Essential Oils for Meditation

by master herbalist, Bev Gray

Meditation is an ancient art that spans many centuries and cultures. In today’s high tech, busy world meditation is practiced to focus the mind, rest the body and feed the spirit. Breathing is at the very core of mediation and at the core of Aromatherapy.

In meditation practice essential oils can help to create a sacred atmosphere that is conducive to quiet relaxation, inducing the feeling of coming back home to one’s self and being nurtured by the sacred plants of mother earth.

We are all affected, consciously and subconsciously, by our senses. One of our most primal reactions, our sense of smell comes from our olfactory system. The reason for this is that odours stimulate the nerve endings of the olfactory bulb which lies at the back of the nose. These nerve endings stimulate a part of the brain called the limbic system which is associated with emotions, memories and sex drive.

Genuine & authentic essential oils are especially effective at stimulating our olfactory system because the molecules of the oils are so small that they enter the bloodstream rapidly and are carried to all parts of the body. This allows the aromatic essences of essential oils to affect not just our sense of smell, but our entire being.

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) is very grounding, it is considered the oil of peace with its sweet soil like aroma and its sedative properties help to quiet the mind. Patchoulis’ earthy primal scent can be arousing and helps to dispel anxiety about sex and is conducive to being used as an aphrodisiac. It is also calming and can help to re-balance the body when stress has caused nervous exhaustion

Cedarwood (cedrus atlantica) with its sweet woody-balsamic scent helps to focuses the mind, relieve anxiety, nervous tension and stress and is uplifting, strengthing and comforting. Cedarwood is a very grounding oil and can be employed to balance the root chakra. Its antiseptic properties protect the lungs against respiratory infections and is a mucolytic (breaks down mucus), which makes it an excellent treatment for catarrhal conditional, especially chronic bronchitis.

Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) encourages inner strength, protection, grounding and is a nourishing, restorative helping us to reconnect to our roots. It has a very musty earth scent. It is generally used as a base note when blending essential oils.

Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi) aroma is warm, earthy, peaty, bittersweet and woody. It is native to the Himalayan Mountains and is also known as, “Nard.” It is one of the most ancient of aromatics, considered precious to the early Egyptian, Hebrew and Hindu civilizations for both ritual and medicinal purposes. Mary Magdalene anointed the feet of Jesus before the last supper. In 1652 Nicholas Culpeper said that spikenard, “comforts the brain” and helps”passions and swooning of the heart.

Sandalwood (Santalum album) is now a rare essential oil and has a sweet woody fragrance. It is relaxing and meditative oil with sensual properties, soothing and comforting to body and mind. Sandalwood encourages feelings of well-being and has been used traditionally as an incense and perfume.

Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) resin aids in meditation and fortifies and quiets the mind. It is particularly active with the lungs, and is an excellent oil to use for respiratory conditions. It is balancing, lifts the spirits, encourages feelings of well being, produces heightened awareness of spiritual calm, reduces tension, and gives strength in the face of adversity and hardship. A dab on frankincense on the ajna chakra before meditation or teaching helps to focus the minds eye.

Ohm diffuser blend
4 drops orange (Citrus sinensis)
2 drops bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
2 drops rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora)
2 drops patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)

Add drops to an aromatherapy diffuser before starting your meditation practice.

Chakra Balancing Meditation Blend
4 drops frankincense (Boswellia carteri)
4 drops mandarin (Citrus reticulata)
4 drops cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)
2 drops rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora)
2 drops vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides)

Add drops to an aromatherapy diffuser before starting your meditation practice.

Space Clearing Spray
30 drops Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)

Add essential oil drops to a 60 ml spritzer bottle of distilled water. Shake well before using each time

Chakra is a Sanscrit word meaning wheels, vortex or energy. Essential oils, color, gem stones, breath and sound can all be used to re-balance the chakras during meditation.

Essential Oils for Chakra Balancing
Crown Chakra: Juniper, Frankincense, Peppermint
Third Eye Charka: Yarrow, Bay Laurel, Clove, Myrtle
Throat Chakra: Blue Chamomile, Marjoram, Mandarin
Heart Chakra: Geranium, Rose, Lime, Rosewood, Grapeseed Oil,
Solar Plexus: Lemon, Fennel, Ginger, Vetiver, Arnica
Sacral Chakra: Ginger, Bergamot, Orange, Patchouli, Cinnamon, Calendula
Root Chakra: Cedarwood, Jasmine, Benzoin, Rose, St. John’s Wort

Bev Gray is a skilled herbalist, registered aromatherapist and an award-winning natural health product formulator who owns Aroma Borealis Herb Shop in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. She is also a journalist and educator of boreal botanical medicine and aromatherapy and was the recipient of the 2006 Yukon Chamber of Commerce Yukon Business Person of the Year Award. Bev is presently studying with Sacred Centers. Visit her website at www.aromaborealis.com