Meditation is so good for the soul, and if you’re feeling stressed or in need of finding some peace it is a great way to tap back into that feeling.  However, it isn’t the only thing that you need to be able to cultivate the calm - there are some great essential oils that can help you achieve a similar effect, regardless of whether you meditate or not.  You see, as a specialist in understanding how the mind works, I see something different to what we are often taught; I see that we don’t really need to ‘meditate’ to fix ourselves, or even do anything to find our inner peace, because it is actually accessible at any point – if we know how life works (or if we have essential oils).

In this blog, I’ll explain how we can return to a meditative state using essential oils and a simple understanding about how life really works – even without actually meditating (though you can use these oils to support meditation practice too!).

How does peace really work then?

Within each of us is already an innate sense of peace.  It’s always in there, it’s just sometimes hiding under a whole load of thinking about all the things that cause us to not feel so calm.  So, when we are caught in our thought storms, we tend to feel like everything is going wrong and this is when we can feel stressed.  What’s really happening is there just a whole lot of misunderstanding and stressful thinking, that is covering over our inbuilt calm, making it more difficult to see!

We all know that meditation is a great way to tap back into this inbuilt calm, and we often realise that our thoughts are creating this stress, so many of us do incorporate some sort of meditation practice to help us feel better.  This is great, and there are many essential oils that can support this practice – if it calls to your soul to do this.   But there’s also good news for those of you who don’t necessarily take to meditation – you don’t need to do this practice in order to find your inner stillness.  Instead, you can use these same aromatherapy oils to induce a meditative state, and as long as you are doing something to keep you present in this moment, it is likely to have the same effect!  Generally, what you love is likely to be the thing that connects you to this moment, because it taps you back into your true nature.  So, the answer is simple; all you really need to do is something you really love, that you can ‘get lost in’ in this moment – and diffuse some essential oils at the same time!

Which essential oils aid a meditative state?

The beauty of essential oils is that they work with the body to help remind our body of its true state (in this case peacefulness).  When we were born, we weren’t born with stress, we were perfectly whole and happy (hence the yoga pose ‘Happy Baby,’ right?).  This is who we are, underneath all of the layers of life, and so all essential oils do is point us back to that!  

To incorporate essential oils for a more mindful state, all you really need to do is get a selection of oils and sense out which your body is called to, then use them in any way you choose.

To get started, it’d be really great to have a selection of relaxing and meditative oils in your kit.  These include:

• Frankincense
• Myrrh
• Sandalwood
• Neroli
• Vetivert
• Cedarwood
• Lavender
• Clary Sage
• Patchouli
• Ylang Ylang
• Bergamot
• Yuzu

These are all essential oils that can help cultivate a calm, peaceful and meditative state; but the most important thing to remember about selecting your oils is to do exactly what will tap you into what your soul needs.  So, when selecting your oils, do it intuitively – and allow yourself to be guided by your body.  What you like, you need; our bodies have an inborn intelligence, and we tend to forget this in life!  Often we can get into our thinking about how we need to ‘fix’ ourselves by looking to the external, and we might just blindly follow an essential oil recipe, or some tools and tips forcing us to meditate sitting cross-legged, without really tapping into what WE want and need.  That isn’t going to help us find that inner peace at all; it is only a pointer to how another person found their joy.  So, get exploring, play with the oils that tap you into your own natural space of calm.

Having said this, I’ll offer some beautiful blending formulas that you can try out in a safe way, if you want to begin exploring, but feel free to tweak the different oil scents to suit you.  This is your journey!

What might feel meditative?

Before we get to that, though, have you figured out what you might like to do to drop into that space of connection?  Often if we are really stuck in our heads, it can be difficult to see what we even love doing, especially if we are a little lost and really want to get back into a more mindful headspace.  So, here are a few ideas that might help you – along with some beautiful blends that might support doing these things more mindfully.

Journalling

One of my favourite things to do to drop into a meditative state is to journal, and if you’re a creative at heart this will really help you find some freedom.  I really get absorbed in writing and often it helps me just reconnect to who I am.  So, what better way to become more present than to allocate half an hour to write in your favourite journal, whilst diffusing some essential oils?

Suggested blend: Diffuse 3 drops Patchouli, 2 drops Frankincense and 2 drops Yuzu and allow the scent of this creative and meditative blend to infuse the air around you as you let your words flow onto the page.

Relaxing bath

It doesn’t have to be cold weather to have a bath if it is something you enjoy!  If you feel more at home in yourself by taking some time for nurturing self-care, why not have a meditative bath?  One of my favourite places is in the water and I do a lot of my ‘meditation’ there.  So, if this is something that taps you back into that zone of calm - that reminder of what’s already there – why not try this beautifully relaxing meditative bath blend?

