| From the beginning, man has been preoccupied with | | | | their worship which is depicted on their monuments |
| the question of divinity-who is responsible for us | | | | at Persepolis, the Muslims still offer incense in the |
| being here and how do we relate to the Creator. All | | | | shrines of their saints today. The Roman Catholic |
| primitive peoples have developed some kind of | | | | church, Anglican and orthodox Christian churches still |
| world-view which they expressed through myths, | | | | use frankincense and myrrh incense to honor God in |
| legend or stories. All life was viewed as dependent on | | | | their rituals. |
| a force which transcended the visible world. This | | | | Incense was absolutely indispensable in ancient |
| force was honored through specific rites and rituals. | | | | Egyptian rituals. The ascending smoke was seen |
| How was illness and environmental disturbances or | | | | symbolically as a vehicle to carry one's prayers to the |
| disasters interpreted in this world view?-as discord or | | | | deities and to bridge the realm of human and spiritual. |
| disharmony between the human, environmental, and | | | | This is particularly true for their elaborate ceremonies |
| spiritual realms. Disease was viewed as disunity and | | | | surrounding death. |
| so early on the art of healing was bound up with an | | | | The Hebrews also used incense to carry their |
| ability to appease the spirit world, please the gods | | | | prayers to God. |
| and counter curses. | | | | "Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, |
| The Role of Incense and Aromatics | | | | and the lifting up of my hands as an evening |
| In these world views, fragrant odors were thought | | | | sacrifice." Psalm 141:2. |
| to be favored by the gods and were a way of | | | | The use of perfumed ornaments like necklaces made |
| appeasing their anger and wrath and ensuring divine | | | | of saffron, orris, musk and Benjamin were used in |
| favor and attracting special attention to prayers. | | | | black Africa and throughout Asia to appease the |
| Since scent delighted the human senses, it was | | | | spirits. In India, the sacred plant of basil was made |
| assumed that the deities found it very pleasing in | | | | into sacred beads and rosaries. In Tibet, dry incense |
| fact it was considered the "food of the gods." These | | | | is worn as a talisman to ward off evil spirits and in |
| odors were thought to work like a drug on the minds | | | | Mexico to this day, a clove of garlic is still hung |
| of the gods as well as on the minds of men and thus | | | | around the neck of a newborn as a protection. |
| the gods would look kindly on the misdeeds of man. | | | | Amulets are commonly used in magical rites in many |
| In Syria and Mesopotamia, incense smoke was used | | | | cultures and often include aromatic plant materials. In |
| as a form of divination to calm the wrath of the | | | | today's world, many users of essential oils are now |
| gods so they would be inclined to give positive | | | | wearing "diffuser" jewelry to ward off germs from |
| oracles. It was also used as a means of | | | | others and protect against bacteria and viruses. For |
| purification-cleansing the human soul before the face | | | | travelers, especially on airplanes, this simply makes |
| of the god. | | | | good sense. When enough people begin performing |
| Many herbs and aromatics were also considered to | | | | this action, a ritual will be established that says-this is |
| have magical properties including healing. Temples | | | | how we ward off "evil spirits" like bacteria and |
| erected to honor the gods had great urns for the | | | | viruses. Are you wearing diffuser jewelry |
| burning of incense before the gods. Early on, burning | | | | Want to know more about essential oils and how |
| incense in the sick room was a common way to cure. | | | | they can help us stay healthy? Consider becoming a |
| The Sumerians and Babylonians burned incense as a | | | | certified clinical aromatherapist. The Institute of |
| means of purification to please their gods, the | | | | Spiritual Healing and Aromatherapy teaches classes |
| Hebrews used burning incense (generally thought to | | | | throughout the United States on aromatherapy and |
| be frankincense) to veil the presence of God in the | | | | energy healing. |
| holy tabernacle, the early Persians used incense in | | | | |