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juniper stokes 2/20/22 juniper stokes 2/20/22

The Venusian Mysteries: Awakening the Sacred Feminine

The only planet named for a female deity, Venus is a loving and bright ally in restoring the sacred feminine to cosmic balance.

I awoke before dawn, set the kettle for tea, and gazed out my windows into the still dark sky, just a soft glow on the horizon suggested the light was returning.

As I peered between the giant evergreen bows that reach across my yard, I was greeted by the most beautiful sight—Venus. Rising in her morning star phase, Venus lit up like a beacon in the lapiz sky, calling my soul to recognize her presence.

venus as morning star — my morning view of Venus

Venus is a planet but also a celestial deity, and her gifts for humanity lie in helping us come into cosmic balance with the sacred feminine qualities of beauty, love, relationships, sensuality, and pleasure.

Venus is a planet of beauty—symbolically and literally. Her presence shines brightest from our vantage upon the earth, and her trajectory creates a magnificent, symmetrical pattern.

The only planet named for a female deity, Venus is a loving and bright ally in restoring the sacred feminine to cosmic balance.

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Restoring the Feminine to Cosmic Balance with Beauty and Astrology

Anyone who’s gazed at Venus in her bright morning star phase can understand why the ancients associated this planet with beauty. I wonder if they also knew her trajectory through our skies is the most symmetrical of all the planets: Over an 8-year period, Venus makes 13 orbits around the sun and has 5 conjunctions with the earth. Visually, this creates a beautiful mandala based on the golden ratio—a pentagram of petals—which you can see in the image below.

The 13 orbits that bring Venus back to her place of origin in our skies tie this planet to the feminine—13 has long been associated with women because of how we cycle and bleed with the 13 moons of the year.

Even the symbol for the planet Venus is the same as that which commonly represents the feminine—a circle sitting upon a cross: ♀ If we see the circle as the infinite cycle and wholeness, and the cross as representing the four elements and four directions—that which makes our material reality—we can see this symbol as also calling forth the intersection of spirit and earth.

In this symbol, we can see how Venus helps us bring spirit into manifest form—just as women bring spirit into form through the birthing process.

In astrology, Venus rules both Taurus and its home, the 2nd house, along with Libra and its home, the 7th house. Together, these elements celebrate the many qualities of Venus — the earthy, sensuality of Taurus, the values and emotions and sexiness of the 2nd house, the high culture and beauty of Libra, and the love and partnership of the 7th house.

Here, not only are the sacred qualities of the feminine celebrated, but they once again symbolize the harmonization of earth and spirit. Anytime we’re able to ground into the beauty of nature and the present moment, we experience Venusian blessings.

The Venusian Deities

Though Venus is represented through a few male deities in different cultures (see below!), the vast majority of Venusian deities are female, especially within the cultures that have most influenced my own Western heritage.

The Greek goddess Aphrodite is perhaps the most well-known Venusian deity for many of us, as she even carried the name Venus to the Romans. Yet if we trace the evolution of Aphrodite through time, we find that she may well have been born from earlier goddesses—Isis, or Auset, in Egypt, and Inanna, also known as Ishtar and Astarte, in Sumeria. All three goddesses carry the mantle of being Venusian goddesses of the ancient world.

Psst: You can get a free booklet filled with rituals to connect with Isis and other Egyptian deities here.

Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, unknown artist, Burney Relief

“Freyja and the Necklace” by James Doyle Penrose (1890)

In the Norse worlds, we see both Freya and Frigg associated with Venus. Both goddesses embody qualities of love, romance, fertility, and sacred sexuality, though Freya is more independent in her expression and Frigg, as the wife of Odin, is more matrimonial (many sources also conflate the goddesses into one). Interestingly, Friday is named for Frigg, and guess which planet rules Friday? Venus.

Frigg by José-Patricio Aguirre — *art by José-Patricio Aguirre*

Now, let’s get a bit heretical…Do you know what the Roman word for Venus was? Lucifera. Yup. The very same word co-opted by Christans to describe the devil. Lucifera was used almost as suffix to many goddesses and sacred women’s names—Diana Lucifera most famously, but also Mary Magdalene, who was sometimes referred to as Mary Lucifera.

Sex & Resurrection

Saint Mary Magdalene by Bernardino Luini

From what we know of Mary Magdalene, it’s likely she was not only a consort of Jesus but also a priestess in her own right. At the time, the art of sacred sexuality was practiced in the temples for communion and healing. And sex, in this sacred sense, is as Venusian as it gets—the sensuality, the romance, and harmony between masculine and feminine, and the fertile outcomes once again bringing spirit into material form.

And while we’re looking at sacred sexuality in this Venusian context, it’s interesting to note the parallels between Isis bringing Osiris back to life and immediately consummating with him (which led to not only the birth of Horus but brought fertility to the land), and Mary Magdalene being the first to witness the resurrection of Jesus. I wonder if the way in which she anointed him before death, loved him beyond life, and cried tears of power into the earth, contributed to the magic that brought him back to life like Osiris.

As a note on the theme of resurrection, we also see another Venusian goddess Aphrodite bring Adonis back to life through her pleas after he was killed by a wild boar.

It seems the Venusian power so naturally held by women—the power to commune with spirit, enjoy sensual pursuits, and bring life into being through the force of love—was a bit too threatening for the Church…

These tales of resurrection are also reflected in Venus’s orbit, as the planet cycles towards and away from the sun, symbolizing a natural cycle of birth and death.

The tale of the Venusian goddesses Inanna offers us a good reflection of how women can embody this cycle within themselves. Unlike the goddesses who resurrect their lovers to bring fertility to themselves and the land, Inanna is the one resurrected in her tale, modeling the feminine drive to face our shadows and integrate into wholeness. (Interestingly, she is hung on a cross before becomming resurrected…sound familiar?)

modern interpretation of Quetzalcoatl by BenArtsStudio on DeviantArt

The Venusian Masculine

Back to the male Venusian dieties…by far the most well-known masculine Venusian deity in modern days is Quetzalcoatl, a meso-American god. Quetzalcoatl was known as a feathered-serpent deity who brought fertile growth to the land. Again, we see the liminal meeting of spirit and earth in bird and snake, as well as sacred sexuality and fertility. In many ways, Quetzalcoatl offers us a model for how those in men’s bodies can embody the much-needed gifts of Venusian blessings, reminding us that we all have sacred masculine and feminine qualities within.

It’s time to allow Venus to upgrade our hearts.

As a planet that reminds us of the power of love, Venus could not be more important for us to connect with right now.

I am, like I’m sure many of you are, an empath.

Being an empath is not only a gift but is also the natural state of all humans, the state we are born into before culture and trauma cuts our hearts away from our innate ways of knowing.

But being a really strong empath during times of mass hysteria, conflict, and trauma can be rough, even with the knowledge and skills to navigate these times.

I find the vitriol, judgment, and especially righteousness I see online and in social media pressure cookers to be acutely painful. Just about all news—from left to right and mainstream to alt—has become a web of incendiary propaganda. When I turn into certain locations, I can energetically sense oppressive webs of fear hijacking people’s sovereignty.

In all of these examples, I think what I find most heartbreaking is that people are being pulled off their path of spiritual evolution and heart-centered living. They are losing touch with what will actually help humanity survive the changes upon us: love and connection, with each other and the earth.

Venus is a powerful ally in coming back into our hearts and allowing the wisdom of love to lead the way.

Right now, Venus is in her heliacal rise toward the sun, allowing her divine beauty to be strengthened with solar blessings. Now it’s time to let the light of Venus and the Sun illuminate and strengthen the love within all of us.

A PRACTICE

If possible, locate Venus in the sky — depending on her movements, dawn or dusk will be the best time.
Anoint your heart center with a sacred oil, preferably one containing rose — one of Venus’s favorite flowers. (The perfumes below are perfect for this practice.)
See the fragrant oil or perfume open a portal into your heart, a protected one that can only be entered by Venus herself.
Inhale, and feel Venusian blessings flow into your heart center.
When this practice feels complete, see the portal in your heart seal safely and give thanks to Venus.
As you go about your day, notice feelings of love and being loved fill your being. Practice seeing the world through a gaze of appreciation and gratitude for the beauty of life. Delight in the sensual experience of being embodied. Remember your true value and worth.

The Sensual Delight of Venusian Perfume

What could be more Venusian than a perfume dedicated to the goddess?

As a triple Libra, Venus is my ruling planet — meaning she’s especially influential in my life. It’s no wonder beauty is my core life code (you can read my artist statement here, just scroll down a bit). While I’ve always been an artist and experiment with many mediums, when I create perfumes I know they come straight from my soul.

Many of the perfumes I’ve designed are dedicated to Venusian goddesses — so many, in fact, that I’ve decided to offer them all in a single discovery set.

The Venusians Discovery Set includes six 1ml samples in glass vials, each perfume is all-natural (I’ve studied with the preeminent natural perfumers of today) and infused with the Venusian energy of goddesses from around the world

If you’re inspired to try these alchemical perfumes, please enjoy 10% off as my thanks for reading here :) Good now through the end of Venus’s retrograde on September 3rd, 2023. Use VENUSRX at checkout.

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juniper stokes 8/2/21 juniper stokes 8/2/21

Wildcrafting with Fireweed

Every late July and through August, the mountain meadows are dotted with neon pink blossoms. It's fireweed season ❤️ Both medicinal and edible, fireweed is one of the first plants to come back after wildfires. I've heard that the young shoots can be eaten like asparagus, though I've never tried. I do decorate summer salads with the blossoms, though…

Every late July and through August, the mountain meadows are dotted with neon pink blossoms. It's fireweed season.

Both medicinal and edible, fireweed is one of the first plants to come back after wildfires. I've heard that the young shoots can be eaten like asparagus, though I've never tried. I do decorate summer salads with the blossoms, however.

Fireweed is also an excellent tonic for the digestive system and has massive amounts of Vitamin C. When the blossoms are peaking, I like to either tincture or make a vinegar infusion with all the aerial parts to create a natural dose of Vitamin C throughout the year.

Fireweed also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which make it wonderful to infuse in oils for healing salves (I made a limited amount of fireweed oil to use in my newest batch of healing salves this year—be sure to grab them while they’re in stock!)

One of my personal favorite ways to work with fireweed is with fireweed flower essence. The flower essence is one of my favorites for encouraging resilience, energy, and passion.

Fireweed is also a fairly common smoking herb, often used in herbal blends. Personally, I enjoy adding it to my wild smoke bundles for joyful wishes, to help carry our enthusiasm for all we wish to create up to spirit.

Fireweed grows abundantly almost all over North America, so it’s a great flower for foraging. Go out and see if you can find some!

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juniper stokes 7/18/21 juniper stokes 7/18/21

Great Northern Bedstraw: A Beloved and Underrated Wild Plant

One of my favorite fragrances as I hike through the mountains is that of Great Northern Bedstraw. It smells of honey and fresh hay, and was often used as bedding because of of it's sweet scent.

