Magickal Aromatherapy

Origins:

This use of scents for mystical and spiritual purposes can be traced to the time of Ancient Egypt and the Pharaohs. The priests of Egypt used specially blended incense to assist them in honoring their gods and performing sacred rites. Many ancient people used fragrance as a way to help them attune themselves with the spiritual. Modern research has found that scent slips past our conscious mind and directly affects the most ancient part of our brains. It influences us on an unconscious level. We are often not even aware of the impact scent has on our lives. Some modern day aromatherapists believe that one of the factors that influences our selection of a mate is whether their scent is attractive to us. We may use various colognes and sprays to cover our scent but apparently we each possess a unique scent that we cannot hide and which affects how we choose our significant others.

Today aromatherapy is enjoying a resurgence in popularity because it influences us on so many levels - psychologically, physically and emotionally. Some essential oils have been found to energize us while others help decrease our anxiety levels, still others protect us from colds and other ailments. In addition to these uses essential and fragrance oils help us feel magically and spiritually in tune with our rituals and practices.

You are probably familiar with the use of incense in your rites. It can help you create a sacred space and mentally prepare you for the work ahead. Bathing with sacred bath salts or shower gels can help reinforce your mental and emotional connection to the upcoming ritual as well. There are so many different ways to incorporate the use of spiritual scents into your life, both mundane and magical, that it seems a shame not to try a few.

Oils:

There are two types of oils that can be used for magical and spiritual purposes - pure essential oils and perfume or fragrance oils. Pure essential oils are extracted from plants and trees and are all natural. Perfume or fragrance oils can be created from either a combination of natural and synthetic oils or all synthetic oils. Some fragrances are very expensive to produce naturally or damage the ecosystem, such as musk oil or rose oil. In these instances it makes more sense to purchase the synthetic version of the oil. It is also important to be aware that some people have allergic reactions to pure essential oils. Some citrus oils, such as lemon, can make the skin sensitive to sunlight. Others such as cassia can burn if applied to the skin. Pure essential oils can also melt certain plastics so you should always be careful to dilute it before letting it come into direct contact with these substances. The safest way to use pure essential oils is to mix them with the carrier substance (alcohol, water, soap or bath salts) in a non- reactive container (glass or ceramic). Once they are thoroughly mixed transfer them to a storage container, preferably one that is opaque as the fragrance can break down in a clear container.

Uses:

Pure or synthetic oils can be added to a variety of cleaning products. Several drops added to dish liquid can create a magical aura each time you wash dishes. Add some oils to floor cleaner to bring extra luck or protection into your home. Your favorite oil added to liquid hand soap can give you a lift each time you wash your hands. This a wonderful way to explore the various uses of scent and how it can affect your life. It is helpful to remember that these oils have a psychological component in addition to magical and spiritual ones. Another use for fragrance oils is to replace incense during rituals. If you find the smoke from the incense is too overpowering then purchase an inexpensive potpourri pot, add hot water and a few drops of the oil of your choice and light the candle. As the water heats up the fragrance will permeate your sacred space and create the same effect as incense. You could even create your own incense by purchasing unscented punk sticks and rubbing the oil on it. Once it is dry you light the stick and use it the way you would a commercially produced stick incense.

Magical Associations: (with thanks to Scott Cunningham)

Those with an * should not be used in pure essential oil form

References:

Scott Cunningham - Magical Aromatherapy; The Complete Book of Incense, Oils, & Brews; Magical Herbalism; Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Herbs
Janice Cox - Natural Beauty for All Seasons; Natural Beauty at Home
Stephanie Tourles - The Herbal Body Book
Colleen Dodt - The Essential Oils Book
Nancy Booth - Perfumes, Splashes & Colognes
Valerie Ann Worwood - The Fragrant Mind; The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy
Julia Lawless - The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils

Resources:

In addition to your local Witch supply store or health food store here are other places which carry pure and synthetic oil:

Liberty Natural Products - 800-289-8427; (they also carry bottles and containers)
Aura Cacia - 800-437-3301
The Essential Oil Company - 800-729-5912;