We first chose between Cardamom or Ginger to put in our hands, then our meditation for this Thursday was 3 paragraphs in Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now. We focused on our bodies and envisioned a wave going back and forth from our feet to our heads.
We each chose a different oil to put on a piece of Styrofoam, in order to see the process of petrochemical breakdown in action. They all worked, the citruses working the most quickly and thoroughly, and the tree-based oils (like White Fir) were slowest and seemed to do the most good only once it seeped into the cut edge.
Teacher Nalanie brought us Cardamom tea to taste, and we all enjoyed Ginger flavored shredded cabbage and apple, and Cardamom flavored sliced apples with the tea. (To try at home, remember to mix the essential oil with olive oil for the "coleslaw", and essential oil with water for the apples first so that the flavor can be easily distributed. The coleslaw tastes fresh & looks good for a few days!)
We listened to a recording of a training on the Cardamom, and the students did a great job answering questions about the material along the way! (You may like to ask your student how big the plants get, how many seeds are in each pod, how many days the seeds are allowed to mature, what is unusual about the process of getting the seeds ready, why doTERRA chooses the Guatemalan source over the Indian and African sources, and which body systems it can benefit the most from Cardamom.)
Next up: Geranium, Lemongrass, Vetiver!
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Monday, March 9, 2015
Citrus Bliss!
This week, we treated our noses to the delightful scents of Lemon, and Lime!
We tested the claim that citrus oils are invigorating and bring a joyful mood. What a room full of happy people we were!
We started our discussion with a worksheet on all the ways that Lemon Essential Oil can benefit us every day. We can add it to our tap water to cleanse the impurities, we can add it to the washing machine to freshen a stinky mildew smell. Freshen our toothbrushes, dissolve sticky residues, and even cook with it! Lime has similar uses, and we talked about how it freshens the air wonderfully. (Mollie had several ideas for how to use Lime to make her brothers smell more pleasant) ha!
Teacher Liesl had us try a guacamole recipe that called for a few drops of Lime Essential Oil. Delightful! (and delicious) Each student participated in preparing the guacamole, and then we all enjoyed eating it with corn chips. Yummy! If you didn't get a chance to taste our guacamole with lime, we're sorry-there wasn't even a drop left over. Maybe your student can share the recipe with you at home.
We tested the claim that citrus oils are invigorating and bring a joyful mood. What a room full of happy people we were!
We started our discussion with a worksheet on all the ways that Lemon Essential Oil can benefit us every day. We can add it to our tap water to cleanse the impurities, we can add it to the washing machine to freshen a stinky mildew smell. Freshen our toothbrushes, dissolve sticky residues, and even cook with it! Lime has similar uses, and we talked about how it freshens the air wonderfully. (Mollie had several ideas for how to use Lime to make her brothers smell more pleasant) ha!
Teacher Liesl had us try a guacamole recipe that called for a few drops of Lime Essential Oil. Delightful! (and delicious) Each student participated in preparing the guacamole, and then we all enjoyed eating it with corn chips. Yummy! If you didn't get a chance to taste our guacamole with lime, we're sorry-there wasn't even a drop left over. Maybe your student can share the recipe with you at home.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
2/12/15
We passed around these 3 today: clove, melaleuca & eucalyptus. They are all from a tree/shrub group and are good for the immune system.
Teacher Nalani blew some bubbles for us and we enjoyed watching them. Then we used the visual of seeing our thoughts as bubbles that just float away so our minds can be clear. We also talked about having a bubble around us which protects us, but also allows us to receive back all that we send out in love and gratitude tenfold.
Our meditation involved a safe place and a heart healing meditation (in honor of Valentine's Day - or rather, the public school accepted term, Friendship Day).
We watched and discussed 2 short videos, on melaleuca and Breathe (a blend containing melaleuca and eucalyptus). We spent a bit of time in our reference books, and I heard several students reading aloud at once; I think that's a great sign!
Everyone bravely tried 2 breads: Yogurt Herb and Spice. Each had 4 to 6 oils in them. Most everyone really enjoyed the Yogurt Herb flavor, so the recipe from Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions is attached.
Teacher Nalani blew some bubbles for us and we enjoyed watching them. Then we used the visual of seeing our thoughts as bubbles that just float away so our minds can be clear. We also talked about having a bubble around us which protects us, but also allows us to receive back all that we send out in love and gratitude tenfold.
Our meditation involved a safe place and a heart healing meditation (in honor of Valentine's Day - or rather, the public school accepted term, Friendship Day).
We watched and discussed 2 short videos, on melaleuca and Breathe (a blend containing melaleuca and eucalyptus). We spent a bit of time in our reference books, and I heard several students reading aloud at once; I think that's a great sign!
Everyone bravely tried 2 breads: Yogurt Herb and Spice. Each had 4 to 6 oils in them. Most everyone really enjoyed the Yogurt Herb flavor, so the recipe from Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions is attached.
Saturday, February 7, 2015
2/5/15
We started out talking about some of the benefits of meditation. Ask your student what s/he remembers! Or, perhaps better yet, what s/he is personally experiencing.
We passed around Roman Chamomile, Helichrysum, Rose lotion, and Jasmine to smell and choose from for use during our meditation. 'Oh, well. Peace' was our way to guide our attention back from distracting thoughts. We practiced putting our attention & intention on feeling our heartbeat, then moving the sensation into our hands (which can help for headaches), then into our faces (redirects bloodflow from the kidneys).
We watched an essential oil intro video for some review and a couple of new facts. We each looked up one of the oils from our meditation in a book and shared something interesting from what we found (like Roman Chamomile having the nickname of ''plant's physician"). Then we saw pictures of blends and their ingredients, including the oils for the day, and smelled the blends which were Deep Blue & Immortelle.