One of my favorite fragrances as I hike through the mountains is that of Great Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale). It smells of honey and fresh hay, and was often used as bedding because of of it's sweet scent. Some native tribes would even add it to perfumes.

Though it's not commonly used in modern day herbalism, northern bedstraw has a few important internal uses. It was traditionally made into a tea for intestinal issues and internal bleeding. It's also very mineral rich, so I like to infuse it into wild greens vinegar so I can have a wild nutrient boost throughout the year.

But before you consume―some literature suggests that great northern bedstraw was taken by indigenous people to prevent pregnancy. Though I haven't found much evidence on this, if you're trying to conceive, it's probably best to be safer than sorry!

Externally, great northern bedstraw can be used to soothe a variety of skin conditions—rashes, burns, cuts, eczema, and more. And, its roots make a beautiful red dye!

Energetically, great northern bedstraw helps bring about sweet dreams and deep rest. It can help cultivate feelings of love between partners, as well, and I recommend misting your bed with the flower essence before sleeping…or participating in other bedroom activities ;)

Carefully separating the delicate flowers of great northern bedstraw for perfuming tinctures.

During my most recent foraging adventures, great northern bedstraw gifted me with much medicine to share.

First, I carefully removed the delicate white blossoms from the green stems to make a tincture in organic alcohol. The scent is of fresh hay and delicate florals, a beautiful sweet green note that I can’t wait to share through new perfumes. Combining my own wildcrafted aromas with rare oils from around the world allows to me to create fragrances that you just can’t find anywhere else. They are beautiful and love making them and wearing them.

I also infused the entire areal plant into organic sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is a long-lasting carrier oil with a lovely texture, and infusing it with bedstraw gives the oil the same lovely scent as the tincture―with benefits! The potent nutrients fill this oil with healing benefits for your skin, joints, and muscles, so I’ve included it in this year’s healing salves.

You can also find this year’s harvest of great northern bedstraw in the psychic dreams smoke bundles, as well as in a flower essence.

Have you ever worked with this lovely plant? Send me note and let me know. :)

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juniper stokes 7/6/21 juniper stokes 7/6/21

Ethical Wildcrafting and Making Mountain Medicine

Every summer, I head to the mountains at about 10,000ft for my annual botanical medicine making retreat. I hike for hours each day, communing with the plants and making wild medicines. This medicine making trip is by far my favorite time of the year, in my favorite place in the world.

I've been cultivating my relationship with the plants and nature spirits at this sacred spot for nearly a decade now. My understanding of the unique gifts each plant offers, my ability to discern what is actually being offered and what wishes to remain untouched, has grown deep with time and intention.

There’s something about being at such a high elevation when I collect and commune with these plants. I know it’s silly, as spirit is within and around us always, but I do feel just a bit closer, as if the veils thin with the atmosphere. Plus, the resilience in these high-altitude plants is astounding―to survive the alpine winds and winters and then the scorching summer sun...they have so much to teach us.

As I've nurtured my relationship with the plant spirits over the years, I've refined the “mountain medicines” I'm able to share, as I call them. This year, I'll be adding new flower essences, teas, smoke bundles, elixirs, healing salves, and maybe a few tinctures to the apothecary, all full of wild botanicals.

All geared up and on the trail for some legit mountain foraging!

In order to gather the plants I work with, I hike for miles and miles everyday. This is in part because the plants I work with are spread throughout various micro-climates. But it’s also to support sustainability: When I make my smoke bundles, I clip only one or two sprigs from each Great Western Sagebrush. When I gather my resins, I take only what falls from a tree easily, so as not to hurt its defenses. Gathering this way might be a slow, laborious process, but it’s an enjoyable one. And the sustainability of the forest always comes first.

As interest in wildcrafting and foraging grows, attention to the sustainability of our wild places becomes ever more important. During my most recent stay in the mountains, I encountered another woman gathering rose petals. I must have come at the end of her harvest, because when I arrived almost no roses were left at all.

Part of me wants to give her the benefit of the doubt―it was the end of a bumper rose season and many hips had formed already, so perhaps there weren't many blossoms left to begin with.

Still…I have an especially protective instinct when it comes to wild roses. When I harvest rose petals, I do so very judiciously. The bees and pollinators need the flowers more than I do, so I want to make sure they have plenty to enjoy during the rose's short season. Plus, roses also turn into rose hips―one of the most important food sources for many animals during the winter months.

This is why when I harvest rose petals, I ask myself, "Could 10 people come to this same spot and harvest the same amount without making a visible dent in the blossoms?" The answer must be yes.

These sacred offerings are true gifts from the spirits of nature and provide us with a deeply wild healing—a healing so many of us could use these days. In a world where we’ve become overly domesticated, it’s critical that we remember to rewild a bit. When we touch into our innate wild natures, we tap into a well of resilience, sovereignty, and inner knowing.

Preparing a basket of mountain medicine ❤️

Whether or not you have the desire or the ability to escape into the natural world, I hope the wild offerings in my apothecary will bring the healing wisdom of nature to you. Each carries the energetic imprint of the wilderness, an imprint which is passed onto you when you use the products. Plus, wild plants are especially potent healers on the physical level. I really can’t say enough about how much these products have changed my own life.

As for those roses…

I have a longstanding love of rose medicine, which you can read about here. But what did I make with the petals I carefully gathered?

Wild rose elixirs! They are my favorites. Sweet and floral, these elixirs open and protect our hearts. To make the elixirs, I use wild rose honey with organic wild rose-infused grape vodka and wild rose flower essence. If you happen to grab one before they sell out, take one dropper full three times a day to bring more love and sweetness into your body and energy field. (Rose elixir is also delicious added to sparkling water!)

A strawberry cupcake? Nope! Wild rose-infused honey in the making :)

And, if this looks like way too many petals for such a small jar of honey…it is! I hike with only a small jar, cover the petals to preserve them, and transfer this to bigger batch of honey when I return home. But it is quite the image :)

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juniper stokes 7/3/21 juniper stokes 7/3/21

The Magic and Medicine of Elephant's Head Flower

Elephant's Head, or Pedicularis groenlandica, is one of my favorite mountain friends. I adore the magical little purple flowers and the "elephant trunks" they display. The beauty of this plant alone is enough to celebrate—but it also has awesome healing powers…

Elephant's Head, or Pedicularis groenlandica, is one of my favorite mountain friends. I adore the magical little purple flowers and the "elephant trunks" they display. While the beauty of this plant alone is enough to celebrate, its healing gifts bring even more blessings.

The tiny flowers look like elephant trucks!

The Many Benefits of Elephant’s Head Flower

Native to the alpine regions of North America, the Elephants Head flower has a long-standing history of medicinal use. You can tincture the entire areal plant, infuse it in oil for healing salves, or make a tea with just the flowers — a rare delight when I'm on my annual mountain medicine making personal retreat.

I love elephant’s head because it's so beautifully relaxing for mind, body, and spirit. Its calming and sedative properties have been utilized to alleviate anxiety, nervous tension, and promote restful sleep; while its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties make it a valuable ally for releasing tension from the body and managing pain naturally. (It’s a key ingredient in my Tension Tonic tincture, which I created using organic grape alcohol and only wild mountain plants and those grown in my own organic gardens, all gathered by hand with reverence. There are a few bottles left at the time of this writing.)

One of my favorite uses for elephant's head is for smoke, and many people add this plant to smoking blends, as did Native tribes. I prefer to add it to my Dreamtime smoke bundles — burned before bed, they clear stagnant energy and welcome a peaceful night’s sleep. It's even said that elephant's head has almost hallucinogenic properties and can enhance lucid dreaming (I’ve added some to my magical Blue Moon Lucid Dreams tea if you want to try any!).

Elephant's head has so many uses that I'd love to harvest heaps of it. But I don't, and neither should you if you come across any. While it's not a threatened or endangered plant, it's not overly abundant either. And, elephant's head can draw poisonous components from other nearby plants into its roots, so you really want to know what you're doing in the plant world if you plan on using it internally.

I gather my elephant's head from a particular patch in a secret location, a place I've been visiting for years. I took the time to develop a strong relationship with elephant's head before ever asking it to share its medicine with me. Now, as I go back each year, I'm able to see that more elephant's head is growing than the year before, letting me know that my collections are sustainable.

Which brings us to the most sustainable and magical way to work with elephant’s head — the flower essence. I created a batch of essences on site in an elephant’s head grove, at over 10,000ft in the Rocky Mountains. This essence carries vibrational attunements to enhance clairvoyant gifts, astral travel, and intuition.

Have you ever worked with magic and medicine of elephant’s head flower? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments.

the author gathering elephant's head high in the Rocky Mountains

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juniper stokes 6/17/21 juniper stokes 6/17/21

The Magic and Medicine of the Rose

Perhaps no other flower has been so exalted throughout history, in mythology and for spiritual purposes, as the rose. Discover the magic and medicine of this sacred flower.

Perhaps no other flower has been so exalted throughout history, in mythology and for sacred purposes, as the rose.

The rose appeals to our senses, opens our hearts, and enhances our beauty and health. As June ushers in the rose season here in the Northern Hemisphere, it is the perfect time to celebrate the magic and medicine of this sacred flower.

The Rose in History

The symbolism of the rose is highly complex and has inspired a variety of associations across cultures and times. It has represented both heavenly perfection and earthly passion, fertility as well as virginity, and life and death.

Primarily associated with the feminine, this complexity carries into the variety of important women the rose is associated with, from Cleopatra and her magical perfumes to the Queen of Heaven in Dante’s Divine Comedy to the Virgin Mary of Biblical times.

In ancient Rome, the rose was a sign of pleasure, a companion of mirth and wine, and was also used at funerals.

In Middle Eastern traditions, only the red rose was allowed to accompany one into the afterlife.

Roses filled the great gardens of Persia, and according to legend, the first bloom of the rose had an aroma so heady that it caused the nightingale to sing. Overcome by the rose’s perfume, the bird dropped to the earth, spilling blood that turned the first petals red.

In 15th century Europe, the secret society of Rosicrucians chose a rose on a cross as their symbol, for the rose represented the perfection of paradise to these alchemists and philosophers.

Early Christianity associated the rose with the blood of martyrs, and therefore life after death.

Some Native American tribes turned to rose for not just medicine and food, but to keep ghosts away.

And yet, of all that the rose symbolizes, love is perhaps its most enduring association.

Indeed, within the ancient Greek and Roman pantheon, the goddess of love herself, Aphrodite, holds the closest association with the rose.

Have you ever really studied Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus? In addition to sacred myrtle leaf Aphrodite holds, the rose appears floating through the heavens as she emerges from the sea.

The poetess Sappho was christened “the rose the queen of flowers” in 600BC, and has since inspired lovers throughout the ages.

The Rose as Healer

Just as the rose carries rich and complex symbolism, it also offers us one of the most chemically complex essential oils known, containing over 300 compounds, which contribute to the its many healing gifts.

