I have been leading for more than a decade, in some form of women – and there is a wonderful healing that happens in the holiness and connection of being in circle with sisters. Essential oils are the perfect way to also create a nourishing and empowerment environment to collect – super charging the soft, cherishing atmosphere and even help us navigate the natural fears that arise in attending.
One thing I have noticed – which is not often considered or discussed – is how important it is to use oils in a safe and conscious way in the circle, for the highest good of all women. So today I will share a few ways in which we can work with essential oils in circles and they can use for relaxation and to dispel fear – but very safe!
The importance of safety in the circles of women
Women’s circles offer us a reminder of an old way of being – our ancestors gathered in the circle and created a ‘village’ – and they have become spaces for deep emotional work, healing and connection, what exactly the medicine is that our world now needs. Sharing our stories is vital and healing – because, as I always say, people are remedies. There is alchemy that occurs when a woman shares her story, and it resonates with a part of ourselves, with a mirror.
That said, in today’s disconnected world it can really feel Edgy to attend the circle – bringing a lot of fear and feelings of insecurity by sharing ourselves with others. Essential oils are the perfect way to cultivate a space that feels calming, nourishing and the fear fighting to become a member of a circle of women. With aromatherapy we can create a relaxing and calming environment that helps women feel calm as soon as they enter the space.
And when you bring many different women together in one room and the use of essential oils, there is also a lot to consider around physical safety, as well as emotional safety. We must use safe practices in these spaces – especially in a world where certain oils may not be suitable for all participants, because of things such as contraintications, pregnancy and allergies. Likewise, we have been taught in society that it is great to apply oils directly to the skin; I attended Circle where they have passed oils and encouraged that, or even invited them to take them – and this is simply not safe.
Understanding essential oils: what you need to know before using them
We consider essential oils as natural, assuming that they are not powerful, but that is a myth. Essential oils are a powerful medicinal tool – they have natural ‘chemical’ properties and must be treated with respect and the right knowledge.
They can create chemical change in us to help us relax, stimulate, keep an eye on our body, unlock emotions and change our physical health. And that is why we have to use them with care.
Essential oils are usually used in women’s circles by diffusion, current use (diluted in a carrier oil) and inhalation – and we can still offer that, simply safely, consciously and deliberately. I have worked safely with all 3 methods.
Special considerations
What we should consider before we blindly use essential oils in circles is the needs of the group:
- Are there pregnant women participating?
- Are there women with sensitivities or allergies?
- Are there vulnerable women together with health problems such as asthma, high blood pressure or skin conditions?
If the answer is ‘yes’, we really have to adjust the oils that we will offer in the circle, to meet the needs of these women (in a world where we have learned that our needs are embarrassing).
- For pregnancy: we have to avoid a lot of womb or flower oils such as jasmine, geranium, lavender, rose and clary sage – as well as stimulating oils such as rosemary.
- For sensitivities: Avoid wearing oils based on nuts (eg use grape seed instead of almond oil) and check with participants for sensitivities, so that the dilution remains low (1 drop of essential oil in 5 ml carrier).
- For health problems: Check in advance for conditions.
We can choose to determine certain needs by collecting data before the circle on the three questions above (which can open a broader choice of oils that we can use if no one has contraindications) – or we can choose to use oils that these groups of women will not challenge.
Essential oils never are taken (see our article about this).
Essential oils for women’s circles: choose with intention
Fear and fear can be common experiences for attending women, so we generally want to create a circle that creates a caring feeling and drives out any fears. Essential oils can help women feel more at ease and more well -founded.
If there are no pregnancies, sensitivities or health challenges, I would choose this as my top 5 female ‘women’s balance’ for creating a beautiful, grounding, cherishing the healing space of women:
- Rose: A feminine, heart -open oil that promotes love and upbringing, this oil is a beautiful flowers that simply embrace us in a warm hug when we enter the room.
- Clary Sage: known for emotional clarity and hormonal balance, this oil is one that encourages euphoria, calmness and numbs the nerves.
