Magic is such a nebulous term. I believe everyone possesses their own unique ability to create “magic” in everything they endeavor to do. One may “cast spells”, use guided imagery, meditate, or engage in other numerous activities that all in my opinion qualify as “magic”. I feel that magic is the essence of making things happen, making changes. In the art of perfumery too, magic plays no less a part. I would like to quote one of my favorite texts here on this point,The Magical and Ritual Use of Perfumes. “The essence of magic lies in psychosensory evocation or stimulation of the mind and body in a highly specified manner. The magicians use of ritual and an elaborate correspondance system is actually a form of communication with higher levels of being.”(1)

One day I was approached (rather confronted!) by a self-proclaimed high priestess of one order or other which I can’t recall. She outright told me that unless I ascribed to some set of beliefs or approved path of discipline I would fail in any purported “magical” undertaking. She then suggested a series of books that I could read to set me straight so to speak, and she proceeded to point them all out to me as I was browsing through the esoteric bookstore which I learned she was the owner of. Well, I thanked her for her recommendations and I did buy some of the books and promptly left.

After I had read through them, I found only further confirmation of my view that indeed, magic of itself is not based on a belief system, but is a personal experience based upon practice and applications. Unbeknownced to her, she had succeeded in affirming for me my own intuited understandings. ( I suspect her goal was the exact opposite!) Needless to say, I am indebted to this person for bringing forth the circumstance that enabled me to trust my own inner guidance. To this day I proudly maintain a most “bohemian” approach toward this subject!

I have found that intuition plays a major role in the perfume arts and the application of scents. Why? To my view, scent is the invisible key to the doorways of higher consciousness and greater awareness. They are as an etheric catylist for creating a new energy and vibration in any endeavor and help one to attain their objective. Scent by nature of our perception of it, has the ability to transform one’s environment, and even ones own inner psyche. “Odours are potent in their influence because they operate on us at a subconscious or subliminal level. Thus, their influence on our emotional nature bypasses the critical mind“(2)

I find this critical or analytic mind to be most demanding, and it permeates every area of our life when we are unaware of it. The critical mind is always exacting from us “qualifications”, comparisons for judgments; and it expects logic and reason to rule. It is forever seeking validations before it will allow us to open to new possibilities. I believe this quality of our mind is the most detrimental one and in regards to magical practices of any kind, it is quick to dismiss them as mere fanciful imaginings that have no merit.

With respect to the preparation of perfumes, it is most helpful if one can get beyond the boundaries of their own mind. At least this is what my experience has shown me. Didn’t you ever notice that smells affect how you feel and perceive things? I recall taking vivid note of this phenomena even as a child. I believe all people have had the same experiences also. Perhaps walking into a room where a scent evokes a remembrance of a time, a place, a person. I find scent evokes memory. Not only that, it also evokes in that memory a sort of re-experiencing of the recalled event. This is a different thing altogether than visualizing things. In visualizations, there is an element of abstraction…where one is removed and observing an idea or picture in their mind. I find that the affect of scent however does not possess this element. When a memory is recalled via the olfactory senses it seems to almost take on a life of its own, it seems more real, more personal. If you use these simple insights as a tool for working with scents, you will find many ways to create useful combinations of them all on your own.

About Employing Scent for
Ritual Purposes

What is a ritual? Well you could look it up in the dictionary I suppose, but to me a ritual is a much more personal thing. I believe a ritual can be any activity repeatedly carried out with a particular intent behind it. To refer again to my favorite text on this subject, “In ritual you are trying to align yourself with some higher quality or resource you seek to infuse into your personality…it is a very potent tool for changing yourself in a prearranged direction…that can be quite useful in your daily life…scents in particular open up direct access to the emotional part of the brain, which has the greatest impact on the autonomic nervous system and the subconscious mind.”(3)

I find that in the application of scent it is the scent itself that becomes the carrier for the experience one is seeking. In gaining familiarity with the quality of a particular essence, one becomes adept at employing it for creative purposes. Scents evoke memory, and each scent carries its own vibration. By using scents in combination specific environments can be facilitated. “Each item in the repertoire of perfumery materials has specific properties that come from their odiferous molecules or volatile oils. A property can be defined as an effect that a material object or substance has on another object or one or more of the senses of an observer. Clearly, the most important biological property of an oderant is that it has an odor that effects the human sense of smell.”(4)

