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September 19, 2018
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Yom Kippur 5779/2018 An Excerpt from Esther’s Days of Purification

Dear Friends,

It is Yom Kippur 5779/20 Sept 2018. I felt is was appropriate to revisit what I wrote in my Esther’s Days of Purification book that I published in 2010.

May the words that I penned be encouragement to you today.

Hugs,

Cynthia (Contact info at the bottom of this blog.)

Forgiveness & Releasing Guilt ~ Esther’s Days of Purification

Forgiveness is one of the most beautiful words in our human vocabulary. Often it begins with forgiving ourselves for our own short comings towards our loved ones, family and friends. Forgiving others, those who we perceive as having done us wrong, often takes great effort and determination. Everything in us resists it even though we have read and heard Matthew 7:7 hundreds of times. But forgiveness is vital to our lives if we truly want to be the queen. It brings deep cleansing and emotional release. Much pain and unhappy consequences would be avoided if we all could learn the meaning of true forgiveness.

Forgiveness is needed in three ways; forgiving ourselves, forgiving others and asking for forgiveness from our Heavenly Father for where we have erred. Oh, one more, forgiving God when things don’t go the way we want. In my opinion, forgiveness is the very important first step in the purification process. While forgiveness really isn’t defined as an emotion, but as a decision, it often is an emotional decision.

There is a close link between purification and sanctification. One Hebrew word for purification is taw-hare ~ to wash, to cleanse, become bright, purify and become sound and clear, be unadulterated or polluted, uncontaminated; morally innocent or holy like a Levite (Priest). We also find purity in the Hebrew word for sanctification, kodesh.

Strong’s word H6942 qodash kaw-dash’

A primitive root; to be (causatively make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally): – appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy (-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify (-ied one, self), X wholly.

As you go through the month of forgiveness, liken yourself to the Children of Israel who left Egypt and traveled 40 years. They got to the brink of the Jordan River only to have to wait three days before going into the Promised Land, after Joshua’s words, “Sanctify yourselves”.

And Joshua rose early in the morning, and they journey from Shittim, and come in unto the Jordan, he and all the sons of Israel, and they lodge there before they pass over. And it cometh to pass, at the end of three days, that the authorities pass over into the midst of the camp, and command the people, saying, `When ye see the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then ye journey from your place, and have gone after it; only, a distance is between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure; ye do not come near unto it, so that ye know the way in which ye go, for ye have not passed over in the way heretofore.’ And Joshua said to the people, `Sanctify yourselves; for to-morrow doth Jehovah do in your midst wonders.’ And Joshua spoke unto the priests, saying, `Take up the ark of the Covenant, and pass over before the people;’ and they take up the Ark of the covenant, and go before the people. And God said unto Joshua, This day I begin to make thee great in the eyes of all Israel, so that they know that as I was with Moses I am with thee. Joshua 3:1-7

Hmm, three days . . . I wonder if Esther was reflecting on this part of her heritage when she instructed Mordecai to have all of the Jews fast and pray for three days. Esther 4:16 (I need to note that the fast of Esther included water. The fasting of “drink” can be found in the Hebrew word shâthâh which means “to imbibe” (literally or figuratively). You find that same word later in Esther 7:1; it’s the word “banquet” and interesting it is also found in 3:15 “And the king and Haman sat down to drink.” Now, these are important “factoids” when you understand some things found in Esther 3:7-15. “It was the first month, the month of Nisan.” (3:7) “Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month.” (3:12) and perhaps why we find “two banquets” as it was the season of Passover. You’ll find continued thoughts on this in my book “The Healing Rose: The Rest of the Story of Esther’s Purification” when I share insight on ancient “banqueting”.

Purification and sanctification is linked to fasting and prayer. King David knew this when he wrote Psalm 51 when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had been with Bathsheba.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou might be justified when thou speaks, and be clear when thou judges. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desires truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shall make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. For thou desires not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delights not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shall thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon the altar. Psalms 51:1-19

King David pleaded for forgiveness when he said “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean.”

Myrrh and hyssop have anti-septic properties known to clean deep wounds. Both are purifying and bring cleansing to our brokenness. The cleansing of saying I am sorry, and truly meaning it, is the very essence of forgiveness. When we ask forgiveness of God and others it restores us to our original standing with God.

In Jewish life, every day except Shabbat, during the Amidah (morning prayer), forgiveness is included. This prayer could be inspiration for us each day.

