Essential Oils and the Scriptures

 

Exodus 30:22-25   “Moreover the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.”

 

Table of Contents (TOC)
The Scriptures – A Theological History
The Source of Healing
The Importance of Gratitude
Anointing
Oils for Joy and Gladness
Oils for Joy and Hope
LeBelieve
LeCinnamonBear
LeTomorrow
LeHeartSong
Aromatic Oils and the Scriptures
LeJourney LeMagi Ajowan Anethi Angelica Calamus Cassia and Cinnamon Cedarwood	Cistus Cypress Frankincense Galbanum Hyssop Juniper Myrrh Myrtle	Onycha (Benzoin) Sage Sandalwood Spikenard Spruce-Pine-Fir Yarrow
Light, Life and Essential Oils
Love

The Old Testament mentions herbs, fragrances, aromatic oil, and ointments several times.  The first reference to healing oils in the Bible is in Genesis 37:25 “And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.” Another reference that comes to mind is Ecclesiastes 7:1  “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.” 

Major caravan trade routes for spices and precious ointments passed through this region for years and years.  This area is the crossroads of major travel routes coming from north, south, east and west.  Herbs, spices, aromatic plants, and ointments must have been a part of daily life in Biblical times.  Nevertheless, mention of their uses as medicines, cooking ingredients, or even as fragrances are both sparse and vague.  Why is this so?

The Scriptures – A Theological History

The Scriptures are theological histories.  The purpose of the writers of the various books of Scripture was to record the word – the commandments, covenants, and interactions – of God with specific groups of people.  The writings that comprise the Scriptures promote testimony.  They also provide knowledge about God and Christ.  As a result, references to aromatic plants in the Scriptures pertain, quite often, to their use in religious worship.  Oils were mentioned in the anointing of kings.  Embalming and burial rituals also used essential oils.

Mention of their uses as medicines, cooking ingredients, or even as fragrances were not often included in Scriptural texts.   Their mention, in these instances, would not contribute to the theological focus of the writings.  We must rely on research and archeological records of the cultures of the day for further information about healing practices, medicinal plants, ointments, and essential oils as they may have been used by people during Biblical times.  Certainly, more essential oils and herbal remedies were used by the people of that day than are mentioned in the Scriptures.

My favorite reference on this topic is the book, Healing Oils of the Bible, by David Stewart, Ph.D.  According to Dr. Stewart, there are 33 species of aromatic plants identifiable from a study of the Bible.  I have had a fine time, with the use of my computer’s search capabilities, reading each reference and the comments in the additional information and study sections of my own copy of the Bible.

Aromatic Plants of the American Continent

I have often wondered, what would people from Jerusalem, arriving on the shores of what is now the American continent, have used to replace the cooking herbs, the spices, and – most importantly – the medicinal plants they were accustomed to using?  So, for my own sake and because I love such study, I am including some of the essential oils produced in this hemisphere in this blog.  I will be focusing, somewhat, on the aromatic plants used by the Indian tribes of America.   I sincerely hope that this is both fun and helpful to you, whether you call the American continent your home or not.  It has been fun to write!

Essential Oils of the American Continent

Eventually, as I began including essential oils into wellness protocols, I found that many of the world-renowned essential oils grew only in the East or the Middle East.  Nevertheless, following my own intuition and inspiration, I concentrated a great deal of my study on essential oils made from plants native to the American continent.  That focus has been a great blessing to me.

Scriptures and the American Continent

So, what does all of this have to do with Essential Oils and the Scriptures?  Quite a bit, actually.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – which I love and to which I belong – has a volume of scripture written, we believe, by a people who were brought out of Jerusalem before the destruction of the city and the temple there in approximately 587BC. This volume of Scripture is called The Book of Mormon.  The American Indians, according to this book of scripture, have ancestry that traces back to that part of the world.  DNA evidence now confirms this genetic heritage.

2 Nephi 29:8: “Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another.  And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.” 

There are even fewer mentions of medicines in the Book of Mormon than in the Bible and in my studies I have had to rely on archaeological records and findings, and historical uses.  I have included those oils in this blog and have included Scripture references where possible.  This is one of my favorites and while it does not mention specific plants, I really love it.

Alma 46:40: “And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land—but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of  the climate—”

 

The Source of Healing

Will faith be found on the earth when our Lord and Savior comes again?  Or will current trends of relying on secular science for answers move us even further from reliance on God?  I love the following quote by Dr. Stewart, and this is my belief.

Hope Renewed

My husband and I look at the plants—every one, and perhaps the rocks and minerals, too—as personal messages from a loving Heavenly Father.  Because He understood that we would not always ask for or recognize His help in our lives, He endowed us with His own healing capacities and invited us to partake of them to balance and heal our own lives.  Plants affect us, not just on a physical (vitamin and molecular) level, but on a spiritual plane as well. It is impossible to use an essential oil to heal the physical body without partaking of its ability to bring light and wisdom, healing and peace into your life.  The peace and wisdom will be multiplied many times over if you use the oils with thanksgiving to the Creator and an acknowledgment of the role of the Atonement in the healing of both physical and emotional (spiritual) pain.

Plants are living things.  To feel the living spirit and intelligence of each plant is the true foundation of herbal medicine.  Just as each plant can exemplify the attributes of our loving Father, so can the plants personify some lessons about the operation of the body and the soul.  The possibilities for learning are endless.  To think “herbally” is to think differently; we must think as nature does—holistically. Nature emphasizes the whole, rather than the precise piece, and nature has an inherent logic and wisdom.

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The Importance of Gratitude

I have found that essential oils are many times more effective if used with gratitude, and especially gratitude to a loving Creator who established this world in such a way that the things we need for balance and health in every aspect of our lives are everywhere around us. This need for gratitude has been brought home to me in a myriad of ways over the years. I don’t believe that God requires our gratitude for His glory. The commandment to be grateful is an example of God explaining to us what is best for our own souls. If you don’t do it already, try doing all that you do in this alternative healing world with a large measure of gratitude.

Essential oils are sensitive by their very nature. Our sensitivities are the vehicle through which we can touch others emotionally for good.  It follows, then, that if essential oils are to heal our hearts, calm our nerves, revive our hope, and ground our fears, they must be sensitive.  THEY CERTAINLY ARE!

If there are tears in your eyes and a lump in your throat about now, you have used essential oils with faith and gratitude. I do not know how, but I know that essential oils have sensitive natures.  Love your oils, pray for and with your oils, and use them with gratitude. If you do this, they will bless you abundantly.

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Anointing

A Sign of Hospitality and Respect

Anointing with oil, during the time when our Savior was on the earth, was a sign of hospitality and respect.  In Luke 7:46-47 we read, “ My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.  Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”

In Times of Grief and Repentance

2 Samuel 12: particularly verse 20.  Here King David, having been accused by a prophet of God of serious sin and having lost his child at the same time, “arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped.”

Personal Grooming When Fasting or Worshipping

Matthew 6:16 – 18   “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”

Ointments as Medicines

Luke 10:33-34 “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.”

Isaiah 1:6  “From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.”

Oils in the Healing of the Sick by Faith and the Laying on of Hands

Mark 6:13  “And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.”

James 5:14-15 ” Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”

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The Oils of Joy and Gladness

Psalms 45:7  “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

Proverbs 27:9  “Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.”

Isaiah 61:1 – 3 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.  To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God. . . To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”

Hebrews 1:9  “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

Joy and gladness are associated with aromatic oils in these biblical references.  Aromatic oils – essential oils, in essence – have mood-lifting properties.  How they accomplish this is not the topic of this article. However if you want to learn more about essential oils there is a two hour video available to watch.

Suffice it to say that essential oils help us, as the scripture in Isaiah tells us, replace mourning with joy.  Essential oils such as Sandalwood, Frankincense, Myrrh, Cassia, Cinnamon, Cedarwood, and many, many others elevate mood and bring stability to emotions.

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Oils for Joy and Hope

The brand of essential oils that I use is Butterfly Express.  I helped establish the company and I know and love their oils and quality.  If you use another brand, that is fine.  There are cross references available but you can’t beat the quality or the price of Butterfly Express.  I have since sold the company and although it is still run by family, my focus is teaching people how to use essential oils and sharing my passion with the world.  It has been my experience that blends (more than one single) are more effective and can also be safer to use. 

A phrase from the description of the ^LeCinnamonBear blend, seems appropriate here.  “If we lack joy in our lives, it becomes easy to blame others and let anger and frustration rule our days and damage our relationships.”  I find joy in the world of essential oils and I hope you will as well.

