The Healing Garden

The garden as a vehicle of nature’s perfection and harmony is indeed a rich image. Throughout history and in the mythology of many countries, the image of the garden as a wellspring of spiritual and physical healing power emerges repeatedly. Realizing that herbal and healing gardens have been with us always, since when mankind was young, lends richness and depth to our connection with gardens and healing plants today. The garden was a place of innocence and knowledge. The garden was seen as a place of complete, natural harmony of body and mind. In the Old Testament, the garden of Eden is described as a place where boundless peace prevailed. Sweet smells filled the air and brilliant flowers shone like precious gems. The story of the Buddha and the “cosmic tree” offers an example of the Eastern view of the garden as a place one could attain deep peace and understanding. In Tibetan mythology, the goddess of healing brought fragrant healing plants to the world. The gardens she planted were capable of healing those who simply saw them or spent some time in them. Around 600 B.C. a famous king, Nebuchadnezzar created three acres of every type of tree, shrub, and flower for his Queen, a visual extravaganza. It became one of the seven wonders of the world, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. From Persia, the gardeners of medieval Europe learned to infuse the garden place with an expansiveness that nourished the spirit. The Japanese learned to use nature as a way to evoke various responses or moods in the viewer. Stones, tiny bonsai trees and shrubs, lanterns with the gentle light of candles were all part of their garden, which brought the understanding bond between the environment and well-being. I have gardened most of my life and there is no other place that I feel more at peace. If you need healing in your life, plant a garden. When you see the beauty in the garden, you will see it everywhere.
Jerry Hinton of The Natural Gait.
Sources: Growing and Using The Healing Herbs, by Gaea and Shandor Weiss. A wonderful book and guide for any interested in healing with herbs.
The Natural Gait

Aromatherapy for the Home

The practice of "Aromatherapy" is an interesting and fun form of therapy that any one of us can experiment with and develop into our own style of aromatherapy for relaxing and rejuvenating our daily lives. We sell many candles at The Natural Gaits Mercantile and find that most people enjoy candles in their home.

In the last few years there has been an overwhelming increase of interest in Aromatherapy, it seems that people are interest in different ways to improve their life quality, and since the Spa hotels have now become very common a lot of people had the opportunity of experiencing the sensation of Aromatherapy in one way or the other. Although a lot of people think that Aromatherapy is used mainly to induce a feeling of some sort or an ambiance to a room or space it is used many times in serious and much more medical oriented ways, it has been proved that Aromatherapy can effect a patient condition and in mild conditions even help the patient to a full recovery. Dating back many years Aromatherapy has been used by many cultures around the world, the latest phase is only another cycle of time in which Aromatherapy is popular once again. The basics of aromatherapy are based in the belief that natural things can help other living organisms, in general you might say that herbs and plants are sharing this planet with us and they also share some of the basic qualities of life with us humans, so it is also possible that the power of plants can be extracted from them to aid and help humans. Combining different plant odors can stimulate a response in anyone, you do not need to be an expert to know that certain smells are very clearly unpleasant as some others are distinctly calming and relaxing, it is also known that certain smell can be associated with feelings and memories, making the odor much more than a part of a scenery and more an active participant in the effect the environment has on us.Aromatherapy uses what it calls home therapy by using the oil and the plant extracts to create a relaxing environment, this basic concept is the most common in aromatherapy and is practiced by many around the world, the process of introducing the aroma to the space is usually done by using a burner that has a candle burning which heats an oil or water with some fragrant in it thus making the liquid evaporate. The materials usually used in the home are mostly eucalyptus oil that gives a very unique odor and will also assist many during the winter time, when it has the ability to clear the nose and make breathing a lot easier. Grapefruit oil is also used in the home therapy process and will also produce a lovely smell in the space it is used in, these aromatherapy oils will provide a solid base for relaxation and inner peace, if used correctly and if practiced in the right way the home Aromatherapy procedure can reduce stress levels and increase the harmony and peace in the house. Aromatherapy is a way we use odors to promote a state of peace and wellness, we can help our bodies and minds relax by introducing certain aromas to our homes, by doing that we will change our behavior and reduce our stress.
by Celia Namart an avid traveler and researcher, an avid travels and an enthusiast of alternative medicine