| | | | | which are encoded into each soul gives rise to the |
| Bruce Berkowsky, N.M.D., M.H., H.M.C. | | | | various characteristics and behavioral modes we |
| | | | manifest in our lives. |
| Essential oils are the carrier of the plant's soul. | | | | Similarly, a plant's biochemistry, form, growth |
| Anthroposophy founder Rudolf Steiner states: | | | | characteristics, therapeutic properties and historical |
| "Matter is most spiritual in the perfume of the | | | | and folkloric associations are reflections or images of |
| plant...When the spirit most closely approaches the | | | | its soul's constituent pattern of archetypal qualities. |
| physical earth, then we have the perception of | | | | These archetypal images can be used to identify the |
| fragrance." | | | | unique nature of an essential oil's true self - its natural |
| According to Kabbalah, the human soul contains | | | | expression of being. |
| animal-, plant- and human soul components. Thus, | | | | If essential oils are blended together with an |
| each of us has the ability to relate to plant souls on a | | | | understanding of the true inner nature of each oil, the |
| soul-to-soul level. When the human soul becomes | | | | oils in the blend will merge and form a uniquely |
| preoccupied with the daily challenges of life, rational | | | | organized ensouled substance which is more |
| consciousness becomes estranged from the higher | | | | powerfully charged with soul force than the sum of |
| self and mired in "stuckness." All chronic diseases | | | | its parts. When diverse soul energies are |
| have this quality of inertia in common. | | | | synchronized in this way, the integrated soul force |
| The plant soul is not encumbered by ego, so it has | | | | demonstrates what is referred to as emergent |
| the qualities of purity and infinity. Thus, the | | | | behavior. In turn, this can be used to catalyze |
| individualized plant soul combination within an essential | | | | emergent behavior in the human soul which is |
| oil blend, when proffered to the human soul, has the | | | | directed toward harmonization and the elaboration of |
| potential to be eagerly received and infuse the latter | | | | that person's true self. |
| with impetus to move beyond limitation by changing | | | | We generally forsake our true selves in early |
| its orientation from the finite to the Infinite. | | | | childhood when we are taught that they are not |
| Key to moving the soul in this way is the formulation | | | | enough. We then exchange our natural expression of |
| of an oil blend which accurately reflects an individual's | | | | being for a survival personality we fabricate that |
| true self. Living within the context of one's true soul | | | | hopefully proves to be functional and meets the |
| nature requires continuous connection with one's | | | | approval of our parents, teachers, etc. In the |
| higher self. Happiness is the key to wellness. No | | | | process, we become estranged from the true self, |
| unhappy person can truly be well. In turn, the key to | | | | or 'living soul', and this estrangement fuels the sense |
| happiness lies in accepting, and living in accordance | | | | of incompleteness, aloneness and disharmony we |
| with, one's authentic self and having this | | | | struggle with our entire lives. |
| acknowledged by others. | | | | The key to achieving soul-level reintegration via work |
| In order to do soul-level healing work with essential | | | | with essential oils is the ability to get beyond a focus |
| oils, one has to become familiar with the inner- or | | | | on their biochemistry and therapeutic actions and |
| soul-nature of each of the essential oils that is | | | | access and acknowledge the unique soul-nature of |
| worked with. | | | | each oil that is the spiritual root of the oil's physical |
| Using Imaginative Consciousness | | | | properties. When this is done, the plant souls |
| In this discussion, the term imaginative consciousness | | | | harbored within the oils will respond reciprocally and |
| refers to overcoming limitations of analysis of the | | | | the human soul/plant soul encounter will be illuminated |
| material aspects of essential oils performed | | | | by spirit. |
| exclusively by senses and intellect via a | | | | The greater the number of essential oils one |
| complementary perception of the spiritual roots which | | | | understands on this level, the more dynamic the |
| sustain said material aspects. Like the human soul, the | | | | potential for creating blends which will touch the soul |
| plant soul contains the spiritual roots for plants' | | | | on deeper and deeper levels and provide the |
| material and bioenergetic manifestations. Hence, when | | | | illumination to lead it from inertial stuckness and |
| using essential oils for soul-spiritual work, all the | | | | fragmentation to wholeness and soul-to-soul relation |
| biophysical and bioenergetic features of the plant are | | | | with all elements of the natural world. In this way one |
| used to develop an understanding of spiritual roots. | | | | can re-establish the natural capacity, lost in early |
| Plants are alive and all living things are ensouled. Just | | | | childhood, to connect earthly fire with heavenly light. |
| like each of our souls is unique and has certain | | | | Copyright 2009 by Joseph Ben Hil-Meyer Research, |
| individualized specificities and tangible qualities, so do | | | | Inc. |
| plant souls. The specific mix of archetypal qualities | | | | |