And, when it comes to these healing gifts, ancient uses are almost identical to our modern ones, as we can see in part thanks to extensive medical compendiums like Pliney the Elder’s Natural History.

Though complex, rose medicine is remarkably consistent: the energetic, mental, and physical effects of rose medicine all assist us with the very things rose symbolizes most―love, beauty, and romance.

Perhaps rose’s affinity for both the nervous system and heart center are part of what makes it such a well-known aphrodisiac: Mentally and emotionally, rose is wonderful for soothing a troubled mind and helping you relax, while physically, it nourishes the nervous system, so you can get into your body and enjoy a bit of pleasure.

Interestingly, Rose’s symbolic connections with the heart center and femininity are found in medicinal uses across cultures.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine rose is a well-recognized heart tonic and increases yin, the feminine and cooling energy of the body.

Rose also supports skin care, which enhances beauty, and helps regulate the female reproductive system. (And for this reason, rose as herbal medicine is contraindicated during pregnancy, so do be careful!)

The wild roses of North America were used as food and medicine by many tribes, with similar but even more diverse applications than their European counterparts: Roots were made into hot compresses for reducing swelling, tea was taken for stomach upsets and reducing labor pains, and seeds were eaten to relieve sore muscles.

Today, we still use rose medicine in many of the same ways, as rose is known to soothe digestion, relieve cold and flu symptoms, relax the body and mind, and support the immune system.

On a spiritual and energetic level, rose is cooling, nurturing, and widely associated with the heart chakra. Both the essential oil and flower essence can balance our ability to give and receive love.

In her fascinating book The Fragrant Mind, Valerie Worwood explores the subtle shifts in how different varieties of roses can act upon our energy bodies and our consciousness: She describes Rosa damasca, most commonly found as an essential oil, as a gentle type of rose with a truly feminine personality, one that is pure-hearted and opens us to unconditional love. Rosa centifolia on the other hand, which is what we most often find in botanical absolutes, is passionate, sensual, and erotic, helping us tune into our own sexuality and enjoy life’s romantic pleasures.

As flower essences, Damask rose and other fragrant garden varietals are known to increase feelings of confidence when it comes to sexuality.

I find that wild rose carries rose’s typical connection to the heart center with an added dose of resilience, joy, and independence.

The flower essence of wild rose is known for supporting feelings of love and joy, particularly how they karmically manifest in our physical experiences. According to the Bach Flower Essence Repertory, wild rose can help cultivate a will to live in those who struggle with lethargy or depression.

Rose’s magical uses include cultivating love, peace, sex, and beauty, with its planetary ruler being Venus and its element being water (I love that again, we see the connections between the rose and Aphrodite, as her Roman name is Venus and she was born of the ocean...).

The prolific author of many books on Western magick, Scott Cunningham notes that magical rituals to be done with rose include spells to draw in emotionally satisfying relationships and to enhance inner and outer beauty.

The gifts of rose will affect us in slightly different ways depending on the form of our “medicine”―be it in a tea or tincture, spell, flower essence, essential oil, infused oil, or living flower. That said, here are a few of rose’s many benefits at a glance…

Benefits of Rose

Opening and balancing your heart chakra
Sensuality and appreciating life’s pleasures
Awakening and empowering your erotic, sexual nature and confidence
Enhancing your feminine nature
Love in all its forms―passionate, romantic, familial, friendship, spiritual, unconditional
Supporting the reproductive system―regulating menstruation, toning the uterus
Relaxing, anti-depressant, supports insomnia
Enhancing beauty inside and out―wonderful for mature or sensitive skin, inner confidence
Soothes the nervous system, sedative, cultivating feelings of peace
Releasing negative emotions
Clears heat and inflammation, cool and moist energetics
An emotional stabilizer, relaxes untended tension and provides mothering love
Supports digestion and boosts the immune system
Soothing a tender, broken, or grief-stricken heart
Attracting love and joy into your life

How to Use Rose Magic and Medicine

If you’d like to bring the magic and medicine of rose into your own life, here are a few ideas:

Make a rose petal infused honey, glycerete, or tea
Spritz some rosewater or a rose hydrosol on your skin
Infuse a nourishing oil with rose petals for skin care
Enjoy rose hips dried in tea or fresh in jams and jellies
Add a few drops of rose or wild rose flower essence to water or tea
Diffuse rose essential oil, or a rose-forward blend
Anoint yourself with a rosy perfume or ritual oil
Display a bouquet of organic and sustainable roses
Grow your own roses to really deepen your relationship with rose spirit
Place fresh roses on your altar
Stop and smell the roses whenever you can ;)

May rosy blessings be upon you!

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References

Mojay, G. (2014). Proceedings from NAHA ’14: The World of Aromatherapy VII: Beyond Aromatics. Seattle, WA.
Battaglia, S. (2003). The complete guide to aromatherapy (2nd ed.). Brisbane, Autralia: The International Center of Holistic Aromatherapy.
Worwood, V.A. (1996). The Fragrant Mind: Aromatherapy for Personality, mind, mood and emotion. Novato, CA: New World Library.
Mojay, G. (2000). Aromatherapy for healing the spirit: Restoring emotional and mental balance with essential oils. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
Cunningham, S. (2013). Magical aromatherapy: The power of scent (7th ed.). Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications.
Keville, K. & Green, M. (2009). Aromatherapy: A complete guide to the healing art (2nd ed.). Berkley, CA: Crossing Press.
Pliny the Elder. The natural history. J. Bostock, M.D. (Ed.). (F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., Trans). B.A. London: Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855. (Original work published 77-79 AD). Retrieved from: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0137%3Abook%3D13%3Achapter%3D2
Wiles, B. (2018). Mountain states medicinal plants: Identify, harvest, and use 100 wild herbs for health and wellness. Portland, OR: Timber Press.
Kershaw, L. (2016). Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies. Edmonton, AB: Lone Pine Pub.
McIntyre, A. (2010). The Complete Herbal Tutor: The Ideal companion for study and practice. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group.
Kamininski, P. and R. Katz (1994). Flower Essence Repertory: A Comprehensive Guide to North American and English Flower Essences for Emotional and Spiritual Well-Being. Nevada City, CA: Earth Spirit, Inc.
McIntyre, A. (1996). Flower Power: Flower Remedies for Healing Body and Soul through Herbalism, Homeopathy, Aromatherapy, and Flower Essences. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Co.

juniper stokes 5/17/21 juniper stokes 5/17/21

Ritual Beauty: A Sacred Skincare Routine

There is something about taking time to care for the precious body that you live in that nourishes your soul as well as your skin. Learn how this simple, botanical skincare ritual really can transform your life ;)

There is something about taking time to care for the precious body that you live in that nourishes your soul as well as your skin.

We are spiritual beings, yet we came into these amazing bodies for a reason. And though experiencing various lessons and challenges is often cited as our soul’s motivation, this is not a complete picture…

We also came into these bodies so we could experience sensual pleasure.

Only embodied can we smell the aroma of lilacs in spring, witness the explosion of color in a sunset, listen to masterful melodies, taste perfectly paired spices from around the world, and feel the touch of a beloved’s arms.

Our skin covers and protects our entire body, providing us with a portal to experiencing the physical sensations of life. When we nourish and care for our skin, we’re showing ourselves that we matter. Our bodies matter. Our pleasure matters.

Of course, pausing for pleasure in the midst of our overpacked schedules and often monotonous lives seems to slip off the list of priorities all too easily. At least, it does for me.

But whenever I finally do take time once again to treat my senses and embrace the beauty of this physical life, I’m always so grateful that I did. A simple skincare ritual really can transform your life ;)

Here’s the kicker though―what you put on your skin matters. Endocrine disruptors, reproductive and developmental toxicity, contaminants, and cancer-causing ingredients are sadly common―even in “natural” brands.

(You can check your favorite products at the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database.)

This is why I began making my own skincare products years ago, and I started selling them to friends and family soon after. The following are my personal skincare rituals―one for everyday care, and one for a once-a-week treat (usually done after a bath...I like to go all out on my self care days).

I’ve linked to the products I personally use whenever possible, but feel free to use whatever you already love (just check that database first!).

Your Botanical Beauty Ritual

Opening the Ritual

Before beginning, be sure to set the scene. Light a candle, put on some music, grab a tea or glass of wine...whatever helps you remember that this is a special time for you to connect with yourself and your senses.

Step 1: Cleanse

Massage your favorite cleanser is into your skin and gently rinse with a damp cloth.

Wondering what to cleanse with? There are endless options on the market, but my favorite is a simple mix of nourishing oils and aloe vera. I use one part jojoba and one part aloe (unscented and undyed), along with a few anti-inflammatory essential oils, like German chamomile and blue tansy.

Other simple, eco-friendly face wash ideas: You can oil cleanse with pure jojoba oil, or for a more luxurious experience, cleanse with your face oil. Sometimes, I’ll use my Alchemessence skin serum as a face wash—it contain nourishing oils, aloe vera, botanical extracts in glycerin, and essential oils, making it a wonderful cleanser.

Step 2: Mask

Apply a clay mask. Mix your dry clay mask with a bit of carrier, such as honey, oil, or pure water. Apply to skin, avoiding eyes, and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes. Gently remove with a warm cloth.

One of the oldest beauty secrets, clay masks have been used since in ritual beauty for thousands of years. I love a “dry” clay mask. Dry masks tend to have less ingredients like stabilizers and preservatives, so they’re a wonderful choice for natural beauty rituals.

Clay removes impurities and excess oil from the skin, smooths and evens skin tone, and can even provide moisture, depending on which clay and carriers you use. I’ve added special botanical powders to each of my dry clay mixes to give your mask even more skin-saving benefits―bamboo extract, iris root, green tea, olive leaf, blue-green algae, and frankincense resin, to name a few. You can explore all five masks here.

Step 3: Tone

Next comes toning. If you’re using a liquid toner, such as Queen of Hungary water, apply with a reusable cotton or bamboo pad. If you’re using a mist, close your eyes and spray your skin.

Toning is an essential step in any beauty routine. It balances your skin, helps purify toxins, and gives you an opportunity to add even more of a botanical boost. I alternate toning between homemade Queen of Hungary water (apple cider vinegar and rosewater infused with toning herbs), and facial mists.

I offer several facial mists at Alchemessence. Each is made of hydrosols, botanical extracts, essential oils, and other nourishing ingredients to balance and tone your skin. They are non-drying and wonderful for even the most sensitive skin types.

Step 4: Boost

Step four is optional but fun―add a boost of nutrients to your skin with a skin serum. Simply place a few drops of serum in the palm of your hand and massage into your skin.

Alchemessence serums contain nourishing oils, soothing aloe vera, and potent botanical extracts like edelweiss, green tea, and açaí, along with essential oils.

This step is a good time to add a gua sha massage, as the serum helps the gua sha tools move smoothly over your skin.

Step 5: Moisturize

Your final step is moisturizing. Place a few drops of a botanical face oil into the palm of your hand and gently massage into your skin, avoiding contact with your eyes. If you didn’t gua sha in step 4, now is the time.

