I discovered a long time ago, as I was peeling an orange, how easy it is to pray.

In fact, it’s really no big deal. You can talk to God any old time. His door is always open. Prayer is the one thing that is free, therapeutic, simple to do, can be done anywhere, and it goes a long way toward making you feel content and connected.

However you want to call on God is up to you, just as long as you call. If you know me by now, I dance in diversity. 🙂

One day many years ago, I pulled on an orange peel and the orange mist shot out.

In that instant I was surprised by the beauty of the spray of juice, and the bright, sunny smell. The design of the orange suddenly seemed perfect, like it was one of earth’s finest fruits, created just for me, and I had just discovered it. The only thought or word that occurred to me was “Thank you!” At that same moment, I realized that my gratitude needed to be directed toward someone or something, and so I gave it to God.

The tiniest things can make me ridiculously happy (or brutally sad; as I’ve come to learn this gift cuts both ways) but always grateful. So I find there are a million reasons to pray all the time.

If there’s anything I’ve learned about myself over the years, it’s that I have a gajillion personality flaws and make tons of social blunders, but I always seem to have a good time. I may forget to say Please and Thank You to others, but I’m always working on my manners because I like people. I can usually be counted on to say the wrong thing out loud (or the thing that everyone is thinking but no one says) because I wear my heart on my sleeve and it either gets me into trouble, or breaks the ice. I’m rarely confounded by people or events, because I have infinite expectations and a long sliding compass for “appropriate” human behavior (you’d be shocked), but for all these foibles, I have one good gift, and it’s this: I find it super easy to talk with one-on-one with God, and listen and look for signs of him. It’s like taking breath, everywhere, all the time!

That’s why I like to spend a moment in prayer and gratitude whenever I think of it throughout the day, especially when I’m caught up in work or writing, and I’ve forgotten everything around me. I sometimes get screwed down into a funk pretty easily (especially lately, it seems) and so it’s always nice to have an essential oil handy to loosen things up and get everything in alignment with the Creator.

You really don’t need essential oils to pray. Of course you know that. But I find that the act of stopping and going through a little ritual makes my prayer more fervent and meaningful. The oils are for your mind, body, and spirit, if you want them. God certainly doesn’t need them to hear you! He made them for you.

If you try this, you must allow yourself to believe, imagine, and let your spirit play when you use this recipe. That’s the magic part you have to provide. If you can do that, then you, too, can benefit from recipes like this one my friend Suzi taught me the other day.

This one’s really easy. It’s just two oils: Gathering™ and Gratitude™.

First, I’ll share when you need this. Then, I’ll tell you how to do it. Next, I’ll tell you the benefits and why this works. Finally, I’ll give you the VERY IMPORTANT CAUTIONARY WARNING. Don’t miss it at the end, or this whole concoction could go awry.

When To Use This Combination

Use this combo when you know you have it pretty good, you have everything you need, you are walking the path you need to walk, doing your job, and being present… AND you want more. Something is a bit off and you can’t quite put a finger on it. You are open to something better, even though you don’t have the words or images in your consciousness to make your ask. You want to ask for something better, but you’re not sure what that is. You want to feel like a queen and instead, you are a very lucky, well-fed, pampered and gifted attendant to the queen. Not sure that totally explains it, but it’s close. You should try this recipe when there’s just the vaguest sense that there’s gotta be something just a little bit more…

Maybe this is a girl thing, but I use this when I don’t really know what I want! 

How To Do It

First, Gathering.

• Put on drop into your hand. I like to add one drop of a carrier oil like V-6, too, because then I can get to all the following body parts in one pass.
• Swirl it with your other hand and quickly start at your right temple and pull it across to your left temple across your forehead.
• With your other hand, go from your adams apple down the center of your chest.
• Then with both hands crossing, rub the remainder of the oils across your chest toward both shoulders.
• Last, cup both hands over your nose and mouth and breathe, imagining all good feelings, things and desires of your heart being gathered toward you. Imagine a swirling vortex, as if these thoughts and sensations can’t resist being pulled toward each other and pulling together in you. You are like a magnet and all good things are coming together inside you exactly where you are at that very moment, in your car, at your desk, in the ladies room at the conference, etc. Make sure you enjoy this feeling of blessing. Just bask in it. This is yummy!

Second, Gratitude.

