Creek god. Apollo.

ILenables the locusing of the mind

into the spiritual realms. For many years. I have used
it as the main ingredient of the oil I blend for work-

shops and meditation groups. \\'hen I add iLlo the

blend. I dedicate it Lo the Cosmic Christ. the Light.
For personal meditations. or when Leaching mcdiialion or facilitating gro11ps. I always begin by visualizing Light as a symbol of' Cod/Goddess/Source
of' r\11 Thal Is. This light forms a protection during
meditation, laking one lo the highest possible state
of consciousness. In many spiritual traditions Light
is regarded as Goel, or an aspect of' lhe Divine.
There is a light that shines beyond all Lhings on
earth. beyond us all, beyond the heavens. beyond the
highest. the very highest heavens. This is the T.ight
that shines in our heart." And in Si-John's Gospel (8
: 12). we read: 1 am the Light of' the World'. Wben
\loses saw Ilic burning bush in the desert. he saw ii
as a sign of' Cod's presence. (Exodus 3).
*Chandogl'a

Upanishad. ).).7 (l'c11gui11 Classics. 1965)

I

-ti:'

30 ESSENTIALOILSAND MEDITATION

'

\lEDJTJ\TfOI\

ON l.ICI IT.

CSll\C: FRANl...:11\(l~:\SE011.

I. Use a few drops ofIrankinccnsc oil in your vaporizer or on a I issue. ~cgin lo brcat he slowly and gently. inhaling the aroma of' the oil. Observe the cool
air against yo11r nostrils as yo11breathe in and warm
breath as you breathe out.
2. As you breathe, begin 10 visualize light shining
above your head. You might sec il like a spotlight.
or a crystal or the blazing sun. Rays of' light shine
clown and around you. as though you are silling in
a pyramid of' light.!\ particularly bright ray shines
straight down through your crown chakra, down the
s11s1111111a (the central subtle spinal channel) and into
your heart chakra,
3. Continue lo hrcat he this IighLand sec it fiIiing every
atom and cell in your body. even genes in your D::\A.
As you scan your body and your chakras iLseems as if'
you arc radiating light like millions oftiny s1111s.With
each breath. fiU yourself' with more and more light.
4. lkgin lo sec a Ilame in your heart chakra. the light
that is hidden within you.
5. With the next three breaths. as you breathe in. alfirm. 1 am in the Light,' then The Light is in me'.
then 1 am Light'.

6. Continue with the threefold breath and aflirmations lor a short rime until you arc ready to close
your meditation,
closing in the usual 1l'ay.
When you arc worried and agitated. use a drop
of frankincense
on a Lissue. Alter a trying day. put a
drop or two in a warm bath before bedtime to help
to still the mind and release old memories. because
frankincense
helps to break lrom the past. V\lhen
worried about exams or interviews, put one or t110
drops or frankincense
on a tissue and keep it with
you. Tt will help you to still your LhoughLs and locus
on the quest ions you have Lo answer.

Ginere er

(7ingiher oj)1cina/is)
Kcvnotcs:
initiative. se/f~cs/('('11/.
COl/rct~'('
(/Jld SllCC!'SSill
'
')
<
achtevemeut.
MlirmaLion: I a111happy. co1ljide11t and successjul in
all I do.

Cinger is a tropical perennial herb. ILs rhizome is

popular in oriental cookery. and ginger tea with lemon is reputed to prevent colds and Ilu in winter. It
is very warming and invigoraLing and the powdered
root is yellow-orange. It was one of the first spices
Lo be brought to Europe lrom Asia along the Spice
Route and was widely used by both tile Greeks and
the Romans. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine and is reputed to prolong life. Its archetype is
the Chinese God or Longevity who wears a yellow
robe. the colour or the spice. The essential oil st imulatcs the appetite and brings warmth to those who
particularly Iccl the winter cold. Its energy inspires
people who have plent y olplans and ideas. but never
seem to find the energy to do thorn. In astrology, it
is associated with the planet 1\ la rs. renowned for iLs
rnerg~. force and vitalitv. ILis valuable when 11'carc
phvsicallv exhausted and alter stress.
SPIRITUALQUALITIESOF MEDITATION OILS 31

