Are you ready for heaven?

A few years ago, during a time of turmoil with a family member, whom I knew had not accepted Christ and, in fact, knew nothing about the Lord – I told him that he needed God in his life. His response was, "I don't need your God. We [his wife and he] have an angel looking over us."

Not only did his statement sadden me, but the near contradiction in terms (he believed in angels, but not God) brought a deeper sadness to my heart.

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me." - John 14:1

No amount of scripture or prayers has helped this young man and his wife, but they continue to remain in our daily prayers despite them casting us from their lives – calling us "delusional" in our beliefs.

As the recent years have progressed, I've seen more and more people turn away from the Lord. Even those who lacked a Bible-based church upbringing and knew nothing, are hardening their hearts.

People are taking sides more quickly and more firmly now

We all know the Lord will give people only so many chances and then their hearts will be hardened.

"Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: 'You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.'" - Matthew 13:14-15

Not too long after the conversation with this family member who believed in angels but not in God, I was praying for him, his wife and their young child when I suddenly stopped as the Holy Spirit spoke to me, clearly saying, "Stop. Their hearts are hardened. You must not worry or be sad for them – it is done. But you must continue to pray."

I finally found ease and comfort from this as it helped me to let go of the emotion tied to their spiritual removal from belief in God and from my agony over the estrangement from them that began over something having nothing to do with prayer or belief in God.

In the past couple of years I've seen more and more people taking sides. Some are coming to the Lord with a fervor and others are clearly taking the other side.

Television shows, movies, magazines, Internet and the news has become filled with explicit sex, drugs, and a fascination by many of things that are dead – from zombies to vampires.

Some of the most popular TV shows and movies today involve zombies, death and destructions (Game of Thrones as an example), bondage and masochism (50 Shades of Gray) and more. Meanwhile, simple romantic comedies can barely last a season on television. People want to see the blood and gore, death, sex and drugs before anything else.

Reality shows are popular because they revolve around turmoil and arguments.

It's no wonder minds are turning from God and toward that which lives on earth.

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." - 1 John 4:4

But there are those who DO believe

Meanwhile, those who do believe are gathering and bringing God's word to the masses in creative and new 21st century ways.

Don Piper, a minister and author of "90 Minutes in Heaven," ministers around the world and is now bringing his story to the big screen this fall. Producers have been focused on getting Piper's story right, scripturally based and even allowed Piper on the set throughout filming.

Producer Paul LaLonde has brought the first "Left Behind" book to the big screen too – it debuted in 2014 amidst criticism that it wasn't scripturally based enough. I've read the book series several times and seen the movie. LaLonde did a marvelous job on bringing the movie based on part of the first book in the series to film.

And he clearly is a believer.

Just because the movie wasn't full of scripture, doesn't mean it didn't compel some to pick up a Bible and begin reading, attending a Bible-based church or seeking someone who could tell them more about God.

A number of biblical movies have gone to film in recent years from Gibson's "Passion of the Christ" to "Noah" to "The Bible" - a mini series that covered a number of books of the Bible, among others.

"Heaven is for Real" was another movie based on the real story of Colton Burpo, a child who went to heaven during surgery and returned to life to talk about what he'd seen.

Dr. Mary Neal wrote "To Heaven and Back" about her experience of drowning while kayaking, going to heaven and returning back to life. Like Piper and Burpo, the experience changed her life.

It seems God is bringing His message to us loud and clear.

Heaven IS for real so we'd better be prepared

"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." - Matthew 25:13

It's more important than ever to be prepared. With social media, Internet websites, TV shows and movies spreading the message, there's no shortage of places to turn to for instruction.

Recently a different family member from the one with whom we are estranged, asked me to buy her a Bible. The mother of three boys and a stay at home Mom with no religious background, she knows she needs God in her life.

She asked me for a children's Bible – for herself to read and understand as well as for her children.

It matters not how we arrive at God's door, as long as we arrive – believing in Him, worshipping Him and walking in faith.

