the LIFE body

"Our sympathy and antipathy works on the etheric body. We can easily see this through ordinary observation. We know that the etheric body rules the glands. When, for example, a gourmand sees tasty food, the saliva glands become active and the 'mouth waters'. To the extent that we learn to master ourselves and balance our sympathy and antipathy, the glands in our body will dry out and become like the bark of a tree that protects what is within. In plants, the juices flow up and down. For this reason they cannot withstand the cold of winter; they die. Trees, on the other hand, allow the outside to dry up and become bark, thereby protecting themselves from the drastic effects of storm and cold. It is the same with initiates. Their life body does not die from one incarnation to another. Thus were the Druids. And 'druid' means 'oak', which is the strongest of the trees. "

~ Esoteric Lessons, Berlin March 14 1908, Rudolf Steiner
Steiner Books

The image above is of our perfume devoted to the California Coastal Live Oak. Samples, one gram vials and the quarter ounce flacons are available at my satelite store at Etsy. Read more about Q here at the journal and on our website.

Beltane Perfume

The warming weather, longer daylight hours, the blossoming earth all hearken the turn of the great earth wheel once again. Beltane, one of the high Celtic holy days, has arrived. Traditionally celebrated with wild romps in the woods and dancing around the Maypole the following day. Beltane, also spelled as Beltaine, has very powerful and complex energetics related to it.

For me, it is one of my favorites of the Celt festivals. Appropriately for Illuminated Perfume the holy day marks the beginning of the light in this portion of the great wheel. Boughs and flowers are gathered on the eve before for decoration in honor of the Sun. Cakes and milk is offered to the spirits, standing stones are visited and gentlefolk decorate themselves with garlands, flowers and greenery. The Maypole, masculine energy, is planted into the Earth, feminine energy. Symbolically this represents the movement of energy descending down from Father Sky to meet Mother Earth and bless the land for abundant crops. Two of my teachers, David Crow and Dr. Stephen Johnson, speak of dancing as acupuncture for Mother Earth. I can see clearly how dancing around the Maypole on a high holiday, when the veil between the worlds is thin, would be potent medicine for both Earth and dancer.

Throughout Druidic lore we find the elementals to be at the core of the mythology. Beltane is one of the four "fire" festivals. Fire acting as the primordial source of Life. Water is the second element to be honored for the much needed rainfall assuring abundant crops.

In composing a botanical/natural perfume for Beltane I start with a wood chord/accord for the Maypole. Continuing with Mitti for the Earth, Black Pepper for the Fire, and Jasmine for Water. I add spiritual essences which combine attributes of purification, protection and psychic powers. Tinctures or essences of flowers, berries, leaves and stems are all appropriate for the blooming of the land.

In few years back for Beltane I created the perfume "Q" (for Quercus agrifolia) in honor of the Oak. In the Celtic tree calendar May is devoted to Duir, Oak. This perfume continues to be a favorite, especially for those devoted to pagan traditions and fairy kin.

Roxana Illuminated Perfume™
"Q" Perfume

The image at top is titled MayTree ©Roxana Villa & Greg Spalenka, created from an old engraving. The image of the young lady in the garland is an old engraving placed on parchment. The image at bottom right is ©Greg Spalenka & Roxana Villa, it was created specifically for the "Q" perfume.

The Duir Way

"I am the Lorax,

I speak for the trees,
for the trees have no tongues."

- Dr. Suess

The latest issue of Sniffapalooza Magazine, March 23, 2008, contains a contribution titled "The Duir Way" detailing the inspiration for the perfume "Q", formerly known as Quercus.

The word Duir means Oak, the letter D corresponds to the seventh letter in the Ogham tree alphabet.* The Oak is the most important of all the trees to the Druids and the Celts. The word Duir may have come from the sanscrit word dwr meaning door and is considered a gateway between the Worlds.
*source: Omens, Oghams & Oracles - Richard Webster


Sniffapalooza Magazine
Roxana Illuminated Perfume™