|
|
I would rather
teach a person
how to find
their joy,
passion, creativity
than anything else.
|
Sites:
-Joan Clark's Palais Aromaetica
-Powerful Passionate Women for Peace
-One World Flag-- intl symbol of diversity
-DoingIt!-- a journal of positive living
-Hyphenate Productions
-NCN
-PenMark Potions
-Rock and Roll Stories
Blogroll:
-Powerful Passionate Women for Peace
-Joan Clark on BoomerGirl.com
-One World Flag-- intl. symbol of diversity
-Flemming Funch's Ming the Mechanic
-Rock and Roll Grandma on BoomerGirl.com
Syndication:
 ![[Valid RSS]](http://www.newciv.org/pic/valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed")
|
|
|
  18 Nov 2008 @ 00:32
I am very excited about this issue of the Aromatic Goddess!-- the quarterly newsletter featuring updates on all of my work, articles, news and surprises.
Of special note is an article you won't find anywhere else-- "A Special Story from France, Mary Magdalene and the "Receiving of a Blend"-- detailing a new body of work inspired/downloaded from the Goddess herself.
Make a mental note: you can always find a new issue of the Aromatic Goddess newsletter for each quarter... linked in the right sidebar of this blog, and accessible, of course, from the home and news pages of www.joanclark.com.
|
|
|
|
  3 Jul 2008 @ 15:35
The other day as I was working with the catnip cuttings that I had collected from my garden our two cats happened to sneak a few and within minutes they were flying around the house having the time of their life.
Cats just love catnip and for Samsun and Solstice it was a little bit of heaven on earth-- but for our dog Spirit who is allergy senstive it was not so pleasant. So, I decided to make a catnip mist that would allow the cats to enjoy the benefits of the catnip but would keep our dog Spirit from experiencing allergy symptoms.
Solstice and Samsun are quite adventurous bengal cats and at first I was not sure that this was such a good idea but I wanted to see what I could create and the effects the mist would have. It was truly a kodak moment. The new Catnip Bliss Mist has a much more subtle affect than when I give them the fresh plant; however they still had a really good time.
We had two happy cats all afternoon. In fact they reminded me of the koala bears in Australia that eat eucalyptus leaves all day long. Those bears are so mellow and laid back and just enjoy life.
I had no idea when I misted the blend on hands and massaged it on Solstice what would happen. But as he began licking it off (which was perfect because I had created it so that they could do just that) he just got the most contented look on his face. Samsun came over and wanted to partake of the experience too, so I misted him with the Catnip Bliss and after he licked himself for a few minutes the two of them just had the greatest play time that ended with a nice long cat nap.
It's their favorite "good boys treat" here in our house now and if I leave the bottle out on the table I eventually find it on the floor where they are rolling it around. So,if you want a fabulous gift for your favorite feline I suggest you try our new "Catnip Bliss Mist" or create some of your own. It's a great natural "feel good" treat.
The Pet Alchemist line can be found on the www.JoanClark.com website.
More >
|
|
|
|
 3 Jul 2008 @ 14:31
Our dog Sabrina Moon is a hoot. Each night before she goes to bed she likes to partake of an aromatic cocktail--mine. I find her waiting patiently as I get ready for bed and as I place my glass of plant spirit water or aromatic tea down she begins to insist on sharing it with me. I understand why she likes her nightly night cap. Sabrina has irritable bowl syndrome and the hydrosols in the water help her stomach to relax and feel good. Her favorite flavors of course are the mints. She loves peppermint and spearmint, and her next two favorites are lavender and chamomile.
My husband and I get such a kick out of watching her savor her evening cocktail, however, recently her aromatic addiction had gone a bit too far. I was working with one of my clients and I had poured her a beverage that I had added some hydrosol to. As we were talking we heard some gulping and right there in front of us was Sabrina up on the chair indulging herself in my clients drink. Thankfully my client was a dog lover and we laughed it off.
