Coping Through COVID-19: Meditation & Essential Oils
by Lauren Van Coutren
If managing the stresses of daily life have become even more difficult while navigating the changes that COVID-19 has brought about, meditation enhanced with essential oils can help. Essential oils promote relaxation and encourage your connection with the mind, body and spirit. Using them during meditation gives you the peace of mind and clarity you need to focus so you can handle daily life during a pandemic, even when things feel like they are too much to bear.
The guide below is designed to help you easily integrate essential oils into your new or regular meditation practice.
photo: by Mareefe via pexels
How to use Essential Oils in Meditation During COVID-19
There are two ways to use essential oils during your meditation practice. The first is by diffusing the oil into the air using an essential oil diffuser for aromatherapy benefits. This method helps stimulate the senses so you can focus and inhale the spiritual or physical benefits. The second is by directly applying essential oils to your skin. There are several ways to do this during meditation:
- Apply the essential oil to sore areas that distract your mind
- Massage oils into your palms for self-directed inhalation
- dab oils onto your pulse points so it quickly reaches the targeted areas
How you incorporate your essential oils into your meditation depends entirely on what you need to achieve.
Types of Essential Oils & Their Benefits
Grounding Blend –grounding, calming and brings clarity and focus.
Bergamot – Balances the activity of the hypothalamus gland. The hypothalamus gland works with the pineal and pituitary gland to help regulate and balance your hormonal cycles including your natural sleep and wake cycles. Bergamot also boosts the immune function and is good for morale and self-esteem issues.
Cedarwood – Stimulates the limbic region of the brain and pineal gland. Increases one’s connection to Spirit, clearing unwanted psychic influences bringing clarity of thought and wisdom.
Frankincense. Frankincense is an ancient oil that has been used in spiritual practice for centuries. It is uplifting and grounding. It lifts the senses increasing inspiration, faith and inner strength. Promotes deep stillness and connection to Spirit.
photo: by Annette Benedetti
Grapefruit – Removes heavy negative emotions and uplifts the senses.
Juniper Berry – Raises your vibration and cleanses the room of negativity creating a peaceful space.
Lavender – Considered the “angel of healing and purification”. It activates the crown and heart chakra, clears negative energies and promotes a deep sense of calm and peace.
Myrrh – Facilitates deep meditation by opening the third eye chakra to inner awareness and guidance. Brings a deep sense of inner stillness and peace. It quiets an overactive mind.
Patchouli – Grounds you while bringing a sense of peace.
Rosemary – A great oil to use for preparing a room for meditation. Mix a few drops of rosemary in a spritzer bottle of water and spray a room to raise its vibration and to prepare it for sacred practice.
Sandalwood – Deepens connection to Spirit and opens the mind to inspiration and ideas, while promoting a deep sense of relaxation and inward attention. Sometimes people are anointed with sandalwood paste to remind them of their true nature.
Vetiver – Grounds, balances and centers.
Ylang Ylang. This is an interesting essential oil to experiment with. It balances male and female energies filters out negativity and attunes one to the Divine. It is balancing to a meditation practice and deepens the connection to Spirit, opens the mind to inspiration and new ideas while promoting a deep sense of relaxation and inward attention.
Meditation Roller Bottle Blend – Combine the following oils in a 10 ml roller bottle. This blend is perfect for rolling on temples, the third eye and right behind the ears. After application massage gently, then cup hands and take three deep breaths before meditation.
- 15 drops Bergamot
- 5 drops Cedarwood
- 10 drops Frankincense
- 5 drops Myrrh
- 5 drops Rosemary Fractionated Coconut Oil
Mix all in your roller bottle, shake up and apply.
Essential Oil Blends to Diffuse during Meditation
Grounding Meditation Blend
- Sandalwood or Patchouli – 3 drops
- Frankincense – 3 drops
- Bergamot – 3 drops
Relaxing Meditation Blend
- Lavender – 5 drops
- Cedarwood – 3 drops
- Bergamot – 2 drop
Calming Meditation Blend
- Ylang Ylang – 3 drops
- Frankincense – 3 drops
- Patchouli – 2 drops
The next time you meditate, try inhaling or diffusing an essential oil before you begin and notice any changes that come to your practice. Take time to experiment and find the oils that you like and are drawn to, even if you don’t know the physical and spiritual benefits in advance. As you begin to use them regularly you will find that the aromatherapy quiets your mind and put you in a meditative space immediately.
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