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Using Scent for
Personal Rituals
by
Mandy Aftel |
In alchemy, meditatio refers to an inner dialogue with
an unseen being—God, perhaps, one’s good angel, or
oneself. According to Jung, "When the alchemists
speak of meditari they do not mean mere cogitation, but
explicitly an inner dialogue and hence a living
relationship to the answering voice of the
"Other" in ourselves, i.e., of the
unconscious. The use of the term meditation in the
Hermetic dictum "And as all things proceed from the
One through the meditation of the One" must
therefore be understood in this alchemical sense as a
creative dialogue, by means of which things pass from
the unconscious potential state to a manifest one."
Such an inner dialogue is an essential part of creative
and explicitly spiritual processes alike, allowing one
to come to terms with unseen and unconscious forces
before taking action.
Certain oils have a long history of association with
meditation and spiritual practices. Frankincense,
sandalwood, and myrrh have long been recognized by many
religious traditions for their ability to tranquilize
and clarify and in general to bring us back to
ourselves. Benzoin’s sweet, resinous odor helps steady
and focus the mind for meditation and contemplation.
Cedarwood is a grounding oil that helps to mobilize the
transformative powers of the will. Clary sage is an aid
to inspiration and insight. Lavender absolute calms the
spirit, while bergamot helps you to let go. Aromatics
can be used to purify the place where you meditate, and
to create an atmosphere conducive to peaceful
reflection. The consistent use of a blend that you have
set aside expressly for the purpose of meditation will
give it the power to transport you into the desired
state of consciousness. You can use it to anoint parts
of your body or an object to hold, or you can make it
into a solid perfume that you carry with you to help you
recapture the serenity of your meditation time.
You can meditate on scent itself, an excellent way of
setting aside the concerns of the day, calming the mind,
and deepening and slowing the breath. For this practice
you can simply use strips of water color paper, but you
may want to make a single-note solid perfume to rub on
your hands or wrists so that you can inhale it during
your meditation. Use a rich, multi-layered, full-bodied
essence such as orange flower absolute, labdanum,
lavender concrete, or (my particular favorite) pure rose
absolute. As always, you need not be limited by my
suggestions, and you should be guided by your own
affinities. Here is a guided meditation that focuses on
scent:
Sit in a comfortable position. Hold the blotter strip
or the fragrant part of your hands or wrists up to your
nose and inhale deeply three times. Keeping your eyes
open, imagine your consciousness dissolving outward into
the scent, as if you are touching it, merging with it,
flowing into it. When you reach the point of saturation,
close your eyes in order to detach yourself from all
senses but smell.
Descend deeply inside, bearing the essence of the
scent you have chosen, and touch it with your inner
vision of the scent. Build an inner picture of the
essence, the essence of the essence. Imagine it as a
phantasm, an animal, a memory, anything that seems to
you to be entirely conjured by the deep experience of
the scent. You will find that each scent you meditate
upon creates a different internal image and meditative
experience.
Turn outward again. Repeat the outer phase and inner
phase in alternation until your soul feels full. This
exercise will help you to carry in your consciousness a
living connection with a particular essence, and through
it, with the spiritual dimension of scent in general.
Here is a formula for a blend specifically to use in
meditation. It should be made in jojoba oil rather than
alcohol:
Meditation Blend
15 ml jojoba
15 drops frankincense
9 drops sandalwood
6 drops myhhr
9 drops rose absolute
9 drops clary sage
9 drops Virginia cedarwood
15 drops pink grapefruit
12 drops bois de rose
20 drops bergamot
Copyright © 2001
Mandy Aftel. All Rights Reserved.
Mandy Aftel is a consultant and the founder of
Aftelier, through which she creates one-of-a-kind
perfumes for individuals and private labels. She is also
a counselor who specializes in helping artists and
writers, and the author of three previous books, most
recently The Story of Your Life: Becoming the Author
of Your Experience. She lives in Berkeley,
California. Her Web site can be found at www.aftelier.com.
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