By Cat Gina Cole
Today in my journal as I turn the page, I find Magical Aroma Therapy and it begins with “Frankincense.” The first thing I wrote down is that frankincense heightened participants’ spiritual involvement in rites and has the word “euphoric” followed by a question mark. As it turns out, it can be euphoric as it contains the compound incensole acetate but for it to be effective one would have to use a very high concentration. Yet it is said the Greek philosopher Pythagoras used frankincense to enable him to prophesize.
In magical aroma therapy, the scent is used to attain the correct state of consciousness to practice magic and it has been shown to increase the body’s bio-electrical energy that can be funneled into ritual tasks.
MAGICAL AROMA THERAPY PRACTICE
Prepare some frankincense in a burner where it will not tip over, yet is close enough to smell the scent. Do not directly inhale the smoke. Get comfortable, close your eyes and take three slow deep breaths, then relax. As you do, the aroma will change your bioelectric energy, assist you in shifting your consciousness, and prepare you for meditation, trace, or visualization.
To sharpen psychic awareness, burn ground mace or yarrow for scent only. Do not inhale the smoke. Once you are relaxed, meditate on the desired psychic skill you wish to enhance. These scents, coupled with visualization, will awaken psychic impulses one is always receiving but which are blocked by the daily conscious mind. The scents trigger the body and mind to lower its physical resistance and calms the central nervous system.
It is optimal to use freshly cut and dried herbs when possible, or a freshly made oil. Either can also be put into a wax melt for aroma.
OTHER NOTES
At the end of my magical aroma therapy journal entry are some random notes like, “Smell the odor of cumin during sex for conception.”
Water Lilly nymphaea coerula- (not lotus) is the symbol of the sun and the scent of Ra and Horus.
Use Juniper for the Goddesses Inanna and Ishtar.
For Babylonian divination, use cedar shavings thrown into a burner. If the smoke moves to the right, victory or success is coming. If it moves to the left, it will be defeat.
In aroma therapy, sometimes aromatic wood is used like cedar or pine. To get the best aroma from them, use a very sharp grater to get 1 teaspoon of shavings and burn that. Some scents can be used on a cotton ball or in a diffuser such as jasmine for relaxation and a sense of happiness.
Using oils and herbs for magical aroma therapy is like collecting an herb for magic. Collect and prepare it with care and intention, give it reverence and gratitude for the work it is about to do and enjoy.
Cat Gina Cole is a Herditary Witch and author of Psychic Skills for Magic and Witchcraft (Llewellyn, 2022). She is the founder of The Coven of the Rising Phoenix and Staff Coordinator for “Green Egg Magazine.” You can reach her at www.catginacole.com.