Spirituality is a universal human experience that brings us closer to the present moment, to our true selves, to nature, and ultimately to the divine.
While many people would agree that religion and spirituality are intricately intertwined, others see spirituality as a distinct and all-encompassing phrase that encompasses attitudes, feelings, and worldviews that involve the search for significance beyond this one.
Incense made from fragrant essences or resins and gums like frankincense or balsam has been used in religious and spiritual ceremonies since the beginning of time.
Throughout human history, religious and cultural rites from a wide range of traditions have incorporated the use of fragrant herbs and oils, particularly spiritual oils, to enhance the experience of the sacred. Here are some of the most well-known essential oils for use in religious and spiritual contexts.
The following are some guidelines for incorporating essential oils into your religious or spiritual practise:
- More and more people are turning to essential oils as a way to stimulate their senses, deepen their spiritual bonds, and open the door to new ideas.
- They do this by either diffusing the oil in the air or applying it to their bodies during meditation (i.e., the crown of the head, base of the skull, or over the heart).
- In a broader sense, however, removing impediments to one’s spiritual growth by the application of essential oils might be seen as a form of indirect spiritual enhancement.
- Having a bad emotional experience might be harmful to one’s spirituality. Essential oils emit molecules that can interact with the nervous and endocrine systems, and these chemicals may have an effect on hormones1 and neurotransmitters2 that regulate emotions, memory, and thought.
- A person’s spirit can be crushed when physical pain and suffering quickly become an overwhelming sensory and emotional experience. In fact, spiritual pain, which may be defined as the sorrow and sadness caused by encountering life events that are at odds with sincerely held beliefs, can be a source of immense disruption in and of itself.
Sedative essential oils can be inhaled to reduce pain perception and bring about a state of calm and soothing relaxation. Recent studies have found that regular churchgoers are less likely to suffer from chronic pain and are more likely to practise positive coping strategies. This is an interesting digression from the paragraph’s main subject.
Some of the most popular essential oils used to promote spirituality are listed below.
Essential oils including anise, angelica, balsam fir, cypress, cedarwood, eucalyptus, lemon, juniper, lemon tea tree, opoponax, myrrh, spearmint, peppermint, and white sage are potent germ killers. It has been found that white sage can help keep infections at bay.
You can achieve a more rooted, peaceful, and in-tune state of mind by diffusing essential oils of balsam fir, cedarwood, cinnamon, cypress, gurjun balsam, mastic, palo santo, pine, sandalwood, spruce, or vetiver.
You can always turn to cinnamon, cassia, balsam fir, ginger, frankincense, lavender, pine, myrtle, sandalwood, or spruce to help you reconnect with your spirituality.
Ultimately, it is challenging to alter one part of your health (physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual) without also influencing the others from a holistic perspective. For proponents of the holistic method, this is their starting point. To achieve optimal health and vitality, one must acknowledge that spirituality is a crucial part of the wellness puzzle. It’s possible that improving your holistic health to the next level is as simple as adding some essential oils to your routine.