The Forgiveness & Essential Oil Connection – Intro
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. Luke 11:4 (NIV)
Forgiveness and essential oils? When this thought repeatedly popped into my mind, it made absolutely no sense! Since the topic continued to grab a hold of me, I decided to explore various psychological and aromatherapy resources. Much to my surprise, the different threads of research tied together like a woven tapestry.
According to Salvatore Battaglia (2004)1 and Stillpoint Aromatics, there is a correlation between essential oils from specific plant parts and emotional healing. The writings of Dr. Robert Enright, the founder of the International Forgiveness Institute address the emotional healing process for deep hurts. In his book, The Forgiving Life: A Pathway to Overcoming Resentment and Creating a Legacy of Love , Dr. Enright indicates that you need to admit you have anger and other emotions related to unforgiveness. Then, you can work through the remainder stages of forgiveness.2 The therapeutic properties of the following plant parts correspond with these phases:
|
Stages of Forgiveness |
Essential Oil Plant Part |
|---|---|
| Deciding to Forgive | Wood Oils |
| Working on Forgiveness | Resin Oils |
| Discovery and Release from Emotional Prison | Flower Oils |
Discoveries of the purposes of God’s creation continue to unveil. It is fitting that Psalm 148, which is an overview of all creation praising and worshipping the Lord include trees from the mountains, fruit trees and cedars. Essential oils extracted from resins, flowers from fruit trees, and the wood of trees have therapeutic properties to help balance the limbic system (the emotional seat of the brain).3
Essential oils are a resource that God has made for people who harbor bitterness, yet desire to say as Jesus did on the cross… “Father, I forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” The odor molecules with therapeutic properties go directly to the brain to help provide the emotional strength needed to forgive deep hurts.
It is for freedom that Jesus set us free. Sharing our stories of forgiveness with others weaves our testimonies into an intricate masterpiece of praise.
To forgive is to release a prisoner, and discover the prisoner is you. ~ Lewis Smedes
- Part 1: Denying Hurts – uncovering your anger and coping mechanisms
- Part 2: Why Forgive? – deciding to forgive
- Part 3: Breezing Through Forgiveness – working on forgiveness
- Part 4: Moving Forward – discovery and release from emotional prison
See our Forgiveness & Essential Oil blog subcategory for more on how Jesus, The Author of Creation has designed essential oils to help facilitate the forgiveness process.
Eleos, the fragrance of forgiveness, is an essential oil roll-on that I designed specifically to help to forgive, when combined with an act of the heart. It includes essential oils from three different plant parts listed in the chart above. For testimonies and more information, click on ELEOS.
Suggested Reading:
References:
1 Battaglia, S. (2004) The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy
. Brisbane, Australia: The International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy.
2 Enright, R. (2012) The Forgiving Life: A Pathway to Overcoming Resentment and Creating a Legacy of Love. Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association
3Price, Len. Aromatherapy for Health Professionals. Comp. Shirley Price. London: Elsevier, 2012. 230. Print and CD Rom.
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