Forgive us, our Father, for we have erred; pardon us, our King, for we have willfully sinned; for you pardon and forgive. Blessed are You, Hashem (God), the gracious One Who pardons abundantly.

On Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, a prayer known as Al Chet is recited. Many times I’ve experienced being in Jerusalem on this holiest day of the year. On one occasion, I had made a tallit (Jewish prayer shawl) of the nations during the season that lead up to traveling to Israel. I had used small flags of the world on one side, and the other side was the large flags of the US and Israel. I had completed every part of the project except for the tying of the fringes called the tzit-tzit. I wanted to add an additional spiritual meaning of the project, so I took the tallit to Israel with me. On Yom Kippur I hiked up to Mt. Scopus. I wanted a view of the Old City as I recited the complete Yom Kippur prayers. I was repenting to God on behalf of America and the nations against Israel. Upon completion of the Yom Kippur prayers, I finished the tallit by tying the fringes.

When you say the Al Chet, it is important for you to recognize yourself as a sinner. Even with the atoned blood of Christ over our lives, remembrance and introspection is very much needed in our hearts. Continually carrying this heart-attitude of humility can be found not only on Yom Kippur, but in the yearly freedom celebration of Pesach, The Passover. These holidays carry deep spiritual significance and are important for us to take part of today.

The Yom Kippur prayer, Al Chet, begins with this.

And so, let it be Your will Adonai, our God, and God of our fathers, that you cleanse us of all our unintended sins, and You forgive us of all our intended sins and You pardon us of all our rebellious sins.

Then a list of forty-four wrong-doings is recited. (Space doesn’t allow for me to write them here.) In essence, forgiveness of sin is requested for a wide variety of things we have said and done in both our public and private lives against God and others. This includes foolish speech and impure thoughts. The list even goes as far as having haughty eyes and being jealous. Yes, dear Ones, asking forgiveness just for ourselves goes deep.

During the time when the Temple was intact, Yom Kippur was the only day that the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies to offer up the incense on behalf of the people of God. (Prayers are incense) (The recipe for Ketoret, The Holy Incense, is found in the Siddur. It is composed of 11 ingredients in which myrrh is one. I have a teaching on the Ketoret available. I include the 11 ingredients and the spiritual significance of each linking it to prayer and the Day of Atonement.)

Yeshua Jesus, our Great High Priest was the atonement for our sins. Found in The Lord’s Prayer, as He taught the disciples how to pray, is forgiveness. As we embrace the purification and sanctification of our hearts through forgiveness, His words are more important than ever. (The Lord’s Prayer is found in Matthew 6:9-15 and Luke 11:2-4.)

In the beginning we find how Holy, Pure and Sanctified His Name is, which is the correct meaning of the KJV word hallowed. At the end of The Lord’s Prayer we find forgiveness is given when we ask for it as we forgive others. We’ve known this all along our journey in life, and we realize there are times it can be so difficult. I know I’ve had to do it often, even when my heart was broken and so deeply crushed that I felt like dying would be easier. But the immense release from forgiving others brings enormous freedom. God will help you, if you let Him. Forgiveness puts a dance into your step and a smile on your face. Forgiveness is in the spirit of an Overcomer!

There should be no guilt remaining on your shoulders when you’ve asked for forgiveness from your heavenly Father. If there is, it is important that you release that heaviness of guilt hanging over you. Often, childhood experiences have produced guilt that continues to be dark, emotional threads that overshadow us and weigh us down, keeping our self-esteem low. May I tell you again, there is freedom from guilt when you acknowledge that Christ bore all of your sin and that He can make all things new.

This is so important! We need to make it personal in our lives so that we, as the Bride of Yeshua, will be able to stand with our white garments before Him, and then beside Him, knowing that when God forgives and purifies us from our sin, He also forgets. (Hebrews 8:12, Psalms 103:12, Isaiah 38:17) He did it for you, and He did it for those who have hurt you.

As we look into the properties of myrrh and how it connects with forgiveness, I find it to be linked with our immune system. Myrrh is an immune builder, and Esther’s purification of six months of oil of myrrh was to assure her of a strong immune system. When we haven’t forgiven, we have an internal battle that depletes our immune system, often the result is auto-immune diseases. The reason I tie forgiveness with auto-immune diseases is because in simple terms, they rob you in your blood.

The immune system is the body’s defense against infectious organisms and other invaders. Through a series of steps called the immune response, the immune system attacks organisms and substances that invade body systems and cause disease. The immune system is made up of a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body. The cells involved are white blood cells, or leukocytes, which come in two basic types that combine to seek out and destroy disease-causing organisms or substances.