Ginger gives courage in limes or difficultv and

helps the connection Lo the spiritual realms and the
angelic kingdom, especially when we seem Lo have
exhausted all our mental resources. It gives the courage lo change direction, lo move out of that comfortable rut that nevertheless is a source of boredom, in
spite of its comfortable familiarity. The archangelic
archct ype is 1lanael, ruler of.\ la rs and chicfIicutcnant ofArchangel Michael. I lis name means 'I le Who
Secs Goel'. I lanael is red and rules the blood circulation. I le is the Archangel of Transformation and
Assertiveness. TTc is a warrior angel. providing energy for successful life processes, reproduction and
growth, al all levels, both for mind. body and spirit
and all aspects of lilc. Cinger blends well with balsam fir, x lichael's oil, and can be used in the mcdital ion given earlier for Michael. Visualize I lanacl with
.\lichacl. bringing extra courage when you need lo
make lilC-changing plans.
\\'hen you have situations where you need Lo be
assertive. use ginger essential oil and med itale with
Hanucl. Perhaps it is necessary lo speak vour mind to
someone important. or family or friends. You need
lo stale your case clearly and firmly without aggression. The result needs Lo be for ihe highest good of
all involved, not just for selfish ends.
32 ESSENTIALOILSAND MEDITATION

.\!EDIT\TIO~ FOR_\SSERTr\T:\ESS w ITI I

Gl'\GER OIL \.:\D \RCH.\:\GEL

I IAf\AEL

PuL a [e\I drops or ginger oil in your vaporizer and

prepare for meditation in vour usual way. If you
have sensitive skin, ginger can irritate it, so avoid ii
directly on the skin.
I. BreaLhing gently and slowly. visualize a path of
pure light in fronl of you. Follow the path and find
yourself in a beautiful garden with roses of different
shades oll lanacl's red colour. Sil down upon a bcncv
put rcadv for you. Call to Archangel 1lanacl for help
and advice in the situa: ion \'OU wish lo resolve.
2. Become aware ofu shining figure in beau Iiful shades
of red. The vibrations emanating from him arc warm
and fill you with courage. Mentally talk lo 1lanael
about the situation you wan! 10 change in a way that
wil I be for Ihe hizhcst
sood or cvcrvonc
involved .
t"
L'I

3. Sil silently. listening for advice and ideas, or observing what pictures or impressions come in Loyour
mind. You may just feel optimistic and know things
will work out right.
4. \\'hen ~'OU arc ready lo leave, thank I lanacl and
walk Olli of the gardc.n following your path of light,
to find yourselfback in your body. lk aware ofyour
breath before closing your meditation.

Hyssop
(I lyssopus ojjicinalis)
Keynote: p11rijirntio11. protccuon. w1dji1ljil111e11/.
Affirmation: I a111ahl'ay.s in the right place at the right
time and ahrnys dil'i11c0 protected.
1

1 lyssop is sl rong and should

ah1ays be diluted
in vegetable oil Lo use on the skin. II may only be
found al yom local aroma Ihcrapist or herbalist. TL is
a spi ri luallv-puri rying herb. men Lioned Lwclvc limes
in the Bible. and is \\';JS one or the biller herbs used
Lo purilv Solomon's temple. In the first Passover. it
was used Lo mark the doors with blood. so lhe angel or death would pass over the houses. Its name
comes lrom its ancient Hebrew name. ezob. meaning holy herb. Traditionally, it is known as an herb
or protection and is lhough! lo defend both people
and buildings lrom negative energy. hence its USC in
the purification ofSolomon's temple. ll is a hot 'herb
of lire, ruled by Mars, and stimulates and warms
weak. depleted energy. especially good for winter
chest infections. ILwarms and 'opens' the chest and
invigorates the nervous system, allowing people Lo
feel more enthusiastic and less mclancholv ILs pmc,
alchemical fire (spirit) action purges ncgaLi1i1y from

the soul and empowers it. allowing the gold of its

spiritual nature lo shine.
'Sprinkle me, 0 l.ord. with hyssop. and I shall be
purified: wash me and I shall IJl whiter than snow."
SP:\CECl.E.\Rli\C

\\'ITll llYSSOPOll..

