All our physical senses – smell, vision, touch, hearing, and taste – are gateways to our psyche, viscerally connecting us to the world around us. They can both support and hinder our sense of well-being – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. These experiences are personal and unique to each of us. 

            Aromatherapy can be appreciated for its positive, spiritual influences. Aromatic plants have been used for religious rituals, meditation, and prayer for thousands of years. Their aromas, captured by the sense of smell, were chosen for their ability to foster a sense of oneness with the universe and closeness to the divine. Dried herbs were burned as incense, and the rising smoke was believed to communicate with the deities. As the smoke rose to the heavens, prayers were offered. These aromatic, spiritual connections and others have been passed down through the ages from ancient Egypt, Arabia, Greece, and Asia, as well as from other cultures, such as Native American cultures.

            Experiencing our spirituality is intimate, and using essential oils can be supportive and significant. This effect may more easily be experienced and understood, consciously and intuitively, if we 1) identify our personal spiritual perspective and 2) have a bit of an understanding of the subtle energy associated with the physical body, paying particular attention to the 7th energy center, the center of spirituality.

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Being Spiritual

 

“…spirituality is about making connections. We may take different routes, but the destination is the same…” 

                                                                                    ̶-Valerie Ann Worwood

 

            Spirituality, as an integral part of being human, has been evident throughout history and remains evident today. However, because there are many different spiritual paths and practices, there is no single, specific, agreed-upon definition of spirituality. Yet, within this diversity, there are common, subjective experiences, which include:

·      Experiencing an awareness of an intelligence, being, energy, or reality that is greater than ourselves. 

·      Feeling joy or peace from aligning ourselves with something greater, and sensing, even for a moment, a spiritual realm.

·      Being aware of, acknowledging, and valuing the inter-relationship and connection of all life forms – plants, animals, and people.

·      Having a sense of meaning and purpose to our lives, coupled with the belief that goodness exists. 

·      Sensing that the mystery of spirituality is beyond our human comprehension and that we will likely never be able to fully describe, analyze, or understand it.

·      Longing to experience spirituality on a personal level.

·      Believing that one IS spiritual.

 

Energy Centers (chakras) and Subtle Bodies

 

“There is nothing less scientific than to deny something because it cannot be explained.”

–Dr. Jean Valnet, Aromatherapy pioneer, author of Aromathérapie (1964)

           

             The recognition of the human body’s energy centers is believed to have originated in India between 1500 and 500 BC and to have been associated with the Vedas – the sacred scriptures of Hinduism. The Western adaptation and popularity of this unique system began in the early 20th century as interest in Eastern practices grew.

            Energy centers’ functions are to receive, assimilate, and transmit various forms of subtle energy that impact our physical health, mental health, emotions, and spirituality. There are seven primary energy centers – located along the spine from the tailbone to the top of the head. When Aromatherapy is used with energy centers and subtle energy, it may be referred to as ‘subtle Aromatherapy.’

            Subtle Aromatherapy is based on the knowledge that all matter is energy and has an electromagnetic field that vibrates in a particular way.1 Patricia Davis, in her book Subtle Aromatherapy, describes this principle. “Nothing in the universe is still. If we look at the most minute detail, every one of its millions of cells vibrates with its own life pattern. This harmony is both a reflection of the cell’s health and the source of that health, for as long as the cell moves in its ordered dance, every function of that cell will take place in an orderly way, and we experience this as a state of health.” 

 

The 1st center (‘base’) is located at the base of the spine and resonates with the color red. Its main concerns are self-preservation and survival.

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The 2nd center (‘sacral’) is located two inches below the navel and resonates with the color orange. Its main concerns are relationships, creativity, and sexuality.

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The 3rd center (‘solar plexus’) is located two inches above the navel and resonates with the color yellow. Its main concerns are willpower, self-worth, and social identity.

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The 4th center (‘heart’) is located in the center of the chest and resonates with the colors green or pink. Its main concerns are love and compassion.

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The 5th center (‘throat’) is located at the throat and resonates with the color sky blue. Its main concerns are communication – both speaking and listening.

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The 6th center (‘brow’) resonates with indigo or purple. Its main concerns are the intellect, intuition, and dreams.

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The 7th center (‘crown’ or ‘spiritual’) resonates with the colors of violet or white. Its main concerns are spirituality, faith, and higher states of consciousness.