 

^LeBelieve

^LeBelieve creates a feeling of joyous anticipation of the future as it helps us see that we have all of the abilities that we need to accomplish our goals.  This blend assures us that we have the ability not just to survive, but to thrive in whatever circumstances life places us in.  ^LeBelieve smells good enough to be worn as a perfume.  By wearing ^LeBelieve, you bless the lives of others as well as your own life!  This is an excellent blend for those who are grieving a loss of any sort.

^LeCinnamonBear

^LeCinnamonBear has a delightful aroma, spicy and sweet at the same time.  The Spruce in the blend grounds our energy to earth, the citruses lift the mood and the spirits, the Cassia and Clove sharpen the senses and clear the mind, while the Rosemary provides support to a wide range of physical and energetic systems.  The oils in this blend lift the spirits.  It helps us experience life as a joyous journey of learning and growing.  This blend helps us move past resistance to the changes that come, at times, into every life.

Cassia, a form of Cinnamon, is a delightful and integral part of this blend!  ^LeCinnamonBear has a great many physical properties, as well.  Among them are great benefits to the immune system in various ways.

^LeTomorrow

^LeTomorrow is used in emotional energy work to bring the focus from the past to feelings of happy anticipation of the future. This blend helps one to find calmness and joy in the challenges of everyday living. It is useful during the changing seasons of our lives to help us not just maintain emotional stability, but to thrive and find joy even in difficult times.

^LeHeartSong

^LeHeartSong gladdens the heart, helps us resist depressive feelings, relieves stress, and stabilizes mood swings.  What more could you want from a blend of essential oils?  ^LeHeartSong makes a wonderful gift for those who have lost a loved one or are struggling with sadness in any way.  You do not need to be suffering from depression or from a recent loss to enjoy ^LeHeartSong.  This blend is wonderful for getting us through a tough time.  It can also be helpful in just getting us through a difficult day or two.  Like ^LeBenediction, ^LeHeartSong is a great protector from the negative energies of those around you.

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Aromatic Oils and the Scriptures

Many Butterfly Express essential oil blends contain oils mentioned in the Bible.  We will be discussing some of them but there are two that are of particular mention.  A scriptural reference (or two or three) for each single oil will be given.  Also, each single oil is referred to in scripture more times than I have listed in this article.

^LeJourney

Butterfly’s essential oil blend, ^LeJourney, is comprised almost entirely of oils mentioned in the Bible.

^LeJourney is strongly antiviral.  Use ^LeJourney when dead tissue, such as internal and external scarring, needs to be expelled from the body.   ^LeJourney annihilates disease-causing microbes and expels the disease from the body.   This amazing blend is, also, a potent immune stimulant.  ^LeJourney is an effective agent for use against oncoming colds and flu.

As always, it is impossible to use any essential oil for purely physical healing.  Essential oils always work emotionally, as well.  The strength of ^LeJourney lies in its ability to help us learn from the experiences of our lives.

• Frankincense   (Exodus 30:34)
• Myrrh   (Exodus 30:23)
• Spikenard   (John 12:3)
• Hyssop   (Exodus 12:22)
• Cassia   (Exodus 12:24)
• Cinnamon   (Exodus 30:23)
• Calamus   (Exodus 30:23)
• Basil is also an ingredient of  ^LeJourney. While not mentioned specifically in the Bible it was used during New Testament times as an embalming herb and/or oil.

^LeMagi

Butterfly’s essential oil blend, ^LeMagi, contains several oils mentioned in the Bible, as well as oils used by the people of ancient America.

^LeMagi is a favorite of many people.  This blend seems to clarify intuition and heighten the ability to hear the whisperings of divine inspiration.  Among the many emotional blends created by Butterfly Essential Oils, LLC, ^LeMagi stands out for those who are unable to feel really confident about themselves and their contribution, even after a job well done.  This blend is also a comfort in times of despair.   ^LeMagi is helpful in coping with loneliness and isolation, as well.  In addition, ^LeMagi alleviates fear, especially fear of being left alone to cope with hard things in life.

Finally, ^LeMagi contains several oils with high sesquiterpene contents.  Because sesquiterpenes cross the blood/brain barrier the changes made emotionally and physically work on and with the nervous system.  Changes are made both emotionally and at the cellular level physically.  As a result, these changes become both profound and permanent.  Diffuse ^LeMagi after a spiritual or energy work session to complete the changes and carry them deeply into both the body and the spirit.

• Frankincense  (Matthew 2:11)
• Myrrh  (Esther 2:12)
• Sandalwood  (John 19:39)  Bible scholars list almug and aloes as alternate names for Sandalwood.
• Spruce (American)
• Juniper Berry  (American)
• Birch  (American)
• Dong Quai (Angelica) (American)

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Ajowan

Ajowan grows in the Northern Hemisphere.

Ancient Uses

• Stomach disorders such as indigestion, bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
• To fight illnesses – bacterial, viral, fungal, although they were not distinguished by those names in those days.
• Essential oil of Ajowan is also used to combat fatigue.

Ajowan Essential Oil Today

• Ajowan contains over 50% thymol, making it very effective against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. (This high thymol content also makes Ajowan a bit caustic and strong.  Be sure to dilute well.)
• A digestive aid.  Relieves nausea, flatulence, and the cramping pain that accompanies these conditions.
• Anti-spasmodic and sedating under certain conditions.
• Nevertheless, an excellent circulatory stimulant.
• Useful for fatigue, weakness, and in the recovery following illness or accident.
• Also useful for mental and/or physical exhaustion and listlessness.

Butterfly Blends Containing Ajowan

^LeEternity

The aroma of ^LeEternity balances energy and improves both mood and mental outlook. ^LeEternity has powerful antioxidant properties. It enhances vitamin and mineral absorption for the overall improvement of health and vitality. ^LeEternity, because it helps the body absorb calcium, can help prevent such things as osteoporosis.

The oils in this blend have been used traditionally for various problems related to the cardiovascular system.

There is currently only one Butterfly blend containing Ajowan.
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Anethi

Anethi is a “cousin” of Dill, with Caraway -like notes in its aroma.  In fact, it is known in some places as “Indian Dill”.   Results of testing show that Anethum sowa (Anethi) is a rich source of minerals, essential amino acid, and fatty acids.

Ancient Uses

• Treatment of stomach disorders such as flatulence and bloating.
• Early settlers borrowed its traditional Native American usage as a remedy for colic and hiccups in infants and children.

Anethi Essential Oil Today

• As in historic uses, Anethi essential oil is used to relieve flatulence and colic, especially in infants.
• Mild expectorant, meaning that it liquifies mucus and causes its expulsion from the body.  This may be from the stomach or from the throat and lungs.
• Demulcent.  This means that it soothes and heals the tissues once the mucus has been expelled.  I love herbs that are both expectorant and demulcent in one.  Anethi is particularly nice for children because it is as mild as it is effective!

Butterfly Blends Containing Anethi

^LeJulia

This is truly an American blend.  It is made up entirely of essential oils found on the American continent.  These are Anethi, Caraway, Chamomile Roman, Lavender, Orange Sweet, and Peppermint.

^LeJulia was created originally for a very new baby who was suffering from colic and abdominal bloating.  From the very first application, we knew that this was going to be a very effective essential oil blend!  ^LeJulia  is useful for the release of flatulence (gas), constipation, and other intestinal distress.  This blend is especially wonderful for infants and small children because, though very effective, it is a very mild blend.  This blend is also useful for colic, upset tummy, and nausea caused by fear or over-excitement.

^LeJulia calms and soothes the emotions, allowing the “knots” in the stomach to dissolve. The synergy of the oils in this blend creates an atmosphere where fear, anxiety, and the need to hold on tightly to emotions can be released.  It seems odd that infants and small children should have such issues, but the birth process and coming into this world can be a difficult transition for some sensitive spirits.  It certainly was for the little one this blend was created for and for whom the blend was named!  All is well with this child – eight years later, now.

^LeSafeGuard

^LeSafeguard tones and strengthens the digestive system, encourages the flow of bile, and aids in establishing a proper pH balance in the intestinal tract and colon. This balance creates an environment that is hostile and unfriendly to parasites and, thus, encourages their expulsion from the body.

Herbal parasite cleanses are typically harsh and require considerable rebuilding of the intestinal tract in the days and weeks following such a cleanse. Essential oils seem to be able to accomplish the killing off and expulsion of parasites more gently and can actually strengthen the intestinal tract and the liver at the same time.

It is being recognized more and more that parasites and the nutritional deficiencies that they create are responsible for many of the ills of our modern society. ^LeSafeguard, while helping us to be victorious in the fight against nasty parasites, also helps us see that we are “coming off as victors” in the challenges that life presents us every day.