Our immune system depends on the life of our soul, which is having clean blood. This is found in this Scripture verse, which incidentally is in the chapter about the Day of Atonement.

For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul. Leviticus 17:11

Forgiveness through Jesus Yeshua, and the blood He shed was the atonement for our sin. To become the Queen, the first process is forgiveness. Jesus forgave you, and in accepting His forgiveness and forgiving others, your whole body will benefit and thrive.

Esther Book Cover

Apothecary Cynthia Hillson

E-mail: ApothecaryMamaCynthia@gmail.com

Website www.TheFragrantBride.com

Fragrant Botanical Tour to Israel https://fragrantbotanicaltour.com/

Tour is March 10 to 20, 2019

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December 26, 2017
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Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh

This blog is a chapter from my forthcoming book, All The Trees of Frankincense, hopefully, available in the spring of 2018.

Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh ~ The Gifts From the Magi

It is during the season of Christmas the most famous of frankincense and myrrh scriptures is brought to light. Churches, malls, and homes decorated with a stable and three kings kneeling to present their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ Child. The rest of the scene has Mary holding the child and Joseph looking on with camels, donkeys, and sheep to add to the humble setting all the while the star is brightly shining. And to add to the scene we have a few shepherds with their staffs and a host of angels.

When we moved to North Carolina, in November 1990, our fifth child was three weeks old. On our first Sunday in our new town, we walked into a church with our tribe. As we were departing this lady came up to us. She was overjoyed and very excited to meet us. She looked at Hannah and said “There’s my baby Jesus! We don’t have to use a doll this year.” After talking with her we found out that she was the Children’s Church Director. So, David was Joseph, I was Mary, and Hannah was Jesus that year. The Children’s Church surrounded us as angels gazing down on us and the notable wise men giving us the treasure chests of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The three gifts were of great symbolic significance as well as of a valuable commodity. Gold represents a deity, myrrh is suffering, and frankincense is worship. In my Precious Oils Study of the Fragrances of the Bible, I expound on the symbolic meanings of these treasures.

Let’s look at some key points that lead up to the presentation of the gifts that set the stage for the gifts.

In Matthew 2:1 we find the introduction of the “wise men” from the east. The original word is magi, from which comes our word magician. Today magician is used in a negative way, but that wasn’t the original definition. Wise Men were philosophers, priests, or astronomers who scholars tell us lived chiefly in Persia and Arabia. They were men of integrity and devoted to their higher learning and calling of their vocations; astronomy, religion, and to healing and medicine. These men were highly esteemed by the Persian court and other countries from where they resided.

Verse 2 asks “Where is he?” and then they say, “born of the King of the Jews”. We need to stop and think about a few things. During this period of history, there was a deep expectation that some remarkable person would appear in Judea, perhaps even “The Messiah”. People were looking for the fulfillment of Daniel 9:25-27. With hopeful hearts, they knew that the period was approaching when he would appear. Although this king would be temporary, a great expectation that he would deliver them from Roman bondage was deep in their hearts. Many Jewish families, at that time, lived in Egypt, Rome, Greece and other Eastern countries. They carried the history, and prophecies of their people, written on scrolls, in every place they lived so naturally there was a great expectation that some remarkable person was about to appear just as they read.

“From the East” can show us two thoughts, the first is the country of from where they were from, or it could mean that from where they were traveling from, perhaps the east/west ancient trade route over land. At this point of the story we don’t know they have “gifts”, but as we read in the next verse we find that they were brought to Jerusalem under the guidance of “His Star”. Commentators enlighten us with these thoughts.

Among the ancients, the appearance of a new star or comet was regarded as an omen of some remarkable event. Many such appearances are recorded by the Roman historians at the birth or death of distinguished men. Thus, they say that at the death of Julius Caesar a comet appeared in the heavens and shone seven days. These wise men also considered this as an evidence that the long-expected Prince was born. It is possible that they had been led to this belief by the prophecy of Balaam “There shall come a star out of Jacob,” Numbers 24:17. What this star was is not known. There have been many conjectures respecting it, but nothing is revealed concerning it. We are not to suppose that it was what we commonly mean by a star. The stars are vast bodies fixed in the heavens, and it is absurd to suppose that one of them was sent to guide the wise men. It is most probable that it was a luminous appearance, or meteor, such as we now see sometimes shoot from the sky, which the wise men saw, and which directed them to Jerusalem. It is possible that the same thing is meant which is mentioned in Luke 2:9; “The glory of the Lord shone round about them”, a great light appeared shining on them. That light might have been visible from afar, and might have been seen by the wise men in the East. Barnes Notes of the Bible.

