Gill Farrer-Halls – The Spirit In Aromatherapy : Working With Intuition

Tags

Aromatherapy, Book Review, Gill Farrer-Halls, The Spirit In Aromatherapy : Working With Intuition, The Therapeutic relationship

The Aromatherapeutic Encounter

Gill Farrer-Halls’ ‘The Spirit In Aromatherapy’ is an interesting book which indeed covers an area which does not yet have a flood of books in the niche.

To be honest though, I would say this ls much less a book about aromatherapy and the essential oils, though they do figure, it is more a book about the nature of the therapeutic relationship itself, from a bodyworker, specifically one who works with aromatics, perspective.

And as such, it is very welcome

The field of aromatherapy literature is well supplied – indeed, one could be forgiven for saying, oversupplied, with books both for the lay-reader and the practitioner, many of them merely repeating what was said before by somebody else.

Some of the more specialist books written for professionals, by professionals, do indeed have more unique and interesting information to give. There is a tendency to view the oils purely as chemistry however, as aromatherapy has moved itself away from ‘fluffy feel-good’ and sought to engage with the phytopharmacology of the oils.

Practitioners also know, however that what happens within sessions may be far more than could be explained by the protocols of ‘English aromatherapy’, with highly diluted oils applied in massage. And, indeed more than can be explained by the physiological benefits of massage.

The missing part of the equation is ‘the placebo’ of the healing response. I don’t mean this pejoratively – to say ‘the proportion that would get better without intervention’ is to fail to respect the nature of that ‘would have got better’

All healing interventions, whether by Big Pharma or by modalities which work, even if the precise mechanism of their working is not understood, employ and use placebo – it is just that the precise tools differ.

Farrer-Halls, in this book is looking at the relationship between practitioner and client; if you like the ‘sacred space’ of connection. She is a practising Buddhist, and offers the idea of approaching the client with empathetic awareness, intuition, born out of good prior learning, of course, but still, being present within sessions with open-minded, open-hearted attention.

Although all training in the UK has ‘the therapeutic relationship’ as part of the syllabus, it is often far less central than it needs to be.

There has arisen, within some bodywork modalities, primarily because some of their practitioners came not from a prior background as bodyworkers, but a prior background as psychotherapists, a much more subtle awareness of the importance of the relationship itself, and the spaciousness and sensitivity the practitioner needs to bring

This, despite the exercises to develop sensitivity and intuition by the practitioner into the nature of their oils, and what one might call the ‘psychospiritual aspect’ of them, is, I think, the real end of what Farrer-Halls is laying out in this book, which is a thoughtful, and well-written one.

                  Bursera graveolens Phytoimages. siu.edu Nickrent, D.L.

The attentive reader will not be learning so much about the oils themselves, in following the exercises to develop intuition towards them which Farrer-Halls suggests, they will be developing finesse in intuition itself, finesse, presence and consciousness about the process work which undoubtedly happens in attentive hands-on work, making it far more potent than just the releasing of muscular knots, the improvement of circulation and lymphatic drainage, and fluffy ‘pamper’

I was delighted to receive this as a copy for review on digital download, from the publishers Jessica Kingsley/Singing Dragon. As said on another review, this publishing house produces serious, thoughtful, books on health and well-being, rather than flaky, irresponsible or let’s cash-in on vulnerable people’s insecurities ones.

The Spirit In Aromatherapy : Working With Intuition Amazon UK
The Spirit In Aromatherapy : Working With Intuition Amazon USA

Advertisement

Jennifer Peace Rhind – Listening To Scent: An Olfactory Journey With Aromatic Plants and Their Extracts

Tags

Aromatherapy, Book Review, Essential Oils, Jennifer Peace Rhind, Listening To Scent: An Olfactory Journey With Aromatic Plants and Their Extracts, Natural Beauty Products, Perfumery

Olfactory deconstruction so fine that I could smell the odours in my mind. Very scented heaven!

I read Jennifer Peace Rhind’s book on olfaction and natural perfumery, and became almost dizzy with delight.

I did not need to be told from the author’s profile at the end of the book, that she has been deeply involved in a journey with aromatics, and with the essential oils and absolutes as aromatics in particular, for many many years. Her absolute knowledge from experience, as much as from her own studies and reading of other texts on the subject, is absolutely obvious.

And, as important to me as depth knowledge and creative thinking on a subject are – Rhind is also a clear and inspiring writer.

Though this book is particularly geared towards those who may be interested in, or are already, making natural perfumes and perfumery products, it will also be of deep interest to those who are involved in the therapeutic side of working with the essential oils. Despite my own relationship over many years with those oils therapeutically, I was absolutely delighted to find that Rhind was teaching me new information here.

Even for those who primarily are working therapeutically, aesthetic blending may well be part of the mix, particularly when working with clients whose prime reason for treatment is dis-ease presenting in psyche, or with causes from psyche, or those with chronic conditions, where the feel-good hedonic aspect of those oils will absolutely need to be considered.

Rhind explains very clearly the complex physiology and psychology of olfaction, how and why odour has its effects. However, the main thrust of her book is like spending time with a wonderful, creative educator who teaches practitioners of artistic disciplines – the book de-constructs the creation of perfumes, and, best of all, presents the aspiring (or experienced!) perfumer with a really in-depth programme for developing and refining their olfactory sensitivities, both in systematic, left brain ways, with wonderfully structured exercises, and with right brain, creative, playful, olfaction-as-meditation exercises.

                        Free on Pixabay, Optimusius1 photostream

What I am particularly enthused with in her writing is the absolute sense of generosity and empowerment which shines out. She is not laying down rigid formulaic monkey-see, monkey-do, she does that wonderful thing of giving the reader a brilliant tool box, the understanding of what the tools can and cannot do, and then says, metaphorically – go make, explore, learn from your own experience.

There is an excellent amount of safety information, specific information about chemistry in each of the oils and absolutes mentioned, to keep perfumers aware of cautions which may be needed, skin sensitivity issues and the like.

I particularly appreciated the information on the aromatic profiles of individual chemical constituents, in isolation. Many of us with familiarity with the oils and absolutes may not have encountered that wide a palette of each component as a stand-alone, so, I am looking forward, from descriptions of the odour notes of the isolate, and my own knowledge of essential oil chemistry, to tease apart the full odour of a particular botanical

Her book is meticulously and brilliantly referenced, with academic thoroughness, and gives those who want to find out more left brain stuff the detailed information to find it

I was absolutely delighted to get offered this as an ARC from the publishers, Singing Dragon, via NetGalley. And just a word on Singing Dragon – they have a great and growing reputation as publishers of books in the complementary medicine field which are thorough, serious, innovative, sensible texts. To be honest, the fact that Rhind’s book is published by Singing Dragon let me know in advance this was going to be a good ‘un

Listening To Scent Amazon UK
Listening To Scent Amazon USA