Fall is a wonderful time of year. To me it can symbolize new beginnings, as trees shed their beautiful autumn-colored leaves, cleansing themselves and preparing for a fresh start next spring. A new school year has started, warmer wardrobes are coming out and there is a distinct feeling that we are moving into a different time of year, very different from summer. There is change everywhere.
We can learn a lot from nature. Lao Tzu said that “nature never rushes, yet everything is accomplished.” He’s right, isn’t he? Autumn arrives, year after year, just as it knows and accepts where it is meant to be, ready for the changes it brings, working in its own time to bring us into the next season. Nature is neither in a hurry nor worried; it just ‘is’.
However, as humans we can struggle with change. It can be difficult to let go of difficult emotions, to adapt to new things, and so autumn can be a struggle to adapt, or even just a metaphor for challenges we may face in our personal lives, or even feeling stuck. We all experience changes in this season – some of us hate it because it brings darker, shorter days and long winter nights, we may experience illnesses – coughs, colds and other bugs – and imbalances, perhaps seasonal affective disorder (SAD) due to lack of daylight, or problems with our bones due to less sunshine and vitamin D. It gets colder and may even feel quite miserable. Christmas makes things busier – and unlike nature, we are always in a hurry. It can be a challenge.
However, it is possible to love autumn changes and embrace this season, which in itself can maintain a healthy and positive mind and also affect your body and soul! We can be reminded at this time of year that there is more joy ahead, that life is constantly evolving, in its own time! So how can we be more aware of this? What can we take from nature to help us stay positive in these often turbulent times?
Autumn essential oils to embrace change
Essential oils are natural, therapeutic extracts from plants. Because they come directly from nature itself, we can use them during the fall to help us embrace change!
Essential oils associated with this season are:
Our sense of smell is connected in the brain to our emotions. Certain smells remind us of certain memories, and these are typical aromas that our brains associate with this time of year.
So as we struggle with the mental and emotional challenges that change can bring, what essential oil blends can we use to embrace nature’s accepting, no-rush approach? How can we embody the more positive fall themes in our lives?
Releasing emotions
First, we can use essential oils to release emotions that are holding us back and preventing us from moving forward, keeping us stuck in a place where we don’t want to move forward into fall (whether seasonal or metaphorical). ).
Try an inhalation treatment with 3-5 drops of bergamot, chamomile and frankincense to release any built-up emotions. Mix these in steaming hot water in the sink (or a bowl), lean over the sink and hold a towel over your head while breathing deeply in and out for a few minutes at a time (keep your eyes closed).
Place a few drops of rose and patchouli essential oil on a cotton pad. Lie back, breathe in the scent and just let yourself feel your emotion before letting it go. Visualize yourself happy in the fall, as a child, playing in the colored leaves, and just breathe. Don’t forget that there is joy in this season too! Rose not only releases emotions, but is also so nurturing and Patchouli is great for self-confidence.
Accept change
There are essential oils that can help us accept the changes that are happening in our lives:
Create a fragrant ‘Change’ room spray. Add a maximum of 40 drops according to your preference Cypress, Melissa, And Rosewood essential oils in 100ml Orange Flower Hydrolat. These comforting yet uplifting oils assure us that we have much more happiness ahead. Cypress in particular helps with a stagnant energy flow, allowing more focus.
Become present
We are always in a hurry to get to the next place. We are already (happily or anxiously) looking forward to Christmas, and we miss the beauty of autumn. Use the following essential oils to ground you in the moment so you don’t miss the beauty of this moment:
Sit on a cushion on the floor and connect to the ground. Try to diffuse a maximum of 15 drops of incense, Myrrh And Sweet orange essential oils, in water, in an electric aromatherapy diffuser or candle burner. This is a great meditative blend, so just try to focus on the now. What can you hear around you? Which thoughts can you observe and send away? Just pay attention to the present and embrace it.
Slow down
We want to relax in this season, in this change. Let’s stop rushing and assume that autumn (and Lao Tzu!) will all work out eventually – nature will just happen – without us worrying about it!
Try a relaxing bath to unwind. Mix 2 drops of each Sandalwood, Rose And Lavender essential oil in 15 ml of bath base and add it to your bathtub. Close all windows and sit in the bath, focusing on slow, deep breathing. Give yourself some ‘me time’ to calm your mind from all the autumn stress and tension.
Warming up and relieving joints
To warm up when you’re really cold, you can try a massage mixture:
Mix 2 drops Ginger essential oil, 2 drops of Clove and 1 Cinnamon in 10 ml carrier oil. This stimulating aromatherapy massage blend will really warm up your muscles and help with stiff, achy joints and arthritic pains that can be aggravated by the colder weather.
Fighting insects
In autumn it is always useful to have essential oils on hand to combat insects.
Inhale Eucalyptus for any nasal congestion symptoms, cough or cold, using the over-the-sink inhalation method mentioned earlier.
For chest bugs, you can try Benzoin to relieve symptoms (it also helps turn a negative mental state into a positive one!)
Sweet Orange and Lemon are cheerful and uplifting and also boost the immune system!
Alternatively, you can try one of our pure essential oil blends: Anti-Virus, Breathe Easy or Bug Buster are all great choices for this time of year.
See more helpful tips for fighting coughs and colds with essential oils.
Stay cheerful – scent your home
Overall, we want to remember to stay happy during this ever-changing time of year. Why not try these top tips to make your home smell more seasonal? Embracing autumn itself will help you remember to embrace change in general – and what a wonderful way to remind yourself!
Try making a room spray with 100ml of water (or Orange Flower Hydrolate) and a mixture of up to 40 drops of one of the seasonal scents in the list above – a personal favorite is Ginger, Cinnamon and Sweet Orange! Spray your room – or even take it out and about and spritz yourself as a cleansing reminder of what this time represents.
Burn a beautiful candle – Drop a few drops of your favorite essential oils into the melted wax of an unscented candle to remind yourself of the romance of this season: warm fireplaces and cozy clothes.
Nicole Barton
Advisor Aromatherapist
Disclaimer and safety advice
Read other articles by Nicole Barton