Working intimately with essential oils has taught me  that it is really  useful to listen first- To the wisdom of my body, of my “gut” and to the trees and plants themselves.  As they say, Divinity speaks in whispers, so when I get quiet first and listen, a different tune comes in…..and our job is to trust it.  When I knew I was first ready to work powerfully with the oils, and not just dance around the periphery of them, which I had done for years despite some wonderful and trusted friends in the alternative health care field touting their efficacy, was one day in my chiropractors office when I had a powerful experience with Cilantro Oil.  I had been working to eliminate mercury fillings and their toxic effects in my body through chelation, when my chiropractor walked in drinking a glass of water with a few drops of cilantro essential oil added to it.  I am not exaggerating when I say I almost tackled her and told her I had to drink the whole bottle of whatever she had (I don’t recommend this nor did I do it, but it was my deep desire in the moment).

Cilantro Oil is wonderful for heavy metal detox and the Mexican culture knows this inherently, as it generally pairs cilantro with all fish dishes.  My body and its wisdom knew, "really knew" (gnosis) that I needed the support of Cilantro.  So, obsession AND repulsion have taught me something is out of balance.  The Tao teaches us that “the way” is always the balance point, neither pole, neither extreme, and all things in moderation.  Any polarity gets our attention and causes pain and shows us we have strayed.  I also had this experience with Mugwort.  I wanted to work with that oil, was most curious about it and I opened a bottle once and just about gagged.  I was disgusted and could not image anyone working with it or that any one could like the “stinky sock” smell.  Over the next few weeks I opened it every now and then and just smelled it, then began slowly working with it.  Several months later it became on of my favorites, and my sense of smell had a whole new appreciation for it.  So, once again, the oils had brought me back to homeostasis - neither obsession nor repulsion.  I urge you to Listen and ask your deeper knowing, when you have either experience- to an essential oil, that you smell.