Sunshine In The Winter Darkness

J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Mordor' must have
been inspired by the Scandinavian winter

It's winter and it's dark.

In Scandinavia, we live with a whole heck of a lot of darkness in the winter months. This time of year, it doesn't get light until 8:30 in the morning, and by 16:15 (that's 4:15 in the afternoon for those of you who don't do the 24-hour-clock-thing), it's pitch black again.

If it happens to be a cloudy day (which it is more often than not), it doesn't really get light at all and the daytime hours are cloaked in an impenetrable, dull twilight. Despite the holiday season, dreams of light breezes and summer prevail.

Fight It With Everything You've Got!

To avoid becoming engulfed in a Mordor-like winter depression, I find a bit of essential oil sunshine does the trick for me.

I've written about Geranium earlier, and it is indeed the main active ingredient in the face and body oil that I am using at the moment. Mixed with lemongrass and a selection of citrus oils (this present batch includes blood orange and mandarin) makes for a scintillating, fresh, green, summery scent that not only is a great pick-me-up, but it's a cell-regenerating, detoxifying mix as well.

That's enough to shake off any winter blues!