Author: Shaun-Charisse

Everything comes out in blues music: joy , pain , struggle . Blues is affirmation with absolute elegance. – Wynton Marsalis

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Have you ever had a morning where you woke up feeling pretty good, no aches or pains, took a shower, had a cup of coffee and then remembered it was MONDAY!

Essential Oils to the rescue!
I have become quite proficient in my apothecary skills. That is because I test everything on myself(and family members) before I share it with you. Today was an excellent test. I am sure you will give me an A for my latest curation(I think that’s a real word).

So, I find myself in a blue funk, as I mentioned earlier but I had to work today. With people. Yes, smiling and communicating with words would be required so I had to figure something out. Or call in sick.
Nah, I like to save my sick time for real emergencies(like long weekend trips or something)!

Working with essential oils is always interesting because these plant chemicals have brains! It is in their nature to help and to heal. This is what The Creator intended.
I have named this blend:

The Blue Monday Special
6 drops Pettigrain-Calming, Stress Reducer, energizing
4 drops Roman Chamomile-Anti-anxiety, soothes feelings of anger, anti depressant
3 drops Ylang Ylang- Anti depressant, balances emotions, good for hypertension-also said to be an aphrodisiac, hmmm?

This diffuser blend had immediate effects. I forgot I was feeling “blue” in less than 5 minutes.
Ylang Ylang is powerful so if you are not familiar with its effects, run your diffuser no more than 20 minutes with this blend. I did 2 treatments for 20 minutes early morning and later this afternoon because I liked how it made me feel!
Ylang Ylang can be heady for sensitive types, although the blend itself is mild. It was sooo lovely and yummy feeling!

*Side note*
Interestingly enough,  2 of the 3 essential oils in this blend have linalool. This is called blending by chemical constituents. You will achieve the most effects from that particular chemical property. Linalool is known for its sedative effects.
It is a plant chemical(phytochemical) found in cannabis.

See I told you that you would give me an A!

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It’s going to be a bright, bright sunshiney day!

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What a great day to start anew!
What day is it? Any day that you can open your eyes, breathe and manage to make a cup of coffee or tea successfully!
After that step you should have everything in hand! Just kidding, of course there is more to your day than that. However, I have found if I awake early enough that I have time to take my warm cup to the beach for a walk, I have an even better week!

Starting your work week with a morning of quiet meditation or writing in your journal and staring out at the ocean or the sky or the trees or skyline with sun on your skin is good medicine.

Most people are not able to take this time every morning as we are all so busy. However, making a plan for your week like this is like setting your sails for a good journey. The quiet, the sun, it will do you good.

Can’t get out of the house?
1st-Find a window with the sun peeking in.
2nd- Place a few drops of Grapefruit or Wild Orange essential oils in your hands, cup over your nose and mouth and inhale deeply. Exhale through your mouth. Do this 3 times and then…
3rd- Sit there and think about how you would like your day, your week to go and seal it with thanksgiving and gratitude.
Physiologically, you have communicated to your body and brain that all is well.

This is a great start for any day, don’t you think?
Let me know how it goes!

“One cannot resist the lure of Africa.” Rudyard Kipling

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Beautiful skin!

Some of us have gorgeous skin because of genetics and some have beautiful skin naturally, as in Natural beauty products!
I am so in love with African Black Soap! I carry a couple of brands but my favorite is imported in a huge block from a village apothecary in West Africa. Shea Butter, herbs, berries, clay, all the fabulous ingredients that have been used for beauty over thousands of years.

I always experience products for myself prior to sharing with you because I want to honestly rave about it. Otherwise, if its no good, it goes straight to the trash! African Black Soaps are known for their moisturizer but also for their anti-aging properties. I have to say I am really excited about the brightening effect.

I live in the sun -I love beaches! Sun worshiping can be detrimental to your health and your glow. The African Black Soap ingredients have properties that brighten dark or sun damaged skin. It even helps to fade and diminish eczema and psoriasis!