I lvssop is an ideal oil lo use for space clearing, when

you want Locleanse a room for a spiritual workshop.
and ii would work very well with frankincense lor
this. You can also use hyssop lo cleanse the l'Jlcrgy or
a new house or llat.
I. Thoroughly clean the room or house and ii' you
think there is really dark energy there, you can sprinklc pure sea sail in each corner of' the room.
2. Use lour or five drops of hyssop oil and vaporize
lor an hour or until the oil has evaporated.
3. Clean up the sail and oprn lhr windows and
doors. allowing f'resh air and renewed energy in lo the
room. If it's a house. vou may want to do each room
in turn, You can also plav some new age meditation
music. Choose spiritual music lo encourage angelic
and spiritual energy in lo the room or building.
*Fro1111he1\spl'1gl's .\It'. said durin- the a11oi111i11gof' lilt'
sick (Prc-vurican ll Roman Rill'. quoted in \\'ornnod,
1111
11!\(,!( 1-;TIll\\ I.''>).

SPIRITUALQUALITIES OF MEDITATION OILS 33

~5kw-,i_
Jasmine
(Jas111i1111111l!07cinalis)
Keynote: desire. crealiFily and han11011y.

Affirmation: I m11in /1111ewith ''0' spiri/11ality. II inspires and guides

111e.

Jasmine is very expensive and may be difficult to

line!. This 'Queen of the :\igh1' is originally lrom
China and Asia and is an ingredient of Chinese jasmine tea. \\'hen I was in India, many or the locals
wore wreaths or it in their hair or around Iheir necks
for parties and celebrations. The little star starshaped llowcrs scent ihc evening air on warm summer nights and they arc collected Ihen when their
seen I is Ihe st rongesl. Dillicult yin extracting the oil
is the cause ofits l1igh price. Ii lakes large quantities
olIlowcrs lo extract the oil in a process called enlleuragc. Flowers are laid on a thin layer or animal fat,
which gradually becomes saturated with the essence
and ii is Ihen treated with alcohol.
IL is a very leng1 hy process and most jasmine is
an absolute. extracted with solvent. The oil may have
Lo be specially ordered for you and. because of the
cost. only use one drop in a meditation blend, or by
34 - ESSENTIALOILSAND MEDITATION

itself' for special use. You can also use jasmine oil as
a perfume if' you like it. Put one or 111'0drops oljasmine absolute in one teaspoon (Smls) of vegetable
oil. like almond. peach kernel or apricot and keep in
a dropper boll le. You can then put a drop inside the
wrists or ankles or on Ihe ptt lsc spots by the neck.
These places arc by arteries, and the perfume oil is
quickly absorbed into ihc blood stream and carried
around the body. II'you like its scent, you could wear
this when concentrating on creative projects.
Jasmine oil relaxes and calms the nerves. It is an
excellent oil to use when you are sulfrring from nervous anxiety, restlessness and depression and ii is
said Lo help develop spirituality. TLis reputed lo call
in angels and help in rhe connection Lojoy. Jasmine
is associated with fcuility and creativity and can
be used in honour or Laksh!JJ.i__gQ_dd~1.
prosperity, abundaiice and business success. I use 1L
~ps
and when planning them. Lakshmi
is the consort of' the I lindu God. Vishnu. IL is said
that Sita. the consort of Rama in the Indian epic,
The the Ua111<01a11a, is an incarnation of' Lakshmi. In
this Lale. Rama. an incarnation ofVishnu. is exiled.
I Iis wife, Sita. insists on accompanying him Lo the
forest. where he must stay tor fourteen years. She is
kidnapped by a wicked demon. Ravana, and taken

to the island of Lanka. Rama goes to war. aided by

l lanuman. the monkey Cod. rescues Sita and kills
the wicked demon. Then Rama and Sita return lo
their citv, the exile over. I lindus celebrate this event
at Diwali, the Festival of Lights. in the autumn. Ln
Asian shops and restaurants. somewhere in the
back. you will often sec a picture or imagc or her.
with burning incense. The proprietors always know
whom to rely on for their success in business! Creativity and success arc an important and necessary
part in any business.

'Giver or boons art thou to all:

Formidable terror to the wicked:
Remover or all pain and sorrow,
Oh, Devi, salutations Lo thee."
Lakshmi, cnt hroned on a lotus blossom, has
four arms. The upper pair each hold a lotus and the
lower two give blessings and abundance. She is olten depicted with a stream or coins llowi.ng from her
hands. She is also known as mother or the world,
l.akarnata.
for a new business project or venture, use a drop
or two ofjasmine oil as you meditate for guidance
for creativity and inspiration.
"Invocation Lo Lakshmi. in the ,\lalwlaks111islo/ra.

