Monthly Essential: doTERRA's Cypress

"April come she will
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain" 

April is a saturated month, a month of water, of flow. And not just because of those pesky "April showers."
The Earth itself is thawing, melting; hard frozen ground becomes soft fertile soil. Icy mountain streams become cascading waterfalls. Our creeks and rivers swell, and life returns.
Water is certainly on the move this month, but it's not like the swirling ethereal movement of air and space, that can sometimes leave us feeling overwhelmed and disconnected. The movement of water is much more grounded and driving. It's purposeful and full of intention.

​Harness that power with the oil of motion and flow, Cypress.

Cypress is a wonderful tool this time of year to help bring stagnant energy into motion, release what's past and surrender to the flow of life.

The Cypress tree itself thrives in wetlands, and was a wood of choice in the ship building of ancient peoples. The Greeks are responsible (once again, see Marjoram) for the botanical name of this lovely evergreen tree: Cupressus sempervirens which translates to "ever living."  Ancient Egyptians often made their sarcophagi out of Cypress wood, because after all, death is simply a continuation of the unending journey of the spirit. 

Life is a constant state of movement, and nothing that is still will thrive for long. Cypress encourages us to release fear, which is the main culprit for those controlling tendencies that hinder our forward progress, and to flow on without any sense of compulsion. 

This ability of Cypress to encourage purposeful, fluid movement can have a positive impact on our physical bodies as well. It encourages the release of toxins when applied topically over the liver and gallbladder pressure points, can ease heavy menstrual flow when massaged over the abdomen, help stop bed wetting when applied over the bladder and can even help diminish cellulite when used along with a hot compress on affected areas.

Diffuse Cypress during your asana practice to encourage productive, flowing movement. Mix with Bergamot, and an uplifting and hopeful practice will be encouraged. Mixed with Lavender, and you will find soothing, relaxing movement begins to flow. And it also makes a powerful pre-practice mat spray when mixed with distilled water and doTERRA's Elevation blend oil.