I’ve dabbled a bit in energy bars in the past, and for a while was on a real Powerbar kick. When you’re running a lot, there’s no denying they give you at least a psychological boost. But these days there are so many competing energy bars, making a variety of claims. I decided to test a few and see what they were made of. I have to be truthful here and say that my survery is completely unscientific. While I can read each bar’s label to ascertain the ingredients, there’s no way I can say that one or another boosted my running performance. There are simply too may other factors that go into running to be able to trace results to one component. Thus, I have to admit, when rating the energy bars, my main criterion boiled down to taste. After all, I reasoned, what good is the most nutritious item in the world if it tastes so horrible you won’t eat it? Here then, is my unscientific, subjective rating of 6 popular and easy to find energy bars (all were purchased at Target):
Clif Luna Bar (S’mores Flavor)

* Nutrition: Good
* Texture: Very Good
* Calories: 180
* Overall Taste: Excellent

The Clif Luna bars are marketed toward (and, allegedly designed for) women, and to that end, the Luna contains 100% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for folate, and 35% of the RDA for calcium. Nutritionally, I think it should have even more calcium- most women don’t get nearly enough. Likewise, the 35% of the RDA for iron could also be higher, in my opinion- exercising women are often anemic. The Clif Luna is also high in lots of other minerals and vitamins as well as soy protein. Best of all, the taste is quite good. It reminded me of a Rice Krispy bar, and unlike many energy bars, I wasn’t that aware that I was eating something stuffed with supplements. Added bonus: a portion (they don’t say how much) of the proceeds will go to breast cancer research.
TwinLab Ironman Triathlon (Yogurt Berry Flavor)

* Nutrition: Pretty Good
* Texture: Horrible
* Calories: 230
* Overall Taste: Awful

This is a balanced bar- 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein and 30% fat. All I can say is 100% yuck! I couldn’t even choke it down. The texture is really disgusting- an orange-brown colored chewy cake-like substance. You can really taste the minerals. The main ingredient in the bar is “Special Ironman Protein” – mostly soy protein and whey protein. The bar is fortified with lots of vitamins and minerals- most of them providing 50% of your RDA. But if you’re like me and can’t eat more than a bite or two of the dreadful thing, they won’t do you much good.
Balance Outdoor All Natural Energy Bar (Crunchy Peanut Flavor)

* Nutrition: Fair
* Texture: Very Good
* Calories: 200
* Overall Taste: Good

This was one of the better bars I tasted. It’s small and relatively low in calories, and quite tasty. It had a nice peanutty flavor, but was not (as I had feared) too sweet. Unfortunately, the nutrition does not match the flavor. The bar provides only 8% of the RDA in calcium and iron, and nothing else. It is a 40/30/30 balanced bar, and is made with organic, unrefined ingredients.
PowerBar (Vanilla Crisp Flavor)

* Nutrition: Very Good
* Texture: Good
* Calories: 230
* Overall Taste: Good

This is the closest any of my selections came to the original PowerBar series, which essentially spawned the whole energy bar field. It doesn’t have too many bells and whistles, but is chock full of vitamins and minerals, including 100% of the RDA for Vitamins C, E, B6, B12, Folate, Riboflavin and others. Though it’s relatively high in calories, it only gets 25 of its calories from fat, and the bar is quite large, unlike some of the others discussed here (such as the 2 Balance bars). The taste of the Vanilla Crisp was quite nice, with the “Crisp” part coming from rice crisps. Overall, this was one of the better bars on the list.
PowerBar Protein Plus (Chocolate Peanut Butter Flavor)

* Nutrition: Very Good
* Texture: Awful
* Calories: 290
* Overall Taste: Really Bad

TAKE A MINUTE FOR YOU

SOME TIME FOR YOU

In the middle of all this stress, we have to find ways for life after…We have daily responsibilities. With fragmented focus, broken hearts, and tangled thoughts, we still have to work, our families need attention, and the laundry must be done.

Often in such confusing, continuous stress we forget to pay attention to our own needs. Each of us, for our own reasons, is afraid. Our body and mind stay alert and ready for the next episode of stress.

Many times we believe we are uncaring if we do our daily routines: How can we think of cooking when awful things have happened to someone else, especially thousands of someone else’s. Day to day activities may have less meaning than they did a week ago. We just can’t stay focused, and time slips away.

