April is the second Spring month — a time to open your heart to the joy of being alive. It is the time to embrace optimism and hope for the present and the future. The essential oils for this month are Orange for joy, Mandarin for optimism, Petitgrain for harmonious relationships, and Bergamot for hope.
Orange
Best essential oil for joy.
Joy is not in things; it is in us.
— Richard Wagner
Latin Name: Citrus sinensis
Extracted From: Fruit rind
Psychological Properties: Uplifts. Eases minor depression. Eases stress and tension. Relieves boredom and worry.
Subtle Properties: Promotes joy and delight. Brings in positive energy with its "sunlight" quality. Associated with the hummingbird in the animal kingdom.
April 1
Aromatic affirmation with Orange
Sit quietly. Close your eyes. Take three slow, relaxed, deep breaths. Open your eyes. Put a drop of Orange on a tissue and inhale the aroma through your nose. Pause and inhale again. Say out loud or internally the following affirmation: "I am joyful. It is wonderful to be alive."
Orange helps you to discover and experience the joy that is in your life, here and now.
April 2
Aromatic emotional self-discovery with Orange
Sit quietly. Close your eyes. Take three slow, relaxed, deep breaths. Open your eyes. Put a drop of Orange on a tissue and inhale the aroma through your nose. Pause and inhale again. Ask yourself the following questions and jot down your answers on a piece of paper.
• What does "joy" mean to me?
• What areas of my life bring me joy?
• In what areas of my life do I give joy?
• Do I notice and make the most of opportunities for joy? If not, why not?
• How do I benefit from joy?
Inhale the aroma of Orange again and imagine that you are breathing in a sense of joy. Review your answers to the above questions. Reflect and jot down any additional notes.
Orange helps you to experience joy and to identify opportunities in your life to be joyous. It also helps you bring joy to others.
April 3
Aromatic clearing ceremony with Orange
While standing comfortably with your feet slightly apart, close your eyes. Take three slow, relaxed, deep breaths. Open your eyes. Put a drop of Orange on a tissue and inhale the aroma through your nose. Pause and inhale again. With your dominant hand, make three counterclockwise (up on the left, down on the right) circles in front of your forehead, then your heart, and lastly, your stomach area, without touching. Raise your hand in front of your mouth and blow forcefully across your palm with the intention that you are releasing all that interferes with your being able to experience joy. Inhale Orange again. Feel yourself free to feel and embrace joy.
Orange helps you to clear away and release what prevents you from experiencing joy.
April 4
Aromatic blessing with Orange
Sit quietly. Close your eyes. Take three slow, relaxed, deep breaths. Open your eyes. Put a drop of Orange on a tissue and inhale the aroma through your nose. Pause and inhale again. Create a blessing in which you name and bless the things that bring you joy in your life, both large and small. Say out loud or internally: "Bless ______ for the joy it brings to my life." When you are finished naming as many things as you like, end with, "I give thanks for all the joy that blesses my life."
Orange helps you to experience and know the blessing of joy in your life.
April 5
Aromatic activity with Orange
Sit quietly. Close your eyes. Take three slow, relaxed, deep breaths. Open your eyes. Put a drop of Orange on a tissue and inhale the aroma through your nose. Pause and inhale again. Think about what you can do today that will bring joy to someone. It can be someone who you know, such as a friend, or do not know, such as a clerk in a store. You might send a note of gratitude or a bouquet of flowers. You could help with chores or run an errand. You might simply give them a compliment. Intend that you will accomplish this today and then set out to do so.
Orange helps you to experience joy and naturally share it with others.
April 6
Aromatic visualization with Orange
Sit quietly. Close your eyes. Take three slow, relaxed, deep breaths. Open your eyes. Put a drop of Orange on a tissue and inhale the aroma through your nose. Pause and inhale again. Visualize a beautiful garden. Look at the sky and notice the magnificence of the sun. Become aware of the sunlight and how it generously permeates and nourishes everything in this garden. Feel its power and expanse. Sense the garden filling with joy and delight as it basks in the sunlight's splendor. Sense your body enveloped and saturated with this joyful radiance and be aware of the joy that is within you as it unfolds and ever expands.
Orange helps you to experience joy and grow ever more joyful.
April 7
Aromatic prayer with Orange
Sit quietly. Close your eyes. Take three slow, relaxed, deep breaths. Open your eyes. Put a drop of Orange on a tissue and inhale the aroma through your nose. Pause and inhale again. Pray out loud or internally: "May this be a time of joy and awakening in my body, mind, heart, and spirit. May I find joy, even in the smallest details of my life. May I experience joy each and every day, and share it with others in Your name. Amen."
Orange helps you to experience joy every day, in all things, and to embrace the opportunities to share it, in alignment with the Divine.
