I've spent a lot of time studying the physical and emotional applications of aromatherapy and in doing so have become more interested in its the subtle energetic applications. Enhancing the mind-body-spirit connection embraces a holistic approach to health and wellness. You can't heal the body if the mind is in turmoil. and the spiritual body suffers from the disconnection. I am writing this as I am achieving to maintain and sustain balance in my own body as I have been suffering with a Circadian Rhythm Disorder - Delayed Sleep Phase type for some time and have feel disconnected from my emotional body, my spiritual body, and my physical body. I feel less disconnected when I am working on creating products, especially developing fragrances.
When we talk about subtle energetics, we are referring to the esoteric applications of essential oils and aromatherapy practices to deepen our connections within ourselves and our external worlds. This goes beyond the typical emotional applications for stress, anxiety, and depression.
The energetic properties of plants have been used in sacred traditions and rituals dating back to the earliest civilizations around the world. Practitioners had a deep understanding and connection with the subtle energetic properties of plant material. All matter is energy, the human body is energy, plants are energy, as are the four elements and so on. Our energies connect us - spiritually, emotionally, and physically. In our interconnected hyper frenetic world, it is easy to feel disconnected, distracted, and energetically drained.
Aromatherapy and essential oils can be used to reconnect and heal the mind-body-spirit connection. It is more common to incorporate essential oils into our daily rituals: skin care, remedies, passive diffusion, massage, perfuming, etc. Understanding the therapeutic and restorative aspects of essential oils on a holistic level can create the sacred spaces and rituals in our daily lives to reconnect within ourselves.
Energetic aromatherapy can manifest in numerous ways and it comes down to individual preferences. Recently, I created a product line of aromatherapy inhalers to address some of these subtle energetic themes in our lives. The subtle practice can include: aromatherapy inhalers, passive diffusion, massage, perfume oils or balms, ritual baths, incense, or even incorporating the subtle energies into your daily skincare routine. Many of the energetic essential oils also benefit numerous other areas. Frankincense, Sandalwood Patchouli, Helichrysum, and Rose have amazing benefits for the skin, but they can also help you to feel grounded and centered or a sense of inner peace when facing difficult emotional situations stemming from past or present trauma.
The power of aroma can work in so many esoteric ways. I invite you to pick a couple oils that you feel drawn to and sit undisturbed and experience them. Write down anything that comes to mind. How does the aroma feel? What memories does it evoke? What sounds or music do you associate with it? What colors come to mind? Does it feel warm or cool? What images come to mind? I learned this exercise while studying perfuming and it really changed my perspective on how I work with complex blends of aromas and why I am using them in a particular way or for a particular purpose
I've broken down the energetic properties to focus on a few key areas: feeling grounded and centered, dealing with emotional trauma, finding inner peace and harmony, inspiring creativity, and healing the mind-body-spirit connection.
Grounding & Centering
Working with essential oil synergies that benefit grounding and centering our minds and bodies help to prepare us for mindfulness rituals, meditation, yoga, and for managing our daily stress. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and constantly pulled in different directions as we juggle work responsibilities, families, home life, social obligations, and mundane everyday tasks. We can use essential oils to bring us back to ourselves with our feet firmly planted on the ground.
There are numerous essential oils that can help you feel more balanced. These can be combined with other essential oils with different energetic benefits based on your personal needs. If you want to work on feeling grounded while letting go and healing from emotional trauma, you might look at a blend of Rose, Patchouli, Carrot Seed, and Helichrysum.
Beneficial Essential Oils: Angelica Root, Balsam Fir, Benzoin, Black Pepper, Blue Cypress, Blue Spruce, Buddha Wood, Carrot Seed, Cassia, Cistus, Davana, Elemi, Frankincense Frereana, Frankincense Serrata, German Chamomile, Ginger, Guaiacwood, Helichyrsum Splendidum, Himalayan Cedarwood, Lemon Tea Tree, Muhuhu, Myrrh, Nagarmotha, Palo Santo, Patchouli, Plai, Rhododendron, Rosalina, Rose Geranium, Sacred Frankincense, Sandalwood, Valerian, Vetiver, and White Verbena.