I love botanical face oils because their ingredients are so pure and full of nutrients―they really are like food for your skin. Contrary to popular belief, they don’t leave you feeling greasy or breaking out either. Your skin really doesn’t need all the extra ingredients in cosmetic creams, as pure oil soaks in without clogging your pores.

My Alchemessence face oils contain around 40 ingredients, each chosen for very specific reasons. (You might like to read more about my process in this Insta post.)

Closing the Ritual

Once you’ve finished your ritual, give thanks to yourself for taking this time for you and for committing to natural beauty. Affirm that you love your skin and yourself, and you gratefully allow your inner radiance to shine forth.

Simple Daily Ritual

The daily ritual is a simplified version of the above. Cleanse, tone, and moisturize — that’s it! I actually like to keep my toning mist with me throughout the day. A couple of spritzes and my skin feels totally revitalized.

If you’d like to put together your own ritual beauty kit, you can explore everything mentioned here and more in the Alchemessence Apothecary.

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juniper stokes 2/6/21 juniper stokes 2/6/21

Aphrodisiacs - essential oils, flower essences, and crystals

Aphrodisiacs, named for one of my patron goddesses, the great Aphrodite, enhance sexual desire and pleasure. Some work by helping us relax, while others rev us up. The following are just a few of the many aphrodisiacs you might like to incorporate into your Valentine’s Day ritual.

Crystals

Place some crystals in your bath water to absorb their essences. Place the rest around the ledges of your bath and on your bath tray. You can also add crystal essences directly to your bath water.

Rose Quartz — to open your heart and enhance feelings of love
Garnet — for passion and physical connection
Carnelian — for a healthy sacral chakra and creative expression
Moonstone — for tuning into your natural cycles and enhancing connection and passion
Lapis Lazuli — for enhancing love on a spiritual level
Green Aventurine — for luck in lasting love
Amber — for spontaneous, passionate encounters

Flower Essences

Add 2-3 drops of desired essences to your bath.

All Lilies — for connecting with the divine feminine, healthy sexual energy and expression
Rose — for romantic love and an open heart
Basil — to integrate sexual and spiritual energy
Bleeding Heart — to feel unconditional love
Hibiscus — to enhance sexuality and connection with the body
Pomegranate — for joyful feminine expression

Essential Oils

Add about 6 drops of essential oils to either a bit of oil or bath salts first, and add this blend to your bath once it’s fully run.

Floral essential oils open us to love on spiritual levels and enhance romantic, sexy moods. Warming and spicy essential oils can increase circulation and energy. And citrus scents add joy, ease, and playfulness.

Rose — enhances love and supports a balanced loving heart
Jasmine and Ylang Ylang— seductive, sexy flowers with a special affinity for the sacral chakra
Patchouli — this earthy, musky scent grounds us into our sensual natures
Black Pepper, Ginger, Cardamom, and Coriander — these spices can help spice up your sex life
Sweet Orange — adds some playful joy
Myrtle — sacred to Aphrodite, myrtle enhances true love and increases physical pleasure
Lavender — melt away tension
Sandalwood — has an affinity for the sexual centers
Vanilla — warm, playful, and edible

Recipes

These above all go together beautifully—feel free to mix and match anything from these lists. Or, try one of the following magical blends. Each blend can be added to a mist, diffuser, bath, or body oi:

An Erotic Blend — 2 drops jasmine, 2 drops ylang ylang, 2 drops sweet orange, 1 drop garnet essence, 1 drop amber essence, 1 drop basil essence

A Sensual Blend — 2 drops rose, 3 drops patchouli, 1 drop ginger, 1 drop moonstone essence, 1 drop lily essence

A Loving Heart Blend — 1 drop rose, 3 drops lavender, 2 drops bergamot, 1 drop rose essence, 1 drop bleeding heart essence, 1 drop rose quartz essence

A Balancing Blend — 3 drops lavender, 3 drops geranium, 1 drop moonstone

A Spicy Blend — 1 drops cardamom, 1 drop vanilla, 2 drops rose, 2 drops patchouli, 1 drop amber essence, 1 drop hibiscus

A Stress Relief Blend — 3 drops grapefruit, 2 drops ginger, 1 drop ylang ylang, 1 drop pomegranate, 1 drop green aventurine

juniper stokes 12/5/20 juniper stokes 12/5/20

The Alchemy of Making Spiritual Perfumes

A peek into the secrets of botanical perfume making. Discover the role of the shamanic journey, symbolism, traditional perfumery, and more as you follow my process of creating spiritual perfumes.

John William Waterhouse - The Soul of the Rose, 1903

Updated! This is article is currently being updated — check back soon for what is becoming a rich resource for you aromatic studies!!!

In the meantime, you might enjoy taking a look at the Complete Guide to Magickal Anointing Oils and my growing collection of Spiritual Perfumes.

Scent holds the unique power to transcend the physical realm and connect us with the spiritual. Across cultures and civilizations, the use of fragrances in spiritual practices has been a common thread that weaves together the human experience with the divine.

It seems our ancestors intuitively knew the wisdom we’re reclaiming today: Fragrance can invoke emotions and trigger memories, shift both our vibrational frequency and our chemistry, and alter our state of consciousness. Fragrance elevates our rituals, creates sacred spaces, and facilitates a deeper connection with the unseen realms.

Of all the many historical and ritual uses of fragrance, it is the art of perfumery that inspires true soul-level alchemy. Through spiritual perfumery, the healing spirits of nature and the gods themselves are invited into elixirs of beauty and transformation.

The alchemy of making spiritual perfumes is one of the lost temple arts.

As someone who walks the path of the wild priestess, I’ve been initiated into ancient temple arts by guides in both human and spiritual form. I’ve studied with shamans throughout the world, apprenticed in Taoist anointing practices, become clinically certified in aromatherapy, been mentored in Western magickal practices, and professionally trained with the preeminent natural perfumers of our time. I’ve traveled to temples and perfumeries in India, Egypt, and Greece.

Many people who are drawn to natural perfumery are motivated by their spiritual connections with plants and perfume — yet it’s been incredibly challenging to find teachers in human form who truly bridge the artistry with the depths of spiritual practice possible when it comes to the alchemy of spiritual perfumes (though my teacher Roxanna certainly brings spirit and art into her creations). And so, I also learned perfumery as a temple art from the goddesses themselves.

In the deepest part of my soul, I’ve always known that perfume is a path to the sacred.

Through the alchemy of beauty, art, ritual, intention, and the healing power of the plants themselves, perfume has the potential to shift us out of the mundane and into the magical.

It breaks the spell of our collective sleep. It rewires us for pleasure and delight. And it bridges the physical with the spiritual.

In this article, I’ll share an overview of the alchemical art of making spiritual perfumes. Together, we’ll dive into the aromatic history of spiritual fragrances and the importance of the priestess path when it comes to aromatics. We’ll explore the divine nectar of fragrant plants — and look at why spiritual perfumes must be made with natural materials. And we’ll look at rituals and ceremonies for both creating and using sacred scents.

You are about to step into the endless world of spiritual aromatics — a world that has been subtly and intentionally removed from us, with devastating effects on our psyches and feminine power (read “Severed from Scent” for more on this). But we are reclaiming the true potency and transformative power of these lost arts. And your journey of remembering is just beginning.

Creating an Elevated Perfume and the Feminine Reclamation of Beauty

Fragrance is sacred. Aroma is healing. And the spiritual use of scent has taken many forms throughout history.

So what sets spiritual perfumes apart?

The word “perfume” can be a bit of a confusing word because of its dual meaning: It can refer to both a pleasing aroma in general, as well as the liquid fragrances you probably first think of when you hear this word.

While I adore fragrance in all its forms, this article is about perfumes in the “perfume in a bottle” sense — and why bringing back the sacred and the natural to the art of perfumery is a divine act mandate for bringing our world back into cosmic balance.

Okay… yes, that probably sounds a bit over-the-top. But bear with me. Perfume is powerful.

Part of what sets perfume apart from other spiritual fragrances is its emphasis on beauty. Far from the superficial reputation “beauty culture” often has today, beauty is actually an essential part of the cosmos.

Beauty reminds us that we are not here only to survive but to thrive. We are not here only to learn and grow but to delight in pleasure and the sensual nature of our embodiment.

Pausing to fully experience the beauty of life is an act of rebellion in a culture that’s always pushing us to go and grow. It is a reclamation of feminine value, power, and ways of knowing.

Beauty awakens our hearts to gratitude. It is the celebration of the natural world and the potential of elevated human creativity and culture.

And all of this comes together in an elevated spiritual perfume.

When I create true spiritual perfumes, I bridge the magic of nature — partnering with plant spirits and using only natural materials — with inspiration from spirit — filling each aromatic bottle with a transmission of spiritual power. And, I always do so within the context of artistry and beauty. An aromatic blend might be healing and spiritual (many aromatherapy blends are), but it’s not a perfume unless it ignites the senses with blessings of artistry and beauty.

This is why the alchemy of making spiritual perfumes is so close to my heart. And why I hope you become inspired to reclaim the temple arts of the priestess path and journey into the world of spiritual perfumery.

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juniper stokes 7/10/20 juniper stokes 7/10/20

Mountain Medicine: Making a Healing Salve with wild plants (and more)

Healing plants of the mountains—making an infused oil with wild plants and creating intentional botanical smoke bundles.

Y'all. The cosmos has been doing a number on me. This full moon lunar eclipse, on the 4th of July no less, was in Capricorn. Capricorn and it's ruling planet, Saturn, govern structure—including our bones. And low and behold, I broke my toe under the light of that full moon.

Breaking a toe always sucks. But this time it was especially disappointing: I look forward to one magical week in the mountains all year. This is a week when I hike for miles everyday, commune with the animals and nature spirits, make my plant medicines, and soak up the healing power of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. And I broke my toe on only my second night. 😞

And, even though I have a pretty epic natural first aid kit, full of homemade remedies of herbs and oils, I’d left everything at home this week. Oops.

A Wildly Healing Oil

Given that I came up here in part to work with plant medicine, I decided to view my broken toe as an opportunity to practice what I preach and see how well I could treat myself with mountain remedies.

The toe in question is my fourth toe, so I’ve been able to hobble around slowly. The morning after my injury, I buddy taped my toe and set to the trails for some plants I know are in season and can help:

Bluebell—similar to comfrey in its ability to mend bones, but a bit milder
Arnica—you've probably used the homeopathic remedies, and the fresh flowers and leaves can be infused into healing oils
Yarrow—one of my favorite protector plants, wonderful for wound healing
Goldenrod—for inflammation, topically, it’s similar to arnica
Aspen—the bark has pain relieving properties, so I collected only fallen twigs

I had a bit of sunflower oil on hand, so I decided to do a quick oil infusion using a double boiler method. I tore apart the flowers, leaves, and twigs by hand and added them to the oil, holding the intention of healing and gratitude for the ability to work in partnership with nature to make medicine. I then gently infused the oil for a couple hours. The result was the most divine smelling brew, full of healing goodness.*

*Side note … the infused oil smelled sooo good that I’m now tincturing aspen twigs for use in my perfumes :)

To tend to internal support for healing, I've gathered fresh dandelion leaves, horsetail, and wild parsley—all full of bone-building minerals! The dandelion and parsley go into dinner each evening, while I simply suck the liquid out of the fresh horsetail.

