Aromatherapy and Prayer

Aromatherapy can help contact the spiritual because it helps us focus and concentrate, helps relax mind and body, and opens the heart. In The Fragrant Heavens, Valerie Ann Worwood discuses the blocks that may prevent people from praying and communicating with divinity. For each of these blocks, she suggests some essential oils that may clear the block.

Fear: frankincense, cypress, cedarwood, Roman chamomile, sandalwood, basil, ginger, bergamot, cinnamon.

Guilt: jasmine, pine, rose otto, juniper, clary sage benzoin, clove.

Unworthiness: frankincense, cedarwood, sandalwood, neroli, ylang ylang, clove,cardamom, mandarin, geranium.

Unwillingness to receive: rose otto, neroli, roman chamomile, lavender, mandarin, orange.

Inability to let go: pine, carnation, lemon, coriander, frankincense, cypress, cardamom, myrtle, juniper.

According to Worwood, "Which essential oils you use for spiritual purposes is very much up to you. This is a personal journey, and a matter of personal choice... For each person a fragrance will resonate at a different tone and rate. Find which oils or blends resonate with you and keep those fragrances close to your heart."

If you are interested in exploring essential oils used in the Bible, Young Living has a boxed set of oils called Twelve Oils of Ancient Scripture that includes an audiotape explaining the oils. (When you arrive at the site, click Products, then click Essential Oils, and look under the heading Essential Packs.)