• Put one drop onto your left hand and swirl with your right in a clockwise motion.
• Cup hands over your nose and mouth and breathe deeply, inhaling for a count of four, holding it, then exhaling for a count of four. Do this several times.
• This time your intention is peace and gratitude for all good things you already have in your life, both big and small. Be aware of your heart and mind opening and relaxing as you imagine all the goodness and love and strength you receive every time you allow it in. Think of all the limitless gifts bestowed on you and others… there is so much of it, it’s hard to get your thoughts around it all. You may feel like there’s an overflow, and you can’t contain all your gratitude. It spills over the top of your cup.

The Benefits

After a minute or so, you should feel like you have everything you need, and/or you will be receiving it presently. You will even appreciate that undercurrent that used to feel disquieting or frustrating because it translates into a flicker of strength and awareness. You are a vital human filled with the energy you need to fulfill your dreams and wishes.

Why This Recipe Works

There are some strong, high-frequency oils in each of these blends, all used by people through history in intense situations. You are not the first one to want more connection with the divine, and a feeling of fulfillment; it’s the human condition! We are not the first to combine essential oils with prayer. (Exodus 30: 22 – 27) The oils in the blends, Gathering and Gratitude, applied one right after the other, help your body, mind and spirit achieve focus, calm, and clarity, as well as a divine connection.

The oils in Gathering may help increase oxygen around the pituitary and pineal glands, bringing greater harmonic frequency for better communication with God and other people. They include, in Gathering,

• Lavender, providing balance to the body and mood.
• Galbanum, a potent oil for immunity and strength, particularly when paired with Frankincense and Sandalwood.
• Frankincense, high in sesquiterpenes which increase oxygen and promote a positive attitude.
• Sandalwood, again, high in sesquiterpenes, alleviates depression, and helps foster an accepting, non-egocentric openness toward others.
• Geranium, a healing, calming and balancing oil. Learn more about Geranium’s lovely properties here.
• Ylang Ylang, the male-female balancing oil that help you focus and tune out the constant noise, bringing you self-love, confidence and peace.
• Spruce, which may help dilate the bronchial tract and improve oxygen exchange, balancing and grounding the body and releasing emotional blocks.
• Cinnamon Bark, a Biblical oil used for oxygenation, purification, and toning of the circulatory system, this oil enhances the properties of other oils.
• Rose, the highest frequency of all the essential oils, brings balance and harmony to every cell in the body.

…and in Gratitude,

• Balsam Fir, at once stimulating to the mind, while relaxing to the body, it anchors the spirit and relieves tension in muscles and joints.
• Frankincense, used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years, stimulates the limbic part of the brain, helps oversome stress and despair, and helps us connect with our greater powers.
• Galbanum, traditionally esteemed for its medicinal and spiritual properties.
• Rosewood creates a feeling of empowerment, emotional stability, peace and gentleness.
• Myrrh, a true “gift” oil, promotes spiritual awareness, and opens hearts and minds.
• Ylang Ylang, an oil that combats anger, low self esteem, and negative energy, while restoring confidence and peace.

[If you’re wondering where I got all these facts, I consult books like The Essential Oils Desk Reference, by Life Science Publishing, and Aromatherapy: Healing the Spirit by Gabriel Mojay.]

CAUTION: 

As I was researching these particular oil blends, I discovered that Gathering is a very powerful blend. It tends to act as an amplifier, which means that if you have the wrong intent when you use it, you will get amplify that intention. If you are feeling negative, don’t use the blend Gathering. Wait until you are feeling more positive. (You might try Joy™ or Sacred Mountain™ to help your mood.)

These essential oils blends are doozies. They’re perfectly formulated to enhance certain moods or elevate certain spiritual or physical states. You can use them without even knowing what all’s in them, but I like to study why they do what they do. It’s fun to see which oils are used repeatedly in the different blends, and to play with making your own blends as well.

Bottom line? No need to be intimidated by essential oils, OR prayer, for that matter. Just use them. Use what you have and don’t forget that you really can’t use an essential oil the wrong way. Just like you can’t pray the wrong way, there really is no wrong way to use an oil. As long as your intention is toward wellness, happiness, and a good life,  you’re pretty much going to nail this. If you ever want to talk about this with me, please DM me on Facebook, or leave a comment on the wall. I’d love to hear what you think! Truly.

You can also download a free copy of the ebook There Is No Wrong Way To Use An Essential Oil. Just leave your email below and I’ll send it right out.