Praying With Essential Oils
Prayer is the state of talking to God or the Divine, either out loud or silently. The act of prayer is not exclusive to any one particular culture or religious/spiritual group.
For a good general introduction to the types of prayer used throughout the world, read the Wikipedia entry for Prayer.
Essential oils can be diffused as you pray with the intent of helping you focus your thoughts and prayers. If, for instance, you want to express prayers of gratitude, the use of uplifting essential oils may help enhance your celebratory prayers. If you are in a state of sadness or grief over the health or loss of a loved one, essential oils that may help with grief are a good choice to use during prayers related to your loved one.
Oils like Helichrysum, Frankincense and Palo Santo are said to enhance enlightenment and a spiritual connection with the divine. Look to AromaWeb's Essential Oils for Spirituality article for a categorized list of essential oils that can be adapted for your personal practice of prayer or meditation.
When praying or meditating, I personally prefer using a candle diffuser to diffuse my selected essential oil blend, but other types of diffusers or even a room mist can be used. Look to AromaWeb's All About Diffusers article for information on the available types of diffusers. AromaWeb's Air Freshener Recipe can be adapted to make your own personal Meditation Room Spray.
Use the below diffuser blends as starting ideas for creating your own personal prayer blends. Be sure that you understand any safety and contraindications for each oil that you use and that you understand how to properly use your diffuser.
Praying During Times of Sorrow or Grief
Combine equal proportions of the following essential oils in a clean glass bottle to create a master diffuser blend and diffuse per the manufacturer instructions for your diffuser:
Expressing Thanks and Gratitude
Combine the following essential oils in a clean glass bottle to create a master diffuser blend and diffuse per the manufacturer instructions for your diffuser:
- 4 Parts Bergamot
- 2 Parts Grapefruit
- 2 Parts Cypress
- 2 Parts Frankincense
- 1 Part Ylang Ylang
- 1 Part Ginger
Enlightening Meditation/Prayer Diffuser Blend
Combine equal proportions of the following essential oils in a clean glass bottle to create a master diffuser blend and diffuse per the manufacturer instructions for your diffuser: