Aromatherapy – Cleansing & Protection

Unseen energies are a part of life and, although invisible, affect us deeply and can even change the course of our actions. How often have you heard someone say about someone else “they drain my energy” and although there is no energy to see you know exactly what they mean!

Even though we don’t always know how to describe “invisible” energy we know it exists, if invisibility meant non-existence there would be no such thing as mobile telephones or televisions as these are the receivers that interpret bits of invisible information floating through the air. Our bodies are receivers of
other, natural unseen energies, some of which are not welcome in our lives.

In dealing with invisible forces, people all over the world have often used fragrance as a protective shield between them and perceived negativity. In several Native American cultures Sage is used to purify the surroundings. In some Arab homes, Frankincense is burnt in a censer and carried through the home to expel evil sprits and invite angels in. In the Egyptian souks there are people who make a living going from stall to stall burning Frankincense to dispel any negative energy customers may have left behind, making the environment more inviting to new customers.

In Medieval Europe, “witches” were seen as bad spirits and rituals were carried out at pivotal points in the year with the aim of dispelling them from the area. These rituals often involved walking through the village waving bunches of smouldering, fragrant herbs to send the aroma into every nook and cranny – Juniper and Rosemary were widely used.

Fragrance is also widely used to cleanse buildings especially those used for spiritual practices. When Mohamet II captured the church of Sancta Sophia in Constantinople in 1453 and turned it into a mosque, it was first cleansed with Rose.

The energy in our homes

Our home should be our “sanctuary” – a place where we feel safe, comfortable, happy and can be “ourselves”. For most of us this is the case but if you are unlucky enough to get burgled your house can feel very contaminated and unclean. Many people want to move straight away but this is seldom a practical possibility.

It is not only the energy of those who are present that we have to consider, but also the energy of those who have passed through that particular space before. Walls are said to hold the energy of people who occupied that room in previous times. The emotions, good and bad, become imprinted in the very fabric of the building. It is certainly true that walls hold ancient smells.
After a burglary, or when moving into a new home it’s a good idea to spiritually cleanse the place as well as physically clean it. Even people we invite into our homes can leave their vibrational energy behind. If they are negative people or full of sadness they can be a real burden on the energy of the premises as well as us. They leave your house feeling recharged but you and the house feel drained!

When a building holds energies which are having a detrimental effect, it can feel as if the place is never really “clean” (even though it may look clean to the eye). There can be a general feeling of discomfort or you may just feel depressed when you walk through the door. These negative energies can also account for physical symptoms such as feeling tired all the time or getting regular headaches. If you suffer from these symptoms it is obviously always advisable to consult your doctor to see if everything is ok but don’t underestimate the power of negative energy in your surroundings.
Think how different the atmosphere in a room feels when there has just been an argument compared to the atmosphere in the same room when people are having a party of celebrating.

Clearing the atmosphere

Rooms can have a different atmosphere which cannot always be attributed to things such as décor, lighting, ceiling height or even good or bad Feng Shui – the flow of Ch’i energy - around a home. Rooms also have an aroma which reflects what goes in them e.g. the smell of cooking in the kitchen.

Another factor is cleanliness. If the energy flow doesn’t feel good in a room it may simply need a good clean. Washing windows is especially good for energy flow. The outside of your home looks better and the inside of your home feels different. . Add essential oils to the water or the cloth – citrus oils such as Lemon, Orange or Grapefruit are particularly good for this job.

Spiritually cleansing is different to physically cleaning; it involves more thought and a little preparation. Here are two ways you can try to change the energy in a room for the better.

• Ask that the cleansing will bring in light and peace
• Mix a tablespoon of salt with 2 drops of Frankincense essential oil and leave it to dry.
• Open a window or door which allows outside air to circulate in the room
• Sprinkle a tiny amount of the mixture around the room, including the corners, gradually moving towards the open door/window

Or

• Walk around the room with a bowl of salt water, wetting the fingers and flicking the water in all directions – don’t be too heavy handed as you don’t want to damage certain fabrics and furniture!
• You can add essential oils to this water-salt mix such as Pine, Sage or Lemon.
Some people pray or chant when cleansing, others play loud music to get the energy up and moving – do what feels right for you. When the atmosphere feels lightened spray a blend of essential oils in a plant mister throughout the room, use a diffuser or simply add the essential oils to a bowl of very hot water. Finally, bring in some fresh flowers to the room.

Cleansing Blends

• Frankincense x 7 drops, Benzoin x 2 drops & Myrrh x 1 drop
• Lemon x 3 drops, Orange x 3 drops & Grapefruit x 4 drops
• Clove x 3 drops, Black Pepper x 3 drops & Cinnamon x 4 drops
• Sage x 2 drops, Cedar wood x 6 drops & Juniper x 2 drops

Sprays & Misters

One effective method of distributing the essential oil molecules around a room is by using a plant mister or spray. It is best to use a new one; put in half a pint of warm water then add 6 to 10 drops of essential oil – screw the cap back on and shake well each time before spraying. Spray high into the air, making sure the spray will not fall on any fabrics or furniture that may be damaged. You can also spray the space around people with these sprays but make sure they keep their eyes closed!

Water Bowls

Hot water releases the essential oil molecules and sends them rising into the air. Any glass or china heat-proof bowl or container can be used. Drop 3 to 10 drops of essential oil into the water and place the bowl (s) in the corner(s) of the room.

Essential oil cleansing stripes

You can make a collection of smelling strips by cutting up a piece of white absorbent paper into long strips. Put your chosen essential oils on these. They can be tied together with bows like a bunch of flowers or plaited. Use them to spread cleansing and energy-enhancing fragrance around a room.

Salt

No, it’s not just for putting on your food! There are many ways to use salt as part of spiritual cleansing. It can be used on its own or mixed with essential oils. It can be put in water and used to purify rooms, spaces, objects or even people! It can be added to baths.

Essential oils can be added to salt and crushed minerals such as crystals and used to purify rooms and objects or put in baths. Which essential oils and crystals you used depends on what you are setting out to achieve.

The sea is very polluted nowadays and sea-salt may carry some of this vibration, however it will obviously also contain the energy of the sea. holistic therapy costa blanca uses Rock Salt in its holistic therapies. Rock salt on the other hand carries the energy vibration of the earth and the mountains.