"And Peter said unto them, 'Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" - Acts 2:38

Enjoy those voices in your head

I was unable to fall asleep. Sitting in the recliner, not curled up in my warm bed, my world was spinning. It was the second ear infection in two months, vertigo rocking my world and nothing more I could do than recline, close my eyes and try to bring restorative sleep.

Saying prayers prior to sleep is what I do, always. So on this night I said those prayers:

"Lighten my darkness I beseech thee O Lord, and by thy great mercy defend me from all dangers and perils of this night, through the mercy of your son, my savior Jesus Christ." (1928 Book of Common Prayer)

"Lord Jesus be with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past. Be our companion in the way. Kindle our hearts and awaken hope that we may come to know you as you are revealed through scripture and the breaking of bread." (Book of Common Prayer, Evening Prayer)

They always comfort me and speak to the Holy Spirit for protection during the night. I am a great believer in the necessity of needing spiritual protection through the night, when you are at rest and not consciously wearing that protective armor of God.

Usually after saying the above prayers I fall into a restful, deep sleep. I'm happy to say that at 58 years old, I don't have a lot of the same sleep deprivation problems my peers do. I sleep pretty well.

Once in a while, however, I can't rest my mind as on this night a few weeks ago.

Oh those voices in my head

I began looking for something comforting to put my mind on. It was February and always a difficult month for me. My mother's birthday was Feb. 2nd, and she's been gone for 33 years. My father passed away in 2002 on Feb. 5, and my sister passed Feb. 19, 2013, after a long battle with congestive heart failure and a terrible six-week-long death process.

February is rough to plow through – but I have faith that each year it will become less complicated for me. In 2014, the first anniversary of my sister's passing and the horrific journey her hospice care entailed - I was ill for the entire six weeks. I never came out of my illness until after her anniversary had passed.

I couldn't let that happen again.

Nevertheless, within two weeks of the second anniversary of her death, here I was, stuck in the recliner again - this time with ear problems, vertigo and an inability to have the freedom to simply get up and walk around the house.

How could I sleep?

Using happy memories

I decided to use the happy memories instead of the sad ones.

I closed my eyes and  recalled my mother's voice - something I can still do all these years later. And so began the memory trail.

I remembered my father's voice and his last words to me, "I love you too, very much." Quite a statement for a man of faith, but who had a difficult time expression emotion to his family.

I remembered my sister's last words, "You are so beautiful," as she looked at me the last time she opened her eyes, hours before her death.

I can hear the cackle of her laugh, her dry sense of humor, how she said my name.

And so I moved on through the voices. This time I could take it further – to old friends and family. I remembered an old adult friend of my parents, Virginia Myers, who lived on a farm in Virginia where I loved to visit. I can hear Virginia's strong southern voice as clearly as if she's standing right here today.

And that brought delightful childhood memories with it.

Before I knew it, I had my brother's voice (he's still with us!), his laugh and his beautiful spontaneity. His son's voice - gone these 33 years too - is in my memory. Jimmy's voice was just like his father's once he'd become an adult.

As I traveled down the voice-memory road, I embarked even further than friends and family. Suddenly, there was Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh – two of my favorite actors, Julie Andrews singing "The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Music," Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire ... so many voices that have brought so much pleasure into my life.

What a blessing to be able to remember them all!

I began to hear Joel Osteen's voice and his latest message from the previous Sunday.

Soon I began to relax and sleep was approaching.

Listening to God

As I began to drift off, I realized I was hearing God's voice too. I had prayed for His protection during the night and he answered, bringing me the comfort of voices I have loved over the years, allowing them into my mind – uninterrupted.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." - Phillippians 4:6

Mindful mediation can come from many different ways and attempts. You simply have to still your mind and wait for the Lord to speak as I did on this one night.

Listen and He will speak. Listen to those wonderful memories inside your head for comfort and closeness.

The memories are sweet and kind. Concentrate on those, not the bad ones. Let go and let live.

I've read Outlander's 8 books, now what do I do?

I began panicking about three weeks ago.

I started reading the Outlander book series, by Diana Gabaldon, in mid-August of 2014, after watching the first episode of the STARZ show. I was hooked.

