Forgiving: Essential Oils and Aromatherapy Recipes for Forgiveness

Essential Oils and Aromatherapy Recipes that Support Foregiveness

I was recently asked to provide recommendations for essential oils and blends that help to encourage forgiveness and that may help in setting intentions of letting go of anger, emotional pain and resentment.

I've been asked similar questions in the past, and I've been meaning to prepare these recipes for quite some time. However, it's a tricky subject.

I want to choose my words carefully because this introduction to the recipes and essential oil list is not intended to push the topic of forgiveness upon anyone. Forgiving someone for abuse or a violent act is significantly different than forgiving a loved one for constantly tracking mud onto your freshly cleaned floor.

Inspired by the questions I've received from a few AromaWeb visitors, the purpose of this article and the included essential oil recipes is to provide suggestions to those who want to try to use essential oils to help support your intentions to forgive someone (or yourself) or if you want to strive to be a more forgiving person.

Forgiveness can be excruciatingly difficult and it takes emotional strength. Both in forgiving those that have seriously harmed us and also when we need to forgive our own failings. Working to forgive ourselves and release the guilt and remorse we feel for our own mistakes is also a significant challenge.

"Forgiveness is not weak. It takes courage to face and overcome powerful emotions." - Desmond Tutu

Using the recipes and/or the specific essential oils that I list below will not miraculously enable you to be forgiving to someone that has harmed you or someone that you love. There is no evidence or clinical research that supports the use of essential oils to help support forgiveness.

With mindfulness and intention, however, the recipes and oil suggested below may help to support your intentions and soften emotional pain and anger as you work to forgive. Properly blended and administered essential oils have the incredible potential to help support your intentions.

Essential oils should not be used as a replacement for proper medical attention, mental health support and medications when necessary. Before utilizing these essential oil recipes, be sure to read all information on this page including the General Safety Information section and be sure to learn about the safety precautions for each essential oil that you choose to use.

Aromatherapy Recipes to Support Forgiveness and Letting Go

Below are five specially formulated essential oil blends to help support your intention to forgive and let go on pain, resentment, hatred and anger.

They are intended to be used when trying to....

Forgive a Specific Person or Act
Forgive Yourself
Develop a More Forgiving Overall Attitude

Everyone can respond to essential oils and blends differently. These blends are offered as a starting point and as inspiration in discovering the blends that may work best for you.

When selecting and using essential oils, be sure to follow all safety precautions and remember that aromatherapy should not be used as a substitute for proper medical treatment.

Forgiveness Blend #1

2 drops Lavender
2 drops Elemi
1 drop Angelica Root

Although this blend calls for only one drop of Angelica Root Essential Oil, it is this oil that is the key oil in the blend. Angelica Root Essential Oil can be especially helpful when working to forgive and release deep seated grief, trauma or anger. Lavender Essential Oil was chosen as it contains Linalyl Acetate which has the potential to be calming in times of anger and despair. Elemi is a beautiful essential oil that is distilled from elemi resin. It shares some general properties, benefits and subtle energy properties to those of Frankincense Essential Oil. When working towards forgiveness, it helps to breathe deeply, and Elemi Essential Oil helps to support the respiratory system.

Forgiveness Blend #2

2 drops Sweet Orange
2 drops Frankincense
1 drop Neroli

Sweet Orange Essential Oil is an uplifting and affordable citrus oil that can help to lighten the weight of heavy emotional burdens, annoyances and grievances. Well known for its timeless use in spiritual applications, Frankincense Essential Oil can help to connect with our spiritual self and see things more clearly. Last but not least, I chose to integrate precious Neroli Essential Oil into this blend as it is a beautiful essential oil that not only blends well with Sweet Orange and Frankincense, but it helps to calm and balance the emotions and bring peace. It's hard to be in the emotional place to forgive if we are feeling upset, angry or are in despair over the situation.