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            In addition to the energy centers, there are four subtle bodies that form an energy field around the physical body. The etheric body lies directly outside the physical body. It correlates with the state of the physical body. It is strengthened by good health care practices. The astral or emotional body lies next to the etheric body and extends outward. It houses emotions and relationships. It is strengthened by uplifting emotions, such as joy and love. Next to the astral body is the mental body. It houses intellectual function and is strengthened by learning and studying. The outermost level is the spiritual body, which houses the spiritual essence and is strengthened by the understanding that we are part of a greater plan.

 

How the Subtle Properties of Essential Oils Can Be Determined

           

             The subtle properties of essential oils can be determined by evaluating 1) the long-term, traditional uses of both the herb and the essential oil of the same plant, 2) the known physical and psychological effects of the essential oil, 3) the gesture and signature of the plant itself (appearance and characteristics), and 4) personal experience.

            The known physical and psychological effects of essential oils can indicate their subtle properties. For example, at a physical level, Juniper (Juniperus communis) is detoxifying, and at a subtler level, it is used to clear negativity and energy blocks. On a psychological level, Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) promotes mental clarity and eases mental fatigue. On a subtle level, Rosemary has an affinity for the 6th (‘brow’) center, which is associated with clear thoughts and insights.

            Plant gestures and signatures are how the plant expresses itself – a representation of the transformed energy from the sun, the earth, and the elements. The gesture is how the plant grows, such as straight up or twining. The signature is what the plant looks like, such as color and texture. This approach is used to help determine the properties of flower essences and is also useful for determining the subtle properties of essential oils. 

            The following quote from Malte Hozzel, an internationally known naturalist and essential oil specialist, describes his understanding of the gestures and signatures of Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea) and true Sage (Salvia officinalis). “Look at the huge, green leaves and the thick stem of the Clary Sage with her large mauve and pink blossoms. Clary is incarnate nature, fully there, expansive, and strong. Its scent is musky, sweet, and floral. Everything tells us about a balance between material and ethereal forces. It has powerful harmonizing and euphoric qualities, combining in rare beauty both earthly and celestial energies. On the other hand, the true Sage has a thin stem and small, purple-violet blossoms. Its fragrance is warm, fresh, and herbaceous. It has iridescent, fine, grey-blue hairs on the surface of its small, soft leaves. Everything tells us about refinement and subtlety. The life force seems to be drawn towards another dimension. Its subtle, vibrational energies work in true correspondence with the finer energies of our central nervous system.”

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 (Rosa damascena) is an essential oil that promotes love and has a strong affinity with the 4th (“heart”) center. However, it can be used intentionally with the 6th (“brow”) center to help experience loving thoughts. It might be used on the 1st (“root”) center to encourage love of life.  

 

Using Essential Oils with the Energy Centers

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            When we use essential oils with the energy centers, we focus on and engage the essential oils’ subtle energy properties.3 We should also include the practices of intention and visualization. Intention is being fully present and mentally clear about the purpose of using the essential oil and holding that purpose in your mind. ‘Intending’ is the first step to its manifestation. Visualization creates a positive mental picture of what you want to achieve via your imagination. Shakti Gawain, in her ground-breaking book, Creative Visualization (1983), said, “Simply having an idea or thought, holding it in your mind, is an energy which will tend to attract and create that form on the material plane.”

            The seven main chakras align perfectly with the seven major endocrine glands and their corresponding nerve plexuses (dense networks of intersecting nerves). When you apply intention and visualization to a specific chakra, you are actually directing neurological focus and blood flow to a specific nerve cluster and its associated hormonal command center. 

            Connecting the mental concepts of intention and visualization to concrete biochemical changes comes down to a fundamental rule of neuroscience: The brain cannot always distinguish between a vividly imagined event and a real one.

            When you intentionally visualize a scenario or state of being, you aren't just daydreaming – you are running a mental simulation that triggers the exact same neural networks, neurotransmitters, and hormones as the actual physical experience. Intention directs the focus, visualization builds the neural blueprint, and the hypothalamus translates that blueprint into a cocktail of neurotransmitters, hormones, and proteins that physically change the health and behavior of your cells.

            You don't need medication to trigger profound biochemical changes. Integrating intensive mind-body work can rapidly rewire how your brain communicates and flood your bloodstream with signals that promote cell growth, energy efficiency, and natural pain relief. 

