writing - sometimes invisible
soap and psychotherapy
Aromatherapy is the use of the essential oils of botanicals for their healing and aromatic properties. Extracting the essential oils from the plants is an intricate process of pressing and distilling, with low yield. Pure essential oils, then, range from those at reasonable prices to those that go into the hundreds of dollars per one hundred millilitres. Exotic jasmine, neroli, frankincense and rose are amongst the highest in cost. Because they evaporate rapidly, essential oils are secured in carrier oils which allow the healing oils to be used in mists, soaps, bath oils, creams and related products.
An essential oil, then, is the soul of the botanical - precious, unique, healing and lovely.
In my two passions, psychotherapy and soap-making, I am privileged to work with souls - the psyches of people and the essences of plants. Psychotherapy and aromatherapy are related, I’ve found, and they teach lessons to each other. And this is where the alchemy comes in.
In approaching aromatherapy or psychotherapy, the purpose, the end result, the desired healing, must be clarified first. For instance, essential oil of ylang-ylang would be chosen where soothing and luxurious skin care were in order. In psychotherapy, a Rogerian positive regard would be applied to the psyche suffering from wounded self-esteem. Wise and caring creation of context and ongoing assessment are essential to each domain. Finally and most importantly, results must be seen and felt!
... part of an article written for a magazine, during my tenure as a soap-maker, and, oh, how I loved the art! I miss it greatly; but had to let it go when my sone was ill and we moved to a condo. I still have some of my soap, as evidenced by this picture, and am immensely particular when I buy soap...
soap and psychotherapy
Aromatherapy is the use of the essential oils of botanicals for their healing and aromatic properties. Extracting the essential oils from the plants is an intricate process of pressing and distilling, with low yield. Pure essential oils, then, range from those at reasonable prices to those that go into the hundreds of dollars per one hundred millilitres. Exotic jasmine, neroli, frankincense and rose are amongst the highest in cost. Because they evaporate rapidly, essential oils are secured in carrier oils which allow the healing oils to be used in mists, soaps, bath oils, creams and related products.
An essential oil, then, is the soul of the botanical - precious, unique, healing and lovely.
In my two passions, psychotherapy and soap-making, I am privileged to work with souls - the psyches of people and the essences of plants. Psychotherapy and aromatherapy are related, I’ve found, and they teach lessons to each other. And this is where the alchemy comes in.
In approaching aromatherapy or psychotherapy, the purpose, the end result, the desired healing, must be clarified first. For instance, essential oil of ylang-ylang would be chosen where soothing and luxurious skin care were in order. In psychotherapy, a Rogerian positive regard would be applied to the psyche suffering from wounded self-esteem. Wise and caring creation of context and ongoing assessment are essential to each domain. Finally and most importantly, results must be seen and felt!
... part of an article written for a magazine, during my tenure as a soap-maker, and, oh, how I loved the art! I miss it greatly; but had to let it go when my sone was ill and we moved to a condo. I still have some of my soap, as evidenced by this picture, and am immensely particular when I buy soap...