Forgiveness Blend #3

3 drops Sweet Orange
1 drop Spikenard
1 drop Vetiver

This lovely blend takes advantage of the grounding and calming properties of both Spikenard and Vetiver essential oils. I find Spikenard to help enhance my ability to be more reflective. At the time I am writing this, Spikenard is endangered, and I don't see the situation improving for quite some time. Please keep that in mind when purchasing the oil. But if you already have the essential oil or are careful in selecting a supplier, this is a wonderful and suitable use for it. 1 drop of Vetiver (for a total of 2 drops of Vetiver) can be used in place of using Spikenard in this formulation. Sweet Orange Essential Oil was chosen as it blends so well aromatically with Spikenard and Vetiver essential oils. I explain the benefits of Sweet Orange within the description for Forgiveness Blend #3.

Forgiveness Blend #4

2 drops Pinyon Pine
2 drops Siberian Fir
1 drop Myrrh

This blend is inspired by the fresh perspective, wisdom and softened, relaxed emotions that can be experienced after a long, quiet walk in the forest or experiencing what is known in Japan as Shinrin-Yoku -- known as Forest Bathing in English. I personally love the synergy created when combining Pinyon Pine with Siberian Fir, but your favorite conifer oils can be used in place of the Pinyon Pine and Siberian Fir Essential Oils called for in this recipe. See AromaWeb's Guide to Conifer Essential Oils for ideas. Myrrh Essential Oil was selected to complete this recipe because it is a grounding oil that can help to encourage a peaceful outlook, which in turn can help to be more emotionally able to forgive.

Forgiveness Blend #5

Indian Sandalwood Essential Oil is the key essential oil in this blend and is used for its exquisite aroma that seems to transcend time while relaxing the mind and encouraging a peaceful, calm outlook. Virginian Cedarwood Essential Oil was selected to complement the properties of the Indian Sandalwood Essential Oil. Palo Santo Essential Oil rounds out this all-wood blend and was selected for this particular recipe as it helps to promote a sense of peace, and it has been associated with riding a space of negative energy.

Best Methods to Use the Essential Oils and Recipes for Forgiveness

The essential oils and recipes that are offered below are intended specifically for use in a diffuser or personal inhaler.

They are not formulated for use on the skin or hair (topical application) because directly inhaling the essential oils through diffusion or an inhaler will make a stronger impact on your emotions.

The best way to use these essential oils and aromatherapy recipes for forgiveness is to diffusing them or by using a personal inhaler to deliberately inhale the essential oils as a part of your overall personal process for working on forgiveness.

It is recommended that you intentionally diffuse your chosen essential oils or use your personal inhaler as you set your intention to forgive and then meditate, engage in reading supportive books about forgiveness and/or read inspirational passages.

Directions

Select one of the blends shown above. Then, choose which method you'd like to use and follow the directions below.

Diffuser Master Blend

Multiply your blend by 4 to obtain a total of 20 drops of your chosen blend. Add your oils to a dark colored glass bottle and mix well by rolling the bottle in between your hands. Add the appropriate number of drops from your created blend to your diffuser by following the manufacturer's instructions for your diffuser brand and model. Some essential oils such as thick oils or citrus oils aren't compatible with all diffuser types.

Essential Oil Inhaler Blend

Multiply your blend by 3 to obtain a total of 15 drops of your chosen blend. Continue by reading to the Essential Oil Inhaler Blends page and using the 15 drop blend in place of the suggested blends shown on the page.

Air Freshener

Multiply your blend by 6 to obtain a total of 30 drops of your chosen blend. Continue by using the 30 drop blend in the Air Freshener recipe.

Suggested Essential Oils for Use When Trying to Forgive Yourself or Others

The below essential oil list is intended as a starting point and is not necessarily complete.

Everyone is different, so essential oils and oil blends don't always illicit the same emotional response for everyone. Any essential oil that you find to help ease your emotional burden can be useful.

I hope the oils and aromatherapy recipes shown on this page serve as a source of inspiration for finding the essential oils and blends that work best for you.

These recipes are offered for educational purposes only. Before using any essential oil, carefully read AromaWeb's Essential Oil Safety Information page. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young. Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. For general dilution information, read AromaWeb's Guide to Diluting Essential Oils. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications.