Playful Spirit: A Remedy for Our Times

August 18, 2025

Honestly I can’t think of anything we need more now than a playful spirit. I know this may seem contraindicated to the fuckery we are facing but stay with me. Playfulness opens us to a wider range of possibilities, it encourages inventiveness and to think outside the box. It connects us to our inner resources and our uniqueness, which is where our deepest gifts shine forth. It also leads us to seek out each other in fun and good humor and we need each other more than ever. 

And probably most importantly, playfulness is a foil for fear. While fear sounds the alarm and invites a sober awareness of what is awry it is not a good problem solver or decision maker. That is best done from a playful spirit and our embodied intuition. 

Larch flower essence begins the Playful Spirit flower formula enhancing our ability to take risks and enter into life experiences regardless of the likelihood of success or failure. Larch says: “Get involved, you can do it!” thus giving us a much needed self-esteem boost to help us believe in ourselves. Especially indicated for those of us who lack confidence and feel inferior to others, it supports us to not compare ourselves to others and imbues a special kind of courage that helps us orient toward the positive potential in experiences.

Zinnia is a bringer of joy and lightness to life. If ever there was a flower essence to have on tap, this would be one for these times! It encourages spontaneity, playfulness, curiosity and good humor. As well as instilling a bit of hopeful expectation. The Playful Spirit spray makes good use of Zinnia as it does its best work on those of us who tend towards an overly serious or over-working way of being. It restores joy and laughter and supports a balance between responsibility and levity.

For those of us who carry multiple roles in life (yes, you - every single person I know!) having access to play is an essential, life-giving element. Its value stretches far beyond leisure—it’s deeply connected to creativity, resilience and even closeness in relationships. Play also counteracts the cultural paradigm that our value lies exclusively in producing, fixing or achieving. In play we affirm our intrinsic worth and experience joy for its own sake. Go play!

Borage flower essence is a longtime favorite of mine and a natural choice for the Playful Spirit formula. When the heart is heavy Borage flower brings buoyancy and the courage to face life as it is. It naturally encourages playfulness, optimism and spontaneity; uplifting our spirits to stretch beyond our sorrow and hopelessness. It imbues us with enthusiasm and confidence in our ability to move through the hard stuff.

The lead essential oil in the Playful Spirit spray is the glorious Neroli. I swear if everyone slathered themselves in neroli everyday the world would be a better place. It is just so gifted at bringing in this lightness of intimacy and this beautiful relaxed grace. It is both playful and tender, promoting spontaneous sensuality while always feeling easy and familiar like a friend. If you don’t care about Playful Spirit but just want a dose of neroli let me know and I’ll make you a spray of just that! 

Geranium essential oil comes in next with its strengthening and balancing qualities. It nurtures feelings of confidence helping us take the leap into a more playful way of being. One of the vexations of play is an inclination to go too mental and begin the all too familiar, unfun comparison game. Playful Spirit spray relishes geranium to balance our thinking and feeling, opening us to new ways of being. 

Uplifting, motivating and stimulating Cypress tree essential oil plays an essential role in the Playful Spirit spray. Its scent is fresh, sweet, balsamic with a woody body and bright green top notes. It is a spirit lifter, an energy activator and a whole system strengthener that supports us at a core level to feel the confidence needed to move out of old patterns and try something new.

To wrap up our deep dive into the Playful Spirit spray I want to emphasize - play is all we are ever doing! Really. We are all playing life. And you can change the game you are playing at any time. Here is an in-process poem on this topic:

So You Want To Be Free?

Every moment 
you can choose to play the game-
I am loved by the wind, 
then go to the ocean
and feel it loving you.

You could decide each word spoken to you
means I want to be connected.

You could allow each moment 
to reflect, as an oracle,
something you need to know about yourself.

Choose the game you want to play with Life.
Stay focused.

This day everything I encounter is alive, awake, aware.
This day I ask what is the most self-loving choice and choose only this.
This day I look for what kindness I can bestow.
This day I belong everywhere I go.
This day I ask the body to lead.
This day I fill with beauty.
This day my ancestors follow beside guiding my choices.
This day I say everything about me is okay, no part left out.

The outer world compels you to step off this path 
and join in the well worn groove. 

Lean only in, 
to the path you have chosen.

Also in Flowers for Health and Happiness!