These are currently the only two Butterfly blends containing Anethi.
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Angelica

Angelica is often called “the oil of the angels.”  Like all essential oils, it is impossible to separate the effects of Angelica on the physical body from its potent effect on the emotions and on the spiritual aspects of our lives.

Ancient Uses

• Curtail hemorrhage after childbirth.
• Relieve constipation.
• Reducing fevers.

Angelica Essential Oil Today

• Stabilizing during times of anxiety, fear, depression, and emotional or spiritual instability.  Particularly nice for pre-menstrual tension.
• The strong effects of Angelica on the mind and the emotions are due, at least in part, to the release of congestion from the liver.   Does a decongested liver help us release anger or does the release of anger allow for the decongestion of the liver?  I don’t know that it really matters which happens first.  However, I do know that a liver clogged by toxic emotions creates feelings of displacement, annoyance, resentment, anger, and discontentment.
• Helps us hone the spiritual gift of keeping our perspective clear—seeing ourselves and the world around us accurately and “as things really are.”
• A mild expectorant with anti-infectious qualities. Effective as an inhalant for chronic bronchitis, asthma, respiratory type cases of flu, pneumonia, sinus infections, and coughs.
• Excellent for indigestion and flatulence.
• Anti-arthritic.

Butterfly Blends Containing Angelica

^LeBenediction

This blend is particularly useful for meditation and gospel study.  ^LeBenediction is a favorite among massage and energy therapists. It strengthens one’s own energy boundaries and protects against “energy drains” that can occur when working with other people’s energy fields. This blend should be used at times when you are feeling particularly vulnerable and “energy sensitive” and easily drained by people and situations.

^LeBenediction can help us speak up and express our needs clearly without blaming or whining, especially if we are sensitive to or over-awed by the person we are addressing. This blend can also temper our tendency to judge unkindly when we feel that a person has created the mess they are in and we are justified in leaving them alone to fix it.

^LeBenediction also aids us in learning to acknowledge the role that blessings from above have played in our own successes and achievements. Gratitude to Heaven is a very healing emotion; probably the best thing you can do to balance yourself. Try this blend any time you are feeling angry, stressed, or depressed.

^LeBenediction is also very effective after an illness for returning energy levels to normal and getting us back on our feet both physically and emotionally.

There are currently five Butterfly blends containing Angelica.
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Calamus

Scriptural References

Calamus, as an essential oil, is very strong.  It should, as a general rule, be used as a percentage of a blend rather than by itself.  Please exercise a great deal of caution with this essential oil.

Exodus 30:22-25   “Moreover the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.”

Ezekial 27:19   “Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market.”

Ancient Uses

• As a holy anointing oil.
• Also used in perfumes.
• Burned as incense.
• Medicinally, as a tonic for the digestive system.

Calamus Essential Oil Today

• Calamus increases cerebral circulation.  Therefore, it is considered useful for a wide range of symptoms pertaining to the head – vertigo, headache, shock, memory loss, and epilepsy.
• Anti-inflammatory and to soothe the intestinal tract.
• Increases appetite and the absorption of nutrients.

Butterfly Blends Containing Calamus

^LeNoMore

The Butterfly blend, ^LeNoMore is used mainly to disinfect and to prevent mold growth in damp places around the house such as windowsills in the winter – if you live in a climate such as the one in which I live.

It can be applied diluted to the body if any type of infection has occurred. If the infection is caused by a fungus (rather than a bacteria) it is probably best to dilute with water rather than with a vegetable protein based carrier oil. A fungus can feed on vegetable protein carrier oils such as almond, olive, or grapeseed. This blend is effective against such nasties as athlete’s foot and toenail fungus.

When diffused, ^LeNoMore very effectively kills airborne germs.  It doesn’t smell wonderful – but it is wonderfully effective!  This blend contains many of the most powerful antiseptic oils available. Having been blended synergistically, they are even more effective than any of the singles would be if used alone. Each single oil is also less likely to create any reactions or problems when it is a percentage of a blend.

There are currently two Butterfly blends containing Calamus.

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Cassia and Cinnamon

Cinnamon and Cassia are two species of the same genus.

Scriptural References

Exodus 30:23-24  ” Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin:  And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.”

General Information

The use of Cassia was mentioned in one of the oldest known records –  the Ebers papyrus – which is an ancient book of recipes.  Cassia, as well as Cinnamon, seemed to play a large role in ancient times, at least for those who could afford them.

Ancient Uses

• Part of the recipe for Holy Anointing Oil that God gave to Moses.
• As a perfume.

Cassia Essential Oil Today

• Excellent warming oil for those who are very rigid and inflexible in their thinking and, consequently, rigid in their bodies also.
• A powerful oxygenator of blood and tissues.
• Cassia is also an excellent cardiovascular tonic.
• Strongly antimicrobial.  As a result, viruses, bacteria, and fungi cannot survive in the presence of Cassia.
• Anti-inflammatory.
• Stimulating to key elements of the immune system.

Cinnamon Essential Oil Today

• One of the most powerful antibacterial essential oils.  In studies against antibiotics, Cinnamon tested very well as an antibacterial.
• Can be sexually stimulating because of its aldehyde content.
• Seems to make me want to look more deeply at myself and, as a result, try to make beneficial changes.
• Warming to the emotions.  Helps us find a heart connection with others.
• Enhances the activity and strength of other essential oils in blends to which it has been added.
• Like Cassia, Cinnamon is a powerful oxygenator.
• Stimulating to the entire body but, more specifically, to the circulatory system.
• Useful for muscle aches.
• Coughs and colds.
• Cinnamon aids the body in regulating and utilizing insulin.

Butterfly Blends Containing Cassia and/or Cinnamon

^LeBountiful

The blend, ^LeBountiful, contains both Cassia and Cinnamon.  ^LeBountiful is an aid to our thinking clearly about money issues.  It lessens the stress in our lives around these sorts of issues.  One of the most outstanding effects of this blend is the feeling of abundance that it creates in our minds and spirits. It simply moderates, or evaporates altogether, any feeling that there is never going to be enough and that there is certainly not enough for everybody to have what they think they need. The absence of these fearful feelings helps us eliminate even the slightest tendencies to greed and selfishness.

This is an oil of “attraction.” As we develop an attitude of abundance we find that we receive what we need to make us balanced, whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual. In other words, the more you give, the more you receive.

^LeDeliverance

^LeDeliverance is one of the most potent antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal combinations available anywhere. Its many uses include respiratory infections, sore throats, strep throats, dental diseases and infections, cold sores, canker sores, cuts, general infections, athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, and infection from slivers. Apply faithfully, undiluted, for warts.  (This takes a little time so be patient).  I believe a similar mixture was used to ward off the plagues.

Some common methods of use for this blend include soaking the family toothbrushes in ^LeDeliverance mixed with water.  Alternatively, simply place a drop of ^LeDeliverance on your toothbrush at least one time per day when brushing your teeth.  Best of all, place ^LeDeliverance on a cotton ball or in an inhaler and carry with you, inhaling frequently during the cold and flu season.

Frequent and consistent use of ^LeDeliverance also strengthens the immune system overall. ^LeDeliverance is an expectorant and helps the lymph system to drain.

There are currently fourteen Butterfly blends containing Cassia or Cinnamon.
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Cedarwood

Cedarwood is mentioned on a Babylonian tablet, according to Dr. Stewart, that was dated 1800 BC.  Furthermore, it is known that the Sumerians and the Egyptians used oil of Cedarwood for such things as embalming, disinfecting, and other purposes more than 5,000 years ago.

Cedarwood is 98% sesquiterpenes.  Thus, it is the essential oil with the highest percentage of sesquiterpenes.

Mentioned in the Bible, but Cedarwood also has a history of traditional use with the early inhabitants of the American continent.  It is, obviously, one of the most important Native American ceremonial plants.  Interestingly, it is and was used by a great many Indian tribes.

Scriptural References

Numbers 19:6  “And the priest shall take cedarwood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.”

Ancient Uses

• Cleansing, both of lepers and in ritual cleansing after touching the dead or anything else considered, by that culture, to be unclean.
• Cleansing from evil spirits.
• Used for skin care, personal hygiene, and cosmetics.
• Used as a medicine for various illnesses and complaints.
• As a disinfectant.
• Indian tribes used Cedarwood traditionally to enhance spiritual communication.
• In addition, it was used to enhance dreams and dream states.
• Cedarwood is used during sweat lodge ceremonies.
• In addition, Cedarwood is among the herbs frequently included in medicine bundles and amulets.
• Considered a restorative medicine because it clears the body of all infections.
• Native American tribes used hollowed-out logs of red cedar to make canoes, build their homes, and carve spectacular totems.

