My older daughter and I took a walk during the most recent storm in our area and we saw a huge beautiful red-tailed hawk fly slowly across the field through the falling snow. I grabbed a picture of where it landed on the branch of a big spruce. It was a beautiful moment when it flew away again, on its big white wings; disappearing quickly into the snowy haze.
The walk was cold, windy and difficult, but after sighting the bird, we felt very rewarded and certainly less stir-crazy during the remainder of our snow day.
It was a reminder to me to get outside even when things are super busy. Or when it’s cold and wet and it’s easier to sit in front of the fire. In Japan, an interesting medical treatment called Forest Bathing is being studied. Results are showing that if people go out and sit in a forest for 20 minutes there are positive hormone and cellular responses. Also, some wood essential oils have been shown to play a part in increasing specific immune function in natural killer cells.
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/forest-bathing/#axzz2ntBklsuK
I love the smell of a snowstorm. It’s a difficult smell to explain and impossible to bottle, but I love the crisp cool white scent of the air when snow is falling. Smell is such a profound part of who we are and what we have experienced in our lives. A study has found that people who lack a sense of smell are at higher risk of depression; maybe because they feel less connected to what’s going on around them.
 |
| Here’s the big beautiful hawk sitting on the spruce branch. |
So, natural aromas are good for us, not just in bottled essential oils. When you peel a fresh orange, sit by the evergreens in your home or use some natural vanilla extract while you are baking, enjoy the essential oils as they spread scent and good cheer around the room.
If you want to enjoy some essential oils in bottles, give me a call or order up some of your own. As I wrote in last month’s newsletter, finding a good source for essential oils can be a bit tricky. The oils that come from the companies below are amazing! These are all smaller businesses that focus on the quality of the oils. I don’t get a kick-back from these folks; I just wanted to give you their names so you can have access to their wonderful and (relatively) affordable products.
Appalachian Valley Natural Products
http://www.av-at.com/
Nature’s Gift
http://www.naturesgift.com/
Elizabeth Van Buren
http://www.elizabethvanburen.com/