:vt WlTATLOl\ FOR CR.Ei\Tl\'ITY

Al\D l\EW PROJECTS
I. Place one or l WO drops or jasmine oil in your
vaporizer or diffuser.
2. Begin lo breathe and centre yourself Then visualize vourself being surrounded by Light. Breathe
in Light until you arc filled and surrounded by LighL
and you lccl that you are radiating l.ight and all the
cells of your body shine like millions oftiny suns.
3. Take ~-our attention into your heart centre and
visualize there a beautiful lotus blossom. It is your
centre ofcrcat ivi: \'. You could also visualize Lakshmi
as a beautiful woman with four arms. showering you
\\'i lh blessings.
4.. PuL the idea ofvour project in the centre or the lotus and wai: in the silence for any ideas. pictures. and
intuitive thoughts that come lo you. Keep \'isualizing
your project in the lotus light until you feel you have
finished. Then conclude vour meditation.
5. Remember that sometimes the ideas come later. lk open lo any dreams or waking thoughts, the
things people might say to you. Spiritual guidance is
often very subtle and 11'C can miss it. Write down in
your notebook what you remember. You may spend
a week or a month on get Iing ideas for a 11c1\' project,
or even longer on major projects.
SPIRITUALQUALITIESOF MEDITATION OILS 35

There is also an abundance

mantra for Lakshmi that can be used with the jasmine oil. It is 0111
Shri111 ,\Iaha Laksh11101eiS1Faha (pronunciation: Om

Shrecm mah ha l.aksh-rncc-vci swah-ha).

Traditionally. a chant is repealed for forty days.
twice a dav. for rwcnrv. minutes al a time-lhal
is.
morning and cvcning= or it can be repealed silently
whenever you have the opportunity, as when dril'ing
or Lravelling by I rain or bus.
0111 is the seed sound for the sixth chakra (the
brow cent re) and is lhe place where masculine and
feminine energy unites. Shri111 is the seed sound for
the principle ofabundance, personified bl' 1.akshmi.
,\laha means great. both in quantity and quality, but
is in keeping with divine law. For instance. someone
might gi1e }Otl girts hut vou wouldn't want lo he the
receiver of' stolen goods. so Ihis mantra keeps you
within divine right law. J.aks/1111iis the principle of'
abundance and the personification olwcalth. S111a/w
means 1 salute' and manifests energy al the solar
plexus chakra, ilwrehy bringing it into everyday
munifcsration. ll also provides a feminine ending Lo
the mantra.
L'sing this mantra is reputed to process new lclels of' energy through the chakras. (Ashley-Farrand.
I IE.II.I~(; ;_t l'ITR IS).
36 ESSENTIALOILSAND MEDITATION

Lavender
(Lavandula oj)irinalis)
Kevnotcs: ca/111.be al ease 11ithoncsel[. inner pettc
Affirmation: I a111jilfed 11ith divine light and peace.

l.avcnder is very well known as it gro11swiddy in Europe and the ll lcditcrrancan and has been introduced
to most parts of the world. It grows well on poor soils
and survives drought conditions. lts dried flowers
are used in scented bags in drawers and wardrobes.
The oil is inexpensive and can be bought almost
anywhere. but refer lo the Lat in name on Ihe label to
make sure you are buying genuine oil rather than na1ure-idcnt ical oil, which is syn Ihet ic. Lavender lowers
blood pressure and slows the heart rate, slows palpitations and is a very useful oil lo aid relaxation. II can
ease panic attacks. Use one or two drops with a drop
of' rose 0110 on a tissue under the pillow alter travelling. keeping odd hours, or in jct lag.
l.avcndcr was mentioned by Dioscorides. and
I lildegard or Hingen recommended il for maintaining a pure character. Lavender has a reputation par
excellence for healing. lt is an excellent oil lo use for
people who have a lot or creative potential but lack
the courage to follow ii up. lt is also useful for those

who gel stuck in the past and can 1 move on due to

old habits. use it for lhose occasions when old routines and practices no longer serve their purpose.
Lavender is Lhe essential oil 'rescue remedy' and can
be kept in the car, handbag or briefcase,
Lavender has the ability to aid spiritual growth
by producing a meditative stale and iLprovides psychic protection. ILbrings about unity bet ween body.
mind and spirit, It is good oil in a meditation blend.
because it is a psychic cleanser for the meditation
pace and for those who will be meditating there.
It slows down menial chatter and calms stressful
breathing so that the breath becomes even and slower, inducing a better stale for meditation, For beginners in meditation, or for those who like Lo practise
mindfulness or breath meditation, inhale lavender
oil when meditation feels more difficult lban usual.
t'I I EDITATION WIT! I THE .BREJ\TlI
..\simple meditation technique in many traditions is
focusing on your breath, so this meditation is based
on watching the breath.
I. Prepare your diffuser with lavender oil. Two or
three drops will be enough lo create the right almosphcrc. Sil either in a straight-backed chair or