Suggested blend: Mix 4 drops Bergamot, 2 drops Clary Sage and 1 drop Vetivert in 15ml Bath Oil or Bath & Shower Gel and add to your running bath water.  Shut all the doors and windows, and allow the scent of this relaxing, calming blend to bring you back home to yourself.

Walk in nature

Now, meditation doesn’t always have to be ‘still’ either.  Walking meditation is an actual thing, so a good old walk in nature is always an option, especially if you love being outdoors – I think nature is a great reminder of that intelligence behind life that moves us, and a good way to remember our natural inner peace.  Why not take some oils with you to enjoy along the way.

Suggested blend: Pop 1 drop Frankincense, 1 drop Myrrh and 1 drop Ylang Ylang on a cotton pad and place inside an Aromatherapy Inhaler. Sniff as and when required while on your walk to help you drop back into that innate inner peace.

Dancing

One of my favourite quotes is: “if dancing is restful and resting is stressful, then follow your soul.” - Martha Beck.  A meditative state of clear mind doesn’t have to be achieved by sitting still with crossed-legs on the floor.  If you are tapped back into your true nature and innate joy by dancing, then do just that!  This is a great way to drop you out of your head and back into your heart!

Suggested blend: As you dance, why not diffuse a beautiful blend of 3 drops Neroli, 3 drops Bergamot and 1 drop Cedarwood to help you get back into your true spirit?  Or, if you’re going out to dance, take an inhaler with you (with one drop of each oil on the cotton pad) to sniff – or even just pop a few drops of each oil onto a tissue and sniff that!

Yoga & meditation

Obviously, yoga and meditation couldn’t avoid being on the list because for many people (me included) it is something that helps you to become more meditative and connected to ourselves.  It’s just that we don’t have to meditate to achieve this!  However, if you LOVE meditation, then give this beautifully supportive blend a go.

Suggested blend: Diffuse 3 drops Sandalwood, 3 drops Patchouli and 1 drop Myrrh to support you whilst enjoying your yoga and meditation.

Having a matcha latte

One of my favourite things to do to tap me back into myself is to sneak off to a cute little café and have a matcha latte whilst watching the world go by.  It might be something entirely different for you that drops you into your sense of peace, so have a play and explore what you love doing and take some oils along to help you find that mindful place.

Suggested blend: Again, you can stay meditative on the move with an Aromatherapy Inhaler.  Choose your favourite oils and add 1 drop each of up to three different oils onto a cotton pad and place inside the inhalator. You could try 1 drop of Neroli, 1 drop Bergamot and 1 drop Sandalwood!

Knitting or reading

I wouldn’t have a clue on this one, but I know that many people find knitting or reading a good book very meditative!  So, if this is you, why not enjoy a beautiful blend in the background to boost that good feeling?

Suggested blend:  In a glass bowl mix 6 drops Lavender, 5 drops Yuzu and 5 drops Myrrh with 4 tablespoons of Himalayan Pink Salt and use as aromatic smelling salts to help you drop deeper into a state of calm.  A lovely way to find mindfulness in your favourite activity!

Exercise

Again, you can find peace anywhere and it doesn’t have to be in an activity that you might find less stimulating!  Many people find running meditative, and so if you’re the type of person that finds calm on the go, then get out there and enjoy your exercise!  

Suggested blend:  You can either take an Aromatherapy Inhaler with 1 drop each of three different oils, or you could diffuse the oils pre or post-work-out (or even during if you’re inside).  However, a really nice cool down to help continue the mindfulness you’ve cultivated during your activity is to end with a beautiful mindful massage!  Get those muscles to relax and drop into a lovely peaceful state after your workout by mixing 15ml Grapeseed oil with 2 drops Sandalwood, 2 drops Neroli and 2 drops Lavender. Rub this into your muscles post-workout in a direction towards the heart and allow yourself to rest.

So, I hope that you got the feeling of how meditating is less about forcing yourself to do something and more about reconnecting to yourself, however that is achieved.  There are so many beautiful aromatherapy oils to support a relaxing, mindful and meditative state – a return to our true peace – and you can really get creative with finding your blends in each moment.  Remember, this might change, moment to moment, so this is about being intuitive and sensing into what feels right for you, in each mindful second. Have a browse of our essential oil range to find the oils that are right for YOU, or if you really don't know where to start you could try our Relaxing or Sweet Dreams pure essential oil blends which we've expertly blended to encourage relaxation and calm.

Enjoy your blending and find your peace!