            Even if you've never done it before, just three days of meditation can completely shift your brainwaves into a deeply relaxed, highly focused state within sixty seconds. In a 2020 study, participants quickly tapped into a profound state of inward reflection. The researchers concluded by pointing out that this specific combination of relaxed-yet-sharp brainwaves is highly beneficial. Because meditation activates these pathways so effectively, they recommended testing it as a treatment for mental health conditions – especially those that impact the hippocampus (the brain's memory and emotion center, which often shrinks or struggles during prolonged periods of stress, anxiety, or depression).

            In their observational study using fMRI, the researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine discovered that just one week of meditation, shifting mindset ("reconceptualization"), and open-label placebo rituals (where participants know they are getting a fake treatment but the ritual itself still helps heal) can physically alter brain patterns and radically change the molecular makeup of your blood.

Mind-chakra-body loop:  By using intention to choose a center and visualization to stimulate it, you are running a software program in your brain that targets a specific hardware cluster (nerve plexus) and its chemical factory (endocrine gland).

 

Suggested Essential Oils for the Energy Centers

 

The following essential oils support the concerns of the associated energy center.

1st center: Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha), Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin), Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides).

2nd center: Clary Sage, Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), Jasmine (Jasminum officinale)

3rd center: Marjoram (Origanum majorana), Juniper, Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)

4th center: Rose, Bergamot (Citrus x bergamia), Orange (Citrus sinensis)

5th center: German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum), Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

6th center: Rosemary, Basil (Ocimum basilicum), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.), Lemon (Citrus x limon)

7th center: Neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara), Rose, Frankincense (Boswellia carteii)

 

Using Essential Oils to Support Spirituality

“Essential oils, through subtle energy therapy, link back to the inner light of universal love, bridging the gulf between matter and energy, helping to join the banks of separation for moments of unity and bliss.”                                  

--Malte Hozzel, naturalist and essential oil specialist (2015)

 

Key Spiritual Essential Oils

Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica): Cedarwood calms, grounds, and steadies the psyche. It supports meditation and prayer, deepens faith, and helps us to receive spiritual guidance. It promotes a strong spiritual connection and understanding. 

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Frankincense (Boswellia carteii): Frankincense calms, comforts, grounds, and steadies the psyche. It supports meditation and prayer and deepens faith. It helps us to understand our spiritual purpose and to receive spiritual guidance. It promotes and supports a balanced spiritual and earthly life. 

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Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha): Myrrh calms, relaxes, revitalizes, grounds, and steadies the psyche. It supports meditation and prayer and promotes a balanced spiritual and earthly life. It encourages a strong spiritual connection, the reception of spiritual guidance, and the progression of a spiritual journey. 

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Neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara): Neroli calms, comforts, and uplifts the psyche. It attracts angels and supports a connection with them, especially for receiving their guidance. It helps deepen faithfulness and strengthen spiritual connection.

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Orange (Citrus sinensis): Orange calms, refreshes, and uplifts the psyche. It encourages a strong spiritual connection. It represents the joyous light of heaven and expands spiritual joy.

 

Rose Otto (Rosa damascena): Rose calms, comforts, and uplifts the psyche. It attracts angels and supports a connection with them, especially for receiving their guidance. It supports a close connection to spirituality.

 

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus; S. Rosmarinus ct. verbenone): Rosemary energizes, revitalizes, fortifies, refreshes, and uplifts the psyche. It promotes a strong connection to spirituality and spiritual guidance. It supports and deepens faithfulness and helps us understand our spiritual purpose.

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Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum): Sandalwood calms, comforts, grounds, and steadies the psyche. It supports meditation, prayer, and spiritual practices. It promotes spirituality in earthly life and a sense of spiritual abundance.

 

Directions for Using Essential Oils to Support Spirituality

 

With the 7th (“spiritual”) Energy Center                                                                                  

1. In a small glass jar with a cap, mix 3 drops of your chosen essential oil in 1 tablespoon of Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) (1% dilution).

2. Put 1-3 drops on the palm of one of your hands and gently pat/rub your hands together.

3. Without touching your skin, cup your hands over your nose, and inhale the aroma while you hold in your mind the intention of using this essential oil and visualize your desired outcome.

4. Move your hands over the top of your head, continuing to hold your intention and visualization. You may also choose to visualize the color of violet or white.

5. Keep your hands over the spiritual energy center for as long as it feels right to you. There is no right or wrong amount of time. 