any suitable meditation pose on the lloor. Roll your

shoulders back and down and lill your chest Lo enable lhe brcat h Lollow freely.
2. Close your eyes and begiJ1 to breathe gently and
silently, xlake sure your thoughts arc completely
centred on your breath and 'watch' each breath as it
comes and goes. Keeping your back and chest lifted.
but not tense and st ill, watch the breath as iLcomes
into the nostrils, and goes down the throat and chest.
Feel lhe ribs move ouL followed by lhe navel as the
breath pushes on Lo Ihe diaphragm. When you feel
the natural impulse Lobreathe out, do so and 'watch'
the navel lall. then the ribs and chest come in. Breathe
in again when you leel the impulse lo do so. bui remember not Lohold lhe brcat h al any time. A similar
way to do this is Lonotice each breath al the lip oft lie
nose as lhe brcat h comes in and goes out.
1. Continue lo do this with every breath as ii comes
and goes. II'you get out of breath or lcel tense, try Lo
relax more. lf'lhc mind wanders.just bring iLback lo
the breathing.
4. At lirsl you might only be able lo do this breathing meditation lor five minutes. but you can gradual!~build it up until you can do it for twcnf y minutes.
You will find that you will begin Lo !eel calmer and
more refreshed. 1\ leditarion is best done even' dav.
SPIRITUALQUALITIESOF MEDITATION OILS 37

hut once a week is better than nothing. Another

breathing meditation is to count each breath from
one to ten and then start again at one. Do this for up
tot-went)' minutes at a time.
5. Finish your meditation by releasing your aucntion on the breath, open your eyes and move around
the room so you feel grounded again. A drink of water can also help you to Icel centred and grounded
and prevent the dreamy kcling that might somel irncs follow meditation.
watching the breath' can also be done with the
eyes open ilyou arc lired or stressed. It can be done in
traffic jams or in long queues to stay calm. \'\'hen you
breathe in. silently say 'calm'. and when you breathe
out, say 'relax'. ILis also a good practice if"you can't
sleep. just lie in bed and watch each breath.

38 ESSENTIALOILSAND MEDITATION

Mandarin
(Citrus reticnlata)
Keynotes: ge11!lencss. sweet ness of spirit. joy of Ihe inner child.
Affirmation: I do 1ro11de1jitl wot]: in a 1vo11de1ji1I m~y
and I also find time [or rest.Jim andplay.
Mandarin, or tangerine, oil is easily available and inexpensive. This variety of the citrus family is native to
China and gets its name from the fact lhat it was lraditionally presented to the mandarin as a symbol or
good luck health and wealth. ILis a traditional girt atChinese New Year, when il is given for good luck and
wealth in the coming year. In Japan. legends about
the fruit of"the cvcrlastins;~ Irazrant
tree arc rhousht
u
~
Lo refer to the mandarin tree. The fruit is sweet and
tangy and the essential oil is expressed from the peel.
ll is refreshing and rejuvenating, soothes the nervous
system and reduces stress and tension, dispelling depression, intolerance and anxiety. It is relaxing and
supportive for those who arc workaholics and cannot leave their work behind.
Mandarin is often referred LO as 'the lit Lieheart of
the sun' or 'nature's sunshine", bringing light heartedness lo the drudgery or every day tasks. IL-rcawak-

ens a sense of joy and brings a sense of respect Loall

of life. This is especially true during the dark days of'
the Winler Solstice, Christmas and New Year. when
mandarins arc available. \'ou mav have found the
Lraditional mandarin orange in the toe of the Christmas stocking you had as a child. The fresh fruitiness
of the oil. when blended with cinnamon. ccdarwood,
pine, or balsam fir, cheers our spirits as we associate
the scent with celebrations and parties.

RfLAXATION

wrru

~IJ\NDARII\ 011.