I've been gently massaging the oil into my toe for a few days now, and keeping up with my wild greens, and I’m happy to say that the swelling has gone down significantly.

Breaking a toe and limiting my hikes really sucks. But I'm grateful to be surrounded with nature's medicine and to work in partnership with the spirits as I heal. And lucky for you, I've made more than enough oil. When I'm back home, I'll turn what I have into some healing salves to share :)

UPDATE This beautiful oil sold out quickly…but I generally have seasonal versions available in the apothecary :)

Wildcrafted Smoke Bundles

Despite the broken toe, I did manage to commune with the plants this year. I hobbled around and gathered some of my favorite botanical friends to create more flower essences and just a few plant bundles for smoke clearing.

When I wildcraft, I only use plants that I have developed a relationship with over the years, and I gather and make everything in sacred ceremony. I feel that the health of the forest always comes first, so I only take what is offered and do healing ceremonies for the land in return.

This year, I was guided to create three types of bundles:

Cleanse & Protect—This bundle is perfect for space clearing and protection, similar to traditional sage bundles. It contains protective, cleansing, and sacred plants including three artemisias, goldenrod, yarrow, golden aster, sulfur buckwheat, kinnikinnick, and pussy toes.
Passion—A bundle to clear blocks and carry your wishes to spirit, this contains a trio of artemisias, fireweed, fairy trumpet, pussy toes, harebell, bedstraw, and wild geranium.
Dreams—A bundle to encourage visionary dreams and protection at night, this contains the trio of artemisias, elephant head flower, mountain valerian, yarrow, northern bedstraw, pussy toes, and kinnikinnick.

Find your bundles in the apothecary!

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juniper stokes 5/28/20 juniper stokes 5/28/20

8 Essential Oils to Kickstart Your Next Creative Project + 3 Aroma-Rituals

Tune into your inner muse and break through creative blocks with aromatherapy. Plus discover three potent rituals and recipes to support your creative projects.

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Warmer weather and sunny days are finally upon us, and I’ve been feeling a big shift in energy lately—from the dormant and reflective energy of winter to the fertile and creative energy of spring and summer. The Earth is waking up, and so am I.

It’s only natural for us humans to join our animal friends in coming out of hibernation at this time of year, and I’m guessing that many of you are feeling the impulse to begin new projects, express yourself creatively, and bring a bit more celebration into your lives.

Here’s the thing—feeling the creative impulse and acting on it are two different things.

Maybe you’re flooded with ideas but don’t know where to start. Or maybe you feel out of practice or intimidated after a winter of rest. Or maybe you just want a creative boost.

If you’re ready to ignite your creative spark this season, aromatherapy can help release blocks, increase inspiration, and motivate creative action.

Essential Oils for Creativity

Floral essential oils and absolutes are wonderful for creative expression. Many floral oils have an affinity for the sacral chakra. As blossoms open to warm weather, these oils help our creative centers open to inspiration.

Neroli—Relieves anxiety around creating while deepening our connection with our higher selves . . . even Leonardo da Vinci is said to have breathed in the perfume of neroli while he worked.

Ylang Ylang—Brings us directly into our creative centers with its seductive fragrance. Especially useful for sensual creations—culinary endeavors, body products, and natural perfumes.

Geranium—Eases perfectionistic tendencies, irritability, and frustration. This is the oil you want to help move through resistance to creative action.

Rose—Opens the heart center, allowing us to trust and love with abandon. Use rose to merge the love in your heart with your creative impulses—a powerful combination.

Jasmine—Shares a joyful energy that removes inhibitions and increases self-confidence, allowing you to more fully invest in your creative expression.

In addition to the florals, citruses and spices can also enhance our creative works:

Patchouli—Another wonderful oil for connecting us to our sensual, creative selves. Patchouli also introduces an earthy element into the creative process, helping us ground our inspiration in physical form.

Sweet Orange—Orange is the color of creativity, and sweet orange carries this resonance perfectly. Plus, as a citrus, it uplifts us as we work, reminding us to take joy in the creative process.

Ginger—Energizing and warming, ginger is perfect for those who have a creative vision but lack the motivation to see it through. Ginger essential oil helps us take optimistic action in our creative work.

These are only a few of the many essential oils that can assist us with releasing our creative energy this season. Let your own creative impulses guide you to the perfect oils and blends for your unique creative spirit!

Aroma-Rituals

Heart-Centered Ritual

Add three drops sweet orange, two drops patchouli, and one drop rose to an essential oil diffuser. Run the diffuser throughout this entire process.
Take a meditative seat and breathe deeply until you feel centered in your body.
Bring awareness to your root chakra. Affirm, I am grounded and supported by the earth.
Bring awareness to your sacral chakra. Affirm, I joyfully allow the creative impulses within to flow into form.
Bring awareness to your heart chakra. Affirm, With an open heart, I infuse my creations with love.
Continue to diffuse these oils throughout your creative session.

Ritual to Break through Blocks

To a 1oz glass spray bottle, add: 2 drops ginger, 2 drops geranium, and 2 drops neroli. Fill the rest of the bottle with spring water.
Shake and mist yourself and your space.
Speak these words as you mist: I call upon the benevolent spirits of ginger, geranium, and neroli. May these plant guides clear any fears I have around expressing my creative truth. I gratefully receive their blessings of creative inspiration and motivation.

Magical Paint Water

Take a meditative seat and breathe deeply until you feel centered in your body.
Ask your intuition, Which essential oil or oils wish to support my creative process today?
Allow the answers to arise. Trust what you receive.
Fill your painting water vessel and add 2-3 drops of your oils.
Whisper an intention for your painting into the oil-infused water—perhaps May this work of art carry the essence of divine love or May the truth in my soul take form in this painting.
Use this magical water throughout your painting process, recharging with oils and intentions as needed.

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Dandelion Magic: Wild Spring Greens & Tarragon Pesto (Plus a Bonus Healing Herbal Salve Recipe)

The beauty of wild spring greens and dandelion—plus a spring tarragon pesto and herbal healing salve recipe.

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My “lawn” would make many a homeowner cringe. But every time I step outside and say hello to all my botanical friends, I’m filled with so much gratitude and joy.

I see a field of yellow, purple, and green. I see buzzy bees and fertile soil. I see such a happy yard that even lettuce and arugula from last year’s garden are sprouting up next to mallow and mustard. I see a small patch of chickweed thriving under my blue spruce. I see my sweet woodruff blooming just in time for Beltaine’s Maywine. I see emerging violets that will add a pop of color to my spring salads.

Spring greens emerge after each winter’s slumber with offerings of fresh vitamins and minerals. Their bitter green medicine helps reset our digestion after the heavy foods of winter.

This year, I’ve felt even more grateful for the fresh greens that have been emerging in my yard since early March. With a growing pandemic and shelter-in-place orders—and a pantry full of beans—I’ve been able to avoid unnecessary trips to the store and thrive on wild greens.

Even if you don’t have a yard, many of these plants grow in disturbed areas, cracks in the sidewalk, parks, trails, and alleyways...just be mindful of pollution and pesticides.

If you’re new to foraging, triple check your identification and do your research on the location for safety and sustainability. There is a ton of info on this online—please be responsible!

Dandelion Magic

I love dandelions. Not only are they one of the first sources of pollen of the year for our beloved bees, they provide us with both food and medicine. The entire plant is a gift.

Allowing dandelions to spread in your lawns is actually beneficial to the soil health. Their deep roots prevent erosion and draw nutrients to the surface. Their leaves shade the soil so more microbes can flourish. And their sunny blossoms attract pollinators that benefit the entire garden.

Medicinally, dandelion is a great lymph mover, liver cleanser, and supports digestion with its prebiotic roots and bitter greens. The flowers are also wonderful for the skin and contain pain-relieving properties.

As a food, dandelion gives us a power-packed dose of minerals and vitamins—including iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, folate, manganese, and Vitamins C, A, E, K, and B6.

Energetically, dandelion offers us the gift of resilience. No amount of pavement can stop these spring beauties. No matter how depleted the soil, dandelion can help restore health. Dandelion’s sunny countenance connects us with the healing energy of the sun, which can support us in letting go of behaviors and thoughts that no longer serve us as we come more fully into the present moment.

Embrace the healing gifts of dandelion with these recipes for the whole plant.

DANDELION ROOT

Dandelion Root is a tonic herb that supports our liver and digestion. Harvest the roots in the fall and use them as any root vegetable in soups and stir fries. They also make a wonderful tincture.

Perhaps the best known use of dandelion root is for herbal coffee—gather, clean, chop, and roast. Then brew for a rich coffee substitute. If you do well with a bit of daily dandelion, you can add 1 part roasted dandelion root to the recipe found here.

Note on the coffee: The root is so incredibly cleansing that my body prefers to have it only on occasion rather than daily, but many people seem to do well with a daily dose. Listen to your own body :)

DANDELION LEAVES

The leaves of dandelion are nutritive and bitter, making them a healthy food that supports digestion...and is free! Plus, they’re wonderful for nursing mothers.

Greens are less bitter in the spring and can easily be substituted for any green in a recipe, cooked or raw. Here is one of my new favorites, just created this spring ;)

Spring Green, Tarragon, and Walnut Pesto
vegan, gluten-free

This versatile green sauce is packed with nutrients and wild food goodness. Though it doesn’t look like much tarragon, the flavor is just right. I used a wild greens infused ACV for even more wild goodness.

Ingredients

2 cups loosely packed spring greens (dandelion, blue mustard, chickweed, etc)
¾ cup walnuts, lightly toasted
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh tarragon
2 cloves garlic (more or less depending on how garlicky you want to go)
2 tablespoons capers
¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon ACV
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until pesto-like texture is achieved.

Serve over pasta, on flatbread, in salad dressings, or with roasted vegetables.

I served this with a spaghetti squash primavera topped with Rancho Gordo Christmas lima beans and it was absolutely divine.

DANDELION FLOWERS

Another edible part of the plant, dandelion flowers are great for the skin and have pain-relieving properties—plus they make a lovely flower essence.

Dandelion Salve

Begin by infusing freshly wilted dandelion blossoms in oil. Any type of oil will do—jojoba, sunflower, sweet almond, coconut, olive...use what you have.

Place the dandelion flowers in a mason jar. I like to allow them to wilt just a bit—this gives little bugs a chance to escape and takes out a bit of the water content. Then, cover in a mason jar with oil and let sit in a dark place for a week or two. No need to take off the green bits or measure precisely—this is folk medicine :)

After about two weeks, strain the flowers from your oil using a cheesecloth or other fine strainer.