“This glory of the Lord” is the same as a “great” glory – that is, a splendid appearance or “light.” The word “glory” is often the same as light as found in I Corinthians 15:41; Luke 9:31 and Acts 22:11. The words “Lord” and “God” are often used to denote “greatness” or “intensity.” In the Word, we find “trees of God” meaning great trees; “hills of God,” high or lofty hills, etc. So “the glory of the Lord” here means an exceedingly great or bright luminous appearance perhaps not unlike what Paul saw on the way to Damascus.

As we continue to expound verses one and two we find another reference “In the East”, which is not the same as “From the East”. “In the East” does not mean that they had seen the star to the east of themselves, but that, when they were in the East, they had seen this star as it was in the direction of Jerusalem and must have been west of them. This could be translated, “We, being in the East, have seen his star.” It is called his star because they believed it indicated the time and place of his birth.

To worship him does not mean that they had come to pay him religious homage, or to adore him They regarded him as the King of the Jews as there was no evidence that they supposed that he was divine. Their tribute was to honor him as a prince or king, not as God. Worship implies no more than this. It means to prostrate oneself before another; to fall and pay homage to another. This was the mode in which homage was paid to earthly kings, and this they wished to pay to the new-born King of the Jews. We find the same meaning of worship in Matthew 20:20 and 18:26; Acts 10:25 and Luke 14:10. Webster defines worship as “to respect, to honor, to treat with civil reverence’.

Thayer’s Greek Definition is.

1) to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence

2) among the Orientals, especially the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence

3) in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether to express respect or to make supplication

3a) used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank

The Strong’s Concordance describes further. G4352

proskuneo pros-koo-neh’-o

From G4314 and probably a derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): – worship.

As I would very much like to continue the rest of the passage verse-by-verse, I’ll share the story in a nutshell.

Herod, the king HEARD the wise men, He got super agitated because “he was king”. He may have ranted so much it could be the reason that we read “and all of Jerusalem with him”. He gathers the Sanhedrin DEMANDING them to tell him where this king had been born. The scribes, without hesitation, told him what the prophet Micah had written in Micah 5:2

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Then Herod had a secret meeting with the wise men; he wanted to know when the star had appeared giving him insight on the approximate age of the child in which scholars tell us that he was around two years of age. Herod sent them out to search for the child and told them when you find him send someone to tell me. After the meeting with the king, the wise men departed. Then the same star shone brightly leading them until it was over the child.

The joyfulness was great among them as they went into the house seeing the child with his mother and gave homage to the child, presenting him with the precious and sacrificial gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

In a dream, the wise men were told not to return to Herod and departed another path back home.

Now, this takes us a few moments to ponder the gifts that are only mentioned in Matthew’s account. But first I want to share a “thought”, not from anything I read but just as I was thinking and writing this for you.

So, I had a thought about Luke 2 who tells us more of the story; there was “no room in the inn”, shepherds herding their flocks and “the angel of the Lord”. Do you think that “his star” from Matthew was “his angel” as often people have described angels as being “light”? And perhaps the wise men heard of the taxation and perhaps is why the wise men gave sacrificially of the precious gifts.

Back to the precious gifts given. Perhaps the offerings of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were given as they were the most prized gifts from the country that the Magi (or wise men) were from.

Much speculation has occurred for centuries of what the gift of gold was and is debatable. The precious metal of gold is very possible, but perhaps not. In Scripture, we find several words for gold as well as the metal mined from many surrounding nations. As I’ve studied I often wonder if the “gold” given to the Christ child was coins or something of a golden nature such as this plant-loving apothecary tends to think.

In Biblical Archeology Bible History Daily (12/02/2017) they write this, in which had me thinking perhaps my train of thought was on the right path.

Still, others have suggested that the gifts of the magi were a bit more practical—even medicinal in nature.

I’ve read a few thoughts where something “golden” could have been the “gold”. Some think it was turmeric. Others suggest that it was the Balm of Gilead. All were (are) “medicinal” but personally, I rather doubt that they were the most valuable non-coin in those days.

While I am not ruling out that the “gold” could have been gold coins, I’m presenting something else that I’ve been teaching since I wrote my Precious Oils Study in 2008 that the “gold” given by the wise men was possible a wood called “oud” (a/k/a “Aloes”).