Cedarwood Essential Oil Today

• Cedarwood calms anger and relieves nervous tension.
• Quiets the mind when the mind is going over and over the same details.
• Steadiness, integrity, and emotional stability.
• Especially useful for those who are going into challenging, strange, or unfamiliar situations.
• Shown to be effective in the treatment of ADHD.  Very high in sesquiterpenes.  Crosses the blood/brain barrier and stabilizes beta/theta waves.
• A potent mucolytic.  Useful for chest infections, asthma, and coughs.
• Healing to the skin, especially the scalp.  Used for dandruff, hair loss, and psoriasis.
• Encourages lymph drainage and, additionally, has strong decongestant properties.
• Also stimulates the breakdown of fat in the tissues.
• Mildly diuretic.  For cellulite and water retention.
• Acts as an astringent.  Accordingly, Cedarwood dries and eliminates unwanted mucus occurring in the lungs, the urinary tract, the throat, or anywhere else where such action is needed.
• Keeps bugs out of spices and food items without introducing chemicals.

Butterfly Blends Containing Cedarwood

There are currently eleven Butterfly blends containing Cedarwood.

^LeGoodNite

Promotes restful sleep for the entire family. ^LeGoodNite can be diffused in the home during the evening.  Part of the reason that this blend promotes restful sleep is that it encourages feelings of peace. We feel assured that all will be well in our world even though we are sleeping and not actively watching over it. ^LeGoodNite seems to help us process, painlessly, deep emotions during our sleep. In the morning we will be able to express our deep feelings about these emotions clearly and without the usual stress.

This blend, ^LeGoodNite is effective for insomnia and snoring.  It soothes inflamed or swollen nasal and sinus passages while promoting the type of deep and restful sleep mentioned above.

^LeSanctuary

^LeSanctuary is a very high-frequency oil. It can often be used in place of the very expensive single oils like Rose, Jasmine, or Neroli with equally effective results.  This Blend pleases my senses and accomplishes what I need a high-frequency essential oil to do for me.

This blend is meant to be diffused!  ^LeSanctuary has a pleasant aroma that just wraps around you and transports you to a place of peace and calm where you may rest and gather strength for the day.  I like to carry this one in an inhaler so that I can let it take me to a quiet place whenever I need it to.

From the quiet place provided by ^LeSanctuary, we can examine ourselves comfortably, listening closely to the whisperings of the spirit and our own intuitive knowledge of our strengths and weaknesses.  This process helps us develop wisdom and good judgment.  Eventually, and very naturally, we will have built trust in ourselves and our decisions.

There are currently eleven Butterfly blends containing Cedarwood.
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Cistus (Rock Rose or Rose of Sharon)

Scriptural References

 Song of Solomon 2:1  “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.”

General Information

There are some who say that Myrrh is derived from the resin of this plant.  Perhaps this is true or, perhaps, this notion came as the result of confusion.  Twice in Genesis where Myrrh is mentioned, the Latin word used originally in these verses was ladanum, which translated more accurately is Rock Rose/Rose of Sharon.

Ancient Uses

• Not much is known about the ancient uses of the plants believed to be Rose of Sharon.
• Possibly used as a perfume. Cistus has a beautiful aroma.  It is floral with a hint of honey.  However, Cistus is not cloying or overwhelming.  Most people love the aroma of Cistus.  However, it is an aroma that a person either loves or hates in equal measure.
• Improves the mood, generally.

Cistus Essential Oil Today

• Skin care.  Said to prevent and minimize wrinkles.
• Also used in the treatment of skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema.
• Additionally, because of its skin regenerating properties, Cistus is used for treating wounds, abrasions, and boils.
• Cistus is stimulating to the immune system.
• An excellent oil for the lungs.
• Promotes lymph drainage.

Butterfly Blends Containing Cistus

^LeCherish

There are only three single oils in this blend.  They are Cistus, Jasmine, and Osmanthus.  Osmanthus and Jasmine are members of the same exotic family and are used, in the perfume industry, in only the most costly and extraordinary of fragrances. These essential oils are among the most expensive and desirable of fragrances. They are multi-faceted and multi-dimensional, impacting the senses and the energy at every level possible.

Jasmine is very concentrated, heady, and sensual, and reaches the core of the feminine where it magnifies qualities of strength and courage.  In ^LeCherish, the intense aroma of the Jasmine is moderated by Osmanthus and Cistus making this blend both delightful and powerful.

^LeCherish is an excellent blend for use in skin care because it promotes elasticity and tone in the tissues.  Jasmine is used during childbirth to improve elasticity, strengthen the contractions and, at the same time, ease the intensity of the pain.

A very special aspect of ^LeCherish is that it helps us rebuild our emotional balance and gain perspective in the aftermath of quarrels, traumatic events, the loss of a loved one, or the loss of a cherished hope or dream.

This intense blend requires the use of only a drop or two at a time.

There are currently four Butterfly blends containing Cistus.  All of them are wonderful but ^LeCherish particularly so.  Get a sample to smell if you possibly can.
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Cypress

Cypress essential oil is distilled from Cupressus sempervirens, an evergreen tree found, originally, in the Mediterranean area and all over the Middle East.  The Latin meaning of sempervirens, in this context, translates as “always green” or “ever-living.”  In the case of Cypress, “ever living” is an apt description.  Some cypress trees found in Biblical lands have been living for more than 1,000 years.

I love to blend essential oils.  It has been my experience that blends of oils are more effective than single oils, as a general rule.  However, Cypress oil is so complex and far-reaching in the body that it acts, almost, as a blend all by itself!

Scriptural References

Isaiah 44:14  “He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the Cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.”

Ancient Uses

• Believed to help the soul make the transition from life to death at the time of the body’s approaching death.  Believed to calm the fears that may be hindering transition from one state to another.
• In addition, among the living, Cypress was used to removed emotional blockages to any kind of change in one’s circumstances.
• Cypress was valued for use with arthritis and cramps due to its well-known anti-inflammatory properties, as well.
• Also valued in the removal of scar tissue.

Cypress Essential Oil Today

• The aroma brings joy at the opportunity that today brings forth a fresh start.
• As in ancient times, Cypress is considered valuable for change and transition.  Change is part of life.  Resisting change makes all of life an unending struggle.
• Cypress is not a sedative.  Nevertheless, it is used for insomnia because it quiets the mind.
• Cypress softens unbending and inflexible attitudes.
• Brings perspective and faith to money matters and personal security issues.  Brings gratitude for the bounty one already has.
• Strengthens capillary walls. Reduces varicose veins and shrinks hemorrhoids.
• A strong decongestant and mucolytic.  Effective for respiratory, lymphatic, liver, pancreas, and prostate issues related to congestion.
• Mild, but effective diuretic.  Use for water retention and cellulite.
• As a lymphatic stimulant, Cypress – according to Chinese Medical Theory – has an effect on menstrual bloating.
• Excellent for muscle cramps.
• Additionally, Cypress is excellent for cleansing wounds and encouraging healing.

Butterfly Blends Containing Cypress

^LeVitality

This blend is very specific for the cardiovascular, circulatory, pulmonary, and lymphatic systems.  I created this blend for my own needs.  It was a key piece in the rebuilding of my own cardiovascular system!  ^LeVitality should be tried for all heart-related and circulatory issues.  This blend provided me with a hopeful feeling about the state of my health. When I applied this essential oil blend and smelled the aroma, I felt more confidence in my body’s ability to heal and be strong again.

^LeVitality has amazing uses in so many other areas other than circulation and cardiovascular health. It is often useful for lowering high blood pressure and reducing stress levels. This blend can increase stamina among the sick or the elderly.  ^LeVitality is a remedy for the treatment of shock and has been used to stop or slow the progress of an oncoming stroke. For an impending stroke, ^LeVitality should be quickly applied to the neck and forehead. Encourage the person to breathe as deeply and calmly as possible.  Also, call for medical help if there is any inkling that the situation warrants such action.

There are currently fourteen Butterfly blends containing Cypress.
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Frankincense

Scriptural References

There are many scriptural references to Frankincense in the Bible. In the King James Version, many of the references are translated as “incense.”  The Hebrew word, lebonah, which is frankincense, is used in the many references in both Isaiah and Jeremiah.

In the book of Numbers Chapter 5, Aaron took incense and using fire to disperse it, “stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.”  The scripture goes on to say that, “they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred. . .”