Here’s the general ingredient ratio for the salve:
You can adjust this based on how much oil you’ve made.

¼ cup (2oz) oil
1T beeswax or a vegan wax alternative
30-40 drops essential oils (optional)

To make the salve:

Heat the oil and wax in a double broiler.
Stir until the wax is totally dissolved and remove from heat.
Quickly stir in the essential oils.
Pour into containers.

If you’re making a skin salve, essential oils such as immortelle, carrot seed, and rose are lovely. If your salve is for pain, try peppermint, basil, and lavender.

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juniper stokes 4/22/20 juniper stokes 4/22/20

How to Boost Your Immune System with Essential Oils

Seven fun ways to boost your immune system with essential oils and aromatherapy.

Remember to check out my comprehensive list of immune-boosting essential oils.

How to Use Essential Oils for Respiratory Health and Immune Support

Diffusers

Make your own anti-infectious diffuser blend to get rid of airborne microbes. If the room is well-ventilated, feel free to enjoy the aromas. But, the germ-killing works best if done in a closed room for a few hours. You do not want to be in this closed room during the diffusion—and you really don’t want kids or pets in the room. Instead, let the room air out a bit before returning to it.

Sprays

Sprays can have a similar effect as diffusers, but you can be more targeted in where you use them. I love to mist myself, my sheets, and my man (hehe) often. Sprays are also great for the shower: As soon as your shower starts, mist the entire area with your spray and enjoy the steamy aromas.

Pro Tip: Spray the inside of your mask before you go out in public! Remember the masks from the Black Death? Well, those beaks were full of herbs and spices. You can make yourself an updated version with a homemade mask and essential oil spray.

Inhalers

Reusable personal inhalers with cotton wicks are easy to find online. These are a great way to support your nasal passages and avoid germs on the go, especially if those around you are sensitive to smell.

Steams

Add about 6 drops of essential oils to a bowl of hot water. Close your eyes, place a towel over your head and the bowl, and continue to deeply inhale for as long as you can. Once the water cools, you can stop.

Important! I’m not kidding about closing your eyes! The steam/EO combo can really sting.

Massage Oils and Lotions

Add about 6 drops of EOs to 1 Tablespoon of carrier oil (even olive oil will work) to make a massage oil, or use the same ratio with an unscented lotion. Massage into your chest, neck, temples, or sinuses as needed. (Be careful with getting the oils close to your eyes though—even if they don’t get in your eyes, God forbid, stronger oils can still sting a bit.)

Salves & Rubs

Make your own natural version of a vapor rub with essential oils and even menthol crystals. You can easily find instructions online, and I’ll be posting more salve recipes in the future.

Baths

There’s nothing like a steamy bath for a congested, achy body. Most of the oils listed here also soothe joints and muscles, so get the steamy soothing going with a hot bath. Mix 6-8 drops essential oils with either a bit of oil or bath salts. Then add to the bath after you’ve finished running it for max therapeutic qualities.

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juniper stokes 4/22/20 juniper stokes 4/22/20

Essential Oils for Respiratory Health

Essential oils have powerful antiviral, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties—plus many of them open the lungs and soothe coughs. Learn to use aromatherapy to support you and your family during cold and flu season.

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Support for respiratory health is on a lot of our minds these days, and essential oils have many benefits when it comes to keeping our airways open, clear, and soothed—not to mention their antiviral and antibacterial properties!

Take a look at some of my favorite EOs for respiratory health—and then experiment with the many ways to use them at the end of this article :)

The Trees

You might have heard people say that “trees are the lungs of the earth”. It really is true. Trees breathe, and we are able to breathe because of trees.

It makes sense then that tree essential oils tend to be extremely supportive for our lungs. They open our airways, clear congestion, soothe coughs and inflammation.

Plus, all the trees have potent antimicrobial qualities, meaning they’re helpful in preventing both bacterial and viral infections, especially airborne ones.

Energetically, trees are both grounding and revitalizing, and they help strengthen our connection with spirit.

The following trees are all amazing when it comes to the respiratory system—you really can’t go wrong. I’ve included a few energetic components for each to support your blending.

Knowing that each of these oils will support your lungs, which energetic qualities do you also want to include?

Cedar (Cedrus atlantica) — grounding and emotionally healing
Pine (Pinus sylvestris) — helps with the circulation of both our physical and energy bodies
Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) — supports us during times of transition and grief
Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) — a long history of purification and protection
Spruce (Picea mariana) — revitalizes your sense of self during times of confusion
Fir (Abies sibirica) — comforting and soothing to us energetically, lifts our spirits
Larch Tamarack (Larix laricina) — supportive during challenging times and big change

1,8 cineole essential oils

Essential oils high in 1,8 cineole are wonderful choices for cold and flu. Why? 1,8 cineole is a compound known for its antimicrobial, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and mucolytic properties—aka, it’s amazing for both preventing and soothing colds and coughs. As a bonus, 1,8 cineole rich essential oils tend to also be good for muscle tension and headaches.

Just be careful with these oils—many of them are too strong to use around children, babies, or those with compromised systems.

Eucalyptus (eucalyptus globulus and radiata) Hands down, eucalyptus is my favorite 1,8 cineole oil when it comes to airway and sinus support (and yes, it’s a tree, too). It’s especially good for loosening mucus and congestion. Eucalyptus is also a very uplifting oil—a quality we could all use a bit more of these days.

Other essential oils high in 1,8 cineole include:

Saro (Cinnamosma fragrans)
Ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphora ct 1,8 cineole)
Helichrysum (Helichrysum gymnocephalum)
Laurel Leaf (Laurus nobilis)
Niaouli ct 1,8 cineole (Melaleuca quinquenervia ct 1,8 cineole)
Hyssop ct 1-8-cineole (Hyssopus officinalis var decumbens)
Cajeput (Melaleuca leucadendron var. Cajuputi)
Myrtle (Myrtus communis)
Rosemary ct Camphor (Rosmarinus officinalis ct camphor)
Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)

Citrus Essential Oils

All citruses have both antimicrobial properties and uplift the spirits. Pick your favorite and add it to any blend for a boost of healing sunshine.

A few of my favorite citrus oils are:

Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis)
Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)
Yuzu (Citrus junos)
Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)
Lemon (Citrus limon)
Lime (Citrus aurantifolia)
Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)

Rhododendron (Rhododendron anthopogon)

Rhododendron is a beautiful oil, usually from Nepal. It’s both supportive for the lungs, especially with congestion, and the adrenals, making it a good choice when a lot of stress is involved with the sickness.

Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)

Tea tree can support lung health, but it’s even better known for being an antimicrobial power house. Tea tree is a great oil to add to blends when you suspect an infection is present.

Fragonia (Agonis fragrans)

Fragonia supports the breath while also carrying the antimicrobial benefits of tea tree. It’s a great oil for breaking through energetic blocks, as well.

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)

Of course peppermint makes the list! You probably know that menthol vapor rub smell . . . well, peppermint is the original source, with peppermint essential oil containing roughly 40% menthol!

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Lavender not only boosts the immune system, but it’s also anti-inflammatory and incredibly soothing, making it a nice addition to any steam inhalation. Plus, lavender can bring the calm you need when you’ve been sick and support better sleep.

Cinnamon Leaf (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)

Germs do not stand a chance when cinnamon leaf is around. As one of the most anti-infectious essential oils we have, I’m never without some cinnamon on hand.

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How to Use Respiratory Supporting Essential Oils

First, be sure to check out my top 7 ways to use essential oils here. Using even one oil from this list will work :) But if you want to Then get creative wit your blending, here are a few tips to get you started:

Start with using just 3 oils for your blend. 3 is a magic number when it comes to blending—you’ll get a perfect synergy of benefits without a chaotic aroma.
Use what you already have. Each tree oil will have similar benefits, as will the citruses and many of the others on the list. There’s no need to rush out and get something new and exotic.
Choose a different oil from each category. Start with one tree, one citrus, and one 1,8 cineole-rich oil to start.

Need recipe inspiration? I share many recipes on my Instagram and Facebook accounts—be sure to follow and try them yourself!

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juniper stokes 3/16/20 juniper stokes 3/16/20

Simple Tricks to Add More Health-Boosting Herbs into Your Daily Routine

I think most of us are facing the first truly global pandemic of our lifetimes. This can feel scary, and it’s so new that we don’t really know what will work or not. But, we can take general actions to boost our immune systems and fortify ourselves for the times to come. Here, I’m sharing a bit of my personal daily daily routine for wellness with herbs.

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We have so many herbal allies when it comes to our health, and I’ll be sure to share many more tips and recipes—especially for when you’re not just preventing sickness but actually feeling ill.

For now though, here are some easy ways to add healing herbs and foods into your daily routine:

Herbal Teas for wellness

The magic of herbal teas is endless—so drink a variety of tea and drink it often. Anxiety is on the rise and we know stress lowers the immune system, so here’s a family-friendly relaxing tea to support your overall well-being.

Rest & Relax Tea

Mix together equal parts:

lemon balm
passionflower
skullcap
spearmint
chamomile

Steep about 2 tsp mixed herbs per 6 oz hot water.

Medicinal Mushrooms for Immune Boosting

Medicinal mushrooms such as turkey tail, chaga, shiitake, maitake, cordyceps, reishi, and lion’s mane are known to do everything from prevent cancer to boost your immune system. If getting more exotic sounding mushrooms into your diet seems like a challenge, check out some of these super easy tips:

Sprinkle some medicinal mushroom powder into your smoothies, salad dressings, and soups.
Make a medicinal seasoning salt by mixing together mushroom powder, dulse (a nutritious seaweed), and pink Himalayan sea salt.
Add medicinal mushrooms to your morning coffee—I love chaga and reishi for this—or make an herbal coffee blend. Here’s one of my personal recipes:

Note: Many people like to add roasted dandelion root to their coffee blends. This is great once in a while, but not something you want to do daily for extended periods of time, especially if you tend to have a sensitive system.

Ginger for Antiviral Support

According to herbalist Stephen Buhner, fresh ginger (not dried) is a great antiviral, and in my experience, ginger has worked wonders for fighting off illness at the first signs of imbalance.

Try adding fresh ginger to soups, stir fries, and salad dressings (it makes a surprisingly good addition to homemade caesar dressing!). You can also make ginger juice tea for a super potent brew:

Recipe for Ginger Juice Tea

To make: Juice fresh ginger and add hot water, lemon, honey, and cayenne. If you don’t have a juicer, you can blend fresh ginger with water until it’s drinkable. I like to freeze the juice in ice cube trays so I can just add hot water when I need it.

From Bruhner: Have one cup daily as a preventative. If you feel a tickle of something "off", bump up your daily dose to 4-6 cups a day with 3-4oz of ginger per cup. Even if this doesn't completely wipe the illness out, it should slow the spread of the virus in the body and help protect mucous membranes from damage.

Note: This is a medicinal dose of ginger and not recommended for pregnancy. Check with your doctor to see if you have any other contraindications.