Hemp Seed Oil
High in essential fatty acids, Omega 6 and omega 3, hemp oil is my new “Holy Grail” item -you must have this oil in your body care regimen. It can be used to increase immunity, counteract aging skin and improve cardiovascular health. It has been proven to slow down the aging process and fight psoriasis because of the linoleic acid present in Hemp oil

Often referred as CBD oil, Hemp oil can be made from the seeds of any plant in the cannabis family, but is primarily derived from hemp. According to Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Potential, the oil has also been used to effectively treat arthritis inflammation, neurodermatitis and PMS, among other conditions.

Not to worry, Hemp oil only contain trace amounts of THC, making them useless for anyone looking to get high.

Discover Beauty from the inside out!

“There are no differences but differences of degree between different degrees of difference and no difference.” William James

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Growing Up Spiritually

If you are familiar with my writing or follow this blog, you are aware of my penchant for spiritual things. I like to think of myself as a Contemporary Mystic. Unfortunately, mystic is a word that has been misused and maligned in the modern era. If someone says “she is a Mystic”, usually they are thinking in terms of occultism, delusion or psychotic episodes! This is an unfortunate fact. This causes many who are growing spiritually to be uncertain about sharing their experiences and growth for fear of being judged or misunderstood.

Mystic as defined by Oxford Dictionaries is; a person who seeks by contemplation and self-surrender to obtain unity with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute, or who believes in the spiritual apprehension of truths that are beyond the intellect.
‘the poetry of the 16th-century Spanish mystic, St John of the Cross’

As a Christ believer, I have had more than a few heated conversations or rolled eyes when sharing my growth. It is what it is. The ancient writers like St. John of the Cross, who fervently sought after The Lord through meditation and contemplation experienced the same incredulity or worse, among family and peers. Many of these seekers were priests, rabbis, learned men and women of theology, yet their descriptions seemed out there or other worldly to some. They desired intimacy, to know God for themselves. To know that they knew what they knew. Or something like that!

For example, you meet someone and you are attracted to them. You decide that you would like to get to know them better and you seek to spend time with them, to develop a relationship. It’s all surface knowledge initially but the more time that you spend together, the more you learn about them. However, during this “get to know you” period, that individual’s true personality-who they are- is somewhat of a mystery. Even though, you have looked up there info on the internet and paid for the background check (lol), this is still surface information. The only way to truly know them is through personal experience.

Growing up spiritually is similar. We read the Holy Scriptures, attend church, temple or other designated place of worship to hear and learn so that we may experience God for ourselves. Much of what we observe is a mystery, at first. It is our seeking, though prayer, meditation and taking the personal time to ”get to know “that we begin to develop a relationship that leads to intimacy.

26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1

The question is; How far down the rabbit hole do you wish to go?

Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity. Hippocrates

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Beauty and wellness is the main objective at So Beautiful Ministries International. Spiritual practice such as prayer, meditation, mindfulness, all these are components to living a happier and healthier life.

Healing is a component of spiritual practice or as I call it “Beauty from the inside out”! Last year, I incorporated Aromatherapy into my beauty practice and I am impressed with the positive impact of essential oils on my clients emotional and physical health. Emotional health has a direct influence on beauty. When you are anxious,stressed or depressed-it shows on your face! Anxiety and depression also affect your health, such as high blood pressure, headaches and a host of other maladies. Prayer and meditation enhances mental function and supports physical health.

This year, I decided to go deeper into Beauty from the Inside Out and it has been awesome! I have completed training in Reiki and by combining it with Aromatherapy, it has increased the healing benefits from stress reduction to increased happiness!

What is Reiki?
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It can be administered by palm healing or non-touch methods. It is described as “life force energy” that flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. My personal practice has helped me to understand this energy as the same flow of the Holy Spirit that I experience through personal meditation and prayer.
The word Reiki is a combination of two Japanese words – Rei which means-God’s Wisdom or the Higher Power and Ki which is life force energy. This is the energy that flows through all living things. Reiki is defined as “spiritually guided life force energy.” A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that relieves stress and helps the body return to homeostasis thus promoting physical healing.

When you feel good, you can’t help but look good!

“Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair…” ― Susan Polis Schutz

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Summer is approaching!
Days at the beach, fun in the sun, but what about protecting that pretty face?