Sabrina loves these plant spirit drinks. We sense that she knows they are good for her and we are also fully aware of the fact that these particular hydrosols that she enjoys have been used for centuries to assist the digestive tract in one way or another. Animals have a natural affinity with nature and they instinctualy know what can assist them. So it is wonderful to watch this natural wisdom in Sabrina unfold.
We have incorporated the hyrdrosols into her daily aromatic lifestyle and have seen some positive changes with her daily eliminations, her energy level and spirit as well.
If your pet has stomach distress, constipation, irritable bowl syndrome, or any immune system disorders I suggest adding a cap full of aromatic hydrosol to your pet's water bowl. I trust you will see wonderful results; and who knows-- maybe your pets will become hydrosol connoisseurs too.
Hydrosols for the season can be found on both the Summer Line and Pet Alchemist pages of my website.
|
|
|
|
 3 Jul 2008 @ 13:27
Yesterday it was hard for our dog Spirit to climb the front steps after he was outside for his walk. I have noticed for several weeks now that some days he is on top of his game and other days he is not. It's difficult for pet owners to watch our pets age and to see how thier quality of life begins to shift. Spirit-- once an avid ball player-- now just sits and watches other dogs chase the ball. Still content to be a part of the journey, but in a much more subtle way.
My husband David has built ramps for him around the house so he can get up and down from his favorite resting spots. This has helped his self esteem and his confidence.
We also massage Spirit with one of my favorite blends from our Pet Alchemist apothecary-- that seems to help Spirit's ailing and changing body quite a bit. It is our Arf-ritis Blend. It was created for our cocker spaniel Mattie after she had undergone hip surgery. She was in such pain and this blend helped support her pain management and offered her relief during the healing process.
When I use this blend as a nightly spa treatment for Spirit-- on those days when he is not feeling or doing so well-- I like to warm it up a bit before I massage it into him. As soon as he smells the blend he knows that it is time for nurturing and pampering. I like to administer it in the evening before he goes to sleep so that it can have time to penetrate more deeply into his aching muscles and joints.
David and I can always notice a big shift in Spirit's attitude, confidence and activity level after these treatments. His whole demeanor changes. As pet owners we know how great we feel when our pets feel good too.
Arf-ritis is a combination of angelica root, tarragon, birch, lavender, and arnica that is in a base of a variety of different infused oils (st.john's wort, arnica, lavender) and some flower essences.
I also like to apply the Arf-ritis Blend to Spirit when we are going on longer walks where there may be more physical activity. I just massage it into his hips and legs before we go and he is very aware of the additional support this blend offers him.
If your pet has any kind of stiffness, sore muscles, or is developing hip and joint pain or arthritic conditions I would suggest using our Arf-ritis Blend. Your pets will receive relief if used consistently-- and it will also make you feel better to see them feeling better as well.
Just one more healthy, natural way to assist your pet's quality of life and to help them adjust to the changes that are taking place in their bodies.
|
|
|
|
3 Jul 2008 @ 06:48
Summer is the time of the year our pets can experience fleas, ticks, hot spots, and seasonal allergies.
Our goal at the Pet Alchemist is to create natural products that will assist your pet/s in feeling strong and healthy. We believe the best way we can help our clients do this is by encouraging them to think prevention and to begin to incorporate an aromatic lifestyle program for their pet/s.
Keeping the immune system strong is the first line of defense and imperative to having a healthy happy pet. Diet and exercise are key elements in caring for our pets ' immune systems and we also believe that using aromatic products can also assist in this as well.
The use of essential oils in pet care products can help to bring more energy and vitality to your pets system. Essential oils like eucalyptus, ravensara, cajeput, peppermint, lavender, and rosemary are excellent ones that can assist with immune system support.
Our 12 year old dog Spirit was born with a very weak immune system. He was very fragile when we rescued him. In fact we were told that he was not expected to live very long. What we did immediately when we got him home was put him on an aroma-therapeutic program. Some of our favorite pet care products came from our work with Spirit. He helped us develop pet care blends that could offer support and relief as well as enhance the quality of life-- that all pets deserve.