An avid reader who also loves time travel romances, it didn't take much for me to dive into the Outlander books, quickly becoming head over heels thoroughly wrapped up in the series of books.

It has taken me six months to finish the series of eight books – the eighth published just last year and, we hear from Gabaldon - not the final book either.

Nevertheless, I panicked three weeks ago when I started on book eight.  For six months I had opened my Kindle and read the books – a little each day – at breakfast, lunch, sometimes dinner and before bed. Yes readers, I do have a life, but anyone who loves to read knows that when you get hooked on a good book ... you just can't put it down.

I knew I'd no longer be able to pick up my Kindle and wonder what Jamie and Claire were up to on a daily basis. Where were Bree and Roger? William and Lord John? How was the Ridge doing? Fergus, Marsali and the children?

After six months, one begins to have these characters in the back of the mind all day. They become real, and in a small sense you can't wait to find out what they are doing.

In reality, it becomes "what is Gabaldon doing with them?"

Spoiler Alert

Read no further if you haven't read the books and don't want to know anything past where the  TV series left off.

Claire and Jamie from a scene in the Outlander TV series.
Claire is played by Catriona Balfe, Jamie by Scottish actor
Sam Heughan. 

Gabaldon's zest for history, all things Gaelic, smells and sights

You only have to read through the first book in the series to fall in love with Gabaldon's writing style. There are thousands of authors and books out there, some are very good - some not so good. But not all writers have a specific "style" that sets them apart from even the good writers.

Gabaldon is one of those writers who is set apart. Stephen King is another. Their styles are totally different as is the genre of their works. Nevertheless, their writing styles are so distinctive that one is drawn into their books like a moth to light.

Gabaldon has sucked me in with her vivid descriptions of the smells, odors, fragrances surrounding the characters. You could almost sense yourself sharing those smells with Claire as she describes the smell of a tavern (ordinary) - the smell of unwashed bodies, sweat, beer, cheese, wood smoke, cooking ham and more. You get the picture – or the smell anyway.

She describes the terrain so perfectly - whether it's the highlands of Scotland, the muddy, dirtiness of 18th century Edinburgh (or Philadelphia) or the mountains of North Carolina.

Claire's healing ability is featured throughout every book. Going from nurse to physician in the 20th century and back to the 18th century, where she takes her vast surgical healing skills and customizes them for the times. She becomes "conjure woman" - a healer - a physician.

Claire makes use of what is available to her - herbs, oils that she makes - to ether, penicillin, a make-shift stethoscope and microscope, even acupuncture needles; she  always figures it out. From fixing a crushed finger to surgery and amputation during war, to delivering babies, eye care, dental care and more - she finds a way; always sticking to the physician's oath she took back in the 20th century.

Can you speak Gaelic?

Gabaldon makes use of the Gaelic language throughout her books - yet always explains what the phrase means. By the time I finished the eighth book, I found myself fascinated by the Gaelic phrases - using them from time to time.

I caught myself using ken and kent instead of "know." And instead of telling someone to worry, I was saying, "dinna fash." Now, everyone I know is looking at me like I'm a lunatic.

Don't mind me, it's Outlander fever.

How did I miss Outlander 20 years ago?

Diana Gabaldon is the author of the Outlander series.

How I missed finding Gabaldon's series 20+ years ago when it first came out, I have no idea. Those were the days when one HAD to go into a bookstore and peruse the shelves. There wasn't Amazon or online shopping; no Kindles or Nooks to pave the way. One had to buy or borrow a physical book.

After about 55 years of reading physical books, I caved in and bought a Kindle a few years ago and it usually goes with me wherever I go. It's one less thing to clean (meaning no book sitting on a shelf) and now I can lay in bed and hold my Kindle, backlit and able to read easily enough. All of my Outlander books are on my Kindle.

I loved being able to click on a word to know the meaning. Because as any Gabaldon fan knows, Diana is a scholar and researcher, she is well versed in her vocabulary and strove throughout her books to not only use words native to the 18th century, but descriptive words that I had to find the meaning to in order to understand a sentence. The books are a history lesson with fascinating characters.

Gabaldon is not just the creator of this fabulous fiction series, but holy smokes - she's smart as a whip!

