3 Quickest Energy Cleansing Aromatics
Why is there a need for energy cleansing?
(I know I’m about to date myself, but I’m fine with that.)
Laughter brings joy. Joy brings pure positive energy. Few television programs place me in pure
positive energy like The Beverly Hillbillies. In a 1993 movie redo of the series The Beverly
Hillbillies, the Clampett family takes their new found oil fortune to “Beverleee” Hills, California.
Their trip on the California freeway system in a Grapes of Wrath-looking 1921 Oldsmobile
Roadster garners them more than a few middle “free fingers.” The Clampetts, in their ever-positive outlook, decide that must be a Beverly Hills “How-dee!” and proceed to be good
neighbors and say “How-dee!” to everyone on the freeway.
When I remembered this recently, I thought about a few experiences I’ve witnessed in traffic
over the past few years. I’ve found I just can’t stand myself being turned to the negative by slow
traffic, trains, tailgaters, or middle “free fingers.” I then thought about how unhappy I get with
my turning to unhappy. No, I don’t expect everything to be unicorns and rainbows. Well, then
again, maybe I do, or at least, that’s how I want things to be.
So, what can I do when I have turned negative? Life doesn’t stop because we feel negative
emotions. As many of us shift into new energies, our awareness of the difference between
pure positive energy and “not” becomes heightened. Jobs, family, and life can provide a constant
stream of attention-grabbing “s__t meet fan” events that move us away from our best-centered
selves.
Well then, how can we return to our center quickly?
Some beliefs suggest that we can find quick relief and turnaround through the use of burning
aromatics. Smoke itself can be energetically cleansing, helpful in meditation, and a tool to bring
us back to ourselves and our breath. So, I did a quick study to identify my top three energy-cleansing aromatics that could help me (and you) come back to a better self.
Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens)
What is it?
Palo Santo (Spanish for “holy wood”) comes from three main places: Ecuador, Peru, and South
American countries. First, a Palo Santo tree falls over. Next, the rains recede a few months later,
and then the green Palo Santo wood begins to cure through the long dry season. Often, to ensure
sustainability, foresters plant a Palo Santo sapling beside its fallen elder. This provides plenty for
years to come.
Palo Santo contains an aromatic substance called limonene. Limonene is a well-known terpene
(the primary constituent of essential oils) found in many medicinal plants, including cannabis.
Scientists have studied limonene for its anti-inflammatory and mood-calming properties.
I burn Palo Santo before psychic or energy readings to help me move into the light. It is part of
my ritual, and I enjoy starting with the thought of using
Pros
Palo Santo is known for its grounding and energy-clearing properties. This clearing, along with
the pleasant scent, raises your vibration. Many say its aroma creates a sense of safety and
protection. This helps prepare for meditation and allows for a deeper connection to Source. Palo
Santo also is known to enhance creativity and bring good fortune. A powerful aroma such as
Palo Santo can focus our attention and quiet our minds. For these reasons, it has been popular
among shamans to lead ayahuasca ceremonies.
In addition, Palo Santo is believed by many to have healing properties for cold and flu
symptoms, stress, asthma, headaches, anxiety, depression, inflammation, and emotional pain.
Some massage therapists also use it in massage oil just because of its believed anti-inflammatory
properties.
Cons (I worked to come up with one)
Although it is fairly easy to find, many Palo Santo proponents encourage only purchases from
sellers who advertise their source as ethically and sustainably harvested. It has become a
concern in the past couple of decades that Palo Santo is overharvested. It seems that one season
is not enough. Before harvest, the tree must rest on the forest floor for four to ten years. Then the
wood is cut into manageable pieces. Yet, it is listed as “Least Concern” by the International
Union for Conservation of Nature. This means the Palo Santo population is stable and not
endangered.
White Sage (Salvia apiana)
What is it?
White sage, bee sage, or sacred sage is an evergreen perennial shrub that is native to the
southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, found mainly in Southern California and
Baja California, on the western edges of the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. Used heavily amongst
California tribal people for centuries (and still in use today), this plant has many names given by
the tribes who use it. Amongst Californian peoples, white sage is occasionally referred to as
grandfather sage, as it grows to be so much larger in its elder form than any of the other sages in
California.
White sage was traditionally used for ceremonial or medicinal purposes. The most well-known
of these uses is burning it to release its fragrant smoke. While the term “smudging” is often
applied to this process. A more accurate term would be smoke cleansing. Many believe it can
cleanse a home of not just negative energies but all energies.
The smoke produced has traditionally been used to purify or cleanse objects by fanning it across
the object. It is also used similarly to purify or cleanse people in a similar fashion. Tribal
spiritual leaders might have special fans or feathers which they would use for this purpose,
depending on the specific tribe’s religious views.
Pros
White Sage is very easy to find online and in most metaphysical stores. It is viewed as a sacred
plant and as versatile since it is traditionally used for food, medicine, and many other purposes. It
is easy to use and is most commonly bundled with the leaves and stems together to dry them for
burning. They can also be burned individually. Crumbled or powdered leaves can be burned as
powdered incense, too.
Cons
White Sage can smell a little too strong for some. The smoke it can create is a little more than
Palo Santo (but many people don’t see that as a problem). If you’re growing your own, White
Sage can be a slow-growing, difficult-to-establish plant that can take up to three years to reach a
mature size. While an individual plant can survive for many years in the wild if the surroundings
are right, most people find it a bit more complex to grow in the garden.
Dragon’s Blood (Calamusrotang, Croton, Dracaena, and Pterocarpus)
What is it?
Dragon’s blood is a bright red resin that is obtained from different species of a number of
distinct plant genera. Calamus is a genus of flowering plants in the palm family that is among
several genera known as rattan palms. Native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa, and
In Australia, there are estimated to be around 400 species.
Plus, it has a cool legend behind it. According to an Indian legend, in a fierce battle, a dragon
representing the god Brahma bit an elephant representing the god Shiva and drank its blood. As
the elephant fell to the ground, it crushed the dragon, thus mixing the blood of both creatures to
yield a red resin-like substance.
Pros
Of the three aromatics discussed in this article, I think Dragon’s blood is perhaps the most
versatile. Its uses include perfume, ink, antivirals, coagulant, cure stomach aches, fever reducer,
dye, incense, paint pigment, and (the coolest one to me) violin resin. Also, because Dragon’s
blood extract is rich in tannins, which are compounds that have astringent and anti-inflammatory
effects on the skin. Recent studies have shown that Dragon’s blood extract can help to heal
wounds and improve the appearance of scars. It can also help to reduce inflammation and
redness associated with acne. This resin is also being studied as a possible anti-cancer agent.
For the purposes of dispelling negative energy, I personally think it is the best. I believe that is
mostly because I love the smell of the incense. So for me, it calms my angst quickly. Dragon’s
blood incense is available in stores and online.
Cons
Just because some people see incense as dangerous to the lungs and as a form of pollution, its
incense form may not be the best form for you. There are oils, but finding USDA-certified
organic dragon blood oils are not easy to find. Anything not certified may be impure or have
dangerous synthetics in it. So, don’t settle.
Final thoughts…
There are many other great, great aromatics that can be used to dispel negative energy or just
help you get out of a funk. Experiment with various scents while trying to calm your energy. Pay
attention to any that help you center the easiest. The three featured here are suggestions with
which to start finding your best negative energy dispelled.
Remember, peace is your goal. Joy would be great, but peace is definitely on the way to joy. If
all else fails, find and watch an episode or two or more of The Beverly Hillbillies. But don’t try
to feel better by giving a Beverly Hills “Howdee!”
Peace, Ya’ll!