His favorite blends are Ravensara Rub, Peppermint Peppy & Lavender Melody. All of these helped support him to grow strong and healthy.
Spirit's favorite time of the day is still when he gets his daily spa treatment. He knows that these products help him feel good; and who doesn't like a nice massage and some tender loving care?
For more on the complete Pet Alchemist natural pet care line please visit the Pet Alchemist page of www.JoanClark.com.
This season we encourage you to think "prevention" and begin an aromatic lifestyle program for your pet/s. Below we have listed some ways you can begin to incorporate plant spirit therapy into your pet/s daily routine and we also invite you to visit our website for a full list of all of our natural pet care products.
An Aromatic Pet Lifestyle For the Health & Care of Your Pet's Immune System:
- Put some aromatic hydrosol in your pet's drinking water. Peppermint, chamomile, lavender, all of these taste great and will assist the immune system. A tablespoon will do it.
- Massage your pets with an immune system blend to bring more vital energy into the system which can help keep away flea's, ticks, hot spots, etc.
- Use aromatic shampoo's and conditioners that have essential oils in them that boost the immune system. (see list of essential oils above).
- Use aromatic environmental mists and cleaning products that infuse into the environment scents that help the empower the immune system and also refreshen and cleanse the quality of air your pet breathes in.
Our desire is to help keep your pet healthy, happy and strong so if you are looking for a way to do that naturally, we invite you to try some of our products or give us a call if you have any questions.
|
|
|
|
 1 May 2008 @ 15:34
Greetings Goddesses!
I was thinking about Mother's Day recently and how as a child I LOVED this day. I would get so excited thinking about what I was going to give my mom and therefore spent endless hours making sure that the gift was something perfect and would put a smile on her face.
My favorite memory is the one Mother's Day that I spent all my money buying her what I thought was the most beautiful perfume in the world. It was called "Evening in Paris". It came in this beautiful blue bottle with the name etched across the front of it. I can not tell you how many trips my dad and I took back and forth to the dime store so I could smell it to make sure it was what I wanted to give her.
Once I purchase it-- each night before going to bed I would smell it and think how much my mother was going to love it. Mom always talked about going to Paris and taking all of us girls on a trip there and so this made the perfume even that more special because it was "Evening in Paris".
Each time I took a whiff of it-- I saw us in Paris and mom wearing this perfume. It would be the trip of a life time.
When the day finally arrived and as my Mother opened all of her gifts, I could hardly contain myself. I knew she was going to love it. As she opened the package I heard her gasp and then looked my way and said, "Oh, Joan it's lovely, and the bottle is so beautiful."
She dabbed a bit on her and gave me hug to thank me. It was such a wonderful moment for me. It was a life changing moment as I have reflected so many times-- because from that day forward I became obsessed with perfumes, scent, france, Paris, the whole idea of fragrance.
On one day, much later, when my sisters and my mom were sitting around talking about gifts and what she had gotten from us when we were little my sister Maria started to giggle and said, "Hey mom, do you remember that awful perfume Joan gave you that one year that you had to dump out because you could not stand the smell?"
My mother looked at her and then looked at me and said, "I loved the thought and care Joan; and dad told me how much time you took picking it out and I just could not disappoint you by telling you I did not like the fragrance. So I kept the bottle and put it on my dresser so you could see it. But I did have to empty the bottle."
I was grateful that she had not told me when I was younger. Something may have changed for me and I may not have found my passion for fragrance, scent and the work that I do now. A mother's wisdom. We all had a good laugh and yet because she had shown grace I had a life changing moment - we both did. Because from that moment on-- up until the year she died-- each year on special occasions she would purchase for me my favorite bottle of perfume. No matter the cost she would go purchase one for me or send someone else to do it; but I always got a special fragrance from her.
I still have all of them on my shelf. I don't use them any more, but they were the gate keepers of me finding my passion.
Mom and my sisters never got to travel to Paris and France together but I have-- and take other women there to immerse them in the fragrance of the land and the beauty, art and grace of fragrance.
