3/3/2024

Dearest Reader,

Happy Sunday!

This is the weekly note where I'll share a "fragrant" tip or blend along with a bit of encouragement and inspiration, hopefully to make your day brighter!

Did you know there are over 200 references to smell in the Bible? From the aroma of burnt offerings in the Old Testament to the aromatic scent of precious perfume used to anoint Jesus shortly before the Passion, fragrance is important to the Father. So that's why Sundays will be the herbal-aroma day and the encouragement day!

Here's a story of scent from the Bible:

"Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray Him, 'Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?' This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, 'Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.'" John 12:3-8

I love this scene and story so much. There's a lot of messaging here, isn't there?

On giving:

Mary (probably Mary Magdalene) gave what probably amounted to thousands of dollars or more of her precious ointment to honor Jesus and to show her love for Him.

For Judas Iscariot, a thief (and the one who would turn Jesus in), he had anything but giving on his mind.

And for Jesus: He was about to give the greatest gift of all...His blood paid the price for all Believer's sins, past, present, and future, and this is where our most important gift in this world and in our lives lies: Our salvation.

When I smell Nard (spikenard), this is one of the things I remember, and what a great association. Spikenard is what researchers and theologians believe Mary was using.

What is spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi)?

Oh, beautiful spikenard! This is a shrub that grows in the Himalayan Mountains, and probably explains its extremely high cost in Jesus' time. It was hard to get, and it still is. Spikenard has a lovely fragrance, deep and earthy.

These days, the roots are harvested which unfortunately kills the plant, so sustainability is problematic. The roots are then distilled to extract the essential oil. And this is one of my favorite essential oils for helping one to sleep.

I keep a small 5 ml bottle on my nightstand, and if I wake up in the middle of the night, I simply breathe it deeply into each nostril several times. This relaxes the mind and for me, I go gently back to sleep most times, thinking of Jesus.

Using it in this way makes it last a LONG time, too.

That's it for this Sunday's Scentsational note! I hope you enjoyed it, and I would LOVE it if you would please hit reply and let me know. I welcome your thoughts, feedback, and ideas.

Be sure to visit my YouTube channel and comment, like, share, and subscribe! Click HERE for more herbal videos, + tips and recipes.

Hugs, Health, and Herbs,

Heidi

P.S. Surprise! Just for you, my Healing Herbs of the Bible course is on sale for 50% off through this note only!

Use code: HERBSOFBIBLE50 at checkout!

Click the link below:

​Healing Herbs of the Bible and How to Use Them Today​

(Yes, it also comes with videos and a complete book with recipes!)

Below is a picture of maturing Spikenard blooms. These turn into berries as they mature, and they're on their way in this picture.... God's gifts of plants are incredible, aren't they?