The wood is dark to golden colored and its cost is more than gold. Around the world, the wood is known as Gaharu, Jinko, Aloeswood, Agarwood, Eaglewood or Oud. It is valued in many cultures for its distinctive fragrance and has been called the “Incense of the Kings.”

Aloes (aloeswood) is not the Aloe Vera that we think of from the desert cactus but from a specific tree that was (and still) used as incense by itself or in a blend as well as in designer perfumes such as Giorgio Armani’s Oud Royal and Tom Ford’s Oud Wood.

Aloeswood/Oud is the resinous heartwood from the Aquilaria agallochum plant. The time-honored fragrance is of continued great interest to me considering ancient cultures used it and we find it in Torah. Oud is extracted from decayed wood and found in countries of the east; Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, China, Siam, and Northern India. The tree grows to the height sometimes of 120 feet. This species is of a great rarity even in India. There is another and more common species, called by Indians aghil, whence Europeans have given it the name of Lignum aquile, or eagle-wood. The aroma is amazing. We can purchase the rare essential oil by itself, but be prepared a few drops will cost you more than pure rose oil. The wood, as an incense, is also pricey, but is affordable and used for meditation and religious purposes, mainly in the Arab world.

Oud is believed to be one of the most expensive aromas in the world. Both the resin and the wood are equally treasured. One drop of the Oud CO2 can add a depth, unlike other plants. The aroma is like a blend of cedar and sandalwood, but with subtle fragrance notes of roses and balsam. Totally intriguing and mysterious.

Another conviction that it was possibly “aloeswood” in this scripture verse is because we first find the plant mentioned in the Torah, written Lign Aloes in the goodly tents of Jacob. (Numbers 24). And it’s interesting that Solomon wrote another “aloes, frankincense and myrrh” verse that I’ll expound upon later in this book.

Be it gold coins or aloeswood all represented wealth then, as well as today.

Frankincense and myrrh haven’t changed much in the years past, and both are written in the Torah. The first account of myrrh is in Genesis 37 with the caravan of Ishmaelites carrying it with other choice products from an eastern region called Gilead. The first account of frankincense is also found in Torah (Exodus 30) as an ingredient in the Holy Incense. Later in this book, we examine the healing properties of these resins.

Frankincense and myrrh are both aromatic gum resins and were heavily traded on the ancient trade routes of land and sea and the use of them in the ancient culture of Egypt are well documented.

Now, “why these gifts”? One thought I have goes back to the taxation when Joseph and Mary had to go to The City of David. As the story continues in Matthew 2, verse 13 we read the wise men departed, then the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him to go to Egypt. If at that time, they hadn’t paid their taxes they could, and they would have “travel money” as Egypt was not their homeland, they would be foreigners and needed provision to live there. In ancient Egypt, massive quantities of aromatics were consumed. The precious resins of frankincense, myrrh, and other aromatics were in great demand. Is it possible that the wise men’s gifts were the riches they needed to survive in Egypt until Herod died?

Oh, and about those wise men, there probably were more than three, there may have been a dozen or a hundred, we don’t know. With the possibility of encountering robbers or wild animals, safety in numbers was “wise”.

Cynthia Hillson’s ministry, Precious Oils Up On the Hill, brings fragrances written in the Bible to life. She has been married to David for 37 years. They are the parents of six children and grandparents to seven.

Precious Oils Up On the Hill® is the ministry Cynthia began in 1991 after a three-day encounter with the Holy Spirit where she was instructed to “anoint the nations” and “prepare the Bride”. Cynthia is a Modern Day Apothecary who teaches about Biblical fragrances for personal delight, physical health, and spiritual growth. Cynthia lovingly calls her books and workshops a “Show and Smell” ministry. For more information go to http://www.TheFragrantBride.com.

January 5, 2015
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Jan 2015 Update

Lots of things happening with Apothecary Mama. I posted the desert garden in Israel project update last week on my other blog.

http://preciousoils.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/the-garden-in-the-desert-project-update-january-2015/

I’ll be adding an exciting ancient secret/modern use slideshare later this week for those of you who want to know the plants of the Bible. It is so exciting all the information I have gathered.

Fragrantly Yours,

Apothecary Mama Cynthia

E-mail ApothecaryMamaCynthia@gmail.com

Like us on Facebook!! Apothecary Mama (I post updates quicker here than anywhere else on the web.)