I walk the streets, her essence is there with me, and every time I see a bottle of "Evening in Paris" I can't help but reverence it a bit.
When we cleared her home out after she passed away - tucked deeply inside one of her drawers wrapped in a beautiful hankie was that old bottle of "Evening in Paris".
So, on Mother's Day-- I celebrate my mother, her wisdom, her grace and the gift she bequeathed me: my journey into the world of fragrance and the beauty of that special bond that is between a mother and her child.
I hope that your Mother's Day is special. That you celebrate and honor the mother presence in your life in a very special way. And if you are looking for a beautiful way to express it with fragrance, I hope you will explore all of the wonderful scents of the Goddess at my website, created with gifts from the womb of nature-- the Goddess herself.
Mother Day Special-- Beautiful new sculptured pendants of (winged heart - Our Lady of Guadalupe - Mary Magdalene, Angel Mermaids) anointed with a Mother's Day ceremonial blend in a pretty pouch filled with lavender. $22.00 (limited supply).
 More >
|
|
|
|
 27 Mar 2008 @ 20:20
What Plant Spirit is Calling You This Season?
Each season we are blessed by the Goddess with a new signature - a new face of nature to guide us on our aromatic journey into wholenes, balance and harmony.
She graces us with plants, herbs, flowers,that will care, nurture and empower our bodies, minds and spirits.
If we listen, we will hear a calling. A plant spirit will be whispering to us to come and explore it. It can happen in a myraid of different ways-- and I can guarantee you this-- it will get your attention one way or another because it has something to share with you - something your soul is desiring to be revealed to you.
The plant that was trying to get my attention early this season was Lady Lavender. She kept calling me until one day when I was in the kitchen cutting a loaf of bread and I sliced through my finger.
I was moving way to fast and spinning out of control. I knew it and yet was not being aromatically responsible for myself. My husband said" what do you think that was about" I shrugged my shoulders and said, I don't know but a part of me was very clear what was going on.
I was doing alot of things I did not want to do. The "should's" had gotten a hold of me once again and it was the "should" finger that I cut. As I went to my lab to get the lavender to help assist me with the cut - I felt instant relief and my whole body calmed right down.
I sat on the couch and started to cry. Not from the pain of the cut but from the pain of not listening to my inner voice and not following my intuition. I know better than that and felt disappointed in myself. All the old tapes wanted to kick in but just then I heard the Lady's sweet voice.
"Breathe with me. Let me slow you down. Let me enter your energy field and help yo to release all the shoulds so you can get clear on what you truly want. Breathe with me and let me guide you to that place your spirit is seeking and what your heart is needs right now". For the next 8 hours I lathered myself in her essence and just became really quiet and listened. I got some good information about what was going on inside of myself and took the opportunity to make some shifts.
The spiritual energies of the plants are powerful allies and are here to help us on our awakening journey as well as to heal and assist our bodies and minds to be in greater health and wholeness. They can help us unite with more of our authentic essence.
Which one is calling you? How will it reveal itself to you this season? Will it be on a walk in the woods where you smell its scent and it speaks to you? Will it be in a dream where you see a vision of it? Will you have to use it for healing something you are going through? Pay attention a plant spirit essence is calling you.
Whatever way it comes to you - be open, be available to receive its wisdom, and to work with it in an intimate way. Don't miss out on your gift from nature this season.
Spring has many plant devas that are waking up and are ready to assist us on our sacred walk with the divine Goddess this season. Could it be the scent of lilac, white rose, mimosa, lemongrass, lemon verbena, eucalyptus or violet leaf?
I hope you will stop to hear it, get to know it. It has a message for you!
Aromatic Blessings,
Joan
The Goddess Aromaetica is full of beautiful spring products to help you with your seasonal journey with the Goddess. www.joanclark.com
|
|
|
|
27 Mar 2008 @ 18:10
The power of aromatherapy & plant spirit medicine By Joan Clark
March 25, 2008
Excerpted from my Aromatic Blessings column on BoomerGirl.com.
