What's in your self-care toolkit? Many of my tools are inanimate. A lot of redirecting of unhealthy behaviors and creating boundaries. My tool-kit also includes physical items that help reduce my stress and set the mood for relaxation. What I use it based on what I need. Here are few items you will find in my toolkit and why I use them.
Essential Oils:
I use essential oils in several capacities-aromatherapy, baths, DIY skincare and cleaning products, as well as cooking.
The benefits vary based on what essential oil you choose. I will share the benefits of the three pictured.
Rose Essential Oil:
Rose absolute can relax and soothe stressed nerves, and is great for balancing mixed skin types. Diffuse a very small amount for relaxation, or apply in extremely small dilution.
Lavender Essential Oil:
Lavender is primarily sold for its relaxing abilities, but it is excellent for skin care as well. Diffuse, add a drop to a warm bath, or apply topically at 2-10% dilution.
Lemon Essential Oil:
Lemon oil is often used in cleaning agents, as it quickly and easily dissolves sticky residues and can clean away difficult grime. Topically, it can cleanse the skin. Aromatically, lemon has powerful uplifting properties. Diffuse, add to cleaning agents, apply directly to difficult-to-clean areas, or apply in 2-5% dilution
I have been obsessed with Nature's Fusions line of essential oils. They provide quality product at an amazing price. Check them out and tell me what you think.
Incense Sticks and Resins:
I use incense sticks as healthier option to spray air fresheners. I also use incense to help me get in the mood for meditation and yoga. I mainly use nag champa incense sticks. Sandalwood, one of the principle ingredients in Nag Champa, offers many aromatherapy benefits. It creates a calming effect, dispelling stress and thus opening access to deeper meditative states.
Resin is considered the original incense, as it comes from refined tree and plant sap and has been used all over the world for thousands of years. I personally love to use Frankincense and Myrrh. Both have been used since ancient times by civilizations in Africa and Mesopotamia.
Frankincense is one the most known substance when it comes to spiritual practice. It is also the famous incense from the bible thought to awaken a feeling of union with the divine. Frankincense has purifying and relaxing qualities and is thought to strengthen willpower, self-confidence and determination. Myrrh is often paired with frankincense is associated with spiritual awareness, meditation, prayer and well-being.
Smudging Sticks:
Smudge sticks are usually made with dried leaves and flowers that are known for their spiritual qualities. It is an ancient tool used in many native communities. My go to smudge stick is sage.
The use of sage is for healing. The smoke is used to bless, cleanse and heal the person or object being smudged. Sage is used to 'wash off' the outside world when one enters ceremony or other sacred space. Objects are likewise washed off with sage medicine smoke to rid them of unwanted influences.
Semi-Precious Stones and Crystal
Crystal healing is an “ancient metaphysical art” that can help bring balance and prosperity to your life through vibrations. Azalea Lee says, “The vibratory harmonics of individual crystals and stones are used to help calibrate the vibrations in an individuals psychic aura, much like a tuning fork can help one find the correct pitch.”
I love to use clear quartz and amethyst.
Clear Quartz is known as the "master healer" and will amplify energy and thought, as well as the effect of other crystals. It absorbs, stores, releases and regulates energy
Amethyst is a meditative and calming stone which works in the emotional, spiritual, and physical planes to promote calm, balance, and peace. It is also used to eliminate impatience.
Flowers:
As an artist I believe what you see impacts how you feel. If you see beauty it will possibly make you feel beautiful but it will definitely uplift your spirit. Flowers and plants are a great way to this and they have been used for centuries. I use flowers for aesthetic purposes as well as spiritual ones. There is a strong connection between flora and the spiritual realm. Keeping the right flowers close to you can increase divine connectedness. Explore each flower's unique power and meaning to see if they can enhance your spiritual life. I personal love making flowering baths for cleansing and grounding.
What are some of you must haves for your self-care toolkit?
