At The Priory we have decided to use essential oils from Star Child in Glastonbury. The reasons for our choise are many;
ESSENTIAL OILS
Essential oils are the volatile, aromatic components of plants, the substance that carries their unique scent and ethereal soul. It is through these precious fragrances that plants communicate with their environment, inviting potential pollinators and seed dispersers, or fending off their natural enemies. But essential oils are not just chemical messengers, they are also divine messengers. They possess the power to influence our moods and sense of well-being, can heal our physical and emotional ailments and even open the gates to other dimensions.
The sense of smell is one of the most primitive senses located deep within the oldest part of the human brain. It guided us through the sensory world long before any intellectual powers sought rationalization for our experiences. Scent communicates with the non-verbal part of the brain, where the soul ‘thinks’ in imagery and associations. That is why a fleeting whiff of subtle fragrance can instantly transport us a million miles away. Thus the sense of smell forms the gateway to the subconscious mind and even taps into what Jung termed “the collective consciousness”. Acting on this ancient and primeval part of the brain, scent can powerfully affect the mind, and thus in turn affect the body. Perfumers have known the secret language of scent for centuries and have long made use of the subtle and not so subtle powers of essential oils to influence or seduce our senses. Borrowing the flowers fragrant soul messengers to create perfumes and cosmetics enables us to transcend the boundaries of our verbal world.
Sweet scents attract good spirits and can influence the benevolence of the gods who delight in heavenly aromas. Priests and practitioners of all spiritual paths have always known this and in almost all traditions elaborate floral decorations, expensive aromatic temple aspurgers and incenses form an integral aspect of devotional practice. In many traditions worshipers would never dare to enter the presence of the Gods unanointed and even the sacred icons would receive offerings of scented oils and flower garlands.
Essential oils have also found their way into modern folk magic practices. In the old days most practitioners would make do with the herbs at their disposal to create their sachets, aspersion waters, ritual bath potions or aphrodisiac lotions. Modern practitioners are not so limited. The more common availability of even the most exotic essential oils opens new horizons for the creative kitchen alchemist to explore the magical powers of essential oils in their own potions, lotions and magical blends.
But essential oils offer more than divine fragrances- they are also highly concentrated healing compounds that can powerfully and directly influence the physiological functions on the body.
The knowledge concerning the use of essential oils as therapeutic agents is known as ‘Aromatherapy’, a field of study that in recent years has attracted a huge growth of interest. The art and body of knowledge itself is ancient - antique stills excavated at archaeological sites throughout the ancient world bear witness to this time honoured tradition, but modern practitioners with the help of new insights into the workings of chemicals on mind and body have taken it to new levels. Aromatherapy has become one of the most popular forms of holistic medicine. From jetlag to insomnia to anxiety, from allergies to aching muscles - the fragrant healers come to our aid. The most common form of aromatherapy treatment is a massage with appropriate essential oil blends, according to individual needs. Sometimes just sniffing a particular aroma can bring relief e.g. to alleviate headaches or nausea, or respiratory congestion. Some oils are particularly beneficial for the skin, soothing tender or weather worn tissue, smoothing scars and stretch marks or repairing epidermal damage. Adding essential oils to homemade cosmetic blends such as face masks or body lotions transforms a simple moisturizer into a healing lotion with a specific therapeutic effect. Or, one can utilize both, the deliciously sensuous scents and therapeutic qualities to create bath and massage oils with divine fragrances that also relax, invigorate or soothe the effects of daily wear and tear.