Garlic & Onions for Winter Wellness

I once had a shamanic and herbalism teacher who had studied with a Mayan healer for decades. In the paraphrased words of her Mayan teacher, “Don’t trust anyone who doesn’t eat garlic.”

Some fun ways to get more garlic in your diet:

Chimichurri (especially with oregano) and pesto (especially with nutritional yeast instead of parm)
Throw one or two cloves of garlic into homemade salad dressing
Add raw onions to salads and salsas
Make some garlic and herb infused olive oil
Add extra garlic and onions to soups and stir fries
Stock up on fire cider and use it in your salad dressing or anywhere else you need vinegar—there are tons of recipes online

Raw or cooked? Raw garlic has amazing benefits—but you don’t have to eat it raw if you don’t want to. If you’re going to cook your garlic, just mince it and then let it rest. I’ve read everything from 20m to an hour is necessary to retain the key healing benefits, so I try to err on the side of caution.

How to Make Healing Broths

Nothing feels more nourishing than a nutrient-dense, medicinal broth. Plus, staying hydrated is a key part of a healthy immune system. Here are a few of my most used broth bases. Together, they can be adapted for a variety of healthy soups.

Broth Base 1

This mix is wonderful for soups such as minestrone, lentil soups, ribolita, and other Italian-style or bean soups.

Sauté your aromatics in olive oil—onion, carrots, celery, etc.
Add a whole head (yes, a whole head) of minced and rested garlic.
Add ½ cup mixed dried herbs—rosemary, oregano, and thyme have antiviral properties, so if you go for a good Mediterranean seasoning blend, you should be covered.
If you’re adding other veggies that need sautéing, add them now.
Add 4-6 cups water and bring to a boil.
While water is coming to a boil, add
- 3 slices astragalus
- 1 slice reishi (if your slow cooking, you might want to take this out earlier, as it can get bitter)
- ¼ cup dried nettle (if you have frozen or fresh nettle, add it closer to the end)
- ¼ cup cat's claw bark in a muslin bag (if you have powdered cat’s claw, add less and directly to the broth)
- A few bay leaves
Stir in lentils or precooked beans, if using, or dried and soaked beans if slow cooking.
Simmer for about an hour, or slow cook all day.
Remove the astragalus, reishi, cat’s claw, and bay leaves
Stir in greens (kale, spinach, fresh nettles) and cook for just another 5 minutes.
Enjoy :)

Broth Base 2

This soup base is fantastic for curries!

Sauté your aromatics in coconut oil—onion, carrots, celery, etc.
Add a whole head (yes, a whole head) of minced and rested garlic.
Add as much minced ginger as you can handle.
Add ¼ - ½ cup good curry powder. If your curry doesn't have a lot of turmeric, add another tablespoon of that.
If you’re adding other veggies that need sautéing, add them now.
Add 3-4 cups water and bring to a boil.
While water is coming to a boil, add
- 3 slices astragalus
- 1 slice reishi (if your slow cooking, you might want to take this out earlier, as it can get bitter)
- ¼ cup dried nettle (if you have frozen or fresh nettle, add it closer to the end)
- ¼ cup cat's claw bark in a muslin bag (if you have powdered cat’s claw, add less and directly to the broth)
- A few bay leaves
Stir in lentils or precooked beans, if using, or dried and soaked beans if slow cooking.
Simmer for about an hour, or slow cook all day.
Remove the astragalus, reishi, cat’s claw, and bay leaves
Stir in greens (kale, spinach, fresh nettles) and cook for just other 5 minutes.
Stir in 1-2 cans coconut milk (optional).
Enjoy :)

Broth Base 3

My favorite for chili! And any Southwest or Mexican style soups :)

Sauté your aromatics in olive oil—onion, carrots, celery, etc.
Add a whole head (yes, a whole head) of minced and rested garlic.
Add ¼ cup chili powder, ¼ cup oregano, and 1 tablespoon cumin. You can add turmeric to taste for an extra boost.
If you’re adding other veggies that need sautéing, add them now.
Add 4-6 cups water and bring to a boil.
While water is coming to a boil, add
- 3 slices astragalus
- 1 slice reishi (if your slow cooking, you might want to take this out earlier, as it can get bitter)
- ¼ cup dried nettle (if you have frozen or fresh nettle, add it closer to the end)
- ¼ cup cat's claw bark in a muslin bag (if you have powdered cat’s claw, add less and directly to the broth)
- A few bay leaves
Stir in precooked beans, if using, or dried and soaked beans if slow cooking.
Simmer for about an hour, or slow cook all day.
Remove the astragalus, reishi, cat’s claw, and bay leaves
Stir in greens (kale, spinach, fresh nettles) and cook for just another 5 minutes.
Enjoy :)

These bases can also be strained to make a pure broth for sipping or freezing.

Happy healthy eating and drinking! Be sure to subscribe for more healing recipes.

juniper stokes 2/11/20 juniper stokes 2/11/20

Love & Libido—Rituals and Recipes for Valentine’s Day

Rituals, recipes, and aphrodisiacs to enhance love and sensual pleasure this Valentines Day.

Look. I get it. When you’re single, Valentine’s Day can feel like a sucky reminder of your “I’m going to be alone forever” status. And even when you’re in a relationship, the pressure to have a ridiculously romantic evening can seem more stressful than fun. And that’s not even going into the somewhat dark origins of Valentine's Day . . .

Still, Valentine’s Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. Even when I was single (and let me tell you, I was pretty consistently single for most of my adulthood), I would treat myself to flowers and dark chocolate, take long and luxurious baths, and practice gratitude for all the ways love already showed up in my life.

LOVE in all its forms is an expression of divinity we can all use more of. And SENSUAL PLEASURE is one my favorite perks for coming into a human body. For me, Valentine’s Day is both a reminder and an excuse to fully indulge in some love-and-libido-centric alchemy.

Whether you’re looking forward to an evening with your honey or feel suuuper single right now, intentionally tending to your own sensuality and heart helps shift your vibration so you can experience and attract more love and pleasure into your life.

Read on for a sensual self-care ritual and some easy DIY aphrodisiac recipes . . .

sacred Self care Ritual for valentine’s day

I love to spend a few hours dedicated to sensual self care on Valentine’s Day, but I know that taking this much time out of your day isn’t always an option. As always, pick and choose the parts of this ritual that resonate, and feel free to drop or change anything that doesn’t :)

Part 1: Movement

Sensuality is all about being in your body, and what better way to get in touch with your physical body than through movement? There’s no wrong way to do this part - go with what feels right to you. A few of my favorite ideas:

Dance — Whether you’re going old school romantic with some Marvin Gaye or D’Angelo or rocking out to your favorite dance tracks, take some time to feel the joy of being in a body that can groove.
Yoga — Try a heart-opening or hip-opening sequence depending on your mood ;) Or check out this one-hour yin yoga for libido session.
Workout — Get your heart pumping however you want. You’ll sweat out toxins, boost serotonin, and feel extra confident, which is essential for showing up with your full, embodied, sensual self.

Part 2: A Ritual Bath

I love to treat myself to full at-home spa sessions for special occasions. When you really take the time for this type of sacred indulgence, you send yourself the message that you’re worthy of pleasure and love—especially self-love. Incorporate some aphrodisiac ingredients and you’ll be ready for whatever the night brings ;)

My self care spa session involves a ritual bath, a full facial, and a short meditation. Here are some basic instructions for a ritual bath . . .

10 Steps for a Perfect Ritual Bath

Step 1 — Put on music to enhance whatever mood you want to create
Step 2 — Run a hot bath. Turn on the water as hot as it will go and seal your bathroom. This creates a nice steamy atmosphere. The water will cool while you complete the other steps, and you can add some cold water right when you get in, if needed.
- Tip — The spirit of water is alive and powerful. Give thanks to the spirit of water as you run your bath and ask it to support you in whatever intentions you hold--cleanse and release blocks to love, for example, or receive a blessing from the divine feminine.
Step 3 — Add bath salts. I like a cup each of sea salt and Epsom salt. If you’re using an herbal sachet or milk bath, now is a good time to add that, too.
Step 4 — Select crystals and flowers to adorn your bath. Add crystals to both the water and decorate whatever surface areas are available. Fresh flowers and petals are wonderful to float in the water, though dried are lovely as well.
- Tip — Add a touch of luxury with a bath pillow and bamboo tray. I have this pillow and this tray.
Step 5 — Light candles. You obviously need candles.
Step 6 — Prepare your beverage of choice—an infusion of aphrodisiac herbs, a glass of your favorite wine, or sparkling water with bitters and berries.
- Tip — Remember to also have a giant glass of water nearby and DRINK THE ENTIRE GLASS during your bath. You will be hot and sweating in this bath, and I don’t want anyone getting dizzy or passing out.
Step 7 — Add essential oils, along with flower and crystal essences. Essential oils are very volatile, so in order to receive the most benefit from them, it’s best to add them right before you get in. Since they don’t dissolve in water, you’ll want to mix them into a bit of oil, milk (coconut milk is great), or more bath salts before you add them--otherwise they’ll float in blobs and potentially burn your skin. For real.
- Tip — Use about 6 drops of essential oils per bath. A list of aphrodisiac essential oils follows ;)
Step 8 — Dry brush. Start from your extremities and work your way towards your heart. Dry brushing exfoliates your skin and encourages lymph flow, so if you have a brush and the time, this is a great addition to a spa session.
Step 9 — Enjoy that bath. Grab your favorite book and beverage, make sure your music is still going, and relax. Meditate and ask for a blessing from sex-love-romance deity such as Aphrodite, Bastet, Oshun, or Freya. Let your mind drift, treat yourself to a body scrub, and allow gratitude to infuse your every cell.
- Tip — Shallow tub? Soak a washcloth in the hot water and place it on your chest.
Step 10 — When you’re ready, drain the bathtub, wash your hair, and move on to whatever body oils, facial materials, and other self care you have planned.

Part 3: A Love Note

For the final part of my Valentine’s Day ritual, I like to draw a card to receive a message about love in my life. Get your favorite deck, center yourself, and ask, “What message would be most beneficial for me to receive regarding . . .

Creating more romance in my life
Calling in the perfect partner for me
My love life in general
How I can express more love in my everyday life
My current relationship
How I can increase self-love
A loving note from the universe
Or wisdom from the goddess you connected with during your bath

Allow this message to fully absorb into your being, and enjoy the rest of your Valentine’s Day.

Aphrodisiacs for Ritual Love

Crystals

Place some crystals in your bath water to absorb their essences. Place the rest around the ledges of your bath and on your bath tray. You can also add crystal essences directly to your bath water.

Rose Quartz — to open your heart and enhance feelings of love
Garnet — for passion and physical connection
Carnelian — for a healthy sacral chakra and creative expression
Moonstone — for tuning into your natural cycles and enhancing connection and passion
Lapis Lazuli — for enhancing love on a spiritual level
Green Aventurine — for luck in lasting love
Amber — for spontaneous, passionate encounters

Flower Essences

Add 2-3 drops of desired essences to your bath.

