Essences

Let’s talk about Essences. The word essence means “the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, that determines its character.” That sounds pretty unclear, so for our purposes here what I’m talking about are:

Essential Oils

Flower Essentials

Distillations

Elixirs

Basically, the lotions and potions that we will use in any number of ways associated with the mystic arts or your health or your work or your home.

For thousands of years, people have been using essences or liquids from natural products in magic and other mindful practices for a number of reasons:

To enter altered states of consciousness.

To ground the body or focus the mind.

To cleanse.

To clear.

To heal.

We’re talking about everything from herbal salves used on skin conditions, to drinkable potions used by shaman in order to achieve visions for their tribe, to essential oils that we inhale during yoga, to gingko biloba tea brewed to improve memory.

The water you drink every day is, in many ways, a magical elixir.

The chamomile tea with a spoonful of honey that you enjoy just before bed is a powerful medicine.

The lotion that you add your own special combination of essential oils to and apply after each shower is a transcendent healer.

I want to focus on two essences – essential oils and flower essences. They sound like the same thing – and to be frank they are made from the same exact ingredients – but they are also very different.

Essential oils are the distillation of (usually) an entire plant or part of a plant. The roots, or the bark, or the leaves, or the flowers, or the fruit of a particular plant. The purpose of distilling any plant for its essential oil is to capture its aroma and/or any health benefits the plant may contain. Many are microbial, so they may help prevent illness or help you recover from the symptoms of illness.

Essential oils have a variety of uses. Some can be used orally – like many citrus oils. Some can only be applied topically. Others would be better served for use with objects – wood oils mixed with olive oil makes a great furniture polish. Add a few drops of Lemon Essential Oil and you’ve got your own version of Pledge – healthier and cheaper, I might add.

Some essential oils can be used in food preparation. I will put drops of essential oil in my dishes when cooking – thyme for instance or basil or black pepper – and in my water, like Lime or Spearmint. I use essential oils in my skincare and I diffuse different combination of essential oils throughout my home. During wintertime, in my bedroom while sleeping, I diffuse a blend known as ‘Thieves’ – it’s the same combination of herbs that were used by grave robbers during the Great Plague hundreds of years ago, former perfumers who were able to safely steal pocket watches and jewelry and money from the dying and the dead without getting sick because they were breathing through these masks that carried the essential oils of lemon, clove, eucalyptus, rosemary and cinnamon.

Which of you use essential oils and what oils do you use, and why?

Now, Flower Essences are different. I also use them regularly. Flower essences are made only from the flowers of the plant, not the other components. Flower essences are not complete distillations of the flowers. They are energetic distillations made by submerging flowers in alcohol – usually brandy – for the purpose of etheric healing. We talked about Aether or Spirit a few nights ago when wrapping up our series on the Elements. Once submerged in brandy, the flowers are exposed to the Sun, allowing their purest energy to infuse the alcohol. Once completed, the alcohol is completely safe to drink. It is considered homeopathic medicine, working with the vibrations of the body rather than pharmaceutical treatment. Most people will put a couple drops under their tongue or drop into water. Some will also apply the water topically – such as with using a mister.

Flower essences directly treat the aura field around our bodies and souls. Flower essences can help us regulate our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual energies, which is why I use them both in meditation and in magic.

I just wanted to touch upon the topic of essences but also to ask the question: What is the Essence of your Life? What is the core of what you want to be in this world, the purest version of yourself, and what makes you feel most alive?

What do you wish to be, what are you seeking, what pathway do you want to walk along?

What are you willing to take to achieve you goals? I’m not here to encourage the use of anything illegal or against your beliefs, let me be clear. I just wonder what might assist you in doing the soul work you are called to do? Because each of us has to decide what that is, as well as what their boundaries are.

My recommendation for anyone just beginning to explore these themes is to start topically, rather than orally. Use a few essential oils in your bath. Especially if you’re going to do a ritual bath which is a great way to purify and calm yourself before meditation or any other practice. Baths are definitely better than showers for these purposes, but if you cannot submerge in a bath, a restorative shower will do.

If you prefer showers, shower melts are a great way to infuse some essential oil aromas into your lungs and your skin. Shower melts are tabs of baking soda with essential oils. They could have eucalyptus oil in them to open up your breathing, lavender to help relax you, or any blend that you enjoy.

We’re going to talk a lot more about plant medicines in the weeks and months to come. Subscribe to continue reading our magic blog, and be sure to follow us at Facebook and Instagram.