6. When you feel you are finished, visualize the exercise as complete. Be gentle with yourself. Return to your day slowly and mindfully. Store the jar in a cool, dark place.

 

Direct Inhalation: Put 1 or 2 drops of your chosen essential oil on a tissue and inhale the aroma through your nose. Avoid touching the tissue to your nose or mouth. As you experience the aroma, hold your intention in your mind and visualize your goal.

2. Close your eyes, relax, pause, and breathe. 

3. Inhale the aroma again with intention and visualization.

4. When you are finished, acknowledge that the exercise is complete. Be gentle with yourself. Return to your day slowly and mindfully.

 

Chest Rubs                                                                                                                           

1. In a small glass jar with a cap, add 2 tablespoons of a natural, fragrance-free moisturizing body lotion. Add 6 to 10 drops of your chosen essential oil (~1 to 1.5% dilution). The number of drops depends on your skin sensitivity and the level of aroma you prefer. Stir well. 

2. Apply a preferred amount to your chest and gently massage.

3. Close your eyes, relax, and breathe. As you experience the aroma, hold your intention in your mind and visualize your goal.

4. When you are finished, acknowledge that the exercise is complete. Be gentle with yourself. Return to your day slowly and mindfully. Store the jar in a cool, dark place.

 

Anointing                                                                                                                    

             Throughout history, people created traditions and ceremonies within the context of their spiritual beliefs to celebrate, bless, honor, and heal. One of the most common practices was, and still is, anointing, which simply means to touch with oil (Oxford American Dictionary, 2008). In essence, anointing represents a spiritual blessing – to show recognition of and devotion to Spirit, to make sacred, to request Divine favor, or simply to bestow goodness and grace.

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1. In a small glass jar with a cap, mix 3 drops of your chosen essential oil in 1 tablespoon of jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) (1% dilution).

2. Bring your full attention to the present moment. Wherever you are, visualize the area protected from disruption and negativity. 

3. Optional: Ask for guidance to be with you. (This is whoever you regard as a guide in your life, living or not.)

4. Hold your intention of the anointing in your mind and visualize your desired outcome.

5. Put a drop or two of the anointing oil on the middle or index finger of your dominant hand. 

6. From your finger, inhale the aroma through your nose, without touching your skin. As you experience the aroma, continue to hold the intention in your mind.

7. Then ‘touch’ wherever you choose. You may accompany the touching with a blessing, a prayer, or an affirmation. If touching is not possible, simply hold your finger close to the area.

8. When done, visualize that the anointing is complete. Be gentle with yourself. Return to your day slowly and mindfully. Store your jar in a cool, dark place. 

 

Positive Actions to Support Your Spirituality

 

             Your actions, lifestyle, and experiences affect your energy centers. The following suggestions help support and balance your 7th or spiritual center. 

• See Spirit in everyone, everywhere.

• Feel a sense of oneness and a sense of purpose.

• Align yourself with Spirit before you act or speak.

• Cultivate faith and spiritual abundance.

• Use affirmations that support your spirituality.

 

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Conclusion

            Aromatherapy generously provides for us on every level of our being--physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.  Using aromas in a spiritual context has a long and rich history.  To connect with a personal practice, it is helpful to identify your spiritual perspective and understand subtle Aromatherapy.  Used with intention and visualization, essential oils can support your spirituality and ignite spiritual experiences. You can embrace the spiritual quality of essential oils, in a variety of ways and have them be a part of you daily life. Recognize and know that your experiences are personal and unique to you. May those experiences tend to you in a meaningful way. 

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About the Author

            Joni Keim practices an eclectic approach to alternative health as an author, educator, and consultant. Her private practice, from which she has now retired, specialized in integrating alternative modalities and products into lifestyle and wellness programs. 

            Joni worked with Malte Hozzel at Oshadhi USA, an aromatherapy company, as the technical director for twelve years. She has written six Aromatherapy books: Daily Aromatherapy, Aromatherapy & Subtle Energy Techniques, Aromatherapy Anointing Oils, Practical Aromatherapy, Aromatherapy for Feeling Good, and Angels & Aromas. She is the co-founder of Aromatic Practice, which uses subtle aromatherapy with lifestyle and transformational traditions such as meditation, affirmations, and prayer.

            Joni continues to write books that are technical (her dedication to natural health and self-care), transformation (her belief in positive, human potential), specialty (anything goes), and tribute memoirs (her love for matters of the heart).