Inner Teachings from Essential Oil-Bearing Plants:

50 ESSENTIAL AROMATICS 

 

with Gabriel Mojay LicAc,CertEd,FIFPA, author of Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit 

 

 

Approaching the ‘inner teachings’ of aromatic and medicinal plants rests on the experience of four core dimensions of being through which we are able to perceive their ‘powers’ and ‘virtues’ — perceptible via the senses in the first instance through their ‘signatum’, or unique ‘signature’, in the alchemical language of the philosopher, physician and alchemist-distiller Paracelsus (1493-1541) 

Of the signatum of medicinal plants, Paracelsus (1493-1541) wrote in Astronomia Magna (1538): “The soul does not perceive the external or internal physical construction of herbs and roots, but it intuitively perceives their powers and virtues, and recognizes at once their signatum… This signatum is often expressed even in the exterior form of things, and by observing the form we may learn something in regard to their interior qualities”. 

It is through an experience of the signatum of an aromatic plant and its extract - its form and structure, texture and taste, color and aroma - in a Zen-direct, immanent way, engaging our animal-spirit senses — through to a transcendent way in which we contemplate, feel, and receive the healing message of the aromatic, that we are able to arrive at an intuitive perception of its archeus, or biological soul. 

You can think of the plant’s archeus (plant spirit) as being the flip-side of the metaphorical coin of what we call its signatum (unique form, or innate beauty). 

Beauty is the highest value that we can apply to the form of things, and, indeed, Native Americans referred to it as a ‘way’, as in the ‘Way of Beauty’, derived from Hózhó — the Navajo word meaning living a life of Beauty, Balance, Harmony, and Well-Being. And in the Western Tradition, it is through our Venus nature, alchemically and astrologically, that we can engage with and immerse ourselves in the beauty of existence and Nature thanks to our five senses — especially as every essential oil lover nose, the olfactory!

Loss of the desire to engage the senses in pleasurable activities, indeed, is a more consistent symptom of depression than sadness itself, and is defined clinically by the term ‘anedonia’ — a loss of interest in all things that previously gave us and rewarded us with pleasure — which is precisely a central experience, together with an instinct for harmony, that characterizes our Aphrodite-Venus realm of archetypal being. 

The archeus (plant spirit) in alchemy resides on the archetypally lowest and most dense level of the astral plane, a transcendental dimension postulated by various classical, medieval, oriental and esoteric philosophies, and mystery religions since time immemorial. 

For Paracelsus and philosopher alchemists who followed him, the astral plane governed the growth and evolution of all living phenomena — the closest quadrant of the higher worlds interfacing with the world of manifest form and physical existence. One can think of this sublime reality as a World Soul or Gaia principle acting as a kind of intelligent glue or Big Bang early plasma binding existence to the subtle, causal world (‘Heaven’ in traditional Chinese medicine). 

In contrast to the constantly changing nature of physical, mortal existence (‘Earth’ in TCM), the eternal nature of the astral plane as an interface with the physical plane means that it stores the ‘archetypal data’ that underpins existence. One can liken this plane to the Sanskrit ākāśa in classical Vedic cosmology - the basis and essence of all things in the material world; the first element created — and to the Akashic records revealed by Alfred Percy Sinnett in his book Esoteric Buddhism (1883), a divine imprint of all universal events, thoughts, words, emotions and intent ever to have occurred in the past, present, or future regarding all entities and life forms.  

Thus the vital and sublime connection between the signatum of an aromatic plant and its archeus informs and is informed by the universal maxim, as above, so below. 

I said in the beginning that approaching the inner teachings of aromatic medicinal plants rests on experiencing four core dimensions of being through which we are able to perceive their ‘powers’ and ‘virtues’: Aromatic plants and their essential oils impact and change us through our (1) senses; (2) health and resilience; (3) our memory and feelings; and (4) our mind and appreciation, which encompasses the powerful placebo effect. 

A fifth dimension of perception is ‘intuitive’ in its most consummate meaning, and in the sense that Paracelsus implies: it subsumes all one’s senses and contemplative understanding to arrive not at one fixed point of understanding and appreciation, but rather an experience which is in itself mutable and healing — by bringing to bear each of these dimensions of perception and integrating them in an active, vital way. 

In that sense, no one arrives at an absolute truth about any given aromatic medicinal plant; and yet - if we take into account both the ancient and modern words of others as well as the scientific and transcultural phenomenology of the plant itself, one can be nourished by an aromasophia, or ‘aromatic plant wisdom’. 

In between perceiving the signatum and receiving the healing wisdom of its elixir, its unique healing sophia, there are processes of sensory perception, neurobiological processing and psychological assimilation, not to mention pharmacological activity, epigenetic modulation and phytonutrient protection. Indeed, it is through these processes that aromatic plants and essential oils are capable of exerting a wide range of biological activities, including those of a mentally-alerting, CNS-sedating, anxiolytic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, pro-apoptotic, anti-mutagenic, and neuroprotective nature.  

However, in this special course kindly hosted by the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA), with which I have enjoyed a close relationship since 1998 as both a member and speaker, I will focus rather on those aspects of aromatic plants and their extracts that address and harmonize our profound vital connection with plants and Nature — one that is, and should always be, mutually nurturing ~ and the healing meaning and emotional energy that we can distill from their fragrance, vitality, biology, ethnobotany and symbolic numinosity ~ and above all how to open the heart to your own entirely and uniquely personal elixir (aqua or ‘water of life’) of connection and protection, as symbolized by Angelica. 

