Fleurish

I am learning about Ojas and how self nourishment builds Ojas. My friend and Ayurveda Practitioner, Jessica Hartley Litton, taught me how to make calendula and botanical infused oils. Oiling my skin and body daily with nourishing oils, has restored my energy and helped me feel more calm, centered and grounded. My favorite is calendula, lavender, and rose infused in sunflower oil. Another favorite is St. John’s Wort with calendula. It is that lovely time of year of making my infused oils from my garden.

“Ojas is defined as: the bio-energetic bodily material that contains the life force (prana) and serves the vital functions that maintain the body’s energy reserves and proper immune status.” College of Ayurveda in Nevada City.

To make the oil, first I dry the flowers and herbs. I cut the flowers and hang them in bundles in a shady spot on the north side of my house, out of direct sunlight for 1-2 weeks. Once they are dry, I separate the dried blossoms from the stems, and fill a jar loosely with the dried flowers and pour oil into the jar over the flowers until it is full. Cover with a lid, and place the jar in a brown paper bag, and put it in a warm spot (sunny window) where it will get 80 degrees or more. Keep it is this warm spot for 2-4 weeks. With calendula, it will turn very golden in color when it is ready. Then I strain the oil, and pour it into a small bottle for immediate use. I keep extra in the fridge until I am ready to use it. This preserves the oil.