The cast of characters

With the STARZ series having begun broadcasting last August, Outlander fans now know what Claire and Jamie look like, Dougal, Geillis, Colum, Murtaugh, Black Jack Randall and Frank, and others native to the first book in the series.

It's been wonderful to read the books and picture Claire and Jamie growing old and I can't wait to see who is picked to portray other main characters on the show, such as Brianna, Roger, Fergus, Marsali, Ian the son of Jenny and Ian Murray, William and Lord John - to name a few.

Then there are the other time travelers, the characters we do know from history – Benedict Arnold, Marquis de Lafayette, George Washington, Sam Adams and others.

I can only hope to write as well as Gabaldon

As a writer of mostly historical accounts, I have loved Gabaldon's description of her early years of writing ... from her desk, without traveling all over the world. She did her research the old-fashioned way - through libraries and books and yes, the Internet.

And she's still managed to write a series of epic proportions.

Now that I've got some time on my hands, perhaps I can finally finish my nonfiction book on the heinous crimes of Dr. George Fraker.

After all, Diana Gabaldon has inspired me to get moving.

Meanwhile, she is working on book 9. Just what will Jamie and Claire be up to next?

Robin Williams – the world has lost its own Peter Pan

As a very young adult, I watched a goofy TV show called "Mork and Mindy," in which this hilarious alien lands, in an egg-ship, on earth and befriends a young woman named Mindy.

The show would be considered silly by today's standards, which embraces more blood, gore and sex on TV than comedy – but I loved it. Moreover, I loved Robin Williams.

I had always wanted to be an actress, but never had the courage to become one. I always had so much respect for those who pursued that dream, especially those who were comedians. Laughter is one of the greatest stress relievers there is – it brings joy, abundance and helps you forget about  your troubles, if only for a few moments.

Robin Williams was genius at bringing laughter to each person who witnessed his comedy. He was quick on the draw, his repertoire was fast and deep-rooted. Whether he was on a talk show, entertaining the troops, being interviewed on the fly or simply acting in a movie, his wit was fast and always funny.

I've seen many of his movies, but not all of them. I preferred the funny Robin over the serious one. Just my preference – it has no bearing on his acting ability, which I believe was outstanding in every way.

Robin Williams with that Peter Pan-ish
mischievous look that was his signature.

His performance in Mrs. Doubtfire stands out as one of his best comedic performances and I've seen that movie a hundred times. His turn as the ultimate young boy in Peter Pan is yet another performance where he took a serious role and turned it back toward childhood, showing we really never should grow up.

Williams was Patch Adams, and I believe he played Teddy Roosevelt better than the man himself in Night at the Museum. His character of Seymour Parrish in One Hour Photo was terrifyingly real – he could play a psycho very easily, channeling his tenacious wit into an obsessive/compulsive fatal attraction character.

There was no other actor who could have played Popeye except Williams. Then there were the animated movies, Aladdin and Happy Feet, to name a few – even when he was putting on an accent, you knew it was Williams in the role. No one could ever duplicate him.

I tried to watch his recent TV show, The Crazy Ones, last season – being the dedicated fan that I am, but found Williams the only entertaining part of that show. If he couldn't be himself, whether funny or serious – it just didn't work.

The man faced demons all his life, like so many others who are artists, it seems as if you aren't the best if you aren't just a little "off" in the head. You can have great success, money, fame – the best novels, best acting career, best paintings – but the caveat is the torture you go through inside your head.

Williams wasn't the first and he won't be the last.

I am saddened that he made it 63 years and gave up. Did he know how many of us? How many hundreds of thousands of us loved him? We loved him for his humor, his sadness, the great joy he brought to us no matter what he was doing.

If anything, I pray that Williams' untimely death by his own hand brings light and attention to the many who suffer from depression, addiction and other mental illnesses. I have been there and I know so many others who have as well.

There is a way out that doesn't include death. This year alone I had two friends reach out to me who were considering suicide. I reacted to both contacts immediately and both are still with us, though sadly, one will no longer speak to me because I interfered.

