Joni Keim
non-fiction author
Aromatic Practice FAQs
What are the essential oils that support meditation and how would I use them?
There are different forms of meditation. Sandalwood or Frankincense support most forms. To be more specific, Sandalwood is a good choice for mindfulness meditation; Frankincense for meditative prayer; and Lavender or Clary Sage for guided imagery meditation.
To use: Place one drop of the essential oil on a tissue and inhale the aroma through your nose, without the tissue touching your skin. Pause. Inhale the aroma once more and then begin your meditation. You can also choose to end your meditation with inhaling the aroma from the tissue. This will strengthen the connection between the aroma and a meditative state.
Should I use an essential oil if I don't like the smell?
In subtle aromatherapy, because the intent is to have a positive experience, the answer is “no.” There are many essential oils that have similar properties that you can choose from. Find one you like. We list essential oils in our books that can replace others, in case a reader can't find them, can’t afford them, or is allergic to them. We suggest looking in Aromatherapy Anointing Oils, Appendix IV.
However, if you find that you really want to use a particular essential oil that you don’t like the smell of—perhaps your intuition is telling you it would be helpful—you can use it by adding another essential oil to help balance or soften the aroma of the oil that doesn’t agree with you.
Lavender or orange are often used to soften other aromas. Place 2 or 3 drops of Lavender or Orange on a tissue and add one drop of the other oil, wave it in the air briefly, then gently inhale the aroma from the tissue (without touching your skin). Lavender is a great supportive essential oil, so it can assist with many different intentions. Orange is uplifting and cleansing.
What is the difference between subtle aromatherapy and regular aromatherapy?
The primary difference is that it focuses on the energy body and not the physical body. When practicing subtle aromatherapy, fewer drops of essential oils are used (usually a 1% dilution or less) and they are used with intention and visualization.
How are the subtle energy properties of essential oils determined?
There are 4 ways that determine an essential oil’s unique subtle energy properties.
1) The long-term, traditional uses of both the essential oil and herb of the same plant
Using essential oils therapeutically (aromatherapy), as we know it today, began in the 1930s. Using herbs therapeutically has been practiced for thousands of years. The herb Chamomile was cultivated in the 16th century and regarded as a nerve tonic and pain reliever. Gattefossé, the founder of aromatherapy, recognized chamomile essential oil as an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever.
2) The currently known physical and psychological effects of the oil
There is continued interest and research to substantiate aromatherapy's effectiveness and to discover more about essential oils and their range of applications. Today we know that on a physical level, Chamomile eases tight muscles and nerve pain (and much more). On a psychological level, Chamomile calms and relaxes the mind.
3) The appearance and characteristics of the plant and the essential oil it produces
Appearance and characteristics are how the plant expresses itself—a representation of transformed energy from the sun, the earth, and the elements. What is it trying to say? Where does it grow? What is its size? Does it look hardy or fragile? Is it tall or short? What is the color and aroma of its essential oil? All of these are known as the plant's signature.
The plants’ and essential oils’ appearances and characteristics are indications of what it will offer in the subtle realm. For example, Chamomile German essential oil is blue. On a subtle level, blue relates to the Fifth (Throat-communication) energy center. Because blue is cooling, it can be used to “cool” angry words and promote calm communication.
4) Personal experience
Lastly, and no less importantly, is personal experience—including information received intuitively. Because essential oils are used in the subtle realm with intention, their purpose can be designed, directed, and influenced. For example, Rose is an essential oil that promotes love and has a strong affinity with the Fourth (Heart) energy center. However, it can be used with intent with the Sixth (Brow) to assist one in experiencing loving thoughts. It might be used with the First (Root) to encourage love of life.
As you work with essential oils in the subtle realm, you may have experiences that indicate a different property than known or described in resources. You may have a strong feeling that an essential oil is not working the way it should, or that it is working differently or better than has been indicated. It is possible for this to happen, so it is important to trust your responses and instincts.
What is the Aromatic Practice perspective of spirituality?
Spirituality is an inherent and integral part of being human. This has been demonstrated throughout history and is evident today. However, there is no specific, agreed-upon definition of spirituality because there are many different spiritual practices. There are paths that are both theistic (belief in God) and non-theistic (no belief in God), as well as the contemporary path of secular humanism or atheism, which has many of the aspects listed below. Yet within this amazing diversity, we do find common threads of agreement.
In order to establish a foundational understanding of spirituality for the purpose of this book, we do not offer a definition, but instead, offer the following experiences that express the essence of human spirituality, and are often described by people on a personal, spiritual journey.
* Being aware of an intelligence, being, energy, force, or reality that is vaster than our personal world. It may be called Spirit, God, the Sacred, the Holy, the Source, the Emptiness, the Mystery, or the Divine.
* Being aware of the inter-relationship and connection of all life forms—plants, insects, animals, and people. This awareness draws us to the practice of compassion, service, and love.
* Having a sense of meaning and purpose, coupled with the belief that there is goodness in the universe. NOTE: Among secular humanists or atheists, there is often an agreement that service to the greater common good brings meaning and purpose to one’s life.
* Experiencing joy, bliss, or peace from aligning our smaller selves with something greater, and sensing, for even a moment, a spiritual or sacred realm.
* Sensing that the mystery of spirituality is so beyond our human comprehension that we only experience glimpses of its magnitude, and will never be able to fully describe, analyze, or understand it with our limited, rational mind.
* Longing to experience spirituality on a personal level.
* Experiencing personal transformation within the context of one’s spiritual beliefs, and an awareness that stages of transformed consciousness and life unfold on the spiritual journey.
* Believing that one IS spiritual.