Spirituality: bay leaves to eliminate negative energy
There are many ways to eliminate negative energy. Some people meditate, others walk through nature and some use crystals. Another common method is to use bay leaves. Bay leaf contains a number of properties and uses, many of which have been handed down to us by the ancients. We will explore the history of this leaf, also examining the different ways in which you can use it, from bay leaves that burn to eat them. Along the way, we will discuss some precautions you should take when trying this practice.
What are bay leaves?
Bay leaf can come from a variety of different plants: bay leaf, California bay leaf, Indian bay leaf, Indonesian bay leaf, West Indian bay leaf and Mexican bay leaf. The most commonly used type is bay leaf as it is used in the United States, Europe, the Mediterranean and throughout Latin America.
The leaf is aromatic in nature in the sense that it has a strong and pleasant smell. As such, it is commonly used in food preparation as it adds flavor to dishes. The taste is described as bitter when the lead is consumed as a whole, but it is the most evident smell with the leaf. As such, it is also used in perfumes and essential oils through the extraction of certain compounds.
Burning these leaves has also become an increasingly common practice. Many people wish to learn how to burn bay leaves to purify the air through the smoke they produce. There are also people who believe that burning bay leaves for money will make them rich, but we will cover that topic in a moment. First, let's consider where this knowledge comes from.
Bay leaves in flames and its ancient uses
Many ancient cultures believed that burning these leaves could ward off negative spirits and release negative energy from the individual. We find it all over the world, from India to the Amazon. However, there is a culture that stands out most in relation to the uses of bay leaves, and this is Ancient Greece.
In the ancient Greek world, bay leaf was associated with Apollo. The mythology surrounding this concept refers to Apollo's desire to woo the nymph, Daphne. He made regular progress and tried to show his love for her, but she turned him down every time. Daphne was part of the natural world and did not wish to belong to any man.
One day Daphne tried to escape from Apollo and started chasing her. As they stumbled upon a nearby forest, he asked for the power of his father, a river god. He transformed Daphne into a laurel tree and, as such, was able to return to nature and escape the negative energies emitted by the world of men.
Apollo, who left the woods with nothing but shame and regret, began to wear a wreath made of bay leaves to honor Daphne, as well as chasing away stupidity and negative thoughts. As such, this story represents the power of the bay leaf and is why people today burn bay leaves.
Practical applications of bay leaf
Before examining how to burn bay leaves, we will quickly discuss some of the other users of this mystical and ancient plant.
As we have already seen, using the leaf in the kitchen or extracting chemicals from it are common uses of bay leaf, but what properties does it actually offer?
What are the advantages of bay leaves?
For beginners, bay leaf is an anti-inflammatory. This means that any part of the inflamed body, such as joints, intestines, muscles or anywhere else, will be reduced to a more normal state. This helps reduce pain and discomfort and also restores your body to a healthier state.
Bay leaf smoke is also believed to work as a mild sedative, and therefore can help you wander at night. Additionally, it is said to help reduce feelings of stress, anxiety and depression through its natural properties to improve mood.
It does this by calming the mind and returning your spirit to a natural or positive space. Of course, burning bay leaves in this way is only part of why people do it, so in what other ways can you burn bay leaves?
How to burn bay leaves
When it comes to burning bay leaves, you can burn them for smoke (as mentioned above), or you can burn them for purely spiritual benefits. This practice is incredibly ritualistic, so to try it you have to have some objects. You will need some bay leaves, a pen (ideally a soft tip pen or marker) and a candle.
For safety reasons, you will need to have a fireproof bowl or be in a place that does not risk igniting, such as an empty fireplace or a stone patio. You're always safer to do this outside, but just be sure to take precautions. Bring water nearby, make sure all flammable objects are moved and do nothing that puts you at risk.
The ritual of burning bay leaves begins
Take one of your bay leaves and put it in front of you. Next, light the candle and place it to the right of your bay leaf. Burning bay leaves isn't something you should precipitate, so treat it as almost meditative in nature.
Think about some things you want to clean or release. Maybe you want to repel negative thoughts or emotions, maybe you want to get rid of fear or maybe you just want to purify any negative energy that could be inside you or in your home. If you're thinking of burning bay leaves for money, I'm afraid to tell you it won't work.
With the pen, write these things on the leaf. Take your time and make sure your writing is clean. You can write everything on one leaf or you can divide them on multiple leaves. The latter allows you to truly focus on the act of releasing these negative concepts from your mind, body and soul.
Raise the leaf to the candle flame and keep it there until it catches fire. Place the burning leaf in your fireproof bowl or on a stone surface and feel the flames that release the negativity, just as it releases smoke.