To complete our class, we pulled out some craft supplies, including a few plant stencils.
We missed you Isaac!
We passed around Roman Chamomile, Helichrysum, Rose lotion, and Jasmine to smell and choose from for use during our meditation. 'Oh, well. Peace' was our way to guide our attention back from distracting thoughts. We practiced putting our attention & intention on feeling our heartbeat, then moving the sensation into our hands (which can help for headaches), then into our faces (redirects bloodflow from the kidneys).
We watched an essential oil intro video for some review and a couple of new facts. We each looked up one of the oils from our meditation in a book and shared something interesting from what we found (like Roman Chamomile having the nickname of ''plant's physician"). Then we saw pictures of blends and their ingredients, including the oils for the day, and smelled the blends which were Deep Blue & Immortelle.
To complete our class, we pulled out some craft supplies, including a few plant stencils.
We missed you Isaac!
Friday, January 9, 2015
Hello families!
On our first day together, we briefly smelled Myrrh, then we spent a few minutes breathing Frankincense in deeply, and using our imaginations.
Some experiences were shared for using Frankincense: on the ears at bedtime to keep away nightmares, on the roof of the mouth for migraines, on acne at night (& it's gone in the morning!) Some we didn't share in class: in a capsule with oregano or marjoram makes an effective pain killer, on the eyelids soothes puffiness from allergies.
We discussed expectations of one another in our class, as well as what kind of conditions & treatments essential oils need in order to be at their best.
Each student had some time to read in different resources (2 different kinds of books, a reference guide, 2 different pamphlets) about Frankincense &/or Myrrh, then share something with the rest.
We touched on some unusual words, below, and worked on a crossword puzzle using them.
Volatile - part of the term Volatile Organic Compounds (or VOCs), liquids that evaporate quickly
Burseraceae - the scientific name for the botanical family of resinous trees and shrubs the Frankincense and Myrrh belong to
Boswellia - the first part of the scientific name given to Frankincense (2nd part could include carterii, frereana or sacra)
Organoleptics - one of a number of tests used to check essential oil purity and potency, this is performed by a human who uses their senses (taste, touch, sight, smell)
GC/MS - abbreviation for Gas Chromatography, and Mass Spectrometry which are 2 tests performed on essential oils to see what components are in them and how much of each
Internal - ingesting, or eating, is a way to use doTERRA essential oils
Aromatic - getting the oils into the air and smelling them is one way to use them
Topical - using essential oils on the skin
Distilled - the process by which essential oils are extracted & collected from the resin of Frankincense & Myrrh
Some additional fun facts included in our puzzle: our largest organ is our skin! "When in doubt, use Frankincense". Myrrh and Frankincense are grouped together under the Latin heading Burseraceae; they are great for the skin as well as the nervous & immune systems. Neat is the term used when an oil is applied straight, or without dilution. Frankincense is named the king of oils!
I am really grateful to have each of you in class with me!
And guess what?! I found a great book at Teacher Kelly's after class that talked about Frankincense! The author talked about how important Frankincense was to the people way back before Christ and how they loved the sweet smell from burning it! He even conjectured that perhaps the prophet Lehi was referring to it when he wrote about the white, very desirable fruit that makes one happy. VERY interesting!
On our first day together, we briefly smelled Myrrh, then we spent a few minutes breathing Frankincense in deeply, and using our imaginations.
Some experiences were shared for using Frankincense: on the ears at bedtime to keep away nightmares, on the roof of the mouth for migraines, on acne at night (& it's gone in the morning!) Some we didn't share in class: in a capsule with oregano or marjoram makes an effective pain killer, on the eyelids soothes puffiness from allergies.
We discussed expectations of one another in our class, as well as what kind of conditions & treatments essential oils need in order to be at their best.
Each student had some time to read in different resources (2 different kinds of books, a reference guide, 2 different pamphlets) about Frankincense &/or Myrrh, then share something with the rest.
We touched on some unusual words, below, and worked on a crossword puzzle using them.
Volatile - part of the term Volatile Organic Compounds (or VOCs), liquids that evaporate quickly
Burseraceae - the scientific name for the botanical family of resinous trees and shrubs the Frankincense and Myrrh belong to
Boswellia - the first part of the scientific name given to Frankincense (2nd part could include carterii, frereana or sacra)
Organoleptics - one of a number of tests used to check essential oil purity and potency, this is performed by a human who uses their senses (taste, touch, sight, smell)
GC/MS - abbreviation for Gas Chromatography, and Mass Spectrometry which are 2 tests performed on essential oils to see what components are in them and how much of each
Internal - ingesting, or eating, is a way to use doTERRA essential oils
Aromatic - getting the oils into the air and smelling them is one way to use them
Topical - using essential oils on the skin
Distilled - the process by which essential oils are extracted & collected from the resin of Frankincense & Myrrh
Some additional fun facts included in our puzzle: our largest organ is our skin! "When in doubt, use Frankincense". Myrrh and Frankincense are grouped together under the Latin heading Burseraceae; they are great for the skin as well as the nervous & immune systems. Neat is the term used when an oil is applied straight, or without dilution. Frankincense is named the king of oils!
I am really grateful to have each of you in class with me!
And guess what?! I found a great book at Teacher Kelly's after class that talked about Frankincense! The author talked about how important Frankincense was to the people way back before Christ and how they loved the sweet smell from burning it! He even conjectured that perhaps the prophet Lehi was referring to it when he wrote about the white, very desirable fruit that makes one happy. VERY interesting!
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Get ready!
Hello students!
I am pretty excited! This class will be a new experience for all of us! I have been enjoying preparing for it!
See you soon!
I am pretty excited! This class will be a new experience for all of us! I have been enjoying preparing for it!
See you soon!
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