However you may feel about Great Britain’s royal family, you’ve got to admire how carefully they adhere to tradition. For example, one important detail in the forthcoming coronation of King Charles III is the oil that will be used when Charles’ head is anointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The oil comes from the Holy Land – extracted from olives grown on the Mount of Olives in the east of Old Jerusalem. It was consecrated in Bethlehem in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. The oil will also contain jasmine, orange blossom nectar, amber, and the balsamic resin benzoin.
The anointing ceremony is linked to rejoicing, celebration, and prosperity, and is mentioned in the bible numerous times. In 1st Samuel 10:1;16:12-13 it says the prophet Samuel poured oil on Israel’s first king, Saul, and also on the second king, David.
Matthew, Mark and John all wrote about Jesus’ feet being anointed by a woman, who Luke identified as Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus. Others believe the Mary in question was Mary Magdalene, who is traditionally depicted as carrying an alabaster jar containing anointing oil.
Today, oils infused with aromatic plant products are used for much more than royal coronations. Some people use them daily in their spiritual practices for meditation and to harmonize and re-balance chakras.
Would you like to explore the fields and farms of Provence where some of the world’s most renowned essential oils are made?
Mary Magdalene in Provence Tour Announced
Kathleen McGowan’s new, small group tour of Provence, “Following in the Footsteps of the Queens of France in search of the Real Mary Magdalene” October 3 – 16, 2023, includes visits to the factory L’ Occitanne as well as the Les Agnels distillery in the heart of the Luberon where the tradition of lavender is perpetuated.
Kathleen and her co-host Veronique Flayol will reveal the surprising connection between aromatherapy and Mary Magdalene.
Plus…
- Visit the Ste. Baume mountaintop cavern cathedral where Mary Magdalene lived
- See ancient Black Madonna statues
- Visit the Sainte Anne cathedral where relics of the ancestress of Christ were found
- A special visitation of Mary Magdelene relics not normally open to the public
- Witness the annual Arrival of the Marys Festival in Saintes Maries de la Mer
Kathleen McGowan’s tours almost always fill to capacity, and the available space is limited, so if you want to join this group, you’re advised not to wait too long to register.
See Full Details of our Mary Magdalene in Provence Intensive
And speaking of tours being sold out, that is the case for our Enchanted Ireland and Sacred Scotland tours.We do, however, have a few spaces left in England – a Spiritual Odyssey June 6 – 15th, A highlight will be a private group visit to Chalice Well in Glastonbury on the evening before our pre-dawn pilgrimage to Stonehenge.
Credits:
Lavender field courtesy of lesagnels.com
Mary Magdalene by Jan van Scorel – Jan van Scorel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons