Pg. 12-19 12 minute read
Welcome to the 2024 Summer edition (11.2) of Aromatika magazine.
Gergely Hollodi had the pleasure of interviewing Julia Lawless for our "Giant's" column.
Julia has published over twenty books on the uses of essential oils and the practice of aromatherapy. Her particular interest has been in providing clear and accurate information about the oils, which is presented in a very accessible manner. She wrote her first book, The Encyclopaedia of Essential Oils:The Complete Guide to Aromatic Oils in Aromatherapy, Herbalism, Health and Well-being' in 1992 simply because there was no comprehensive guidebook covering a wide range of aromatic oils available at that time.
How did you initially get involved with aromatherapy, and what made you start working with essential oils?
I first became involved with the study of plants, herbs and essential oils because I am passionate about nature: quite simply it is an enduring inspiration for me, as there is always more to learn and discover. As a child I would spend my weekends collecting wildflowers along the banks of the river Wye in Herefordshire, which is where I grew up, then press them into notebooks alongside their names and the location in which I found them. All my summer holidays were spent in Finland, as my mother was Finnish, so the Scandinavian culture had a massive influence on me while I was growing up. Unlike in the UK, the Finnish people have stayed intimately connected with the natural world due to their wild and sparsely populated landscape, so their herbal traditions and their foraging knowledge have largely remained intact. My mother Kerttu was therefore well versed in the use of herbs and other botanicals and would grow a wide range of aromatic plants at home, specifically for their medicinal, cosmetic and culinary usage.
Where and who did you study with?
I studied primarily with the London School of Aromatherapy, and then studied Western and Tibetan herbal medicine. From 1980 onwards, I also studied meditation and yoga with the Tibetan teacher, Chogyal Namkhai Norbu.
Who was your inspiration or the most influential person/people in the aromatherapy/aromatic medicine field, and why?
Apart from the undoubted botanical influence from the maternal side my family, my father was also an inspirational figure for me as he was a teacher and writer – so in a sense I can see that I have been influenced by both my parents in my choice of career. John Steele was also an early inspiration in my aromatherapy development, as we shared many common interests, and he also knew my mother in her professional capacity. I remember John famously made a perfume oil when I was still learning how to blend essential oils myself – I think it was called 'Mango Euphoric', an exquisite citrus-floral elixir – but he would never reveal all the ingredients or the precise formulation to me! I still view him as one of the best alchemical masters of blending I have ever met. Today, I find that all these different threads of influence and interest have become woven together in my life: nature, aromatic oils, botanicals, formulation, blending, writing, research, meditation, yoga and teaching.
"What aromatherapy means to me is I'm very happy to be involved in a form of work which promotes good health and well-being, but also through my writing specifically, to be able to help educate both professionals and the public at large about the immense value of essential oils and aromatherapy."
The Summer issue of Aromatika Magazine is packed with heartfelt and inspiring articles. To read the complete article, order your copy of our Spring issue of Aromatika Magazine (11.2) or subscribe to our beautiful E-Journal yearly subscription by following the link in our bio or simply copy and paste the link here: https://www.aromatikamagazine.com/.../aromatika-magazine...
Over the 125 colourful pages in our Summer issue, we have some of the most knowledgeable aromatherapists and educators from around the world.
We thank you all for your continued support and hope you'll enjoy the fascinating chapters of our SUMMER e-journal.
Get your copy of Aromatika Magazine!
To have your copy of our beautiful magazine, follow the link to the shop and get your download, or subscribe to become a four-seasons reader of our quarterly e-journal.
Comments