In our first Aromatic Blessings column I introduced you to my personal philosophy and how I wanted to share with you the power, magic and alchemy of aromatherapy, plant spirit medicine and woman’s organic and spiritual connection to the earth — its rhythms, seasonal shifts and changes.
We left off with the question — what is aromatherapy? Aromatherapy is the skilled use of natural aromatic plant oils to assist with emotional, physical and aesthetic well-being.
The skill of the aromatherapist is to understand how these plant spirit essences can nurture, pamper, heal and tend the body, mind and spirit, as well as to know the chemical make-up of each plant and the effects it can have on them — so they can be used and applied with safety and caution to produce the desired results.
What are essential oils?
Essential oils are the concentrated essences of the plant. They are extracted from different parts of the plants— root, seed, bark, leaf, fruit, flower, etc.
Since many essential oils come from common plants and flowers that most of us grow in our gardens we may feel when we begin to incorporate the use of essential oils in our daily lives that we are familiar with them. After all, they have graced our tables and added beauty to our environments, we have cooked with them, adorned our bodies with their scents and used them to clean our homes with.
We have a kinship with them and therefore have not had to pay much attention to the side of them that can be harmful if not used with caution, wisdom and care.
When aromatic plants are distilled their chemical make up is altered and they become medicines with very active and potent chemical constituents (the chemistry is altered when they change form— from raw material into essential oils). Essential oils are much more powerful than herbs and are not taken internally. Harm can be done if skill is not practiced in the application and use of essential oils.
The distillation process that the plants go through to become essential oils is similar to the self-distillation process we go through when our lives are not working for us any more or when an event takes place and changes our lives overnight. We enter a dark night of the soul experience and the raw unhealed, wounded parts of our personalities come forth. We surrender, forgive, awaken and through this process of transformation we are changed — spiritualized with a new awareness of our own inner strength, power and ability to transcend. We are rebirthed and connected with a much deeper part of our authentic essence. We are changed from the inside out.
Now we have a “new spirit” that only that inner walk-through-the-fire could have awakened in us. We have had an alchemical transformation and we have something new to share and with which to anoint the world.
The plants go through this same process as they are distilled so as to be used as deeper healing tools. The aromatic plants are gathered and then placed in a large vat of water— the temperature is raised and the steam moves through them. The stress on them allows what is inside of them to come forth and this is how they produce those beautiful droplets of their most essential oils. From the stress that is placed on them from the outside conditions of heat and pressure— alchemy inside of them is activated, they change form and the raw material is transformed.
The distillation process has changed the plant from raw material into a liquid essence. Some of us in the aromatherapy industry identify this new form as the spirit of the plant and feel that because of what the plant has gone through and what has taken place within the distillation process that the plant has become more than the sum of its parts. The plant has released a new part of its essence that now can be used as a tool to support the human spirit as well as to nurture and help assist in encouraging the body’s natural healing system to come more to the fore.
The aromatic plant — distilled to its essential oil — not only has a new form, but a new and powerful chemistry which must be respected, used with care, caution and awareness.
This is the alchemy that this alternative healing modality— the art and science of aromatherapy and plant spirit medicine— can offer those of us in the 21st century who are seeking natural ways to become more balanced, whole and self-aware of the body/mind/spirit presence within and without.
The aromatic garden is filled with plant spirit essences that would love to nurture you when you are feeling stressed, (lavender, chamomile, marjoram) calm you when you feel overwhelmed,(valerian, neroli, rosewood) support you when you need some extra energy (peppermint, fir, eucalyptus) inspire you when you need some inspiration (rose, jasmine, bergamot).
Nature has a way of taking us home to a part of ourselves. It allows us to breathe and see things in a different way.
Essential oils offer us the opportunity to bring the healing power of plants and nature into our lives each day. They invite us to embark on an aromatic lifestyle that works in harmony and balance with our own inner and outer alchemy.