October 3, 2014
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Yom Kippur 5774 ~ 3 Oct 2014

Dear Friends,

In a few hours the Holiest Day of the year begins here in the US, in Israel it started a few hours ago. It is Yom Kippur.

I’ve written about Yom Kippur in my Esther’s Days of Purification as well as published a small teaching called Ketoret. Earlier this year I began to compile a number of other notes to make the Ketoret a complete teaching. Even with all the craziness of me preparing to depart to Israel for six weeks I felt this information was important. Ironically, I will be spending most of my time on the ancient incense trail while I am in Israel.

KETORET IS PROTECTION

APOTHECARY CYNTHIA HILLSON

And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah. And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed. Numbers 16:46-50

Ketoret has the unique property of protection as a fumigation as we look into the Hebrew word.

(Strong’s H7004 קטרת q^eṭôreth ket-o’-reth From H6999; a fumigation: – (sweet) incense, perfume.

H6999 קטר qâṭar kaw-tar’

A primitive root (rather identical with H7000 through the idea of fumigation in a close place and perhaps thus driving out the occupants); to smoke, that is, turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship): – burn (incense, sacrifice) (upon), (altar for) incense, kindle, offer (incense, a sacrifice).

While today we normally wouldn’t be using an incense burner/censer with whole spices ground into an incense powder as a fumigation we do use essential oils with a diffuser.

Yalkut Meam Loez cites a story from Midrash Haneelam.

Rav Aha once arrived in a certain town that had been ravaged by a plague for seven days. The townspeople came to him and told him of their troubles. The plague was only intensifying, and they did not know what to do. He said, “Let us go to the Bet Kenesset (House of the Congregation) and pray that it stops.” As they made their way towards the Bet Kenesset, people came and told them that the plague had claimed even more victims; others are about to die. He said, “Since the calamity is so severe and time is running out, we will not go to the Bet Kenesset. Rather, bring me forty G-d-fearing people and they will divide into groups of ten, each of which should go to one direction of the city and recite ‘pitum haketoret’ (the Talmudic discussion of the ingredients of the ketoret) three times. They should then add, ‘Moshe said to Aharon: Take the firepan and place fire upon it from the altar and place ketoret, and quickly bring it to the nation and atone on their behalf… ‘ until ‘and the plague ended.’” They did as he told, and the plague stopped. All those who had been stricken were cured. A heavenly voice called out to the harmful spirits, “Do no more damage in this town, for the attribute of justice no longer has any control over them!”

Rav Aha was exhausted and fell asleep. He dreamt that it was told to him, “Just as you eliminated the plague from the city, so must you bring them back in teshuva, for one cannot endure without the other, because it was on account of their sins that the plague was decreed”. He told this to the townspeople and they repented. They changed the name of the town to “Mahsiya,” which means “town of compassion”. They kept the town’s name in their minds at all times so as to ensure that they would not return to their sinful ways.

The following is excerpts from a rare book from David Israel Macht written 1928. I’m including this information because of the importance of the ingredients of the Holy Incense and how the pharmacological essence of the incense affects us.

“From a pharmacological point of view incense is especially interesting in two respects. First in regards to is antiseptic properties, secondly, in regard to its effects on the nervous system, and more particularly on the psychological functions, through the sense of smell. (In my book, Esther’s Days of Purification, I share insight on the sense of smell and emotions.)

The World War was instrumental, (Remember only one world war had happened at this time in history) in connection with the impetus given to the search for antiseptics and germicidal properties of various essential oils; as for instance so well described by Cavel. This antiseptic action of volatile oils was un-doubtly responsible for the remarkable medicinal virtues of various balsams used in ancient times, especially in the treatment and healing of wounds.

Oh my, as I read this I had to run to my library. I pulled Gattefosse’s Aromatherapy book off of my shelf and nearly fainted as I read. Now that I’ve picked myself up off the floor I have to tell you the importance of not only Gattefosse “coining” the word aromatherapy, (many believed he did so in 1928); the same year that Macht wrote the above. As I began to re-read Robert Tisserand’s Editor Introduction my eyes fell to these words.

“Wound healing was a major problem, and the cause of many deaths during first World War. Essential oils might have been more widely used during the Second World War if penicillin had not been discovered, but they were used to a limited degree – for instance some Australian troops carried tea tree oil, until supplies ran out.”