Call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Life is to be valued and treasured. Who knows how many lives may now be saved because Williams took his own.

I will forever look at the man as the boy who just didn't want to grow up – Peter Pan. He's flown off to Never Never Land, where he can play with the Lost Boys and hang with Tinker Bell, somewhere "second star to the right and straight on till morning."

So long Robin, we will miss you. Na-Nu, Na-Nu

Essential Oils for first aid - part two

An essential oil first aid kit is one of the most important parts of your medicine cabinet. It is also helpful to create a second kit in small 5/8 dram or 1 dram sizes – cobalt or amber colored. You can fill five or six of these with your "can't live without blends" and carry in your purse in a small pouch. Don't forget to label them!

In our last blog, I provided the recipe for a Bruise Blend and a general First Aid Blend. Another useful oil to carry around is not a blend, but an individual essential oil – lavender.

Lavender has a multitude of uses, smells delightful, and can be used without diluting with carrier oils.

How to use lavender essential oil

Firstly, be sure you are purchasing an organically grown, low-steam distilled lavender essential oil, or you won't obtain the healing properties intended. Heating essential oils burns off their therapeutic qualities.

Again, Mountain Rose Herbs is the best place I've found for quality and efficacy in oils.

To apply: place a few drops of lavender essential oil on the affected area; diffuse with a cold diffuser/nebulizer, not heated; place several drops of lavender essential oil into the palm of your hand, rub your palms together and place your hands over your nose and inhale/exhale three times - deeply. You may also apply the oils to the soles of your feet.

Lavender's properties:

• Antiseptic
• Analgesic
• Anti-tumoral
• Anti-convulsant
• Sedative
• Anti-inflammatory
• Cleansing cuts and wounds
• Wonderful for skin care
• Soothing for burns and sunburn
• Relaxing

24 Uses for Lavender Essential Oil

• Rub lavender oils on the feet for an overall calming effect on the body.
• Add a drop or two of lavender oil to a tissue or cotton ball and place inside your pillow case to aid in sleep.
• Place 1-2 drops of lavender essential oil on a bee sting or insect bite to stop itching and reduce swelling. Note: lavender essential oil is NOT a substitute for counter-acting an insect sting if the person is allergic and needs medical care immediately.
• Place 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil on a minor burn to decrease pain. May be applied as often as needed.
• Mix several drops of lavender essential oil with cold pressed extra virgin olive oil and use topically on eczema and dermatitis.
• Place several drops of lavender essential oil on a minor cut to help stop the bleeding.
• To alleviate the symptoms of motion sickness, put a drop of lavender essential oil on the end of the tongue or around the navel or behind the ears.
• To stop a nosebleed, put a drop of lavender essential oil on a tissue and wrap it around a small chip of ice. Push the tissue-covered ice chip under the middle of the top lip to the base of the nose and hold as long as comfortable or until the bleeding stops. Be careful not to freeze the lip or gum.
• Rub a drop of lavender essential oil on chapped or sunburned lips.
• Rub a drop of lavender essential oil on the bridge of the nose to aid in blocking tear ducts.
• Rub lavender essential oil on dry or chapped skin.
• To reduce or minimize the formation of scar tissue, massage lavender essential oil on and around the affected area.
• Rub 2-4 drops of lavender essential oil on the armpit to act as a deodorant.
• Rub a drop of lavender essential oil between your palms and inhale deeply to alleviate the symptoms of hay fever.
• Rub several drops of lavender essential oil into the scalp to aid in eliminating dandruff.
• Place a few drops of lavender essential oil on a cotton ball and place in your linen closet to scent the linens, and repel moths and insects.
• Place a few drops of lavender essential oil in your water fountain to scent the air, kill bacteria, and prolong the time between cleanings.
• Rub a drop of lavender essential oil on a corn, callous or bunion mornings and evenings.
• Place a few drops of lavender essential oil on a wet cloth, such as a wash cloth, and toss into the dryer to deodorize and freshen your laundry – in place of a dryer sheet.
• Put a drop of lavender essential oil on a cold sore to soothe it.
• Diffuse lavender essential oil to alleviate the symptoms of allergies.
• Spritz several drops of lavender essential oil, mixed with distilled water on a sunburn to decrease pain. You can also add a little aloe as well, instead of the distilled water. Note: Always use a glass spritzer bottle when working with essential oils. Plastic will only work when you have the oils diluted with something such as distilled water, vinegar or rubbing alcohol.
• Drop lavender essential oil on a cut to clean the wound, disinfect it and kill bacteria.
• Apply 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil to a rash to stop the itching, soothe and heal the skin.