Emotional Trauma
We all have some manifestation of emotional trauma in our lives from the past or present. This can stem from abusive situations, grief, heartbreak, or suffering a loss of any kind. We may chose to work with medical professionals and therapists, but much of the work comes from within as we move throughout our lives in attempts to let go, heal, and thrive. If you want to work through the heartbreak and loss at the end of a relationship, you could create a synergy that helps with emotional trauma, heartbreak, inner peace, and letting go. It could include: Neroli, Helichrysum, Ylang Ylang, and Angelica Seed.
Beneficial Essential Oils for Emotional Trauma: Cistus, Clementine, Elemi, Fragonia, Galbanum, Helichrysum gymnocephalum, Helichrysum Italicum, Helichrysum Splendidum, Inula, Kunzea, Myrrh, Palo Santo, and Rosewood.
Beneficial Essential Oils for dealing with Grief, Loss, and Heartbreak: Cistus, Cypress, Helichrysum, Inula, Lemongrass, Marjoram, Monarda, Neroli, Palmarosa, Rose, and Sacred Frankincense.
Beneficial Essential Oils for Letting Go, Healing, and Release: Angelica Seed and Carrot Seed
Inner peace, Harmony, and Bliss
Achieving happiness, inner peace, and harmony may seem like a daunting task, but the power of aromatherapy can uplift us when we are feeling stressed out, sad, anxious, or any manifestation of emotional imbalances. There are numerous essential oils with uplifting energetic properties such as most citrus fruits, florals, and pines.The ones listed below specifically are harmonizing, euphoric, and foster feelings of inner peace.
Beneficial Essential Oils: Bergamot, Birch Tar, Champaca, Clary Sage, Cognac, Frangipani, Frankincense (Boswellia carterii), Mugwort, Opopanax, Patchouli, Wormwood, and Ylang Ylang.
Creativity, Motivation, Wisdom, and Insight
Essential oils can inspire creativity and motivation as well as wisdom and insight into the creative arts whether they are for personal expression or professional purposes. They can inspire us in the same way as music, poetry, and art. Aromas evoke feelings, memories, colors, sounds, music, images, temperature and other tangible things. Since aroma is intangible, we can use it to foster inspiration in our creative pursuits.
Beneficial Essential Oils: Allspice, Amyris, Angelica Seed, Balsam Fir, Bergamot Mint, Black Pepper, Black Spruce, Blood Orange, Blue Spruce, Caraway, Cistus, Clementine, Cognac, Coriander Davana,, Dill, Fennel, Frankincense (Boswellia carterii), Ginger, Juniper Berry, Spanish Sage, and Star Anise.
Spiritual Awakening, Meditation, and Mind-Body-Spirit Healing:
Aromatherapy can enhance our spiritual connection to our minds and bodies and the world we live in. We can use that connection to create a sacred space for meditation rituals and healing our mind-body-spirit connection.
Beneficial Essential Oils: Birch, Buddha Wood, Cacao, Champaca, Clary Sage, Cognac, Cumin, Frankincense (Boswellia carterii), Guaiacwood, Holy Basil, Labdanum, Laurel, Liquidambar, Marjoram, Muhuhu, Myrrh, Nagarmotha, Osmanthus, Palo Santo, Rosewood, Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood, Sandalwood, Sacred Frankincense, and Yuzu.
Subtle energetic work with aromatherapy can benefit the daily struggles and inner turmoil we all encounter. However, they will not "cure" any issue on their own. Energetic aromatherapy compliments standard approaches of psychotherapy, medication management (if applicable), and other forms of intervention. They can greatly enhance practicing mindfulness, meditation, journaling, and other creative arts for healing purposes.
I'd recommend including subtle energy aromatherapy modalities to anyone wishing to add a new facet to their personal or professional practices.