'.'vlandarin oil is suitable when you need to relax and

let go of some of' Ihe heaviness and rcsponsibil itics of'
everyday work lilc. Use it in the following way.
J.
Lie on the lloor in the yoga relaxation pose.
savasatut, Play relaxing new new-age music designed
specifically for the purpose.
2. l~urn a fell' drops of mandarin oil Focus your
attention on the brcai h of' relaxation. the easy breath
(known in yoga as sukh pm11aya111a). In this breath.
when you arc relaxed. the navel is rising up to Ihe
ceiling as you breathe in. foiling back towards the
floor as you breathe out. Keep all your attention on
this breath, noticing each and every breath, navel rising. navel foiling.
3. Remain awake. The benefits of relaxation are
different from sleep. Relaxation is a form of meditation. or concentration.
4. Continue with this for twenLy or thin yminutes.
At times of' great stress and tension. daily relaxation can make all the difference Loyom health and
well-being.

SPIRITUALQUALITIESOF MEDITATION OILS 39

May Chang
(Li/sea cubeha)
Keynotes: self Jo1gil'e11ess. healing. and compassion
Alfinnat ion: I fo1gil'e 111yselfand I jingi\le others.
xlay Chang is cultivated in China and especially
Taiwan. ILis not easy Lo find as an essential oil but
is widely used in soap, cosrnet ics, deodorants. air
fresheners and. worldwide, as a source of natural citral. Its lemony fragrance is refreshing, upJifring and
stimulating.
I associate the aroma with Kuan Yin, the Chinese
Goddess ofx lercy and Compassion who embodies
the Divine Feminine. an exquisite essence of pure
unwavering compassion. In China. Japan, Vietnam
and Korea. her temples arc often found by rivers or
the seashore and in places or natural beauty. She is
known as the 'Compassionate One' and is involved
in the everyday concerns or men and women. v\lhen
called upon. she brings divine help lo any difficult
situation. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. she is
the feminine aspect of Avalokitcsvara, the male Bodhisal lva or compassion. Kwan Yin is popular as a
Bodhisal lva among Buddhists.
40 ESSENTIALOILS AND MEDITATION

TRADITIONAL ,\IEDlTATION ON 1'UAN YIN

This is a traditional meditation, helping lo develop

our qualities or mercy and compassion. IL helps Lo
bring a sense of peace in lo our own world.
I. vaporize a drop or lwoof may chang csscnt ial oil
or inhale from a tissue.
2. J\Uunc to your breathing. Become still and centred.
3. Imagine it is night, YouarcsiLLingovcrlookingthc
sea. The night is warm and still and the moon is lull.
Tt is reflected in lhe sl ill waler and its light forms a
pal h across the sea. As you gaze al the moon, you lee!
calm, serene and joyrul.
4. The moon grows brighter and brighter. In it you
sec the form or the goddess Kuan Yin, surrounded
by an aura of pure pearly light. You sec her clearly
as she smiles al you and radiates the qualities or serenity and compassion. As these qualities wash over
you and 11.LI you, you realize lhaL compassion towards
others heals you also, and that bearing grudges and
bcingjudgmcnlal only harms you and no-one else.
5. Repeat her name softly lo yourselfand observe the
fcclings olpcacc and joy that fill you as you do this.
6. l\ow Kuan Yin begins lo leave. The moon is about
Losci and, as it disappears across the horizon. Kuun
Yin also goes. She grows smaller and smaller, until all
you sec is a small sphere like a pearl.

8. Pearls too arc lrom the sea. Oysters grow beautiful

zcrns
around the "<rril that irritates them. Thcv.. 0erow
~
into pearls, the symbol of wisdom. In the same way.
the experiences that cause us Lobe irritable and critical
can help us Lodevelop compassion and wisdom, like
pearls. Serenil y and compassion Gill grow from our
tears and become like pearls or wisdom and beau! y.
9. Conclude your meditation but repeal it often Lo
benefit from its qualities of peace. tranquillity and
compassion. To gain the benefits of peace and calm,
this meditation should be practised regularly.
Once I was given a forgiveness meditation, altriburcd to Jack Kornfield, a writer about HuddhjsL
mindfulness meditation. This can also be used with
Kuan Yin's at tributes of compassion and mercy.
Lforgil'e all those people who haw hurt or oJlc'nd!'d 111!'.
I ask fo1givrness of (name) (all those people) 11'110I
have offended. I fo1gil'e 111e.
We needn't condone the actions but we can torcivc
0
the individual. Self-forgiveness is also very healing and
releasing. When we can manage lo forgive both ourselves and others, ii helps to dissolve some ofthe darkness and resentment that accumulates around us all.