I am excited to begin our journey with the individual plant spirit essences and look forward to sharing with you the gifts that these beautiful essences of nature have to offer us— one flower, one plant at a time. It’s going to be an amazing adventure!
|
|
|
|
27 Mar 2008 @ 18:08
Aromatherapy: An IntroductionAromatherapy, Plant Spirit Alchemy and Women's Spirituality By Joan Clark
Feb. 8, 2008
Excerpted from my Aromatic Blessings column on BoomerGirl.com.
I am delighted to be able to share with the readers of Boomer Girl a new column on aromatherapy and plant spirit medicine. Working with the plants has been a passion of mine for over 25 years, and now having an opportunity to write about these amazing gifts of nature and sharing this knowledge with a new audience of women of like mind and heart is a true blessing.
My sincere desire continues to be: to become a humble spokesperson for the plants. They have so many things to offer us on a daily basis. To be able to share some of my work, experiences, wisdom, stories, and personal insights that I have had with the plants will be a great joy.
The plants are as individual as we are and each of them have something special to offer, as we do. Like us, they are multi-dimensional but each with a special gift and quality of their own. They have the ability to provide us with not only relief from physical aches and pains and seasonal illnesses but they can also uplift our spirits, calm our emotions and provide us with clarity and insight as to what may be going on with us or within us on a deeper level.
Since this is going to be a regular column for Boomer Girl I believe we start from the beginning and take it a step at a time. What is aromatherapy and plant spirit medicine? How can we use it in the 2lst century to assist our body, mind and spirit? These are the first questions to consider; and then we begin working with the individual plants and how we can begin to incorporate them into our lives so we can begin living an aromatic lifestyle.
My personal specialty in working with the plants is what has been coined “subtle aromatherapy.” There are many different specialties in the field of plant spirit alchemy, but my heart has been drawn to the more energetic and spiritual aspect of what the plants come to offer us for a deeper inner connection with ourselves and the world in which we live. So, I will not only share with you the traditional and medicinal ways of using the plants but also the energetic and spiritual uses and ways they have been used and can be used in your own lives.
I invite you to think of nature as not only your physical apothecary but your spiritual one too. The gifts of earth not only care and nurture your body, but your spirit as well; and that is what I am excited to share with you in our journey together. I hope you will join me.
Until next time: What is aromatherapy? It is the skilled use of working with essential oils. Did I say skilled use? Remember that for our next aromatic discussion.
|
|
|
|
27 Mar 2008 @ 18:07
Joan Clark is an aromatic consultant, natural perfumer, educator, energy therapy practitioner and owner of her own line of essential oils and aromatic products –The Goddess Aromaetica. Joan hosts women’s retreats as well as aromatic travel adventures. She is an artist, writer and originator of Powerful Passionate Women for Peace.
Her web site is www.joanclark.com.
|
|
|
Downloads
To go directly to downloadable pdf's of quarterly newsletters, seasonal product line, class flyers, etc. please click below:
The Aromatic Goddess-- quarterly newsletter detailing news on all areas of the Aromaetica (please check back each season).
The Aromatic Goddess, Fall 2008
The Aromatic Goddess Introductory Issue-- for those new to my work, an introduction on all aspects of my work.
The Aromatic Goddess Introductory Issue
Goddess Aromaetica Seasonal Line for Summer 2008. I am proud to only offer oils, tinctures, blends, subtle aromatherapy, etc. in their season of strength. Please check back each quarter for the seasonal line.
Goddess Aromaetica Seasonal Line, Summer 2008
Pet Alchemist line-- a specialty line of natural petcare
Pet Alchemist Line
Joan of Art:
-Joan of Art Onesheet
-Sacred Heart Goddess Rattles
-Multimedia
Additional Product Information:
-B the Messenger line of empowering Goddess t-shirts
-The Moon Goddess Oracle Deck-- worldly wisdom... from everyday goddesses... like yourself!
Coming Soon-- information for the 2008 Moon Goddess Retreat and upcoming classes. |
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
| 3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
| 10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
| 17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
| 24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
|
|