All Lilies — for connecting with the divine feminine, healthy sexual energy and expression
Rose — for romantic love and an open heart
Basil — to integrate sexual and spiritual energy
Bleeding Heart — to feel unconditional love
Hibiscus — to enhance sexuality and connection with the body
Pomegranate — for joyful feminine expression

Essential Oils

Add about 6 drops of essential oils to either a bit of oil or bath salts first, and add this blend to your bath once it’s fully run.

Rose — enhances love and supports a balanced loving heart
Jasmine and Ylang Ylang— seductive, sexy flowers with a special affinity for the sacral chakra
Patchouli — this earthy, musky scent grounds us into our sensual natures
Black Pepper, Ginger, Cardamom, and Coriander — these spices can help spice up your sex life
Sweet Orange — adds some playful joy
Myrtle — sacred to Aphrodite, myrtle enhances true love and increases physical pleasure
Lavender — melt away tension
Sandalwood — has an affinity for the sexual centers
Vanilla — warm, playful, and edible

These scents all go together beautifully—feel free to mix and match anything from this list to create a Ritual Bath that’s just right for you. Or, try one of the following blends…

Aromatherapy Recipes for Aphrodesiacs

An Erotic Blend — 2 drops jasmine, 2 drops ylang ylang, 2 drops sweet orange

A Sensual Blend — 2 drops rose, 3 drops patchouli, 1 drop ginger

A Loving Heart Blend — 1 drop rose, 3 drops lavender, 2 drops bergamot

A Balancing Blend — 3 drops lavender, 3 drops geranium

A Spicy Blend — 2 drops cardamom, 1 drop vanilla, 1 drop rose, 1 drop patchouli

A Stress Relief Blend — 3 drops grapefruit, 2 drops ginger, 1 drop ylang ylang

Bonus

Make a sensual body oil to go with your bath.
Add 6 drops of your essential oil blend to 1oz (about 6 tsp) carrier oil. Good carrier oils for a massage oil are jojoba, sweet almond, and apricot kernel. But just about anything in your kitchen will work—no doubt the Greek Goddess Aphrodite anointed herself with good old olive oil ;)

May your Valentine’s Day bring you love and pleasure!

juniper stokes 6/28/19 juniper stokes 6/28/19

A DIY Essential Oil Travel Kit

Get ready for summer travel with a DIY essential oil travel kit! My top 3 essential oils for travel—plus easy aromatherapy recipes.

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I consider myself to be a pretty well-seasoned traveler, with nearly 40 countries and 6 continents under my belt. Over the years, I’ve refined my packing list, and I’m sharing my aromatherapy secrets here!

In order to cover as much as possible and still pack light for travel, you need multi-taskers! I’ve chosen 3 multi-tasking essential oils that just about have you covered for the following travel issues…can you guess what they are?

Boosting your immune system
A disinfectant
Cuts, scrapes, and bites
Rashes, bruises, and sunburns
Sore muscles and poor circulation
Headaches
Anxiety, stress, and insomnia
PMS & jet lag, depending on the circumstances
Insect repellent
Digestive issues
Smelling good and feeling good ;)

Read on for my top three essential oils—plus recipes!

Before we begin, important notes on safety:

As a rule, you should never use essential oils “neat”—or undiluted—on your skin. However, the following three oils are generally safe to apply undiluted on occasion—but only in small amounts (think 1 drop), and only for a limited time, and only on adults.
Excessive use of undiluted essential oils—even the generally safe ones here—can lead to sensitization over time. This means that you could be using an oil with no problems for quite awhile, and then one day have a terrible reaction from seemingly out of nowhere. Plus, sensitization lasts. If it happens to you, you’ll have to say goodbye to one of your favorite oils, perhaps permanently.
The following advice is for ADULTS ONLY. Children and animals have very different needs and tolerances. If you’re interested in more child-safe recipes or pet-safe information, let me know in the comments or contact me directly—I’ll see what I can do!

My Top 3 Essential Oils for Travel

When you’re traveling light and your liquid carry-on bag is already stuffed to the brim, you need multi-taskers! Together, the following three oils should have you covered for just about anything you need.

I recommend bringing a 1oz plastic spray bottle and a small bottle of unscented lotion with you. This will give you an easy way to dilute whichever essential oil or oil blend you need on the go.

Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)

This is my number one essential oil for travel. I actually carry a little bottle of tea tree in my purse year round. Why? Tea tree is a mega antibacterial and anti-fungal powerhouse.

Physically, tea tree reduces infections, supports the immune system, and is even useful for the respiratory system.

Emotionally and spiritually, tea tree uplifts the spirits and gives you confidence and strength.

During your travels:

If your skin goes a wee bit crazy during travel, try dabbing a bit of tea tree oil on zits and other trouble spots.
Use tea tree on cuts and scrapes to prevent infection. True story: I was once bitten by a stray cat on an island in Thailand. I immediately put tea tree on the bite and repeated every few hours. No infection emerged and the bite healed quickly!
Stinky shoes? Summer travel means sweaty feet, and sweaty feet can mean stinky shoes . . . which can then lead to stinky car rides and hotel rooms. Add 10 drops tea tree to 1oz water in your spray bottle, and spray the inside of your shoes between each use. (You can also do half tea tree and half lavender for this!)
Sore throat? Need mouthwash on the go? Mix up to 3 drops of tea tree oil in one inch of water for a gargle—just make sure not to swallow and use high quality organic tea tree. Tea tree’s antibacterial properties will kill germs, preventing illness and bad breath. (If you have extra room, there’s a recipe for a mouthwash below.)

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Lavender is a great all-around essential oil, helping with everything from bruises and scratches to relaxation and de-stressing.

Physically, lavender has wonderful anti-inflammatory properties, which make it helpful for sore muscles, bruises, rashes, and other skin irritations. Plus, it’s just about the best essential oil out there for burns. Like tea tree, lavender has antibacterial properties—using lavender and tea tree together creates a powerful synergy for treating infections and wounds.

Emotionally and spiritually, lavender is soothing and harmonizing. It can help with anxiety, depression, stress, and insomnia. Plus, it works to harmonize all chakras.

During your travels:

New environments and time zones can make regular sleep difficult. Try dabbing a bit of lavender essential oil on the edges of sheets and pillows to help you calm down, relax, and sleep deeply. You can also mix 6 drops lavender in a 1oz spray bottle and mist your room, the bed, and even your face.
You can also use this mist if travel makes you anxious. Close your eyes, mist your face, and inhale deeply as needed.
Lavender is great for sore muscles, bruises, and other skin irritations. Mix 1 drop lavender into a generous amount of lotion and massage into your skin. (I love a bringing healing balm made of lavender and tea tree for this, too).
Too much time in the sun? Lavender is the number one oil for burns. The mist or lotion from above will work, but aloe jelly is even better. Add 10 drops to a 1oz bottle filled with aloe for maximum relief.

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)

A high-quality peppermint oil is another great addition to your essential oil travel kit, as it helps with loads of jet lag symptoms.

Physically, peppermint increases circulation, eases nausea, and supports the respiratory system.

Emotionally and spiritually, peppermint is energizing, uplifting, and good for mental clarity.

Travel tummy issues? Peppermint soothes the digestive system and can help relieve nausea and flatulence. Try rubbing a bit of peppermint oil onto your belly for almost instant relief (mix 1 drop with a bit of lotion or oil in the palm of your hand).
Swollen ankles and sore muscles from long airplane or car rides? Massage in bit of peppermint lotion for increased circulation and tingly-good relief.
Peppermint’s circulatory effects can also help with headaches. Rub a bit of peppermint lotion into your temples, forehead, and the back of your neck for relief. Just be careful not to get any in your eyes.
When jet lag is giving you brain fog, peppermint comes to the rescue. Simply inhaling from the bottle will give you a good pick-me-up. I also like to rub a bit of peppermint lotion into my feet.
Bug bites are no fun, and I’m terrible with wanting scratch mosquito bites until they’re raw, but dabbing a tiny drop of peppermint oil directly onto a bite can help relieve the itching. I find that if I put one drop of peppermint directly on a mosquito bite as soon as I notice it, and then DO NOT SCRATCH (that part is important!), then the inflammation and redness go down and the itching stops.

The Recipes

Here are a some super simple recipes for when you have the luxury of bringing a few more items in your travel kit . . .

Aromatherapy Sprays

To make each spray, simply combine the ingredients in a 1oz bottle and fill with water. Shake and spray!

Purification Spray

A simple, smell good spray to disinfect whatever needs disinfecting during your travels.

10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops lemongrass essential oil
½ tsp vodka or witch hazel

Uses: spray old clothes and inside bags/suitcases to keep clothes fresher longer, mist sheets and use as an air freshener, spray inside smelly shoes, clean up counters and toilet seats

Hand Sanitizer

A natural version to take on-the-go.

6 drops tangerine
6 drops lemon myrtle
6 drops lavender
½ tsp aloe vera
½ tsp vodka

Uses: spritz your hands and rub them together (no need to rinse), also great for wiping down airplane trays

Bug Spray

5 drops citronella
4 drops Egyptian geranium
4 drops lemon eucalyptus
3 drops patchouli
3 drops Virginia cedarwood
2 drops catnip
½ tsp vodka or witch hazel

Uses: pray to prevent but bites as needed (an be used as a disinfectant, too)

Lotions

Here are a few of my favorite multipurpose travel lotions. To make each recipe, fill a 1oz bottle with natural, unscented lotion leaving a bit of space at the top, add the essential oils, and shake vigorously.

Balance Blend

This blend is supportive for jet lag, PMS, and general emotional balancing—plus, it has skin-soothing properties and smells divine.

8 drops lavender
8 drops geranium
8 drops clary sage

Sore Muscles Blend

Another great all around blend, this reduces pain in sore muscles and increases circulation for swollen joints. It also can help relieve headaches when applied to the back of the neck and temples and indigestion when massaged into the stomach. Plus, it can help open the airways when you’ve caught a cold and wake you up when it’s time to get moving.

8 drops cypress
8 drops peppermint
8 drops eucalyptus

Digestive Blend

Massage this into your belly for nausea and digestive support.

5 drops cardamom
5 drops Roman chamomile
5 drops laurel leaf

Mouthwash

Mouthwash Stock Blend

As promised, here’s my mouthwash recipe. To use, add about 2 drops to an inch of water, then swish, gargle, rinse, and try not to swallow. Make sure to buy organic essential oils. Then, fill a 5ml essential oil bottle with:

60 drops tea tree
30 drops myrrh
10 drops clove

Sourcing Your Essential Oils

Wondering where to get started?

There are a lot of great essential oil companies…and some pretty terrible ones. Choosing quality essential oils will be a post of its own. This post has my best tips!

Happy making and happy travels!

Psst — Flower essences are some of my favorite travel companions too! Check out this free guide to learn more about how amazing these little elixirs are :)

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