Socially Responsible Business
I truly believe in putting you and our planet before profit.
Too often, our society believes that their value or self-worth is demonstrated by the amount of money they are making or the title that they have at work. When they aren’t able to take a step back and see the bigger picture – they miss the importance of their own well-being and the well-being of our planet.
Having a positive social impact is one of the best ways for me to measure my success as a one-woman business. I strive to set myself apart from others by working with other small businesses that believe in regeneration forestation, facilitating a conscious sourcing practice, and ethical labor conditions.
Palo Santo’s ever-increasing demand has made it very difficult to find companies who are truly passionate about the sacredness of the Palo Santo trees. Even though it is illegal to cut down these sacred trees, it is difficult to enforce this law. So many companies are now illegally cutting down the Palo Santo trees rather than allowing the oils from the tree to naturally coat the pieces of wood bringing out its healing properties– which takes anywhere from four to ten years. Companies who cut the trees down prematurely are selling Palo Santo that provides little benefit and instead is actually harming the planet rather than healing it. They would rather see a profit than actually sell a powerful product.
As a heart-centered business, I am always working to connect with others who are developing strong foundations of long-term and love-driven actions within every decision they make.
“My love for Palo Santo has led me towards building a conscious community through which we can create a positive impact on people and the planet.
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What is Palo Santo?
Palo Santo or Bursera Graveolens (the Spanish word for ‘holy stick’) is a sacred tree that is native to South America, primarily from Ecuador and Peru. In order for Palo Santo to truly gain its healing properties, it must be harvested in a very unique way to ensure that it is of the highest quality.
If the wood is harvested too soon, it will look lighter in color, burn much faster, and contain less beneficial properties. Because the wood needs time for the natural aromatic oils to develop and mature, the ideal aging process involves a naturally fallen tree that is aged anywhere from four to ten years. The longer the wood ages, the more dense the wood becomes with its aromatic oils. These oils make the wood burn slower, gain a stronger fragrant, and create more powerful healing properties.
What are the benefits?
Palo Santo has been considered sacred for centuries. The ancient Incas used it during ceremonies to cleanse themselves of negative energy or spirits. In the Shamanic tradition, it was used for spiritual purification, healing, and energy cleansing.
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Today, Palo Santo is used as a method of healing by:
Relieving stress
Releasing anxiety
Relieving headaches
Promoting relaxation
Repelling mosquitos
Treating a cold and the flu
Helping to relieve depressive symptoms
Pain relief due to its anti-inflammatory properties
Treating respiratory alignments such as asthma and bronchitis
For meditation, burning palo santo helps:
Create feelings of peace and clarity
Dissolve negative energy
Raise vibration levels
Increase creativity
Feel grounded
For aromatherapy, essential oils are extracted from
the Palo Santo wood and the scent is known for:
Helping to brighten the energy in the room
Promoting feelings of positivity
Creating contentedness
Easing symptoms of anxiety
Enhancing clarity and concentration
Reducing stress
What is smudging?
Smudging is a practice used to help clear negative energy from a space in order to make that space feel more comfortable and tranquil. Much like White Sage, Palo Santo can be burned, and its smoke can be used to ‘smudge a room’ or release negative energy and replace it with positive energy.
How to smudge yourself or a room
Smudging with Palo Santo is very easy and incredibly beneficial. If you are new at this, I recommend following the steps I have created below!
Step 1. Light the stick using a match, lighter, or candle
Step 2. Holding the stick at a 45-degree angle, let it burn for about 30 seconds to 1 minute
Step 3. Blow out the flame by using your breath or by waving the stick rapidly, in a counterclockwise rotation, allowing the smoke to fill your room
Step 7. Once you’ve covered your room or yourself in the scared palo santo smoke and you’ve recited your intention, you can now place your stick in a fireproof bowl.
Step 8. Allow the embers of the Palo Santo to go out and reignite the Palo Santo stick when you feel your space needs it. Everybody is different – maybe you want to smudge yourself or your room every morning, once a week, once a month, etc. There is never a wrong time. Do what feels right for you.
Step 4. As the smoke fills up the room, move the stick around yourself or your room. I recommend setting an intention around what you are “clearing” and what type of energy you want to bring in.
Example: “With this smoke, I release all negative energy that has made me feel lethargic and unmotivated. I am now consciously choosing to bring in empowering energy that allows me to feel motivated, inspired, and determined.”
Step 5. While repeating your intention or reciting other positive thoughts as you walk around your room, make sure that you are allowing the smoke to fill up all of the nooks and crannies.
*This can be done by blowing the smoke gently with your mouth or waiving the smoke with your hand or a feather*
Example: Making sure to go under your bed, into each corner of the room, around your door, and in the closet.
Step 6. If you are using it to cleanse yourself, make sure to give extra attention to the areas in your body that feel heavy or where you normally carry your stress.
Example: This can include around your heart, neck, stomach, feet, and forehead.
*If you spend a lot of time on the computer, I recommend honing in on your wrists, arms, hips, buttocks, and shoulders where there is usually more tension or stress from your workday.*