1st Step-Hydration! Depending on the needs of your skin, you may feel that you need to use less moisturizer or change your skin care regimen because of the season’s humidity wreaking havoc on your makeup=Shiny!

Do Terra Hydrating Creme has been my favorite for a while. I love treatment products with the extras, like anti -aging, and skin-loving essential oils. The creamy, whipped texture is divine.

However, during the summer you will need a bit of technique so that your makeup doesn’t slide off your face!
Cleanse and tone as usual. Apply creme Immediately after the toning step, while the skin is moist, applying 1/2 a dime size, upward and outward, starting at the neck and ending at the forehead/hairline.

Swimming in chlorine pools and seawater can dry out your skin and make it sensitive to breakouts. Moisturizers with Cocoa seed butter, Lavender and Geranium essential oils help prevent skin damage and encourage cell rejuvenation to maintain healthy skin.

Now for that health glow! Most of us love the look of a bronze tan but we may not like the idea of submitting our face to a full sun bath.

Glow versus wrinkles?

Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer provides sun-kissed color with flawless coverage! And its oil-free! This is a year-round product favorite for me. From the lightest shell to the sweetest dark chocolate, there is a color for every pretty face!

Be sure to take a look at So Be Essentials in the menu to see the entire line of Essential Skin Care for every skin type.

Happy Beauty!

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

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So Beautiful Ministries International is all about Beauty from the inside out!
The idea of Beauty from the inside out is not a new concept. Its all about looking inward and finding the inner voice or awareness. Truthfully, developing your inner life is the key to creating your best life!

Meditation, prayer and gratitude are the building blocks for health And beauty. These practices help alleviate stress which is one of the major risk factors for disease. Stress also ages your body as your nervous system activates the fight or flight response which initiates the release of stress hormones like cortisol-the Fat Producer-among other things!
Studies have proven that meditation can also help sustain focus and improve performance.

However, the benefits of spiritual practice appear to be more than just the result of enhanced focus and concentration. Ken Pargement of Bowling Green State University instructed one group of people who suffer migraines to meditate 20 minutes each day repeating a spiritual affirmation, such as “God is good. God is peace. God is love.” The other group used a nonspiritual mantra: “Grass is green. Sand is soft.” The spiritual meditators had fewer headaches and more tolerance of pain than those who had focused on the neutral phrases(Huffington Post blog March 2012).

Now, for Beauty inside and out-

Early in my career as a beauty specialist, it became obvious that cosmetic ingredients can only go so far into the dermis for beautification and cosmetic surgery has its limitations as well. Later, I began working for an Aveda Salon, which trained their skin care specialists on the use of pure essential oils, by adding them to skin care products to customize treatments for clients. Viola!  The results were amazing.

You see, essential oils have the highest frequency of any natural substance known to man, creating an environment in which disease, bacteria, virus and fungus cannot live.

Essential oils can help us to raise our body’s frequency=Health!

Fast forward to 2017, I’ve completed Aromatherapy training and earned my certificate as an Aromatherapist. I am so excited to share all that I have learned and still learning with you.

My mission is, as always, to help you Discover Beauty from the Inside Out!

“ If you start the week with a positive attitude on Monday, it’ll be a lot easier to fight off negativity the rest of the week.

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Happiness Within

High to low them ups and downs,
Like my world, from smiles to frowns.
Happiness is a place that seems in reach,
One for oneself, we look to find it each.
But is this a mission or are we all blinded to see?
That’s it’s within ourselves, but we scorn to agree?
The simplest things in life, are hard to be grateful for,
Which is why happiness is dug deep into our core .
Open your eyes and see its within,
And once you see it, life will take you for a spin 🙂

Author: Anymonous

I found this cute poem to be sweet but wise also. Enjoy the day!

So what are you saying about your life?

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Originally posted on Be Like Water: Dr. Masaru Emoto, a researcher and alternative healer from Japan has given the world a good deal of evidence of the magic of positive thinking. He became famous when his water molecule experiments featured in the 2004 film, What The Bleep Do We Know? His experiments demonstrate that human thoughts and intentions can alter…

via Attitude is Everything – Scientific Proof Thoughts & Intentions Can Alter The Physical World Around Us — Be Like Water