The Metaphysical Site

How To Create Holiday Atmosphere Anytime

Daylight is dim this afternoon, and big snowflakes are silently dancing to the frozen ground. Inside the warm and fragrant kitchen a girl is pressing her little nose against the window, observing the first snowfall of the year. Birds in the bare trees are busy picking sunflower seeds from the bird house. They drop the hulls to the ground. Next year, I am sure, some sunflowers will grow under the birdhouse. This happens every year.

A flickering candle from the kitchen table, reflected in the window, casts a warm and inviting glow into the frosty dusk. The cat meows, wanting into the warm home. The girl runs to the door to let the little furry one in. The cat, after all, is a member of the family, too.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, mother is busy kneading dough for the family's traditional Christmas cookies. It is a treasured recipe from grandmother, rich in fragrant spices that - at the same time - arouse and calm the senses. The room is filled with a bouquet of aroma, from mint-fresh peppermint, sun ripe oranges and lemon rind, to spicy cinnamon and clove.

The children are laughing, hands and aprons covered with white dust. All around them - flour and cookie dough! Tender music comes from the background, where grandfather plays old Christmas carols on his Zither. Mother and the bigger children sing.

Hearts laugh, as do the eyes of everyone here. You can feel the expectation of Christmas and joy in the room. It is pure happiness that reigns. Children have the wonderful ability to live fully in the present moment. "Happiness is - living in the present moment, in the reality of the here and now," says an ageless sage. "It is only in the present moment that we are in direct communication with God."

The children know nothing of terror and war. They never were hungry yet. Their parents did not go through the agony of not knowing, where the next meal for their family will come from. And the children laugh and play with the dough, sing with dedication, then fall silent for a second to savor the precious moment. This is the exciting time to prepare for Christmas!

Behind each picture, mother had placed a fragrant fir twig, freshly cut from the woods outdoors. Every year they decorate their home, to bring the Balsam Fir scent - true magic of Christmas - home and into their hearts. The third candle burns already on the Advent wreath - it is the candle of Joy. Christmas is not far away anymore!

Now, dear reader, take a mental picture of this scene of home sweet home. Then look in the eyes of your loved ones. What do you see? Are you baking Christmas cookies for your family yourself? Or do you buy the assorted Christmas tray from the grocery store? Maybe you bought the ready-made cookie dough to surprise your loved ones with home-made Christmas cookies. But sadly, the store bought Christmas cookies all taste alike. There is no spicy clove and warm cinnamon, no tangy lemon scent to catch your senses by surprise - and make you smile.

And where are your children? Are they computer freaks; listening to rap music on their ear phones; or chatting for hours on their cell phones? You desperately try to bring some Christmas harmony into your home. Maybe you light scented candles or burn aromatic oil over a candle for some Christmas atmosphere. Strangely, these artificial scents don't serve their purpose. They just make you headache or nauseated.

The Christmas tree in the living room corner no longer smells like fir; it is made of plastic. What a difference it made back then, when Christmas trees were freshly cut and brought indoors, bringing with it the wonderful Balsam Fir scent from the winter woods. Children hearts no longer sing as they used to, and giggle for excitement. They take everything for granted, including the expensive electronic gifts. And if they don't get what they want - boy, are you in for a family war!

The senses are dulled from synthetic aroma that is not only harmful to one's health, but also does nothing to uplift one's emotions. Could it be that synthetic smells contribute to brutality in our children and in the life of many an adult?

Do you want to give your family the true gift of Christmas: happy memories, peaceful emotions, a joyful heart. Then pamper your love ones with the heavenly scent of Christmas Spirit. Prepare a delightful holiday blend of essential oils using, for instance, orange, cinnamon and balsam fir. True and pure essential oils - the live essence of nature - are still ready to give you warm and unforgettable holiday memories.

It's a fact, true therapeutic-grade essential oils are the only substance of nature that can heal a broken heart, uplift a depressed spirit, fight off viruses and disease, give courage and hope, foster forgiveness, and support you in every way!

Is it any wonder then that the Three Wise Men brought three essential oils to the new-born King. The first Christmas Gifts were: Balsam Fir (which in those days was referred to as "Gold"), Frankincense and Myrrh. Give those true gifts of Christmas to your loved ones. Once considered more valuable than gold, they still are precious!

Bring Christmas Spirit home this season!

About the Author

Maria Schasteen is editor of aroma-essence.com, Nature's Most Trusted Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils Store. Look for Christmas Spirit, Joy, and Essence of the Season to support your Christmas holiday tradition, because scents stay with us forever.

Is it alright for to dance ballet 3 days after getting a sprained ankle?

I rolled my ankle yesterday in ballet class resulting in a loud pop and a sprain. I have a Christmas show in 2 days that I must dance on pointes. I'll be dancing in the Waltz of The Flowers and Snowflakes from The Nutcracker.

That pop you heard was probably your peroneal tendon - whether or not it came out of place or not is something only a Dr. can determine. If the tendon is out of place, it is potentially very serious and will prequire surgery - you will NOT be dancing....if it is still OK, but weak, a reinjury could pop it out of place.... Visit your Dr. again and ask him/her what to do - advice on this board is OK, but don't leave serious health decisions to what you read here.

BTW, what "strong" drug did your teacher recommend? I don't like the idea of "better dancing through chemistry".

Also, what did your teacher say about you being able to dance?

If you have ONLY one performance you might try to tape it up and tough it out, but realize that you might reinjure yourself in the middle of the number and be unable to finish - thus making yourself look bad and also the rest of the dancers in the number.

Bottom line, I'd stay off it and let things heal. I'd rather miss the Nutcracker than have to have $6k-8k worht of surgery.

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