by Karen Stokes, RN

The festive Yule season is upon us and we gather with loved ones, sharing in the spirit of giving and good times. I love this season with its intention of love, peace and harmony. Kindness and charity prevail remembering that as far as the universal mind goes, it’s important to always give more than you take. The ancients celebrated the winter solstice this way and the way of peace and harmony was often adhered to during this season. Holiday customs and rituals have certainly changes through the centuries, but the main theme of peace, love and joy can still remain number one to us. There are so many things around to delight our senses this time of year. The scents, tastes, sounds and sights of the holiday can bring us great joy and pleasure. A whiff of the coniferous scents coming from all of the decorative garlands and wreaths make us feel refreshed and balanced. It can also bring about pleasant yuletide memories from the past. The scent-memory connection can be very powerful indeed. Another example of this connection is our response to the mouth-watering aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger that come from the busy holiday kitchen. No doubt there are many treats in store for us.

The sounds of traditional holiday music are a delight as well whether they come from the local church or from the car radio. It’s difficult not to sing along with these uplifting tunes. Music and song can have a profound effect on the brain. Uplifting, joyful melodies can actually make us feel good. The things that we see around us during the Yule season can be pleasant as well. Sparkling decorations, twinkling lights and the smiles on happy peoples’ faces can give us a feeling of bliss.

As a devout Christian, in my earlier years, the Christmas season was my favorite. I loved the chants and songs associated with the holidays. I also enjoyed the incense burning rituals and the aromas in the church. The activities to help the poor and feed the hungry felt so good to me. The beloved story about the three wise men coming from the East with precious gifts for the baby Jesus was one of my holiday favorites. Frankincense and myrrh were two of these gifts, gold being the other one. Actually, frankincense and myrrh are two resins that are associated with Jewish, Roman, Middle Eastern and the African cultures and was used long before Christianity. The resins come from scrubby trees that ooze the resin when their barks are cut. The resulting sap is known as “tears”. These tears are dried and then shipped off to become medicine, incense and perfume.

Frankincense is ancient indeed. It has been a part of spiritual and healing practices for thousands of years. It was used 5,000 years ago in Egyptian temples as incense to please the sun god Ra. The Egyptians also used the resin in salves for the healing of beautification of the skin. Frankincense was part of the solstice celebrations of many cultures. The Romans burned it for religious and state occasions. In the Jewish faith, it was offered in ceremony. There are many magical uses associated with frankincense. It is used for sun and solstice rituals. It is also associated with the moon and mother goddess. Try burning some at the full moon and feel the good vibrations. Inhalations of frankincense are also soothing to colds, coughs and other winter respiratory problems. For this purpose, the resinoid or liquid oil form is easiest to use. Try it in a room spray, diluted in spring water. The scent helps one to concentrate. It also drives away negativity. The vibrations of frankincense can lift the spirits of those in the vicinity. Try it for your next meditation circle or spiritual gathering.

Another tree from the Middle East and North Africa is Myrrh. The indigenous people in these areas extract the “tears” from the myrrh trees and dry them. The resin can be distilled into a liquid form or resinoid, like frankincense. Myrrh is also burned as incense in many spiritual practices around the world. The aroma of myrrh excites the upper chakras. It is used before rituals and ceremonies to increase the vibration of the healing or medicine space as well. Magically speaking, myrrh is linked with the moon and is popular for rituals honoring this heavenly body. For healing the body, myrrh has many uses. It’s found in natural oral care products and cosmetics. It is said to make wrinkles vanish. One drop of the resinoid can be applied to mouth sores to help them heal. Myrrh wood can be used for oral hygiene as a sort of toothpick. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-viral actions. Try adding some frankincense and myrrh to your winter solstice celebration. Their resins can be burned on charcoal and the resinoids can be diffused into the atmosphere using a variety of simple methods. You can also find ready made incenses that contain these symbolic resins if you prefer a more delicate odor. Explore the healing properties of frankincense and myrrh. You may find them very handy for the medicine chest to use in all kinds of home remedies.

Try the following aromatherapy blend for candles, wax melters or essential oil diffuser. It contains frankincense and myrrh along with some of my other favorite holiday fragrances. Light bulb rings and potpourri can also be scented with this reminiscent aroma. Note that the essential oils in this recipe are not diluted in a carrier product since it is intended for diffusion. Use caution when handling 100% pure essential oils and avoid eye contact.

WINTER SOLSTICE ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND

3 parts lavender essential oil
3 parts sandalwood essential oil
2 parts frankincense resinoid
1 part myrrh resinoid
4 parts black spruce essential oil
3 parts fir needle essential oil
3 parts tangerine essential oil

Combine in a glass container. One part can be any measurement you choose. Make a little or make a lot to add to homemade potpourri to give as gifts. Create memories to be cherished for years and years by adding the power of scent to your next gathering. Blessings for the yuletide season and for the new year ahead. Next month: creating your own personal rituals for new beginnings.

Karen Stokes, RN Herbalist is a member of the American Botanical Council and the Michigan Holistic Nurses Association. She can be reached at (248) 515-9863 or karen.stokes@yahoo.com.