Essential oils, such as Tea Tree Oil as we know today aren’t the infused oil that were used in Biblical times. There is much controversy about essential oil discovery but it is of our research that a Persian physician, Ib’n Sina, better known as Avicenna (980 A.D.-1037 A.D.) who was a celebrity throughout the Arab world is the one who greatly contributed to the process when he introduced the use of a refrigerated coil in the distillation process of plants. It is believed that distillation of aromatic flowers and essential oils methods were done in basic and mostly crude stills that were used before his discovery. Avicenna was highly advanced in many ‘modern’ methods of medicine many which are still used today. His published works included The Book of Healing and the Canon of Medicine. He is also accredited with writings on the use of over 800 medicinal plants.

The NAHA writes: Distillation appears to have been practiced throughout ancient times. Based upon the current interpretation Paolo Rovesti’s discovery of an earthenware distillation apparatus, the production or extraction of aromatic oils by means of steam distillation, has been known for 5000 years. During the fifth century AD, the famed writer, Zosimus of Panopolis, refers to the distilling of a divine water and panacea. Throughout the early Middle Ages and beyond, a crude form of distillation was known and was used primarily to prepare floral waters or distilled aromatic waters. These appear to have been used in perfumery, as digestive tonics, in cooking, and for trading.

Although an extensive trade of odoriferous material has been shown to have occurred in the ancient Orient and ancient Greece and Rome, the oils used were not essential oils per se, “rather they were obtained by placing flowers, roots, and other plant material into a fatty oil of best quality, submitting the glass bottles containing these mixtures to the warming influence of the sun and finally separating odoriferous oil from the solid constituents”. www.naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/about-aromatherapy/how-are-essential-oils-extracted.

Oh, remember how the year 1928 stuck out to me as when the term “aromatherapy” is thought to be coined and David Macht wrote his book on the Holy Incense the same year? Well, my friend, another “factoid” I found on 1928 is when I was researching penicillin and how it was discovered on Sept 15, 1928.

Penicillin is one of the earliest discovered and widely used antibiotic agents, derived from the Penicillium mold. Antibiotics are natural substances that are released by bacteria and fungi into their environment, as a means of inhibiting other organisms – it is chemical warfare on a microscopic scale.

In 1928, Sir Alexander Fleming observed that colonies of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus could be destroyed by the mold Penicillium notatum, proving that there was an antibacterial agent there in principle. This principle later lead to medicines that could kill certain types of disease-causing bacteria inside the body.

At the time, however, the importance of Alexander Fleming’s discovery was not known. Use of penicillin did not begin until the 1940s when Howard Florey and Ernst Chain isolated the active ingredient and developed a powdery form of the medicine.http://www.inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/Penicillin.htm

Have you read Steven Harrold Buhner’s books, Herbal Antibiotic’s and Herbal Antiviral’s? Buhner gives insight the why and how’s of getting back to plant-based medicine as he gently warns us of the soon-coming lack of antibiotics’. Perhaps, as the pharmaceutical antibiotics diminish, and are no longer being researched against the superbugs, it is a reason for us to know the power of God’s plant kingdom and learn more about herbal and natural remedies including, but not limited to, essential oils? Perhaps that is why there is such a “buzz” about the essential oils?

He who has “ears” listen to what the spirit is saying.

You can order the Ketoret booklet with the additional notes included from my web site. http://www.shop.thefragrantbride.com/. With the Ketoret teaching you will also receive a small vial of Ketoret.

This offer will end 4 Oct 2014 @10 am and be mailed out on Monday, 6 Oct 2014.

September 18, 2014
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Aroma Bottles

Aroma Bottle History and pictures of our current inventory of Aroma Bottles

http://precious-oils.com

September 4, 2014
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Ancient Balms

I’ve begun making balms using Biblical plants that are infused in olive oil. Today I will finish one that I am making for a friend who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

In ancient days there wasn’t our modern marvel of essential oils, contrary to what the current phenomena of those who promote essential oils as being a “panacea” for every ailment under the sun. There are times we just need to get back to the ways things used to be, in fact Scripture tells us that we will find our end, in our beginning. (Isaiah 46).

Precious Oils first anointing oil was made using the ancient process of infusing plants into olive oil with the sun being the heat source.

This fall I will be on the ancient incense trail in Israel for five weeks cooking and serving groups. In my spare time I will be making Biblical Balms. I am super excited because I’ll be able to use some desert and other plants that grow in Israel, and to top it off we’ve been asked to be part of a very special ancient garden planting project.

If you want to know more, or want to contribute to this very exciting project please e-mail me at ApothecaryMamaCynthia@gmail.com and I will send you the information.