- -- --- ---

Myrrh
(Coin tn iphora inyrrtm)
Keynote: tra11quillity and peace.
Affirmation: I attune to Ill)' soul and each dtl)1 fjollo11
its guidance. I connect to !1!fi11itc Ivisdom and all is
possible.

Myrrh is a resin collected from a shrub in the :-lliddlc

East. India and North Africa. The word is derived
from an Arabic word. mun, meaning bitter. IL belongs
to the same botanical family as frankincense. The esscntial oil is reddish brown and is lhick and sticky
and is another or the essences reputed lo enhance
and strengthen spirituality. :\tyrrh was important lo
the ancient Egyptians. who used it in unguents and
as a funeral incense lo burn lor the dead. ILwas said
lo come from the tears or I lorus, the falcon-headed
god. The ancient Hebrews drank it with wine lo raise
their consciousness for religious ceremonies. It was
SO precious and valued lhat ii was one or lhe gifLSor
the i\ tagi lo lhe infant Jesus and it was also used alter
the crucifixion.
'Nicodemus brought a mixture or myrrh and aloes. about seventy-five pounds ..... the !WOor thorn
wrapped it, with the spices, in strips or linen. This
SPIRITUALQUALITIES OF MEDITATION OILS 41

was in accordance with the Jewish burial customs.'

(St John 19: 39)
In addition to its spiritual qualities. myrrh also
strengthens rhc rool chakra, helping rhe sensitive
mcditator Lo remain in contact with the earth while
making spiritual contact. It calms the nervous system and brings about tranquillity. It stills intrusive
mental chatter, enabling deeper meditation. Its use
in ancient limes as a funeral herb, allowing release
of sorrow and grieL is also reflected in its use to help
close wounds ofrejection and loss. ILhelps to build
the bridge between heaven and earth, bringing the
two worlds closer LogeLher.As we make the link with
our soul. om higher self, we remember who we arc
and what we came lo Earth to do.
1\lEDTTATION WIT! 11\IYRRH
/311ildi11gthe bridge Iv your /-lighff Self
01011rpe1ji'c/ed or ideal sclj)

I. l'ut a drop or two of myrrh on a tissue or in your

diffuser. As the scent of the myrrh begins Lo fill the
air. tune in lo your breathing. l~e aware of' each and
every breath. rr the mind wanders bring it back.
2. As you breathe. Ced yourself surrounded and
filled with Light.
42 - ESSENTIALOILSAND MEDITATION

3. Gaze into the Light and find yourself in a beauiiful garden. It's a large garden, like a park with long.
grassy vistas and magnificent trees. There are beautiful llowerbeds and a lake with stalely swans. Sil by
the lake on a seal you find there.
4. You sec coming towards you a beautiful being of
Light. IL has your face, a beautiful face, the one you
might sec in ~1our visualizations when you meditate
about yourself'. It is much more beautiful than the
one you might sec in the mirror every day This is the
face of your higher sell, your perfected self.
5. The being of light comes towards you and its
light begins to blend and merge with you. You and
your higher self become as one. You arc filled with
peace and tranquilliry as you blend together.
6. Ask any questions Ihal concern you about your
earth lilc. Wail lor an answer. ff you do not gel one
now, iLmay come later, as a dream, waking thought
or ins pi ration.
7. When you arc ready, release the visualization and
once again become aware of' your breathing. Make
sure you arc grounded before returning Loyour every
day concerns. You have now built the bridge bet ween
you and your higher self and should find it easier Lo
connect with your intuition, Repeat the meditation
whenever you need inspiration in your life,

Nard, Spikenard
(Na rdostachys Ja ta ma nsi)
Keynote: devotion, peace. stability. release
Affirmation: L a111divine Peace.
This oil is rare and expensive, usually only available
from specialist aromatherapy suppliers. V\lhcn purchasing it. do make sure it is Nardostachysjatnmansi
thar you get. as spike lavender (La11a11d11/aspica) is
also sometimes called spikcnard.
Spikenard is native to the Himalayas and is found
growing wild in Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim. II groll's
al altitudes between three thousand and five thousand metres. The oil is obtained lrom the rhizome.
pikcnard is one of the most ancient and precious of
all aromatics, said lo be one or the holiest and highest-vibrating substances on the planet and lo have
many rare and esoteric qualities. ILwas valued in the
xliddle East and Mediterranean regions in antiquity.
The ancient Egyptians, Hebrews, and I lindus used iL
for ritual and medical use. II is men Iion ed in Ihe Song
of Songs: 'Your plants arc an orchard of pomegranates. with choice fruits, with henna and nard, nard
and saffron with every kind of incense' (4: 14).
Spikcnard is an oil Lo connect with the divine

