Essential Oil of the Month: Cypress
Cypress: (Cupressus sempervirens)
“It is a tree of serene beauty, blending well into the Mediterranean landscape; its dark foliage contrasts with the lucid sky, and etches delicate silhouettes against the blue sea.”
- Earnest Guenther, Chemist and Author on Essential Oils
These tall trees grow as high as 150 feet and stretch straight skyward which is why they have been believed to help the newly departed make their way to heaven more easily. Associated with eternity and death throughout the ages, they are often seen planted near cemeteries and grave sites, especially in Mediterranean regions.
Envisioning rows of Cypress trees reaching high up into the sky may evoke mental images of ancient ruins surrounded by these giants. Ancient Greeks would sculpt statues of their immortal gods from the durable Cypress wood. Those statues would be venerated in temples, bathed, adorned, fed, and carried in processions.
The ancient Greek myth of Cypress is that of Cyparissus (Kyparrisos), the youth who, grief-stricken when he realized he had accidentally killed his beloved stag gifted to him by Apollo, wished to mourn forever and was then transformed into a Cypress tree. The tree has since been associated with grief and lamentation. In keeping, both Ancient Greeks and Romans dedicated Cypress to the God of the Underworld, Hades or Pluto, respectively. In his book, Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit, Gabriel Mojay eloquently remarks about the association, “[Cypress] Its serenely supportive fragrance possesses the power to both comfort grief and abate the fears that lurk in the ‘underworld’ of the psyche.”
Etruscans believed it could ward off the smell of death and that the tree could ward off demons, hence often planting it around burial sites. All over the ancient world, carrying a Cypress branch was used as a sign of respect for the dead. A sturdy material, Ancient Egyptians used Cypress wood to carve out coffins and adorn sarcophagi. Famous for their longevity, historically Cypress trees have held spiritual significance. Tibet still uses Cypress as an incense for purification.
Throughout the Middle Ages, Cypress trees continued to be planted around grave sites in representation of both death and the immortal soul. Continuing throughout the Victorian era, the tree maintained its associations with death and eternity, being planted around cemeteries in both Europe and the Middle East.
Van Gogh’s many paintings of Cypress trees, including the iconic Starry Night, capture their timeless beauty and mystique.
Distillation
Blue Cypress oil would not be blue were it not for an experimental distillation that took place in the 1990s. Apparently this oil only turns blue when the heartwood and bark are co-distilled. Color variations from greenish blue to cobalt blue are observed determined by the ratio of the two.
Coined by German mystic Jakob Böhme in 1621, The Doctrine of Signatures is an ancient belief that plants resemble the human body parts or functions they can affect, e.g., walnuts resembling the brain and being beneficial for cognitive health. According to this doctrine we can correlate some specific benefits of these essential oils to the plant parts used as it relates to our physical bodies. Depending on where the essential oil is derived from the tree itself, its use will differ in its benefits for our body/mind. For the Italian Cypress, the oil is most prevalent in its needles and leaves. Since those are typically how the plant “breathes” (photosynthesis), we can relate that property to our own bodies and receive the message to “BREATHE!” For the Australian Blue Cypress, the wood is distilled. Since wood gives the tree strength and stability, we can associate that property with inner strength and stability in our own body/minds. Being rooted in the ground, wood oils are also adept at helping us feel grounded when feeling unsettled.
Today, Blue Cypress essential oil is used for its calming and grounding properties, its soothing skincare benefits, and as a natural ingredient in various products like perfumes and cosmetics.
Spiritual and Energetic Properties
“Cypress has the ability to connect strongly with human frequencies and thought forms…[and] helps connection with the wisdom of the universe.”
- Valerie Ann Worwood, The Fragrant Heavens
Cypress essential oil is excellent for helping us survive times of overwhelming transitions such as moving homes, changes in jobs or in relationships. It carries with it serene wisdom and quiet confidence, offering solace in times of emotional turbulence. Its grounding aroma is particularly supportive during difficult life passages or loss, serving as a sacred companion in moments of grief and reflection. As a symbol of holding vigil, Cypress essential oil can be invited into ceremonies of mourning, whether for a loved one, a relationship, a career, or even a deeply held belief that has come to an end.
Energetically, Cypress shines for dissolving oppressive energies, emotional upsets, and the constraints of rigid perfectionism. It encourages heart-centered awareness, allowing for a more fluid and harmonious approach to life. Often called the "oil of flow" in aromatherapy, Cypress helps release stagnant emotions, fostering a calm yet steady energy. The essence of Cypress essential oil is captured in one resounding message: FLOW.
This is where Cypress shines—it supports those struggling with loss, control, tension, or mental rigidity, gently guiding them to surrender and move with life's currents. Letting go allows life to unfold naturally, teaching us to trust the process. By clearing emotional blockages, it paves the way for greater ease, balance, and spiritual alignment.
“Remember that the storm is a good opportunity for the pine and the cypress to show their strength and their stability.”
- Ho Chi Minh
Cypress and the Chakra Energy Centers
Chakras are energy centers of the body, each with a specific location and meaning, influencing physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Cypress essential oil is thought to help balance these energies by allowing FLOW in specific centers as follows:
Crown chakra – stimulates energy flow, connecting you with the Divine.
Third eye chakra- enhances the flow of energy connected to your insight and intuition. (Avoid getting the oil close to the eyes)
Throat chakra - helps release energies blocking your ability to express yourself authentically and speak your truth.
Heart chakra - opens love energy and allows it to flow, instilling self-love, strength, compassion and emotional balance.
Solar plexus chakra - instills self-confidence and wisdom to surrender any limiting beliefs you have around yourself and to own your spiritual power.
Sacral chakra- grounding and stabilizing to help balance the flow of energy around your base or root chakra, as well as enhancing your ability to create.
Massage Oil for “FLOW”:
3 drops Cypress (purifying and refreshing
3 drops Lavender (relaxation, calming, balancing)
2 drops Cedarwood (strengthening, grounding and clearing)
2 drops Grapefruit (cleansing and uplifting)
In a glass container, place the above drops into 1 ounce of your preferred carrier oil. Gently roll the container in your hands to warm and integrate the oils. Envision your desired result, offer a prayer, or simply breathe your intention into the blend. As you massage the body with the oil blend, inhale its scent to open the airways, awaken the skin with a renewed sense of energy, and unfold your spirit into FLOW.
An Anointing Blend for Loss and Grief:
3 drops Cypress
4 drops Bergamot
2 drops Frankincense
1 drop Rose Maroc
Add the above essential oils to a glass bottle of one ounce of jojoba oil. Roll the bottle in your hands to warm and integrate the oils. To personalize your blend, you can infuse it with your breath, envision a positive outcome, and/or add a prayer. Place a drop or two of the blend on your fingertip and apply to your heart chakra area with love, compassion and intention. Breathe in the comforting fragrance and breathe out the sense of loss and despair.
Include a crystal - Keep one in your pocket or under your pillow to enhance your experience. Apache Tear is a powerful symbol of strength and release, named after the legend of grieving Apache women, whose tears transformed into Obsidian upon reaching the earth. They are believed to absorb and transmute negative emotions, helping you confront and navigate the complexities of grief. Rose quartz soothes all matters of the heart.
PRECAUTIONS: Though Italian Cypress (Cypressus sempervirens) is generally considered to be safe when used properly, it is best to keep Blue Cypress (Callitris intratropica) out of reach of children, avoid contact with eyes, and do not use it if pregnant or nursing. As always, consult your physician before using either of the essential oils.
