THE PROBLEM
We are living in unprecedented times, in a time of Coronavirus. Many of us are grappling with the loss of our day-to-day lives as we knew them, the loss of jobs, the loss of in-person community space, the loss of sickness and even the loss of the death of loved ones. We’re in a community conversation with the angel of death, and we need extra help to sit with the grief of this moment. Herbs and flowers and plants can help us in these challenging and emotional times.
THE PRODUCT AND DESIRED QUALITIES
There are two products: an essential oil blend and a tea blend. The client can use the essential oil blend in their diffuser, their baths, or on their skin. The tea blend can be drunk as a tea, used in baths, included in a smoke blend, or burned for fragrance. Both are meant to help the client sit with the pain of loss and begin the difficult work of grieving.
THE INGREDIENTS LIST, THE RECIPE, THE DESCRIPTION
Grief Work Essential Oil Blend
Description: Grief Work is an essential oil blend that can hold us as we sit with the pain of loss. Use in an essential oil diffuser or on your skin as a reminder throughout the day when you are grieving a loved one, grieving for your community, or grieving for the way the world is changing and uncertain. Lavender helps you to relax and relieves feelings of anxiety and depression. Hyssop was used in ancient Jewish grief rituals and is known for its purifying qualities. Frankincense promotes feelings of peace and groundedness, allowing you to sink into feelings of grief and loss while held by its relaxing and holy scent.
Instructions: 3-6 drops in diffuser or bath, dilute 5-10% in vegetable oil
Recipe: 50% Lavender, 40% Hyssop, 10% Frankincense. For a 10ml bottle, that is 50ml Lavender, 40ml Hyssop and 10ml Frankincense.
Packaging: 10mL amber or blue droplet bottle and white or black droplet cap with label
Grief Work Tea Blend
Description: Grief Work tea blend is a good brew for holding us as we sit with the pain of loss. Drink a cup of Grief Work tea when you are grieving a loved one, grieving for your community, or grieving the way the world is changing and uncertain. Mixed with hawthorn berries, nettle, rose, and tulsi basil. Hawthorn is a protective and regulative herb. It strengthens weaknesses and hyperactive states of stress in the cardiovascular system. Nettle modulates the inflammatory pathways and supports upper respiratory health. It kick starts the body that is feeling lethargic and down. Rose is heart-opening medicine, unconditionally loving. It helps us to move pent up emotions, inviting us to remember the ways that softness is strength. Tulsi basil clears unwanted energy, connects the heart and throat chakras and provides calm to the nervous system.
Instructions: One tablespoon of tea per cup of boiling water.
Recipe: equal parts Tulsi basil, rose petals, stinging nettle, and hawthorn berries.
About Tai
Tai Jacob, Junior Apprentice
I am a scholar, community organizer, and novice herbalist and aromatherapist! My interests lie in holistic healing practices that are embodied, socially conscious, and accessible to a wide community. I make my own tea and smoking blends, essential oil blends, herbal syrups, tinctures, and sprays.
Packaging: Clear ziplock bag with label.