Also, as we know, the Magi brought precious and costly Frankincense to the Christ Child. Frankincense is thought to be the oil referred to in Scripture as the Balm of Gilead.

Ancient Uses

• As a Holy Anointing Oil.
• To aid in meditation and to help one be more receptive to Spiritual promptings.
• As a perfume.
• As a cure-all in health matters.
• Used in embalming rituals and to cover the odor of the dead body.
• The aroma of Frankincense played a part in rites of passage such as weddings and childbirths as well as at funerals.
• To sweeten the breath and in hair-styling.
• Melted Frankincense resin was used to mend cracked pots and jars.
• Most interestingly, frankincense was used in the anointing for the new-born sons of both kings and priests.  Since God is a God of symbols and of covenants, it was a more than an appropriate gift for the Magi (the Wise Men) to bring to the Son of God/the Prince of Peace.
• Ancient peoples believed that Frankincense assisted a person in making the transition that we call death.  Certainly, Christ’s work included his death and atonement, done for each of us.  To me, the reverse symbolism of life from death – resurrection – represents Frankincense equally well.

Frankincense Essential Oil Today

• Reduces anxiety and nervous tension.
• Sesquiterpenes in Frankincense cross the blood/brain barrier, thus nourishing and strengthening the pineal and pituitary glands and other parts of the brain.
• Useful for skin disorders.
• Improves circulation.
• Has a beneficial effect on respiratory conditions such as coughs, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
• Frankincense is said, worldwide, to have an inhibitory effect on the growth of cancer.
• Frankincense aids cellular regeneration following accident or injury.
• Allergies.
• Headaches.
• Stimulates the immune system.
• Acts as an expectorant.  (Liquifies mucous in various body organs and systems.)

Butterfly Blends Containing Frankincense

Butterfly carries four varieties of Frankincense.  There are currently twenty seven Butterfly blends containing one or more Frankincense oils but the only one we will mention here is ^LeAboutFace.

^LeAboutFace

^LeAboutFace contains three different species of Frankincense as well as a close cousin from the same aromatic plant family.  This blend also contains Opoponax Myrrh.  The name, ^LeAboutFace was chosen for two reasons.  One, because this blend helps us take a new direction.  We make an “about face” in our lives.  Sometimes, such drastic action is needed.  Two,  ^LeAboutFace prevents collagen breakdown in cells.  ^LeAboutFace inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory mediator molecules, making this blend an amazing anti-inflammatory.

The synergy of this blend helps me connect past events with the present and the future.  It enables me to connect cause and effect – the results of the actions of today with the results in my life tomorrow.  ^LeAboutFace is a great oil for improving the effectiveness of everyday decisions.

Everything that can be said about Frankincense can also be said about the blend, ^LeAboutFace, because it contains so much Frankincense of one type or another.

There are currently twenty seven Butterfly blends containing Frankincense.
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Galbanum

Galbanum adapts itself to the body chemistry of the user more than most essential oils do, even as part of a blend.   It is so calming that it is useful for any type of anxiety.

Scriptural References

Exodus 30:34-35  “And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:  And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy.“

Ancient Uses

• Galbanum was used in holy anointing oil recipes.
• Considered to be both grounding and uplifting.
• Medicinally, in various ways.
• As a perfume and also as incense.
• Also used for pain relief, to stop muscle cramps and spasms.
• Recognized as a diuretic.

Galbanum Essential Oil Today

• Galbanum soothes the soul and the nerves, promoting feelings of peace about the struggles of our lives.
• A rejuvenation.  Strengthens and supports the entire person.
• Relieve muscle aches.
• Skin disorders.  Galbanum is said to tone and remove wrinkles.
• Also used to treat inflamed wounds.
• An excellent choice for circulation issues and for arthritis.

Butterfly Blends Containing Galbanum

^LeLifeForce

This blend immediately raises the over-all frequency of the body.  As a result, one is better able to respond to stress and trauma.  For this purpose, ^LeLifeForce is best applied along the spine.  Other good places to apply this blend are all over the feet or on the thymus area of the chest.  ^LeLifeForce should be used following an illness or traumatic experience that has left one feeling weak, shaky, or on edge. This blend can make a big difference in the recovery period of accidents and illnesses.

^LeLifeForce is an immune and adrenal gland stimulant.  Used routinely with ^LeEndoRelief as the cold and flu season begins, it may help one avoid getting sick altogether.  Any illness that is contracted will have a shorter duration and the recovery period will be shorter also.

^LeLifeForce is the only Butterfly blend containing Galbanum at this time.
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Hyssop

Scriptural References

Exodus 12:22-23  “And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.  For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.”

Ancient Uses

• Hyssop was used in rituals for spiritual cleansing and purification.
• Said to focus the mind during meditation.
• An aid to purification from destructive habits and addictions.
• Part of a Heaven instructed action to mark the people of God as the angel of death passed through.
• Medicinally, Hyssop was used for the respiratory system as a decongestant and expectorant.

Hyssop Essential Oil Today

Emotionally

• Hyssop contains both sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes.
• Diffused at the beginning of energy work sessions to clear or protect the work environment and the client.  Clears the client’s mind and gives them a clear sense of control over how fast and how deep the session will go.
• Encourages freedom – freedom from sin, freedom of movement in the body, freedom of expression.
• Used for meditation or journaling sessions.
• Relieves anxiety.

Physically

• Relieve arthritis pain.
• Respiratory infections and asthma.  Dries up mucous during pneumonia, bronchitis, and asthma.
• Hyssop is used to improve appetite, digestive function, abdominal bloating and the absorption of nutrients.
• Promotes lymph drainage, thus aiding the discharge of toxins from the body.
• Dermatitis and gout.  Kidney trouble results in both gout and in the skin being used as an eliminative organ.
• Increasing blood pressure when that is needed.
• Healing to infections and wounds, thus preventing the formation of scar tissue.
• Found in formulas to remove parasites from the body.
• Increases perspiration.  Sweating is one way that the body eliminates toxins when the lymph system is clogged.
• Hyssop helps metabolize fat.

Butterfly Blends Containing Hyssop

^LeUnity

This blend should be diffused in groups where incompatibility or quarrelsomeness is a problem.  Use it in the home to increase peace and cooperation.  I am very serious about this.  I diffused ^LeUnity frequently during our homeschool years – once we discovered essential oils. Five sons and two daughters in a very small space, all vying for Mom’s attention and help, is a situation in need of some unity and cooperation.

More importantly, ^LeUnity creates harmony within ourselves and with our Creator.  This is the greatest essential oil product I know of for fostering a sense of physical and mental well-being. It can rid us of stubbornness, anger, judgment, and jealousy. This essential oil blend has to be experienced to be believed.

 ^LeUnity is very useful for children who get into essential oils that have been left lying around the house.  Put a little bit of ^LeUnity on the palms of your hands – or on the child’s hands.  Place one hand on the child’s chest.  The other hand should be placed just below the small of the back.  This may sound strange to you but I have, personally, seen this work many times with my own grandchildren.  These areas are important energy centers.

There are currently fourteen Butterfly blends containing Hyssop.
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 Juniper Berry

Ancient Uses

• Juniper is a sacred plant among the Navajo tribes.
• Used for problems in the urinary tract, gout, swelling of the feet and legs.
• Also, as a treatment for gallstones.
• Colds.
• Headaches.
• Stomachaches.
• Used by Pueblo Indian women during or immediately after labor.
• Known to be antiseptic.
• Also a useful antispasmodic.

Juniper Essential Oil Today

• Juniper essential oil improves mental clarity without unduly stimulating the nervous system.
• For those who fear growing up or growing older.
• The use of Juniper Berry essential oil helps one mature into wisdom with compassion for the struggles of others and a sense of humor about life in general.
• Juniper is an oil of gratitude in the sense of being grateful for the experiences and lessons of a life lived as best we could.
• Used in programs to address the emotional aspects of continual over-indulgence in food that leads to weight gain.
• Improves circulation, particularly to the kidneys.
• Helps the body move fluids and toxins out of the cells and into the tissues.  Here it can be picked up by the lymphatic system.  Hence, Juniper Berry is excellent for fluid retention, cellulite, premenstrual bloating, gout, and arthritis.
• Repairs nerve damage.
• Skin care.

 

Butterfly Blends Containing Juniper Berry

^LeWhispering Hope

The aroma of this blend promotes feelings of peace, security, confidence, and optimism.  ^LeWhispering Hope stimulates feelings of hope if a person has become discouraged or despondent.  The feeling this blend creates is more than simple hope.  The feeling that ^LeWhispering Hope generates is a sense of potential and a focus on the possibility of better days and future happiness and achievement.  This is one of the most effective blends for suicidal thoughts.