- Ylang Ylang: a beautiful flowers, this oil softens emotional barriers and facilitates emotional release.
- Geranium: balancing and harmonizing hormonally for our emotions, this oil is the heart opening and uplifting of the spirits.
- Incense: the grounding and deepening of spiritual connection and meditation, this is an additional oil to help all women land in space.
As an alternative, if there are pregnancies, sensitivities or allergies or health problems, there are some ‘safer’ oils to consider using (I would only recommend diffusion if he is pregnant, apart from the first two):
- Mandarin: a soft, uplifting citrus, this oil reduces anxiety and brings joy and tranquility.
- Rosewood: soft and grounding, this oil helps to calm the mind and emotions and offer a soft, flowers of sweetness.
- Bergamot: Bergamot, a beautifully calming oil, relaxes us emotionally and lifts our mood, calming fear.
- Chamomile: With soothing, calming properties, this oil relieves stress and fear, which brings stability, peace and harmony.
- Sweet orange: a light, refreshing oil, sweet orange is happy and brings lightness into the room that soothes the mind.
3 ways to integrate essential oils into the circle
It can be nice to integrate oils to support different parts of the circle – when creating a deliberate opening of the circle, support during meditation or for deliberate cleaning and release.
Diffusion: to open the circle
The simplest, most effective and safest way to integrate essential oils into the circle is due to diffusion. Diffuse oils in the environment is a wonderful way for women to feel the energy of relaxation as soon as they walk through the door, into the beautiful surroundings. It’s like being transported to another world; To walk into a space and to feel the food of oils that you are trying, you like a safety blanket.
Diffusion -Mix Tip: Use each mix of your favorite 3 oils from above, mix up to 7 drops in water in an electric diffuser or candle burner for 30 minutes before opening your space.
Massage: during meditation
For super power you could also dilute some oils in a roller ball mixture to go around and roll on ladies stuff points, or just above their upper lip, for an extra immersion. This is good to use, just as you are about to lead meditation or trip for them.
Rollerball Blend Tip: Mix 2 drops of all ‘safe’ oils (e.g. 1 drop of mandarin, 1 drop of rosewood) in 10 ml of drapes seed oil in a roller ball and give it around the circle for women to give it just above their upper lip or wrists, temples and neck during the circle.
Personal inhalation: for cleaning and releasing – or at any time during the circle
If there are women who in particular need a specific ‘female’ oil, but there are pregnant women in the circle, you could make some extra inhalers with the flower mixtures for use in people without contraindications or even for specific intention setting, such as the use of essential oil of Citroen.
Personal Inhaler Blend Tip: Add 3 drops of your choice to the oils of every flower woman on a cotton pad and roll it up in an aromatherapy inhaler. You can precede these and offer them to those who have no sensitivities, pregnancy or health disorders, or you can also omit the oils and encourage them to use their wisdom to create their own.
My favorite women’s circle rituals:
One of my personal favorite women’s circle essential oil rituals is:
Diffusion to open: Mix 3 drops of rose, 2 drops of sweet orange and 1 drop in water in an electric diffuser or candle burner – this creates a hospitable atmosphere.
Massage blend for embodiment: Mix 2 drops of mandarin in 10 ml of grape seed oil and apply to pulse points, neck and just above your upper lip, for a meditative journey
Inhaler to anchor: Add 1 drop of geranium and 2 drops of lemon to a cotton pad and roll it up in an aromatherapy inhaler. Sniff during the end of the circle while you come to form your intentions as a way to anchor in your vision.
Don’t forget to get creative – you can use essential oils very intuitively, as long as you investigate the safety of each oil. In general, essential oils are powerful when it is consciously used in women’s circles to cultivate a beautiful, nourishing environment for the women who participate. They can really overload the energy of the circle, relieve fears and support emotional healing when they are consciously used.
Embrace the wisdom of nature as a sacred tool to make contact with your own inner wisdom – true magic in the circle is made of authentic you, and these terrifying essential oils can support you to appear completely!
Nicole Barton
Consultant Aromatherapist
Disclaimer & Safety advice
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