Are Essential Oils "New Age?"
But what is New Age? There are many definitions, and many who use the term cannot clearly define what they mean by it. It is usually a term used by people, applied to topics or practices they do not understand and which they fear may lead them spiritually astray. The whole idea of “New Age” somehow being a threat to valid Christian teachings, or to true spiritual principles of any faith, comes from fear and misunderstanding.
Not that wrong teachings, harmful ideas, misleading beliefs, or evil Satanic forces don’t exist and are not out there to mislead and harm us. They are out there. They do exist. And they can harm us. But Psalm 23 tells us that even “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me . . .” The key to overcoming unnecessary fear is knowing that God is constantly with you and within you. Stay fearlessly close to God in your heart and mind, and you will know what is truth and what is not. Truth is not necessarily what your religion teaches or what your priest or pastor says. It is a certain knowing from within that comes directly from Christ and the Holy Ghost that will “teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance.” John 14:26
EXERCISING SPIRITUAL CAUTION
One should be spiritually cautious in what beliefs and practices one embraces or rejects. But this needs to be an exercise of caution out of confidence, faith, and love, not from hesitancy, fear, and faulty understanding. It is true that some things lumped into the category of “New Age” are, in fact, areas that should be avoided for one’s own spiritual integrity and safety. However, to discern between what is of God and what is not, requires a heart of love and a spirit of trust and faith. There can be no fear involved, for fear corrupts one’s perception and causes one to mistake the Godly for the Ungodly and vice versa. If you are confused about things like “chakras” and want to know God’s truth, you must put yourself into a state of calmness, inner peace, and love, devoid of fear and doubt.
Recognizing truth is not an intellectual function of the mind, but a feeling function of the heart in a state of peace. When you are concentrated on the inner “stillness” within yourself, then you will know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Psalm 46:10 & John 8:32 When the voice of God came to Elijah in a desert cave, he came as “a still small voice.” When we call unto the Lord for counsel, we are instructed to “Commune with your heart upon your bedside, and be still.” Psalm 4:4
WHAT TO SAY TO THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT “NEW AGE”
The next time someone suggests that essential oils, and/or the way we apply them for healing purposes, is to be avoided because it is “New Age,” ask them to define New Age. If they give you their definition, ask them how it applies to healing applications of essential oils. Ask them if they realize that essential oils are scripturally based, that Moses, Jesus, and his disciples employed them so they are nothing “New.” If they bring up terms like “chakras” or “astral body,” etc., tell them that these terms are merely referring to your electromagnetic field, a feature of our anatomy and physiology that everyone has. They are part of the electro-magneto-mechanical body that God created for all human beings to have. It is up to us to gain an understanding of our subtle field, and make use of it beneficially for healing as, for example, the manner in which we interact with the field of the EM body during Raindrop Technique.
If those, who pose questions about "New Age," “have ears to hear,” they will listen, consider what you have said, and submit it to their heart for proof. If they “do not have ears to hear,” then pursue the topic no further and move on, like Jesus and his disciples did. Spend your efforts in a search to engage with those of sufficient faith and spiritual understanding to grasp the truth.
SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT OILS
Jesus' advice to his disciples for their ministry, given in Mark 6:10-11, was to travel to many places, interact with many people, and abide with those who are receptive to the message and who invite you to stay with them. But Jesus went on to say, "whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you," depart thence and go elsewhere to find others who will hear you and your Gospel.
Jesus never instructed his followers to argue or attempt to convince people of his message. He and his disciples publicized, but never tried to "sell," their Good News. Jesus' instructions were to state the truths of the Gospel and allow people to take it or leave it, constantly traveling and searching to find those who were ready to receive. Essential oils, like Christ's Gospel, can only be shared as the Divine blessings they are, allowing people to take them or leave them, but continuing to move on in the search for those who are receptive and ready.
What I have discussed above are matters that mostly have to be discovered or realized on your own, through prayer and inner contemplation, and by the actual hearing of God’s voice, and the actual seeing of God’s light within, through the practice of personal stillness. You may not like or agree with what I have said in this article, and that is all right. Take what you can use at this stage of your need and ignore the rest.
-David Stweart