Lavender works well with just about any essential oil

The best companion oils for lavender include: any citrus oil, such as lemon, tangerine, orange, grapefruit and lime; clary sage and geranium. However, lavender can be combined with any essential oil.

Tea Tree Oil and Lavender

Tea Tree oil (melaleuca alternifolia) comes from the myrtle botanical family, native to Australia. Tea tree is anti-infectious, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, neurotonic and analgesic – just to name a few of it's fabulous properties.

Tea tree oil works well to cleanse the home too. It's great to use to wipe down surfaces, but using 20-30 drops in a glass spritzer and adding distilled water to the container as well. Spray and wipe down door handles, counters, light switches, bathroom objects, etc.

Tea tree oil can be diffused with a nebulizer to help disinfect the home and eliminate odors.

But more on tea tree oil's individual uses in another blog.

Lavender essential oil and can blended with Tea Tree to enhance the use of lavender oil. The anti-microbial, anti-bacterial properties of tea tree oil are wonderful as a first aid blend.

You can clean a small cut with the blend, use it to soothe a rash, sunburn or skin affliction.

Tip of the Day

Essential oils are subtle in use, volatile and are distilled from shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes and seeds. They oxygenate by helping to transport nutrients to the cells of the body. They are able to break through the cell receptor sites and, by doing so, help us to be healthier. Essential oils are highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way.

Always use therapeutic grade essential oils – that is – oils that come from plants organically grown and are carefully low temperature and long steam distilled.

Note: This information is intended for educational purposes only. These recipes are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are allergy prone or sensitive to scents, test the oils in small amounts. The essential oils are not for internal use. Anyone suffering from any disease, illness or injury should consult with a physician.

Essential oils for first aid - Part One

I am about as clumsy as anyone can get. I trip, I slam my fingers in the screen door, I've been caught by the dog's leash, I even recently had a box spring fall on me causing a lot of bruising. I always keep an essential oil first aid kit nearby for these incidents.

Essential oils, specially blended for first aid are a wonderful way to treat a bruise, cut, bug bite or other small injury immediately after the injury occurs.

Important to remember

Never just treat an injury with essential oils and forget about it. Be SURE to assess the situation and ask yourself these question:
• Is the injury bad enough to require stitches?
• What bit you? Was it a snake bite? Poisonous spider? Bee or wasp and are you allergic?
• Did the person hit his/her head hard enough to sustain a concussion?

Never simply substitute essential oils for a physician's or emergency room care. A bump or scrape or simple bug bite can easily be treated by essential oils, but serious injuries may very well require extended care – so be smart about what you use and when you use it.

How to handle a simple booboo that results in bruising

I also bruise very easily. I am light skinned and have always been that way. I love the way my bruise blend helps prevent bruising from occurring.

My favorite recipe:
• 3 drops helichrysum (excellent for pain, swelling and the bruising)
• 6 drops lavender
• 4 drops lemongrass
• 4 drops geranium (wonderful for skin regeneration)
• 3 drops peppermint
• 3 drops black pepper
• 5 drops arnica

Add the above to a glass essential oil bottle and fill to the top with a carrier oil, such as jojoba or extra virgin olive oil.

Apply 1-3 drops to the affected area, depending on how big the injury. One of the tricks to preventing bruising is to apply immediately after injury – waiting hours will still help with pain and swelling but will not prevent bruising/discoloration.

You can add a cold compress as well to prevent swelling and apply the oils as often as needed. One application is not enough.

Cypress and marjoram are also good oils to add as they help to strengthen the capillary walls that cause the bruising. Marjoram is great for aches and pains, however, that is also the job of the black pepper, arnica, helichrysum and peppermint in the recipe above.

