Aromesis© – Healing with essential oils
If it is the greatest truth that you seek, the plants can direct you. ―Goethe
👥 Serves: 1 person, 2-10 people
🎚 Difficulty: Hard
⏳ Total time: 11-30 minutes, 31-60 minutes
🥣 Ingredients: A set of plant cards or a set of essential oils – 5 minimum such as Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender), Citrus aurantium var. amara (Neroli), Cupressus sempervirens (Cypress), Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree), Pogostemon cablin (Patchouli); a high-quality carrier oil (e.g., Sweet Almond Oil), a journal for reflection, access to GC/MS reports or trusted supplier information about each oil.
🤓 Wholebeing Domains: Awareness, Positive Emotion, Ritualising
💪 Wholebeing Skills: Calm, Centring, Refuge, Relief, Ritualising
Aromesis© – Healing with essential oils
📝 Description
Combining intuition and essential oils to heal.
Aromesis is a method that combines intuitive selection, reflection, and science-backed essential oils to guide your healing journey. This approach prioritises human connection and personal exploration. With a focus on intuitive discovery and personalised blends, the following recipe invites you to connect with your deeper self and autonomy while boosting physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing.
This recipe has been kindly donated by Marie Berne. Please note that Aromesis rejects the one-size-fits-all approach because healing is deeply personal and multifaceted. While the method provides structure, the true power lies in singularity and its full recognition through human connection – listening to the body and intuition and working alongside a person who can act as a guide and medium for a deeper exploration and long-lasting healing process. If you are interested in receiving personalised guidance, please visit www.marieberne.com or reach out to Marie at [email protected].
👣 Steps
Step 1 – Intuitive picking (5’)
Choose an essential oil intuitively by drawing a card or selecting a bottle that catches your eye. Let your gut instinct guide you without overthinking – it’s similar to how we crave certain foods when our bodies need them.
Step 2 – Sensory reaction (5’–10’)
Smell the chosen oil and observe your immediate reaction. Ask yourself:
- Does this oil feel attractive?
- Does it feel repulsive?
- Am I neutral?
Write down your sensory and emotional reactions – this will help uncover hidden layers of your needs.
Step 3 – Reflect on the oil’s story (10’–15’)
Explore the scientific and symbolic properties of the chosen oil.
- Chemical profile: Research key compounds using GC/MS reports for accuracy to understand the oil’s therapeutic effects. GC/MS – Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry – reports are laboratory analyses that identify and quantify the chemical compounds in essential oils. Make sure you are using precise references as in Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.
- Symbolism: Reflect on the oil’s emotional and spiritual associations.
For example, cypress oil supports emotional release and grief – read the Greek myth, connects to transitions, and enhances respiratory and circulatory health. If doing this in a small group, discuss how these properties relate to your life and current challenges.
Step 4 – Blend creation (10’)
Create a personalised blend using your chosen oil.
Example blend for grief and transition:
- 2 drops Cypress for emotional release and respiratory health.
- 2 drops Neroli for nurturing childhood wounds.
- 1 drop Lavender for calming nervous tension.
- 30 ml sweet almond oil as a carrier.
Apply your blend to pulse points, chest, or abdomen, depending on your needs.
Step 5 – Daily integration and observation (ongoing)
Integrate the oil into your daily life by:
- Massaging it into specific areas of the body (e.g., chest for respiratory support, abdomen for tension, ankles, feet every night before going to bed, etc.).
- Diffusing the oil (no more than 5 minutes in a ventilated room).
- Using it as part of a bedtime ritual to encourage emotional processing in dreams.
Case example: A client initially seeking help for bloating and apparent digestive issues intuitively selected not an obvious “digestive” oil: Cypress. Over time, she realised that its respiratory and circulatory benefits helped with her sleep apnea and chest tightness. She later identified a deep, unprocessed grief tied to losing her father at a young age – exactly located by the chest/heat, which could give a hint about her physical tension and digestive issues. Regularly using her blend allowed her to release these emotions, leading to both emotional and physical healing.