This blend is particularly helpful for feelings of frustration we may have at other peoples’ choices and the impossibility of “stepping in and doing it right for them.” ^LeWhispering Hope can help us find peace when it seems that all we can do is stand by and pray for them.

Whether you choose to use this oil for yourselves or others, be assured that the influence of this blend is very subtle. It very literally “whispers” its message of hope.

The Juniper Berry in this blend, along with several of the other ingredients, makes it an excellent blend for the kidneys.

There are many uses for this oil during a woman’s childbearing years. ^LeWhispering Hope can help when a young mother (or anyone else, really) is feeling stressed and overwhelmed. It helps to create a more positive attitude and a sense of optimism. This blend can help a young woman understand and move past feelings of ambivalence or non-acceptance of a pregnancy. During certain stages of labor and delivery, ^LeWhispering Hope is very useful.

There are currently ten Butterfly blends containing Juniper Berry.
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Myrrh

Scriptural References

Esther 2:12 “. . . for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors, and with other things for the purifying of the women.”

Exodus 30:23   “Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, and of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive.”

Mark 15:22-23 “And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.  And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.”  Myrrh is an anodyne.  In other words, a pain reliever.  Did they provide it to the Savior out of kindness?  Perhaps.  Christ refused it; he suffered all things for us.

Psalms 45:8 “All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.”

Proverbs 7:17 “I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.”

Ancient Uses

According to scriptural references, Myrrh seems to have been an oil utilized by women for a variety of purposes.

• Pregnant mothers applied Myrrh as a protection against infectious diseases.
• Myrrh was thought to be a protection against generational curses.  (Exodus 20:5)  “. . . for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.”
• Diffused for inhalation during labor to reduce anxiety.  (My question, as a midwife, is, “Who was this for?  The mother or the midwives?”  Trust me.  The midwives would appreciate it, also.
• Massaged onto the perineum to aid stretching, in order to prevent tearing of that tender area.
• Women also used Myrrh to prevent and repair stretch marks.
• Used on the baby’s umbilical cord to prevent infection of the navel area.  Perhaps the Wise Men knew these things when they brought Myrrh as a gift to Mary at the Christ Child’s birth.
• As an aid to meditation and to promote states of relaxation.
• Skin care.
• As a sunscreen.  Egyptians wore cones of fat laced with Myrrh on their heads.  The fat would melt in the heat of that desert climate and provide moisture and the protection from the sun that Myrrh provides.
• Also used as an insect repellent and in insect repellent essential oil formulas.

Myrrh Essential Oil Today

• Aids in opening our mind to inspiration.
• Helps us move forward effectively toward the accomplishment of our dreams.
• Grounds us in reality and common sense.
• An astringent.  Acts on the tissues and blood vessels, helping them contract naturally when a contraction is needed.  Accomplishes this tightening anywhere – the gums for bleeding, the intestinal tract, the skin, and anywhere and everywhere else, as needed.
• A stimulant.  Here again, Myrrh‘s effects are widespread.  Acts on thoughts, blood circulation, the secretion of bile, the pumping action of the heart, as well as stimulating alertness of the brain and nervous system.  Myrrh‘s stimulant properties are especially seen in the immune system and in the circulatory system.
• Myrrh increases perspiration during illness.  This rids the body of toxins and cleanses the pores of the skin.
• Used for such things as eczema, ringworm, athlete’s foot, chapped and cracked skin, stretch marks, rashes, and wrinkles.

Butterfly Blends Containing Myrrh

^LeMeditation

^LeMeditation creates a spiritual environment conducive to prayer and meditation.  ^LeMeditation can help bring us to a state where we are more receptive of divine inspiration.  This blend can aid us in decision making by bringing us to a place where we can discern Heavenly input.  This blend can help us find the motivation to make any changes in our lives that we know need to be made.

There are currently eleven Butterfly blends containing Myrrh.
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Myrtle

Scriptural References

Esther 2:7   “And he brought up Hadassah (Hebrew for myrtle), that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.”

Isaiah 55:12-13   “For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.  Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

Ancient Uses

• Used in religious ceremonies.
• Purification rituals.

Myrtle Essential Oil Today

• Myrtle clears the mind, allowing one to be more organized and able to determine priorities.
• Useful for insomnia.
• A potent anti-inflammatory and decongestant.  Particularly effective with the lungs and the prostate gland.
• Useful for diarrhea, bladder infections, sinus infections, and lung complaints.  Myrtle is one of the most versatile and effective essential oils and yet it is too little understood and certainly underused.
• In addition to all of the above, Myrtle regulates and strengthens the endocrine system.
• Moreover, Myrtle supports better immune function.

Butterfly Blends Containing Myrtle

^LeEndoRelief

As the name implies, ^LeEndoRelief strengthens and supports the organs and glands of the endocrine system.  As an endocrine system balancer, ^LeEndoRelief can have a beneficial effect on any ailment that is related to endocrine organs such as the thyroid, pancreas, pineal and pituitary glands, parathyroid, thymus, and adrenal glands. This makes ^LeEndoRelief useful for such things as diabetes, hypoglycemia, bladder and kidney infections, candida, and so much more.

Support of the thyroid and parathyroids aids the proper absorption of calcium. Calcium absorption affects such things as the prevention of gallstones, kidney stones, arthritis, and osteoporosis. ^LeEndoRelief regulates hot flashes and moderates the other symptoms of menopause because the hormones come into balance as the endocrine system function improves.

With improved endocrine function comes improved vitality and metabolism. Our weight naturally balances and we have enough energy to last through the day (and into the night, if we need to).

There are currently four Butterfly blends containing Myrtle.
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Onycha (Benzoin)

Scriptural References

Exodus 30:34-35  “And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:  And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy.”

Analysis shows that Styra Benzoin and styrax tonkensis contain very similar constituents.  Their uses are, therefore, similar as well.

Ancient Uses

• Part of the Holy Anointing Oil formula specified by the Lord.
• Used in an ointment for the healing of wounds.
• Also used as a perfume.
• Used to calm and comfort.
• In addition, onycha was and is used as a fixative in essential oil blends to increase the life and integrity of the other oils.

Onycha Essential Oil Today

• Promotes the acceptance of love and also increases feelings of being worthy to be loved.
• Even as only a small percentage of a blend, the warm, woodsy, vanilla scent of Benzoin makes one feel reassured and supported.
• Benzoin increases energy.  It moves a person away from over-thinking and excessive worry.
• A powerful antimicrobial.  Therefore, onycha can be used as an effective antiseptic.
• Decongestant oil.  Clears blockages in the lungs, lymphatic vessels, and also in intestines.
• A circulatory stimulant which has an affinity for the tiny capillaries that feed the skin.
• Used as a fixative for perfumes and essential oil blends.

Butterfly Blends Containing Benzoin

^LeEverlasting

The blend, ^LeEverlasting , is a blend of blends.  Each of the five blends in ^LeEverlasting  targets a specific range of emotions.  The aroma of ^LeEverlasting improves mood and mental outlook.  Blending these five blends together into another essential oil blend is an amazing example of synergy. ^LeEverlasting is a lower frequency (physical range) blend which displays the ability to act on the emotions. A person using ^LeEverlasting  receives the emotional impact of each separate high-frequency blend. At the same time, the lower frequency of the whole carries the healing more deeply into the physical body. The negative emotions are released clear down to the cellular level.

^LeEverlasting promotes the most wonderful relaxation that is followed by high levels of optimism, vigor, and energy.  Diffuse ^LeEverlasting  while sleeping for a restful night’s sleep and to wake up refreshed and invigorated.

There are currently fourteen Butterfly blends containing Benzoin.
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Sage

Sage is held sacred by many Native American Indian Tribes.  The Lakota Indians considered Sage as the “master healer,” as did the Romans.  It has been a popular ingredient in nerve tonics throughout the ages.

Ancient Uses

• Native Americans used Sage in smudging ceremonies to relieve worries, open the mind, clear negative thoughts and feelings, bring harmony to the body, and relieve stress.
• Considered by many Indian tribes to cleanse the body and the mind of negative spirits and impurities.
• Used as a tea to regulate the menstrual cycle and slow excessive bleeding.
• Used to cleanse the home as well as cleanse and prepare sacred items for use in ceremonies.

