| Our sense of smell according to the experts is our | | | | against plagues and to honor God. Myrrh was the |
| most faithful sense in terms of memory. Think back | | | | midwives oil used to protect against infection, also to |
| to your childhood and remember those scents that | | | | protect the skin from the harsh sun. Other fragrant |
| were comforting to you as a child. Perhaps it was | | | | oils included sandalwood (the ancient world called this |
| bread baking or cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven | | | | oil aloes), balsam, hyssop, galbanum, calamus, onycha, |
| or the smell of coffee or your mother or | | | | pine, cypress, coriander, clove, cedarwood, Rose of |
| grandmother's perfume. For those who grew up in | | | | Sharon (cistus), and spikenard. |
| formal churches where incense was used, it might be | | | | 7 Tips on How to Re-Create a Sacred Scent |
| the fragrance of frankincense and myrrh as the | | | | 1. Get in touch with your earlier memories that are |
| priest or minister incensed the altar and the people. | | | | still with you-what scents help you get in touch with |
| Now take a moment and close your eyes and slow | | | | your spiritual self? Begin there. |
| your breathing. Go back to those memories-what | | | | 2. Then, purchase quality essential oils (not from |
| made them so special for you? As you reflect, try to | | | | stores-that is only perfume grade). You want |
| get in touch with the emotions that surround that | | | | therapeutic grade oils. |
| remembered fragrance. More than likely, you will be | | | | 3. Purchase a quality diffuser |
| getting in touch with that softer side of yourself-your | | | | 4. Don't try blending oils unless you know what you |
| spiritual self. As we connect with our spiritual self we | | | | are doing. Just use single oils. |
| are aware of our connection with God/Maker | | | | 5. Place about 15 drops of your chosen oil in your |
| Universal Energy-whatever you call that which is | | | | diffuser and put it on a timer |
| greater than you. The remembered scent or | | | | 6. Take a few quiet moments for quiet meditation, |
| fragrance has brought you into contact with Spirit | | | | turn on your diffuser and let this be a sacred |
| and that is a sacred moment. | | | | moment |
| We know from the Old and New Testaments that | | | | 7. Know your oils, you can anoint your body with |
| essential oils and incense were used quite liberally for | | | | frankincense, myrrh and many of the oils named |
| honoring God, anointing the people to make them | | | | above. Just be careful to always dilute cinnamon and |
| "holy unto God" and for healing the body. Healing | | | | cassia if you choose these oils. |
| plants like cinnamon and cassia were used as | | | | Want to know more about using essential oils to |
| aphrodisiacs and also for cooking and preserving food. | | | | balance mind, body and spirit and create sacred |
| Frankincense was used for healing everything from | | | | moments for healing? |
| warts to brain damage and it was used to protect | | | | |