Last of all, some part of us gets used to the adrenaline and intensity of feelings. Primary emotions like fear, anger, and sadness are more acute. Feelings like hunger, thirst, and fatigue are numbed. We forget to take care of ourselves, and the usual signals are dulled.

This means we have to remember ourselves. Strange as it might sound, write yourself a note for your desk or refrigerator or mirror. Set a timer to ring each hour. Remind yourself to check about your needs. Do we need water, food, a shower, fresh air, exercise, rest, a friend?

During times when we cannot change or lessen the external stresses, we can create a balance inside by adding more peace to our lives. Did you know one of the fastest ways to add peace is to focus on something of beauty?

As they say, beauty is in the beholder. So, maybe take a minute right now. What is beautiful to you? windchimes, a guitar chord, a slice of star fruit,someone’s eyes, a new tennis racket,your nail polish, river water, the silence of your child in bed. What is beautiful to you?

If you are willing, you can take this time of stress, uncertainty, and grief and use it any way you want. You can create a space for peace, hope, and compassion. Let this space begin with you. Treat yourself to some kindness.

Take a news break. Take a walk: in the woods, at the beach, to a Japanese garden, under a tree in your backyard; somewhere you can regain the presence of peace. Encourage yourself to find one small, simple part of this space and focus on it. Maybe a leaf, a pelican, an orange koi fish, a dog running, the shadow of a branch, the center of a flower, a rock on the ground, a bird calling. Breathe and sink into that simple touch, sight, or feel.

A FEW MINUTES MORE

Here is something else you can do to ease some of the stress and take care of yourself:

1. Turn off the radio, television, and telephone. (All the news will be repeated and callers will leave a message.)

2. Drink a glass of cool water, maybe add lemon or lime.

3. If you have music that you have found relaxing in the past, please play that now. (Let it be music without words.).

4. Find a place that is quiet. This is just for you. There is no where you have to go. Nothing you have to do. These minutes are your appreciation to yourself for someone who cares about others.

You may notice feeling anxious, that you can’t sit still, and maybe your mind races all over the place. Those are sign of the stress inside. Notice these feelings and let it is okay to sit even if you aren’t 100% willing.

5. Now comes the breathing part. (You expected that, right?) Well, did you know that the only way to let your body know that you are okay is by relaxed breathing? Breathing will help your body be more willing to sit still. Although breathing is automatic in the survival sense, we can practice for using it as a tool for more peace.

During stress our bodies increase adrenaline so we are prepared to run or stay and fight. By asking you to sit still and breathe, I am asking you to find a quiet and peace in the center of the stress. At first this may seem impossible. The key is to lightly notice the stress symptoms and stay sitting and breathing.

After some time you will notice a shift. You may feel yourself give one really deep, slow inhalation and a deep, slow exhalation— involuntarily. It will simply happen. This is your signal that you have released the tension of your stress. You’ll really like that part.

Ready?

6. If you feel comfortable to close your eyes, then please do. If not, open eyes are fine. The most important thing is let your self breathe.

7. Okay, now. Slowly…inhale. Gently hold the breath in. Then slowly, slowly…exhale. Again, slowly inhale; very slowly exhale. Feel the air come into your body. Let the fresh oxygen relax and replenish your body. Again, inhale…and exhale.

If at some point your mind wanders to a peaceful place, then enjoy and keep breathing. If your mind does not go to a peaceful place, that is okay. The important part is breathing.

Now if you are willing, keep breathing. At some time during your breathing, you will feel your body release the tension. Continue breathing until you do.

Congratulations for taking time to honor and care for yourself. You deserve special attention. You are valuable to the world.

Why do individuals purchase HGH at such high prices? How safe are the other choices for possible users of HGH therapy?

The purpose for many people hurrying to dig into their pockets for supposedly uniquely made HGH boosters is the increased knowledge of health that society has currently and being afraid of getting old, plus everything that goes along with it (gaining weight, lean muscle loss, nervous conditions, being impotent, lack of energy) as well as the actual treatment used for children’s growth problems from slow growth.

The truth that natural HGH supplements help boost the HGH levels in people’s body by enhancing hormone production safely, however gradually (if herbal remedies are used, man-made HGH products, such as injections are shown to have bad side effects) is a good encourager for people who are deficient in HGH to purchase HGH supplements. There is a wide range of HGH supplements that stimulate production of this substance, including HGH sprays, powders, and pills that can be purchased through an online drugstore without a prescription. A good one is HGH+ Releaser, approved by doctors for a constant and desirable increase in human growth hormone production and general good health. Not only is this option inexpensive, at $49-$115, it is safer as well, due to the use of natural HGH instead of a synthetic substance, and the absolute highest quality control standards.