Sage Essential Oil Today

• Alleviates the effects of prolonged stress.
• Cleanses and strengthens the energy grid of the body.  Consequently, a person is able to stand strong in their convictions.
• Brings clarity and vision to our pondering and analyzing.
• Strengthens the nervous system.  Sage is useful for issues related to nerve deterioration as a result of prolonged stress.
• Improves brain function and memory.
• Encourages the dissolving of mucus and the draining of lymph fluid.
• In addition, Sage clears away cellular debris and strengthens cell wall integrity, making sage excellent for a great variety of things.  Among them are arthritis, dandruff, hair loss, skin conditions that involve the need for the removal of dead tissue, and gingivitis.
• Strongly antiseptic.  Sage makes an excellent gargle for mouth sores and sore throats.  Even as a gargle in the throat and mouth, I have seen Sage clear mucus from the bronchial tubes in an almost miraculous fashion.

Butterfly Blends Containing Sage

^LeFocus

I like to inhale ^LeFocus at times when I am studying and need to be extra alert. I also find it useful in the afternoons at the computer if my mind is slow or I am having difficulty concentrating.  This blend increases mental alertness, clears that “foggy” feeling, and helps to alleviate mental confusion. It is a great aid to students and others when they face the need to commit something to memory quickly and be able to recall it with ease later.

^LeFocus blend can be diffused, but it is best to do so for short periods of time only.  Cinnamon Bark, Cinnamon Berry, and Ginger are very strong oils for diffusing.

^LeFocus is useful in overcoming negative thought patterns and self-defeating behaviors. Sometimes we choose to see ourselves as victims where life and everyone we know is “out to get us.” This pattern of behavior gets in the way of our ability to take responsibility for ourselves. It can also keep us from accomplishing our goals. When ^LeFocus has helped us become aware of our self-defeating patterns, we can choose to change them.

There are currently eight Butterfly blends containing Sage.
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Sandalwood

Scriptural References

Some scholars believe that Sandalwood is what is being referred to when aloes or lign aloes is mentioned.

Psalms 45:8   “All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.”

Proverbs 7:17  “I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.”

Song of Solomon 4:13-14   “Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard. . .  and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.”

Ancient Uses

• Said to enhance the power of the memory.
• To assist in meditation.
• As an aphrodisiac.
• In the embalming of the dead.

Sandalwood Essential Oil Today

• 90% of a good Sandalwood oil is sesquiterpene molecules.  Sesquiterpenes cross the blood/brain barrier.  They are also said to reprogram misinformation in cells.  Sesquiterpenes are important in the oxygenation of cells by essential oils.
• Repairs, rejuvenates, and nourishes the skin.
• Stimulates the release of melatonin, this enhances deep sleep states.
• Strongly anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving.
• Also acts as a natural diuretic and strengthens the kidneys.
• Moreover, recent research shows that Sandalwood has the potential to prevent the development of skin cancers.
• An excellent oil for the female reproductive system.
• Sandalwood stimulates and balances the organs of the endocrine system.  As a result, the uses for Sandalwood are many and varied.
• Has amazing anti-oxidant properties.

Butterfly Blends Containing Sandalwood

^LeDreams

I love the aroma of ^LeDreams.  I created this blend with the goal of helping me to keep my dreams in sight.  Being able to move forward toward my personal goals with effectiveness but without self-centeredness or obsessiveness was a concern of mine at that time.  I love to diffuse this oil, day or night, in any place where I may be spending a bit of time.  During the day, whether pondering or working furiously, ^LeDreams keeps me focused.  Diffused at night, ^LeDreams promotes restful and, surprisingly, dreamless sleep.  At the very least, diffusing ^LeDreams will help assure that any dreams that do come are not frightful or disturbing.

^LeLetting Go

^LeLetting Go is a favorite blend of many people.  ^LeLetting Go is literally what the name implies, an oil to aid us in the “letting go” of negative emotions that we are holding onto in the physical tissues of our bodies. By letting go of negative emotions, we can create feelings of tolerance and compassion towards the faults and foibles of the human race, including ourselves.  Regular use of this essential oil blend can help us develop feelings of trust, safety, and security.  This blend is appropriate when your forward progress in emotional or physical healing seems to be halted. This oil is beneficial when used for the rebellious spirit sometimes seen in teens and others of us from time to time.

Letting go of the emotional baggage that we don’t need can have an energizing effect on the colon, kidneys, liver, and gall-bladder in particular. The holding on to negativity from the past can be the root cause of constipation. Clogging in the liver and gallbladder creates a multitude of physical problems.

There are currently twenty four Butterfly blends containing Sandalwood.
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Spikenard

Scriptural References

Mark 14:3-6   “ 3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.  4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?  5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor.  And they murmured against her. 6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.” 

Spikenard is 93% sesquiterpenes.  This makes Spikenard one of the oils with the highest percentage of sesquiterpenes.  Frankincense, renowned for sesquiterpene content, has only 8%.   Please remember that sesquiterpene cross the blood/brain barrier.  This makes Spikenard the emotional equivalent of packing up and leaving the old ways of thinking and reacting behind.  This oil is not about the repair of attitudes or relationships.  It is about doing a clean sweep, emotionally, so that one can begin again.  I think a good Biblical word for that newness of thinking would be repentance.

Ancient Uses

• Used as a perfume or as an incense.
• Part of Egyptian embalming processes.
• Treat infections, especially those of the skin.
• Healing scar tissue.
• Provide pain relief.
• Also used medicinally for fevers, lung and throat issues, and coughs.
• Lift the spirits and reduce anxiety.
• Used in anointing oils.

Spikenard Essential Oil Today

• Spikenard is an oil for forgiving.
• Brings courage to move forward when life gets hard.
• A good oil to use at the time of approaching death.   Christ, himself, stated that Mary’s extravagant use of Spikenard was in preparation and honor of his coming death.  Perhaps, all three of these reasons were in the mind of Mary when she anointed her Lord with Spikenard.
• An anodyne and pain-killing oil.
• This is an excellent oil for treating bacterial infections, especially on the skin.
• Spikenard, on a wound, will prevent infection.  It will, at the same time, also be soothing and calming to the patient.
• Has a laxative action, but a gentle one.
• Helps a person to maintain proper reproductive hormone levels.
• Is said to treat allergies.
• Also used for cardiovascular support and for tachycardia.
• Relieves migraine pain.
• Quells nausea.

Butterfly Blends Containing Spikenard

^LeTurmoil

^LeTurmoil helps us to view trials from a more positive perspective. This blend is useful in rebuilding the physical/emotional connection after trauma or loss. ^LeTurmoil should be considered for the anger stage of grief and later, especially if the grief seems to be settling into depression.

^LeTurmoil calms hyperactivity and nervousness. This remedy can calm a person who is jumping from project to project, thought to thought.  It helps them settle down, organize themselves, and accomplish something.

^LeTurmoil is a remedy for shock and trauma.  Shock and trauma, if not completely absorbed and dissipated, can affect physical well-being and weaken the immune system.  ^LeTurmoil often stabilizes a person who is feeling faint or is going into shock.

^LeWoman Wise

For cramping during the menstrual cycle, ^LeWoman Wise should be diluted in a carrier oil and massaged on the lower back and abdomen. It is helpful to layer with ^LeDeeper if severe cramping or abdominal pain is involved.

^LeWoman Wise, even just diffused rather than applied, can help to balance hormones, stabilize mood swings, and calm irritability.

There are many emotions that go completely out of whack when our hormones are out of balance. This blend can be very helpful for any of those emotions. Sometimes trying an essential oil and seeing what changes take place can help us recognize which behaviors are hormone driven and which ones are just bad habits.  This blend should be used all month long, not just when the PMS symptoms are at their worst. Doing this will keep the symptoms from occurring.  This blend is not for use during pregnancy!!!

There are currently nine Butterfly blends containing Spikenard.
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Spruce-Pine-Fir

Conifer trees stand straight and tall with their heads in the clouds of heaven and their feet firmly planted in the earth. They have a tremendous resilience, maintaining their foliage in both summer and winter. In an evergreen tree, the foliage is centered around a central strong and solid center. Conifer trees provide protection for the other residents of the forest. These features tell us much about the use of the essential oils that are distilled from them. They are protecting and grounding and they help us structure our lives around a firm and solid center.

Ancient Uses

• Native American ceremonial purposes.
• The needles were particularly valued for medicine just as the needles are valued in the production of essential oils today.
• The pitch (tar) was used as an ointment for sores and other skin ailments.
• The conifers, especially the Pines, were used for backaches and rheumatism.
• As a cure for earaches and inflamed eyes.  (As a tea.  Please, do not use any essential oil in the eyes or ears.)
• To relieve muscular pain and as a soak for sore feet.
• Used to treat respiratory ailments, especially chest and lung complaints.
• As a vermifuge – useful to expel parasites from the body.

