Bring On The Memories

I love the fresh, crisp smell of cedar. I grew up with it in MN and now have it right outside my door in the Pacific NW. From the smell of it’s freshly cut wood to the aromatic scent of its foliage cedar awakens your senses.

All through time, as far back as the bible, cedar has supported various cultures with its multiple uses. In addition to its spiritual and symbolical significance, its immense strength, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and insect repellant properties make it an unmatched building material in homes, boats and totem poles. I know as a child, I think I was 12, I bought a cedar chest to start collecting things for when I married. My great grandmother had told me the story of the cedar chest in her bedroom. She said it was tradition for a young girl to have a cedar chest or what they called a “hope chest” at the end of her bed and begin to get ready for marriage by collecting fine linens, silver and special clothing, such as lingerie for when she married. I loved that story so jumped at the chance to purchase one. It was funny because I was 12 and paid $12 dollars for it at a yard sale. It was beautiful and smelled so wonderful when you opened it and it had little sliding shelves in it that were lined with red velvet so your silver wouldn’t scratch.

Does that bring back memories for any of you? It does for me.

Then there was Christmas, any child’s favorite time of year, and the wonderful smell of pine and cedar filling the house from the Christmas tree.

These are just some of the memories that makes cedar a special scent for me but now as an adult I also love all the medicinal properties cedar brings.

Cedar is known as one of the most sacred ceremonial herbs. Many Natives refer to it as “Evergreen Life,” and use it as an offering to the Spirit World.

They use it to amplify prayer, to bless and consecrate, and as an aid in visions. I love it for smudging. I will mix sage, cedar and lavender to make smudging bundles. It’s also used in helping the body and mind in times of spiritual anxiety and stress.

Cedar has also been used as a spiritual guide during ceremonies, helping people to find their purpose in life and helping them stay on their sacred path.

Cedar is great to use while meditating as it has a reputation of steering you back onto your true path. If you envision the image of a strong, deeply rooted Cedar tree towering above, standing firm, resistant to the influences of wind, rain, storms, and the elements, you might begin to understand the grounding energies that arise from invoking the spirit of Cedar through the burning of its incense or of diffusing it. Spiritual dedication, focus, presence, mental clarity, and stillness of thoughts have also been achieved with the help of Cedarwood in many ancient Eastern traditions of meditation and spirituality.

Cedarwood is often used to fortify personal strength and for stability in times of challenge or struggle. It is said to help transform difficult situations into experiences where wisdom, strength, and willpower can be cultivated. So, Cedarwood is the perfect essential oil to diffuse during these difficult times we find ourselves in.

Cedarwood incense and essential oil has been used to help people overcome anxiety, self-doubt, and insecurities, strengthening one’s roots and stoking the fire of confidence within. Its blessings of spiritual and emotional strength, grounding, and centering assists in deepening ones presence and peace.

Whether you are using Cedarwood oil topically or aromatically to improve skin imperfections, to keep insects at bay, or to promote vitality during a workout, the uses and benefits of this oil are almost limitless.

Cedar is associated with:

Planet: Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury

Element: Water

Chakra: Root

Parts Used: wood, boughs, leaf

Aroma: woody, sharp, green, fresh

These are just some of the uses and benefits of Cedar and some of the reasons I recommend Cedarwood Essential Oil.

I’d love to hear some of your memories brought on by the scent of Cedar and how you use this oil. The smell of fall in the air and the sight of all the bright colors made me want to share this with you.

Happy Autumn.

Please share with anyone that you think might benefit from this information!