The protection of conifers, plants of strength and vigour

December, the month of Saturn

December is the darkest month of the year, a time that has held deep significance in many cultures. Romans, for example, celebrated Saturnalia around the winter solstice: during these festivals in honor of Saturn or Kronos, god of time and immortality, a collective atmosphere of euphoria similar to that of Christmas was created. Saturn, the planet that determines December's planetary signature, has an ambivalent nature: it governs the beginning and end of things. Masculine, cold, and arid, it is known as a reaper, a sage, and an initiator. It is no coincidence that December is the month for pruning plants; it concludes the year but already contains within it all the premises, desires, and seeds of the new year.

The precious help of conifers

Our organism experiences this period of cold and lack of light as intense stress, which often leads to a weakening of the immune system and a greater tendency towards sadness and melancholy. Conifers, particularly Scots Pine and White Fir, can be of great help during these months. Their essential oil revitalizes body and mind, helps to boost immune response, and purifies environments from normally present bacteria.

Conifers grow in extreme environmental conditions: on snowy peaks, they cling to rocky ground, resisting frost, wind, and harsh weather. The message they convey to us is linked to the strength of a warrior, the freshness, and the freedom of a mountain peak.

The essential oil of Scots Pine: uses and properties

The essential oil of Pine, which is extracted from the buds, needles, and twigs of the conifer, makes us firm and strong, just like the mountain it grows on. Clear and transparent, like the air breathed at high altitudes. Ideal against coughs, colds, and fatigue due to lack of light. In winter, it proves to be a great ally: it fights viruses and respiratory affections, relaxes body and soul after a long day of work, and helps to endure the grayness by bringing the essence of the forest into the home. Stimulating to the nervous system, it provides dynamism and is useful in states of convalescence and apathy. It invigorates the mind and wards off fatigue, provides confidence, tranquility, and stability. The Pine is linked by a series of symbols to the masculine universe: it can be useful for men fatigued by excessive work stress to strengthen identity and self-esteem, and to find their balance in the realm of sexuality. Scots Pine helps to reconnect with one's life cycle, to find a balance between the material and spiritual spheres.

The essential oil of White Fir: uses and properties

The Fir grows where winter is long and the earth is poor, its roots cling to the scarce and rocky soil and its trunk rises tall and majestic: it gives us the grounding, strength, and balance that characterize it. When one fears for their future and feels uncertain, the essential oil of White Fir dispels doubts and instills confidence in one's path, providing inner strength in difficulties. Fir essential oil is, in effect, a bearer of light, albeit in a completely different way from citrus fruits. While the latter offer the warmth and vitality of sunbeams, the conifer gives us condensed and collected light during the winter months, a silent promise of new springs. It is particularly useful when there is a need to start over, helping to broaden one's perspective over long distances and to recognize the progress made. It provides warmth, energy, and courage in moments of great "cold."

Antiseptic and expectorant, it decongests the respiratory tract and provides concrete support in all cold-related illnesses.

A revitalizing ritual

The recipe:

3 tablespoons of salt,

two tablespoons of olive oil,

8 drops of Scots Pine

7 drops of Eucalyptus,

20 minutes of time.

Immerse yourself in a warm bath where you have poured the mixture of salt, olive oil, and essential oil to recharge your mind and body, feel toned and more peaceful. In the shower, the mixture can also be used as a purifying body scrub. Scots Pine oil helps fight rheumatic pains and cervical issues: after the bath, a massage with almond oil can be performed on sensitive areas.

A curiosity: the fir, Christmas tree

The White Fir has always been considered a magical tree, a communication tool between heaven and earth. It represents man's desire to search for his inner "self" and the intimate desire to open up to his spiritual side. For the ancient Celts, it was the divine plant protecting Yule, which corresponds to the Winter Solstice. In the Middle Ages, farmers had the custom of bringing a fir tree home to decorate it, giving it the meaning of "tree of light": hence the tradition of the Christmas Tree.

A majestic evergreen, it is linked to solar qualities and the dichotomy between life and death: its reassuring presence in the long Nordic night has the symbolic value of something profoundly vital, which overcomes all forms of sterility. Its wide branches, like open arms ready to welcome, offer protection to small mountain animals.

A tall and fragrant greeting,

Barbara Pozzi and Olfattiva* staff

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