feminine, bringing deep inner peace and the understanding that humanity forms a bridge between
heaven and earth. It helps in linding that sacred
space we all have within, the peace beyond all understanding, found in meditation. JJ is rejuvenating
and excellent Lo use when tension and anxiety make
meditation difficult. IL assists the release or old lea rs
and emotional blocks that have been buried deep,
bringing freedom of spirit. Spikcnard is useful when
people arc nearing death. Spiritually. ii helps lo keep
in mind the Irue purpose on earth and Lorealize Ihat
our ordinary. everyday Li\'CSarc not divorced from iL.
The oil is useful when searching for Ihe true spiritual
pal h, especially when there is confusion. lt is helpful for aid workers and those who arc deeply allcctcd
bv the strife and turmoil seen on news broadcasts or
surrounded by crises.
Another USC or spikcnard is LO deepen devotion
to a spiritual teacher. ivlary 1'\'\agdalrne used ii 10
anoint Christ 's feel before the crucifixion and it is
seen as evidence of her devotion Lo him and her understanding or his approaching death.
'Then ~lary Look about a pint of pure nard. an
expensive perfume: she poured it on Jesus' feel and
wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was rilled
with the fragrance ofthe perfume (St John 12: 3).
SPIRITUALQUALITIESOF MEDITATION OILS 43

Recent works about J\lary \lagdalene refer to

nard as a symbol or the highest spiritual essence:
The oil or spikenard. anoints us all as sons and
daughters or t he king and queen-royal offspring in
our own right. all or one blood. all children of' the
royal parcnts=-Fat her-Mot her Cod.' ('1'1 IE SEc1n:-r
Tr. \Cl nxc:s OF i'l'l \I(\' MAC:D.\l.ENE.
p.85)
The authors of' the book also sec the use ofspikenard as the anointing or 'Christing' of' Jesus, as he
moved into the final part or his destiny. There is also
an ancient lradiiion lhat P. lary P. lagdalcnc and Jesus
were marricd.Xard is said to clean and purify the
chakras as part or the rit ual or preparation for the
sacred marriage. the Herios Ctunos. In the popular
understanding or the scvcn-chakra system. chakras
start al the nutladhava chakra, al the base or the
spine. Another tradition suggests lhe chakras begin
under the !Cc! and rise through the spine through the
sus111111w ntuli, the subtle spinal channel and ascend
above the crown chakra. sahusram, This is suggested
as lhe reason \la ry anoi rued Jesus feet. Anether
Eastern tradition is kissing or touching the leer of'
lhe guru as a sign of' respect. II is certain lrom the
Bible that spikenard (nard) had an important part to
play in lhr story leading up lo lhe crucifixion. ILwas
also one or the spiccs x lary \ lagdalcnc was laking lo
44 ESSENTIALOILSAND MEDITATION

Jesus' tomb. when she found he had arisen.

In 2004. a worldwide experiment using nard
was conducted by James Twyman. through his website. www.cmissaryollight.corn.
Spiritual changes
noted by respondents to the experiment included:
oneness with the Creator.
con ncction lo the 11igher Self'
connection Lonew dimensions
leeling the presence olasccndcd masters and angds.
A majority of users reported that it brought through
the feminine aspects or the Divine.
To use nard oil. you can blend ii in a high quality
vegetable oil such as sesame orjojoba, in proportion
or two drops nard lo lOmls jojoba or sesame (not
cooking oil). Apply a drop to lhe nostrils or sniff on
a tissue before meditating.
Use 1 he oil before you sleep for enhanced or
lucid dreaming; keep some oil with you Lo use
during the day at Limes of' shock or stress; massage
your ltet or lhe feet or a friend or partner; place one
drop over the heart chakra when meditating on the
Divine Presence: use on the third eye (brow chakra)
in meditation. or place a drop on the inner ankles
or wrists. Spikcnard opens the heart and clears
away doubts and can always he used to dedicate
meditation LoFather-Mother God.