Tap Into The Magic Of Spring With These Essential Oils

The pink full moon has Venus conjuncting with asteroid Chiron. Greek mythology tells the myth of Chiron, a centaur whose wounds allowed him to become a compassionate teacher of healing. Psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung used mythical Chiron as the archetype for "wounded healer." Jung's concept of the wounded healer refers to each person's ability and need to consciously face wounds in order to transform them and ultimately receive their blessings. You can't heal what you can't feel. The pink full moon brings amplified sensitivity and perhaps the opportunity to acknowledge past trauma and hurt.

Springtime isn't only for flowers. Grasses grow too! Lemongrass essential oil pays homage to the pink full moon's alternate name, sprouting grass moon. This moon will likely prompt increased tension—people may get on your nerves and drive you mad as a result of the cardinal T-square tug-of-war. If you start to boil up in agitation, it may be best to give yourself some space. Lemongrass is a potent and natural insect repellent, which is great for this time of year when the bugs come out to play. But it also creates a protective boundary that not only wards off creepy-crawlies but also rebuffs toxic and negative energy.

Cinnamon bark is an incredibly powerful oil that's not often topically used since its largest chemical constituent, cinnamaldehyde, can be a mucus membrane and dermal irritant. Cinnamon is one of the strongest antibacterial essential oils, so you might want to include it in some DIY spring cleaning products. But on a subtler energetic level, cinnamon inspires moving on.

While this is not an essential oil, flower essences can also help set intentions and ritualize the moon cycle. Also known as the desert rose, oleander is one of the most common garden plants that's poisonous if ingested, but it's perfectly safe as a flower essence. This full moon intersects with many holidays and celebrations—Passover, Easter, and Hanuman Jayanti, to name a few. These holidays remind us to unplug and foster connections with ourselves, others, and our spirituality. Some even believe oleander represents the feminine face of a higher power. This flower essence can help us see the fine line between observing and judging. Oleander reminds us that we are spiritual beings having a human experience.

Keeping to the theme of pink-inspired oils, grapefruit is a personal favorite of mine. But, it's not only on this list because of its hue. Spring is a time when the earth reawakens and we uplift ourselves from the cold of winter. To energetically support this seasonal shift, citrus oils are must-haves to do the trick. The cheerful, sweet aroma acts as an antidepressant and is also great to stimulate psychic energy and lymph blockages.

Like oleander flower essence, this is not an essential oil. This absolute promotes clarity and cultivates inward thinking, which is much needed when we ponder what the planets are up to. This full moon is joined by Mercury turning retrograde, which began on Sunday April 9. Mercury in retrograde has garnered much attention as of late, but take a deep breath—here's mbg's guide to help you navigate it. Retrograde occurs as the planet illusorily moves backward, which may cause communication and judgment issues. Take your time doing things and commit to finishing what you start.