Which individuals need to purchase HGH supplements? What is available today for HGH supplements that is both dependable and inexpensive?

People who are making less natural HGH and people who are verified to have lower HGH levels as they get older with a slow functioning pituitary gland are commonly searching for effective choices of HGH supplements that will help them remain young, even though they are older, and also when you are young adults. One particular indicator of low HGH level is an Igh-1 level less than 190, which could also predict a decline in the adult growth hormone. In 1994 HGH treatment was approved by the FDA for adults and there was an immediate increase of businesses fulfilling the desire for prescription HGH, however most treatments cost a lot of money with yearly amounts as much as $22,000, so when herbal HGH versions were introduced, these market HGH concepts were grabbed by many people who discovered that the supplements helped and they could afford it.

Although detox patches are designed for one’s soles, if other areas of the body need detoxification, the patches can be applied there as well. Detox patches for the feet have natural ingredients that help to remove toxins from your system. Together, this causes the acupressure points on the feet to be stimulated, removing blockages in the circulatory and lymphatic systems. This makes it easier to get rid of toxins.

Foot detox patches provide quick results. Although you will see improvement after one application, it is recommended you use the patches for at least 14 consecutive days.

Foot detox patches will help:

• eliminate toxins
• improve blood circulation
• build up the immune system
• prevent water retention
• increase your metabolism
• help you sleep better
• reduce fatigue
• revitalize you
• manage pain

You need to be aware of these points when using foot detox patches:

1). Detox patches can be placed anywhere you need relief.
2). Do not place them on open sores, mucus membranes, or around the eye area.
3). It’s best to use foot detox patches at night, but they can be used during the day.
4). Wear socks over the detox patches to keep them in place when wearing them on your feet.
5). Use adhesive tape when placing the detox patches over slippery, moveable, or curvy places.

Detox patches decrease toxin build up. You immune system will be stronger with less toxin build up. Buy detox patches to prevent potential illnesses.

Now your health can be improved through a natural detox by using detox foot pads!

Each individual releases pheromones, but not enough natural pheromones to make a difference. Leave it to science  to create a synthesized pheromone.

There is no scent or odor in a pheromone. Some colognes and spays contain pheromones added by the manufacturer.

The situation is that various products are available but they are not all effective . The pheromones of insects are utilized by some manufacturers. The only thing this can do for people is attract more mosquitoes. I am pretty certain you weren’t looking for that kind of effect. Some manufacturers of pheromone products use pheromones from pigs. This obviously isn’t what you are searching for either, unless you happen to be a pig.

You will ideally find companies who manufacture synthesized human pheromones. These are the ones that will do the job. Each animal emits an odor when the female is in the mood for procreating.

A female cat in heat can attract tom cats from up to five miles away. A female dog in heat can be smelled by a male dog a good bit further.

Individuals buying pheromone products that are laden with animal or insect pheromones are flushing there money down the toilet. Check to make sure the product contains human pheromones.

Both sexes should be able to find pheromones that are optimized for them. We want you to be sure to purchase the right one for your own gender. Males should not buy pheromone products that were formulated for women.

Costs can range from $40-$140, with variables being potency and quantity. Individuals can buy pheromones that enhance a special smell or have a smell all of their own. The scent is not what makes it really work. The human pheromone within it is what works.

Scientists have created another item that enhances and releases the natural pheromone in humans. Keep in mind that a person cannot make enough pheromones to make a huge difference. This product is able to enhance what is already present, and then releases it.

Are pheromones really effective? Yes, they are very effective. Individuals who have utilized them agree that they are effective. However, you must do your research in order to find a product that does the job, as they can be costly.

Before buying a pheromone product, make sure it comes with a money back guarantee. Usually a pheromone product cannot be purchased at the store. You can find them online. All it takes is a quick web search to locate them. You can look for reactions from people to see if the item is doing what it is supposed to do. Many sites will contain a guarantee of effectiveness and will provide testimonials about how well this product worked. If you are unable to find information about the product, it’s probably not a good idea to buy it.

Pheromones can enable you to be meet new and fun people. Quite often it will help you overcome some of  your inhibitions, as you will be approached by others. I wish you the best of luck.