Birch, clove and nutmeg (individually) can be added to the above recipe as well. Birch is an analgesic, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory. The clove and nutmeg can be especially helpful if there is deep tissue bruising and a great deal of pain.

Be sure that you label any blends you create so no one mistakenly uses oils from a bottle for another malady. Keep all bottles tightly sealed and away from sunlight. ALWAYS use glass bottles, amber or cobalt colored.

Do not apply anything with arnica in it to open wounds.

First Aid Blend

One should always take into consideration the type of wound and the whole body's reaction to the injury. This blend is truly meant for small wounds, small cuts, blisters, bug bites. It is also good in a pinch for pain relief such as from headaches.

Remember: assess all injuries and NEVER substitute essential oils for a trip to the emergency room or clinic if such a trip is required.

My favorite recipe:
• 10 drops lavender
• 10 drops birch
• 5 drops melaleuca (tea tree)
• 3 drops German (or Roman) chamomile
• 5 drops geranium
• 5 drops helichrysum

Add the above to a glass essential oil bottle and fill to the top with a carrier oil such as: jojoba, extra virgin olive oil, grape seed oil or sweet almond oil. Tighten lid and store in a cool dry place. Be sure to label the bottle before storing.

Apply 2-3 drops to injury and add a cold compress if a new injury, warm compress if old. Sometimes a warm, wet cloth is called for. Apply as needed.

You can alter this recipe to use strictly for bug bites by adding 5 drops of citronella and 3 drops of lemongrass.

Tip of the Day

Essential oils are the oldest and some of the most powerful therapeutic agents known. They have a lengthy history of use in healing and anointing throughout the ancient world. There are over 200 references to aromatics, incense and ointments in the Bible – both the Old & New Testaments.

Always use therapeutic grade essential oils – that is – oils that come from plants organically grown and are carefully low temperature and long steam distilled.

Note: This information is intended for educational purposes only. These recipes are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are allergy prone or sensitive to scents, test the oils in small amounts. The essential oils are not for internal use. Anyone suffering from any disease, illness or injury should consult with a physician.

Essential oil basics

Spring is in full bloom and summer isn't so far off. Folks are suffering from hay fever, bumps, bruises, pricks from those rose thorns – we're just over all a bit more active outdoors – and that brings on the slight injuries, sunburn, cuts and scrapes.

Since I began dabbling in aromatherapy nearly 20 years ago, I learned quickly to assemble a first aid kit to keep in the house and one in small bottles to carry with me. It takes time to assemble the blends, seal the bottles, label them, etc., so you don't want to be doing it when your child is standing in front of you, blood dripping from a skinned knee.

How to purchase quality oils

Firstly, when using essential oils it's important to always buy quality oils. They should come from organically grown plants and be low steam distilled. If you purchase cheap oils that have been heated during the distillation process, you will not achieve the healing you need. Cheap oils are great when you are wanting to put a little peppermint down to repel ants, but not for healing.

Secondly, be sure to test oils on a small spot on the sole of your foot before using. If you are highly allergic to a lot of things, then for sure check out each oil, so an Internet search for allergens with the oils. Most of all, always use a carrier oil, such as: extra virgin olive oil; sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, macadamia nut oil, hemp oil or rosehip oil.

A great store for buy organic essential oils, carrier oils and bottles is Mountain Rose Herbs. Young Living Oils is another wonderful source, but you have to be a consultant and member – it's network marketing. Most of Mountain Rose Herbs' oils are organically grown. They are of the highest quality and their customer service is outstanding, as are their prices.

A carrier oil will help to dilute the volatile essential oils. Volatile is the key word here. Just because you utilize essential oils by the drop, doesn't make them ineffective in small quantities. In fact, many oils are quite powerful in small quantities of drops.

Less is always more.

Recipes ... how to mix up the oils

This one stumped me when I first began working with oils. I had no idea what to do or how people figured this out. Sure enough, you can start with a recipe and as you learn more and more about the oils, then you can add some here or take some away there.

