Heady stuff, these white lilacs from my yard.  The scent of lilacs, while incredible, is difficult to capture for aromatherapy purposes.  Know that lilac scented products, i.e., soaps, cologne, etc. are most likely made from synthetic products.  I’m a “ain’t nothing but the real thing” kind of gal.  So, if you have access to one of the most fragrant flowers in the entire world then you may want to try your had at keeping this scent, synthetic free, for your own personal use.

According to Jeanne Rose, who is at the top of the list for Aromatherapists and a living legend, you can extract the scent but it is a laborious process, and she clearly states on her website that if you want to make lilac perfume you will have to do so yourself.

To make your own perfume use a 190 proof Everclear alcohol,  and have access to a lasting supply of blooming  purple lilacs.

Fill a sterile bottle, with a cover, with flowers.

Pour Everclear to cover and cap tightly.

Store in a cool, dark place.

When the color has been stripped from the flowers, remove them and add more flowers.

Continue this process until the lilacs have stopped blooming.

Store the “mother” bottle of dark purple extract in a cool dry place.

Dilute some of the mixture slightly with pure water and place it in a spritzer bottle to use – still keeping it in the refrigerator and out of the light.

Cut lilac flowers early in the morning, before the full sun has had its chance to vaporize all the dew and moisture from them.  Place them in smaller bottles or water glasses around your home.  The scent will lift your spirits and chase away the blues.

For an incredible peaceful night’s sleep, place a small vase of lilacs next your bed before retiring.  Sweet dreams will await you.

One note of caution:  every lilac bloom you pick will result in that branch not blooming for next year.  So do not exhaust your supply.  Pick what you need, and leave at least two-thirds of the flowers on your lilac bushes.

Tags: ain't nothing but the real thing, Jeanne Rose, lilacs

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a story about a dear friend, Carol Baker, who now resides in Spirit.  Since that post I have asked, in daily prayer, that Carol send me some sign, some inkling that she is all right and can “hear” my prayer.

Last evening I received an email from someone I knew from a couple of years ago.  She was updating me that she just completed the first year of nursing school, and was thanking me for my past support of her efforts.  She included a copy of her grades in the email.

I was ecstatic for my friend, as she is a phenomenal Mom, and one of the bravest women I have even known.  She set out from incredible challenges to get into nursing school, and deservedly she received excellent grades and will be a loving, nurturing care giver.

Scrolling down the email I saw the name of her primary advisor:  Carol Baker.

Coincidence?  Perhaps.

Answer to my prayers?  Definitely.

Tags: Carol Baker, coincidence, daily prayer, validation of belief system

Ah blade of grass I sought you out

From all the others.

Standing so tall and firm against the

Summer’s breeze.

You look like all the others –

Countless green stems bending to and fro

Taking heed on every command

The wind gives them, but not you, strong

And never yielding blade.

And if I should pluck you from your

Homey roots, your last victory would be

My bleeding hand.

You’ll wither, then die — leaving a

Scar upon my flesh as a searing reminder –

You are the victor.

So, I’ll caress you gently as the breeze does.

Watching you grow high above the others.

Proud, ever proud, your growth is boundless

As is my love.

Tags: blade of grass, jone victoria, the victor

I was working in the corporate office of “special divisions” for Howard Johnson’s in 1974.  To this day I have no idea what was special about it.  The people who worked for this company were, for the most part, awesome and professional.  My memories of the work, the richest tasting ice cream ev-ah! and friendships that I still have today, hold a “special division” in my heart.

One morning I came into work and noticed a thick, blue covered book placed squarely on my desk.  The title was A Treatise on White Magic or The Way of the Disciple, by Alice A. Bailey.  I cautiously leafed through the pages and a blue bookmark fell out with the following words:

The Great Invocation

From the point of Light within the Mind of God

Let light stream forth into the minds of men.

Let light descend on Earth.

From the point of Love within the Heart of God

Let love stream forth into the hearts of men.

May Christ return to Earth.*

From the centre where the Will of God is known

Let purpose guide the little wills of men -

The purpose which the Masters know and serve.

From the centre which we call the race of men

Let the Plan of Love and Light work out

And may it seal the door where evil dwells.

Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth.

~Master Djwhal Khul  aka D.K.

I could not for the life of me figure out who left me this book.  Born with an Aspy mind tinged with flakes of paranoia I mentally scrolled my internal rolodex to try and identify who was secretly guarding their own interest in deep esoteric studies.  Then the phone rang.  A female voice on the other end said, “I thought you would enjoy this book.”  After a brief stuttering on my part to say thank-you, the conversation ended.  I will always be grateful to K.E. for introducing me to the works of A.A.B., as her books are among my treasured library, despite my intolerance for A.A.B.’s personal bigoted beliefs.  Like everything I study, gleaning truth from written works is akin to cleaning the muck from oysters to find a pearl.

I’ve carried the Great Invocation with me since that day and have made it part of my daily prayer practice.  I felt compelled to share this with you today as words of power, spoken aloud,  illuminates the dark so all may see their unique path.

*May Christ return to Earth refers to the Universal Principle of Love & Wisdom

Tags: A Treatise on White Magic, Alice A. Bailey, Djwhal Khul, Howard Johnson's, May Christ return to Earth, The Great Invocation, The Tibetan, The Way of the Disciple, where evil dwells