Live Webinars with Gabriel, hosted by NAHA:

To register for the free webinar on February 26th, NAHA members can sign up on their Account Page.

1 ~ Feb 26 1:00-2:30 MT 

FREE INTRODUCTORY WEBINAR 

Angelica   Illumination 

Sage   Convalescence 

Lotus   Transcendence 

Sandalwood   Surrender 

 

2 ~ Apr 8  1:00-2:30 MT 

PUNGENT-HERBACOUS AROMATICS 

Rosemary   Memory as spirit 

Bay Laurel   Nobility of spirit 

Thyme   The heart of valor 

Hyssop   Caritas and forgiveness 

 

3 ~ Apr 22  1:00-2:30 MT 

SPICY & SWEET-PUNGENT-SEEDY AROMATICS 

Cinnamon leaf   Elixir of immortality 

Ginger    Antler of fertility 

Black Pepper   God of fire 

Fennel   Seed of transformation 

Cardamom   Lakshmi’s milk 

 

4 ~ May 6  1:00-2:30 MT 

FLORAL AROMATICS 

Rose   The trusting heart 

Neroli   The joyful heart 

Osmanthus   Fertility of Heart

Lavender   Harmony of Heart

 

5 ~ May 20  1:00-2:30 MT 

CONIFEROUS AROMATICS 

Pine   Fertility 

Larch   Protection 

Eastern Hemlock   Initiation 

Juniper   Purification 

 

6 ~ June 3  1:00-2:30 MT 

DRY-WOODY AROMATICS 

Cypress   Reverence 

Cedar   Commitment 

Virginian Cedar   Tree of life 

Hinoki   The ‘fire tree’ 

 

7 ~ June 17  1:00-2:30 MT 

FRUITY AROMATICS 

Orange   Benevolence 

Bergamot   Insouciance 

Grapefruit   Eudaimonia 

Lemon   Fidelity 

 

8 ~ July 1  1:00-2:30 MT 

SWEET-HERBACEOUS AROMATICS 1 

Marjoram   Consolação 

Basil   Conqueror of demons 

Clary sage   Inner vision 

Chamomile   Inner resilience 

 

9 ~ July 15  1:00-2:30 MT 

SWEET-HERBACEOUS & GREEN AROMATICS 2 

Yarrow   Healing dream 

Helichrysum   Conqueror of demons 

Melissa   Quintessence of innocence 

Geranium   Affection 

 

10 ~ July 29  1:00-2:30 MT 

ROOTY, CAMPHORACEOUS & MINTY AROMATICS 

Vetiver   Parvati’s paste 

Spikenard   Unction of devotion 

Galbanum   Amulet of faith 

Myrtle   Talisman of love 

Mint   Demeter’s sacred Kykeon 

 

11 ~ August 5  1:00-2:30 MT 

SULTRY AROMATICS 

Jasmine   Heaven’s scent 

Ylang Ylang   Unguent of Jamu 

Tuberose   ‘Mistress of the night’ 

Patchouli   Indonesian secret 

 

12 ~ August 19  1:00-2:30 MT 

RESINOUS & SWEET-WOODY AROMATICS 

Frankincense   Light of the Above 

Myrrh   Immortal Peace 

Pistacia (mastic)   Shelter from the storm 

Palo Santo   The chrism of the saints 

Biography 

Gabriel Mojay is a practitioner, educator and author in the scientific–Oriental, pharmaco-energetic therapeutics of medicinal and aromatic plants. He has practiced clinical aromatherapy and herbalism, aromatic acupressure and acupuncture since 1987. Gabriel was born in England, grew up near Washington DC, has spent most of his career to date in London, and now lives in California.  

Gabriel first studied natural medicine in 1978, initially training in Shiatsu Therapy, and in 1988 he completed four years of training in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture. 

While at acupuncture school Gabriel trained in Western and Chinese herbal medicine with Giovanni Maciocia and Michael McIntyre, among others; and in clinical aromatherapy with Pierre Franchomme, Dr Daniel Pénoël MD, Prof. Dietrich Wabner, and Rhiannon Lewis. More recently, he has undertaken advanced training with herbalist-authors including Chanchal Cabrera and Lisa Ganora, in botanical pharmacology and oncology. 

Since 1990 Gabriel has been Principal of the Institute of Traditional Herbal Medicine and Aromatherapy (ITHMA), based at Regent’s University London until 2020. In 1990 he also founded an association that in 2002 merged to form the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists (IFPA) — a UK-registered Charity with some 2000 members in 50 countries. He is a Fellow of IFPA as well as ICAN. 

Gabriel has lectured at conferences hosted by the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (USA), Alliance of International Aromatherapists (USA), Canadian Alliance of Aromatherapists (CAOA), Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists (CFA), Czech Association of Aromatherapists, New Zealand Register of Holistic Aromatherapists (NZROHA), Botanica, International Herb Symposium (IHS) and the Canadian Herb Conference. He has given seminars in Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Australia, Ireland, Mexico and Brazil. 

Gabriel was founding Co-Editor of IFPA’s professional journal, In Essence, and from 2014-2019, Associate Editor of the IJCA. He is co-author of Shiatsu - the Complete Guide and author of Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit. 

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