September 2, 2014
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Tsoree’ ~ A Gentle Healing Balm for Aches and Pains

Last week I was given two challenges. While they may have seemed as totally being unrelated, somehow they came together.

The first challenge was from a customer of my tea and spice business who wanted to know what he could do with his excess peppers. I told him that he wasn’t alone as we also have our own abundant hot pepper crop. I began sharing with him some culinary options from drying the peppers and how to make spiced vinegar’s and hot sauces. THEN I told him that he could make “healing balms”. As I explained the ancient process, and how to incorporate our modern day essential oils, we both knew that sticking with the culinary side was a much better option for him.

The second challenge was from a friend who is need of something to help her husband’s pain. After asking a few questions it was determined that alternating between hot and cool compresses could possibly help but I also felt that “cool and warm” healing ointments may possibly be beneficial. I packaged a bottle of my “RELIEF”, an essential oil blend using the ancient formula of Tei Fu, and sent it to her. As I scoured my herbal books for other helpful ideas I knew that I should make use of both the pepper harvest and the need of a pain remedy for my friend. I’m calling it Tsoree’, which is the Hebrew word for “balm”. I made a lot of it, so if you, or someone you know would like to try a jar or a tester I will be happy to send one to you.

Go to my Facebook page and “Like” Apothecary Mama and I will send out Tsoree’ to the first five people who respond “Pink Me ~ Pick Me!”.

Or send me an e-mail with your request to TheHealingLeaves@aol.com for your Tsoree’

Don’t forget that Apothecary Mama is hosting THE HEALING LEAVES, a FREE seminar on September 20th in Mooresville, North Carolina. Kindly register so we can have enough handouts and lunch for everyone who wants to learn more about essential oils from leaves and how to make your own healing balms as well as other aromatherapy products. E-mail THEHEALINGLEAVES@AOL.COM

My RELIEF blend has become wildly popular as well as being popular among my husband’s co-worker’s at the machine shop where he works. RELIEF contains a few cooling essential oils such as camphor and mint as well as lavender. I currently blend it in fractionated coconut oil but am considering adding beeswax or coconut oil to make it into a balm since I’ve found out through the years that not everyone likes “oil”. You can find “Relief” on my website

http://precious-oils.com/Essential_Oil_Blends.html

Look for our Apothecary Mama teaching on Biblical Balm and Hebrew Word picture later this week.

August 18, 2014
by Precious Oils 1 Comment

The Healing Leaves ~ Sept 20, 2014 ~ Mooresville, North Carolina

The Healing Leaves

Hosted by Apothecary Cynthia Hillson

September 20, 2014

The U Center @ Alcove

517 Alcove Road Mooresville, NC 28115

To Register for the Seminar e-mail TheHealingLeaves@aol.com

The Healing Leaves Seminar is Free, but registration is required.

PROGRAM

Morning Session 9 am to 12:15 pm

(Registration begins at 8:30)

Intro of the Healing Leaves Seminar.

Define Aromatherapy, including a brief History of Aromatherapy. Identify key points of “pure oils”, including laboratory testing.

Quick overview of our body systems and three ways that essential oils enter the body. We will also include time to discuss why having a strong immune system is one of the first defenses in preventing disease.

Five Essential Oils that are obtained from leaves. We will teach you how the “major five” essential oils are important. Each of the “major five” are anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-septic. This session will be in-depth with the profiles of each plant as well as “smelling” each variety.

The second portion of our “leaves” presentation will include a variety of oil suggestions that contain 2 to 3 of the health properties of the major five oils, and how you can incorporate a few, or many, of them into your home pharmacy and first-aid kits.

Lunch Break 45 minutes. 12:15 to 1:00 pm

Afternoon Session 1 pm to 3:30 pm

The many uses and the “how-to’s” of essential oils. Here we will share with you how to effectively use your essential oils.

Questions & Answers

Info about Cynthia and seminar www.ApothecaryMama.com

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Cynthia Hillson’s ministry, Precious Oils Up On the Hill, brings fragrances written in the Bible to life. She has been married to David for 34 years. They are the parents of six children and grandparents of five.

Precious Oils Up On the Hill® is the ministry Cynthia began in 1991. Cynthia is a Modern Day Apothecary who teaches about Biblical fragrances for personal delight, physical health, and spiritual growth. Cynthia lovingly calls her books and workshops a “Show and Smell” ministry.

For more information go to http://www.TheFragrantBride.com.