Seeds of Yesterday

“All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of yesterday”

~ Unknown

One of the many seeds I have scattered along the path has sprouted. As an independent business owner that’s what we do, distribute those little embryos out into the world. We fertilize with intention that the little seed, we planted with love, will one day mature into a beautiful and fragrant plant.

In due time, with faith, one or more seedlings will appear. It's happened that some finally sprout, yet, take an inordinate amount of earth time to grow. That's when yoga, meditation and all those other little saplings to tend to come in handy. The worst is planting a precious seed in the wrong soil or climate. However, when you get it right, it makes such a difference.

For my birthday, about six years ago, Ben gave me a lovely hibiscus shrub. With care I planted it in the ground once the weather had cooled a bit. I made sure I put it in a wire cage to protect its roots from our ravenous gopher population. That little hibiscus struggled for years. This past spring I put it into a pot to get the hillside ready for all the native plants we are putting in. The hibiscus in the meantime has doubled in size with huge, beautiful blossoms on a daily basis.

A good example of right soil for the right plant. In the meantime, the native plants are quite happy in that same soil with very little watering, no soil amendments, no pesticides and no fertilizers.

The plant kingdom is so generous with its wisdom.

Image above: Roxana’s Seeds©Roxana Villa. The illustration began as a pencil drawing and then slowly developed into the more flushed out idea of the seed packet.

Roxana Illuminated Perfume™

Hazel Lunar Month

"I went out to the hazelwood,

Because a fire was in my head,"

~ W. B. Yeats

Today we enter the realm of the Hazel tree in this new Celtic lunar phase. According to the Beth-Luis-Nion calendar the name for Hazel is Coll, the ninth letter in the alphabet referring to “life force within”.
The Hazel tree is associated with wisdom and is one of the sacred nine woods traditionally burned by the Druids at the Beltane fires. The leaves, nut, wood and branches of the tree have been used in magick and herbal remedies. Here in the US we have the American Filbert, Corylus americana, which is native to New England.

In Celtic lore Hazel trees are often found growing at the edge of bodies of water where prophetic powers are bestowed on passer bys, whether human or animal. The Hazel, also referred to as the Tree of Immortal Wisdom, has association to the Feys.

Create a wand out of hazel to call upon the Fey folk. Use hazel wood for divining rods. Carry a sprig a Hazel to protect from from lightening and insure a safe voyage over sea. For the highest magical energetics gather nut, wood or branches of Hazel on the eve of Samhain just when the Sun has set. Create a botanical perfume utilizing the rich, warm nutty notes of Hazelnut C02, Corylus avellana, with wood notes. Hazelnut also exists as a carrier oil with beneficial properties for the skin.

Roxana Illuminated Perfume™

Image © Roxana Villa all rights reserved. Original painting was created for The City of Hope acrylic veils on prepared board.

A Perfume for Lughnasadh

Summer's lease hath all to short a date.

~ William Shakespeare

The Celtic high holiday Lughnasadh is named after the fire god Lugh. Sometimes referred to as Lammas, Lughnasadh marks the celebration of the harvest and the end of summer. Here in the City of Angels this holiday hits a bit early and doesn’t quite align with what is taking place on a tangible level. Perhaps that is why I am tardy writing about it?
This past Friday marked the first day of August as well as first day of the Sun’s descent. The day light now slowly begins to diminish as we move into the dark of winter.

Festivals revolve around the harvest where the Green Man is honored for his cycle of death and rebirth.

The harvest theme is a good place to begin gathering inspiration to create a sacred scent or perfume for Lughnasadh. Fruit, such as berries and vegetables were used at altars. In the botanical perfumers palette we have a few gourmand essences that could work such as; cranberry absolute, hay, wheat and hazelnut. Other materials could be tinctured and infused. Many of the traditional herbs of Lughnasadh are also available in essence: Fenugreek and Frankincense. Herbs which evoke the Sun, Apollo and Fire have an apropos feel: Helichrysum, Cade, and Saffron. Pepper, Orange and Ginger for top notes.

Another theme that would take a completely different direction would be a composition based on the Green Man or John Barleycorn. I would begin this formula with a warm amber accord to represent the sun and the harvest. From there contemplate elements which are most representative of one of the two mentioned gods.

Once you have finished your scent apply it with gratitude in your heart for the abundance in your life.

Roxana Illuminated Perfume™