieces. Add to bowl with diced avocado. Add radishes, romaine, green onions, Lime essential oil, cilantro, and hot sauce (if using) to bowl. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and gently toss to coat.

3. Scoop avocado mixture into avocado shells. Serve immediately.

Serves 6 ~ Enjoy! 

How to Share Your Conscious Values (Without Putting Others Off!)

Relationships can be somewhat complicated, and may require a delicate balance, as well as a certain amount of compromise when it comes to individual lifestyles.  New friendships can also be difficult to negotiate in the beginning. Expressing your opinions and conveying your values early on is tricky, as you may not wish to come off as moralizing or shaming, however you also wish to remain steadfast in the practices that you have established in your life, and that have brought you personal joy.  Here are some kind and effective ways to let your family and friends understand who you are and what is important to you:



1. Share Beautiful and Inspiring Pictures . . . . 

Take advantage of our visually influenced culture by sharing images of your healthy, happy, nature-loving lifestyle by posting on social media with just a short, descriptive caption. Try not to go overboard, as we all have friends who do just that.  We may have even done it ourselves.  So, if it feels too much like "work" to promote and share your values, or if you are trying to hard to convert others, it’s probably safe to assume this will backfire and have the opposite effect of what you had intended.  Sharing should bring joy to you, as well as those you are sharing with, and it should reflect who you are as an individual.  You are not your designer clothing, your lunch entree, or the car you drive, so try to find things that are more personal and speak to what makes you unique.

Raven at Sunset ~ Great Lakes Region

2. Share Personal Stories . . . . 

There's a saying that goes, "facts tell, but stories sell" . . . . not that I'm trying to sell you anything here.  My point is that people relate to personal stories much more deeply than they do with a list of facts.  Yes, facts are definitely important, however when you are able to open up to someone about an experience that transformed your life for the better, you will have a far greater impact on that person.  Perhaps you found yourself stuck in a deep rut of unhealthy eating habits, a stressful environment, or drinking to excess as a way to loosen up.  What did you find was your catalyst for change?  Or, perhaps you read an article about the horrific practices within the food industry that caused you heartache and got you thinking about the foods you consume and where they come from. Whatever your reasons for adopting your current values and clinging to them with tenacity, make sure your story is a story about you ~ what changed (or helped maintain) who you are and how you feel ~ and not a sermon on why someone else should change or feel the way you do.  Also, you may want to use this conversation as a good time to learn about others' values.  When we open our hearts and our minds, we never know what we may learn.



3. Share Amazingly Good-For-You Recipes & Food by Hosting a Get-Together . . . . 

If you're already on the path of eating a healthy, plant-based diet, or, if you are still in the process of learning how, I believe a really great way to share (and perhaps learn from others!) is to invite friends and family to a casual get-together which highlights plant-based foods.  I have done this in the past without revealing that every dish was plant-based, and even the toughest crowd was amazed at how good everything tasted.  This gives you a fantastic opportunity to introduce others to hearty, yet healthy veg dishes without coming off as “radical” or “picky” about food. With this one really fun event, you are opening up your home, offering great-tasting noms, and perhaps a new way of thinking about food. On the other hand, if you are invited to someone else's shindig, offer to bring a plant-based dish. This will give you the opportunity to share not only what you have prepared, but also one of your important values . . . . and, you will be sure that there is something for you to eat, in case the menu is limited otherwise.

White Bean Dip w/Toasted Pita Triangles

4. Share Your Fitness Pursuits . . . . 

Perhaps there is a yoga class you have been wanting to try, or maybe you are looking for a walking partner to keep you motivated.   Doing these activities together can help strengthen an existing relationship, or help a new friendship blossom quickly.  If you both have a desire to exercise and eat healthily, together you can seek a variety of workout activities, as well as delicious plant-based fare. The choices are unlimited . . . . walking, biking, swimming, going to the gym, yoga, pilates classes, or even team events like softball or volleyball.  While the yoga thing may not be your favorite bonding activity, you may eventually decide to pursue one-on-one yoga instruction as a means to find both peace and fitness in your life. You never know the effect another person's values (or your own!) may have until you invite people in.



5. Sharing Gifts that Reflect Your Values . . . . 

If an opportunity for gifting is in your future, use it as an avenue to express to your friends and family a little something about yourself. Put some thought into a gift that both reflects your values and will be useful to, or appreciated by your friend. If  plant-based, healthy eating is important to you, bake something amazing and slip a little recipe card in with it.  Or, if you’re passionate about recycling, make or seek out eco-friendly or upcycled creations to present to your friend.  If reducing your carbon footprint is an important issue to you, consider planting a tree, or giving carbon credits in someone’s name.  Many years ago, my fiance (God rest his soul) and I started doing things to offset our carbon footprint by planting trees, getting our homes off the grid with solar, geothermal and wind power, driving hybrid vehicles, donating to the carbon offset fund, etc.  Every little bit makes a difference, so share these ideas with others who feel the same way you do!

Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas

Using some or all of these methods to express your individual values can help set your relationships with your family and friends on a new and inspiring path, and can also create great opportunities for bonding and learning more about each other. May all your relationships flourish and endure!