Hands down, the best book I've found out there is The Essential Oils Desk Reference, published by Life Science Publishing and used by Young Living Oils. It comes in hardcover and a smaller, spiral bound edition. It is expensive, but if you are serious about working with essential oils – this book is, well – essential.

The Essential Oils Desk Reference has a list of individual essential oils, their uses, their botanical family, plant original, extraction method, chemical constituents, actions, traditional uses, indications, other uses, application, fragrance influence, safety data and companion oils. Because this book is used by Young Living, it also lists the YL blends in which each individual oil is used. The book also contains Young Living's blends.

You can purchase the book online, even at Amazon. Though going directly to the link above, through the publisher, I found the book less expensive than elsewhere. You don't have to be a YL distributor to use this book. It has recipes in the back that I have used exclusively for the last 14 years, and I am no longer a YL distributor.

There are also specific techniques in the book for reflexology, vita flex and raindrop therapy.

I have personally developed my own shingles blend, bruise, first aid, respiratory support, pain-relief, stress-relief, skin moisturizer and more. When I am sick or hurting, I turn to the oils for relief.

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy is another good book full of great recipes, including perfumes and fragrances, gifts, etc., if you are interested.

How do you use essential oils

• Direct Application: Apply directly to the skin. Dilute most essential oils unless you've used them before and can tolerate them applied "neat." Dilute with a drop or two of carrier oil.
• Direct Inhalation: Place several drops of an essential oil or blend into the palm of your hand, rub your palms together, cup your hands over your nose and inhale/exhale several times. Be sure that when you use the oils you are keeping them out and away from your eyes and not getting the oils in direct contact with the eyes or nose – a little drop of peppermint on the nostril will make your eyes water!
• Layering: Rub an oil or blend onto an area and once it is dry, you rub another oil or blend onto the same area for additional benefits.
• Massage: Essential oils are wonderful when added to massage or reflexology treatments. You can mix 10-12 drops of your favorite essential oils or blend with one ounce of massage oil (carrier oil) and apply to the body. This is wonderful for the back, legs, arms, hands and feet. You can even rub it onto the ear lobes or temples for wonderful relief of stress.
• Bath: You can add 2-3 drops of essential oil such as lavender to your bath and soak off the day. Be careful not to slip when getting into the tub.
• Compress: I often place a warm or hot compress over an essential oil application in cases such as: kidney ailments, upset or nauseous tummy, aches, pains and bruises and headache.
• Bruising: A great recipe for bruising will be in a future blog. However, it is important to remember to add a few drops from your bruise blend to the bruise ASAP after injury. The quicker the better. I recently was throwing something into a dumpster when an entire box spring that someone had not secured into the dumpster carefully, fell on me. It bruised and scraped my wrist, forearm, elbow and back of the upper arm. I ran into the house immediately and applied my bruise blend and applied a COLD compress to keep the swelling down. I never turned blue on any of the injured spots - EXCEPT for the back of the upper arm – where I had not realized I had been injured. However, applying the bruise blend later gave me pain relief. By applying the blend immediately after injury, you can often prevent a bruise from forming and reduce healing time. You can apply the blend as often as needed.

Safe use of essential oils

• Always keep a bottle of carrier oil handy to dilute the oils.
• Keep bottles of oils tightly closed and stored away from direct sunlight.
• Keep oils out of reach of children.
• Women who are pregnant or nursing, or infants should not use essential oils unless recommended by their physician.
• Oils rich in menthol (such as peppermint) should not be used on the throat or neck of children under the age of 30 months.
• Citrus based oils can cause a sensitivity to sunlight. Avoid exposure to sunlight 3-6 hours after applying these oils.
• Keep oils away from the eyes – again – you've no idea how this will burn! In case of contact, be sure to wash out the eye with a vegetable oil, NOT water.
• Essential oils are not for internal use. However, a few drops of lemon essential oil to boiling water can give a wonderful lemony taste to pasta. You can add 1-2 drops of an herb essential oil such as basil, oregano, marjoram or thyme to a pasta sauce or other dish. Remember: less is more.
• If you are suffering from any disease, be sure to consult a physician before use.