Conifer Essential Oils Today

• Analgesic and anti-inflammatory.  Thus, conifer tree essential oils (Spruce, Pine, and Fir) are excellent for sore muscles, aching joints, bone pain, arthritis, and even sciatica.  Indeed, conifer oils are excellent for loosening the muscles before strenuous exercise.
• Conifer oils are, in addition, of great benefit to the respiratory system.
• Furthermore, these oils have a strengthening effect on the organs and glands of the endocrine system.
• As a result of strengthening the endocrine system, the responses of the immune system are strengthened and stabilized.
• Used to treat urinary tract infections.
• Stimulates the lymphatic system.

Butterfly Blends Containing Sage

^LeDeeper

The Butterfly blend, ^LeDeeper contains penetrating, anti-inflammatory oils which aid in relieving pain that is deep in the tissues and nerves. It is useful for sciatica, arthritis, osteoarthritis, the pain of osteoporosis, sprains, and injuries where there is bruising and/or nerve damage.

^LeDeeper increases blood and lymph circulation to the extremities, making it an effective choice for nephropathy and fibromyalgia. This blend often brings instant relief when applied to the abdomen and back for pre-menstrual cramps. Other important uses for ^LeDeeper are pain relief with shingles and bursitis.

Since my own family is prone to injuring themselves seriously and regularly, this blend has been worked with and “tweaked” until it is near perfection, in my opinion.

There are many many many Butterfly Blends containing Conifer oils.
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Yarrow

Yarrow, as an herb or as an essential oil, assists in some way with every body system.  This herb must have been a very great blessing in the lives of the earliest inhabitants of the American continent.  It has certainly been a great blessing in my life and in the lives of my family members.

Ancient Uses

• The healing of digestive issues such as cramping and upset stomach.
• Yarrow induces a sweat which, in turn, reduces fever.
• Also, this wonderful herb was used to stop bleeding.
• Similarly, Yarrow was used to disinfect and speed healing in wounds.
• Applied, with good effect, to sprains to reduce swelling.
• Made into an astringent and anti-infectious salve.
• Also as a pain-killer for earaches and toothaches.

Yarrow Essential Oil Today

There are so many uses for Yarrow essential oil that I am going to place its properties in categories for clarity and ease of reading.  I don’t want you to miss anything about this absolutely awesome herb.

Cuts and Wounds

• Apply to deep cuts.  Yarrow will pull the edges together.  It will then help the cut to heal, almost miraculously.
• Strongly antiseptic.  This wonderful plant, as an herb or as an essential oil will prevent infection, no matter how dirty or contaminated conditions were at the time of the injury.
• Yarrow, known for centuries as an herb to stop bleeding, is even more effective in the concentrated essential oil form.
• Yarrow contains silica, essential and amazing for wound healing.

Anti-inflammatory

• The anti-inflammatory properties of Yarrow are effective whether the inflammation is in the nasal or respiratory passages, the digestive tract, the gum line, the uterus or ovaries, or anywhere else.
• In addition, Yarrow‘s antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties help heal infections and swollen organs.  So much so that Yarrow is an excellent first response in cases of food poisoning, gastritis, and enteritis.

Astringent and Mildly Hormonal (emphasis on mildly with extra emphasis on “balancing”)

• The astringent properties of Yarrow work throughout the body.  Astringents cause the tightening of tissues. This makes Yarrow very helpful for such things as dandruff, hair loss, setting the teeth firmly into the gums, or firming up areas of sagging skin. Astringent oils such as Yarrow are beneficial as face washes for oily skin and acne.  The astringent properties of yarrow make it amazing for stopping diarrhea.
• Yarrow is an excellent oil for the female reproductive system where astringency and a mild hormonal action combine to make this oil vital in treatment programs for ovarian cysts and uterine fibroid tumors.
• Yarrow contains sterols, which have actions similar to hormones, and aid in balancing the menstrual cycle.
• Thus, Yarrow is an extremely beneficial remedy for women.  I would consider this a woman’s herb, for sure.

Herbal Bitter

• As an herb, I used Yarrow as a tea because it is an herbal bitter.  As such, it stimulates digestion and increases the absorption of nutrients.  Herbal bitters also stimulate the gallbladder and the liver to secrete bile when it is needed.  The essential oil, applied topically, accomplishes all of these things.

During Illness

• Yarrow is gently diaphoretic and a febrifuge. When you are ill, the use of Yarrow holds the fever from getting dangerously high and stimulates perspiration. Fever and perspiration are the body’s way of killing the microbes and then carrying them out of the system.

Blood

• This versatile essential oil also acts on the bone marrow to stimulate the creation of red blood cells and enhance the coagulation of the blood.
• As mentioned above, Yarrow acts quickly to stop bleeding.  It stimulates the clotting of the blood (while disinfecting the wound).  I have never seen even a trace of infection with any wound to which Yarrow, in any form, was applied.)
• Yarrow has an affinity for healing conditions of the blood as well as anything related to circulation – blood vessels and arteries included.

Cancer and Diabetes?

• It has been reported recently in several publications that Yarrow’s use with cancer and diabetes has been known throughout the ages. I can find no scientific studies to back these claims, but anecdotal evidence is certainly abundant.

Aroma and Emotions

• The aroma of Yarrow oil balances highs and lows, externally and internally, physically and mentally.  If you have ever experienced this, you know that it is a great blessing.
• In Chinese folklore, the aroma of Yarrow is said to bring about the meeting of Heaven and Earth in our lives. With our head in the clouds, we have far-reaching vision and inspiration to guide us, but we have the stability and common sense of having our feet firmly planted on the ground.

As you can see from the length of the above lists, I love Yarrow as both an herb and an essential oil.  I could have listed at least this many more things that Yarrow is useful for if I thought about it for another moment or two!

Butterfly Blends Containing Yarrow

^LeThermaCare

This blend uses an essential oil referred to as ” Yellow Yarrow“.  It is distilled from the Achilles millifolium plant, as are the Yarrow Blue and Yarrow Green essential oils.   The difference is in the distillation process.

The Butterfly blend, ^LeThermaCare was specifically designed to aid in gently reducing the very high fevers we often see with the high-powered and quick-onset flu “bugs” that are so prevalent in the world today. The use of this essential oil to reduce fever is especially nice with children.  The essential oils contained in ^LeThermaCare are gentle.  They stimulate the body’s defense while calming the nerves and soothing the spirit. In addition to the fever-reducing properties of the Yarrow and the Peppermint, the Coriander is well renowned for giving strength both during an illness and during the convalescent stages.

^LeThermaCare should be diluted well and applied to the back of the neck and down the spine. It is also effective to apply ^LeThermaCare to the bottoms of the feet.  It is better to apply this essential oil blend to the body. Diffusing might be pleasant but may not give you the results in fever reduction that you need.

There are currently four Butterfly blends containing Yarrow.
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Light, Life and Essential Oils

Pure essential oils, harvested, prepared, and used with love and gratitude, have light and life in rich abundance. If you stop and listen, the essential oils that you love and appreciate will communicate with your very soul. You will find yourself intuitively drawn to the oils that you need – physically, and emotionally.

Intuition, Inspiration, and Healing with Essential Oils

God has given us many, many gifts. Essential oils and healing plants are among those wonderful gifts and blessings. The use of these amazing healing essences with intuition and, better yet, inspiration, is a gift of the Spirit. Like all gifts of the Spirit, this one must be sought for with study and with prayer.

Dr. Stewart’ book, that I mentioned earlier in this article, explains my attitude toward learning – especially about essential oils – very well. I would like to quote a portion of it here.

Intellectual study with a secular attitude, unappreciative of the source of all things, will block intuition. Such study is spiritually harmful. Such study will reduce and limit your finer sensitivities . . .

Intellectual study with a devotional attitude in recognition of God as the source of all knowledge will increase your intuitive gifts without limit. Applying and inhaling essential oils during your learning and creative activities helps to optimize all the gifts that God has given to you.

Love

I have rarely enjoyed the research and writing of an article as much as I have enjoyed this one. I love essential oils, and I love the scriptures and the light and guidance the word of the Lord and His prophets have brought into my life.

One Final Scripture in Closing

Proverbs 3:3-8 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the tablet of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

I realize that this article is very long! It is not as long as I could have made it with the great fun I had researching and writing it! I spent far too much time at it but I enjoyed every minute of it. I hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed researching and writing it.
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