The Waning Light of Autumn
I used to feel assured in the waning light of Autumn, only because our natural reaction to the darkest times was to light up the night and celebrate. Our holidays are the result.
Consider this: nature’s reaction to diminishing light and heat is fruitful, in ways that are seen in Winter and Spring.
Coniferous Trees are Resilient in Stressful Times
You know that trees we call evergreen grow in community right next to deciduous ones. These evergreens are conifers, or coniferous trees. Conifers are the trees in a plant community that stand guard against the inevitable harshness of the season to come, providing food, shelter and a windscreen against rain and snow.
Woody, Twig, Needle and Berry Essences
Needle, twig and berry essences from the remarkable Coniferous trees, even woody essences in the Cedars, display the essence of Metal and thus represent Fall Season.
“Coniferous” is a term covering the plants which bear seeds inside cones. We associate coniferous not necessarily with cones, but to mean just how an aroma is perceived. Did you know that most of the coniferous oils are steam-distilled from twigs and needles, rather than the cones or resins?
Cedarwood, Cypress, Fir, Pine and Spruce needles and twigs and Juniperberries are aromatically evocative of the Metal essence. Metal essence is an element that stands for transformation, exchange, and stability.
Coniferous Trees Inspire Admiration, Reverence
Did you know that these trees re-arrange their biochemistry to survive conditions of climate that would otherwise be their demise?
Conifer trees and shrubs cover a large portion of the planet and represent the species of plants that humans have most exploited, but which hold some of the longest records of growth of living trees. Think of the Bristlecone Pine and Cedar of Lebanon as ancient and venerable trees, single individuals living to thousands of years.
The Conifers offer healing essences at a time when weather and climate curtail outdoor activities. This can even dictate how our minds behave. Inhaling coniferous scents can transform negative feelings we have towards ourselves and others. They embolden our vital spirit.
And I take emboldening vital spirit to mean they provide a sense of stability when chaos appears to rule.
Therefore, we see that the capacity of these trees is to withstand adverse weather and soil, in short, difficult living conditions and yet still thrive. Isn’t that incredible?! These are the values you’ll find in the essence of Metal. And these plants have healing balm for our nervous systems.
Ancient and early cultures worldwide used the medicine in these trees for breath, circulation, and elimination. And traditionally they were burned in the environment as fumigants for purification, or as incense in sacred ceremony.
Coniferous Trees are Spirited Beings
As the belief goes, ancient humans embued trees, indeed all living things, with spirit. If, as a modern human you love trees, you may have no trouble believing that trees have soul.
One of the ways that Coniferous essences show transcendence is their scent helps us rise above suspicion and doubt.
In Fall, coniferous trees provide shelter, food, and increase the life-force when loneliness or fear overtake us.
Grief, according to the Chinese philosophy of elements in nature, is the signature emotion of Fall. It’s seen as the time of year that we fear, or fear losing a part of our bodily soul, our physical spirit.
Qualities such as resilience and resistance are also emblematic of Fall. They help to transcend the emotion of grief, making space for sensory perception, and vital spirit*. How can we do that? It’s possible with the incredible value of transcendence your sense of smell detects in Fall season’s coniferous essences.
Essential Oils for Late Autumn’s Light
I think that Coniferous aromas come alive in Fall. Colder air makes their scents all the more clean, decisive, wholesome and accessible
Aromas of coniferous woods, berries, twigs and needles make restorative essential oils with fresh, piney, sweet and mildly pungent aromas.
To my nose, coniferous scents are stoic and mature, slightly reserved. They instill confidence due to their indominable spirit.
An Anointing Oil to Awaken the Spirit of Resilience
Enchanted Autumn Ingredients:
Makes 10ml (1/3 ounce) Anointing Oil (also called Aroma Oil)
2 drops Juniperberry (Juniperus communis) essential oil
2 drops Black Spruce (Pisces Mariana) essential oil
3 drops Himalayan Cedar (Cedrus deodara) essential oil
2 drops Spanish Sage (Salvia lavandulifolia) essential oil
2 teaspoons Jojoba oil (Simmondsia chinensis)
1 – 10ml bottle with roller ball top and cap
Method: Add each essential oil by the drop into the 10 ml bottle. Cap tightly and swirl contents by rolling the bottle between your palms. Allow to mingle several hours or overnight.
Then uncap and pour Jojoba Oil over the essential oil blend. Apply the roller ball top and cap tightly.
Label your Aroma Oil. Ready to go with you for inhalation anytime!
Fall Spirit & Resilience
Although we often think that Fall Season represents waning or winding down, that is only half the story.
Through persistence and resistance in Fall Season. the energy of Coniferous trees is a well-spring of plenty for our sense of self. Noticing the awesome power of these trees helps us to avoid that down feeling when our spirit is obscured by emotions. Stress can overwhelm and moods linger from melancholy, pessimism, and regrets. Why not inhale a blend of coniferous scents? Open up to the light of nature and bring back a sense vitality and strength.
References:
Reference to vital spirit comes from
Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit by Gabriel Mojay, 1997. Published by Healing Arts Press, Rutland, VT.
Photographs
Except for my byline are:
Live Gnarled Juniper from Pixabay by Mike Goad
Water dripping from Pine needles from Pixabay by EllJay
Copyright 2023, LotusLadyAromatica
This post is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.