As a child, Christmas Eve was my most magical night of the year.
Would I be able to sneak a peek at Santa?
Lying in bed, listening to the festive noises of the older generations in my family,
I swear I heard sleigh bells ringing and reindeer hooves on the rooftop.
Seriously.
Falling asleep, impossible.
The breaking of dawn felt light years away.
I trusted I would awaken to a treasure trove of gifts and jolly Christmas spirit.
A child’s hope in Christmas magic is shared with the kings in the nativity story.
They followed an elaborate systems of explanation based on the movement of the
sun, moon and planets through the constellations of the zodiac, for predicting events.
Evidence they read in the skies revealed a great king was to be born and
they set off on a journey, following the stars, to greet this coming king.
Along with them they brought gifts fitting a king.
Frankincense was one of those gifts.
In ancient times, frankincense was used to annoint the newborn sons of kings and
priests.
The gift of frankincense clearly demonstrated to Mary and
Joseph the wise men’s belief that this baby was royalty.
Imagine how Mary must have felt.
She had been secretly removed from her home town to birth this baby privately,
away from the curious glances of her local tribe.
She would not have the traditional celebration accompanying the birth of one’s first
child.
No, the birth of her first child would be on the run, a long distance from the company
loved ones.
Mary had placed her faith solely in supernatural encounters with an angel named,
Gabriel.
She must have been looking for a magical confirmation herself after the birth of Jesus
to confirm her supernatual conversations.
Face it, pre-birth, it didn’t appear as though she was having a son of royal importance.
The unexpected arrival of these wise men, bearing gifts fitting for a king, must
have felt magical to Mary.
At Christmas, anything can happen.
During the Christmas season, not only do we give the largest percentage of money
than any other time of the year, I believe we are more conscious of marginalized
citizens like the homeless and people living in poverty. Homes with no means of
buying toys, receive gifts from strangers and hungry tummies are fed.
If but for a moment, there is respite from burdens carried.
Frankincense is an oil that relieves burdens.
It relaxes and invirgorates simultaneously.
Frankincense is an oil used in annointing and spiritual celebrations since
antiquity. Frankincense supports meditation, prayer and spiritual enhancement.
It was used to cleanse rooms where the ill had been. Egytian women
painted their eyes with a powder produced from frankincense. It’s an antiseptic,
antiviral, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial and expectorant. Frankincense is
also known to reduce cancer tumors in scientific research.
It protects against self destruction, repression and despair.
Mary would have felt loved and honored to have received frankincense from her
unexpected visitors.
That’s Christmas magic!
Frankincense is in two of Capim Santo Alchemy’s signature blends, Soar and
Suspend.
* Research from the book, “Healing Oils, Healing Hands,” by Linda L. Smith
