Sacred Seeds: Cinnamon
Sensuality and spice as a remedy
“Your channel is an orchard of pomegranates with all choicest fruits, henna with nard, nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all chief spices – a garden fountain, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon.” Song of Songs 4:13-15 NRSV
Our senses are a gift; an invitation into worlds unseen. Our senses inform how we experience all that is in relation to ourselves through the instrument of pleasure. Our perception is affirmed by what pleases us and challenged by what displeases us. God is revealed to us through both.
In anticipation of reunion with the Beloved, mystics of the past evaded distractions and instead embraced the delights of daily life. As modern mystics, we are met with unceasing requests for our attention. Each new form of digital connection leads us further away from intimacy with ourselves and Source. Leaving us with a void that amplifies our illusion of separation from the Beloved and one another.
Our senses supply the remedy for this experience of disconnection. Calling our attention back from our devices doesn’t require the ascetic discipline necessary for social media fasts. Instead, devotion and desire are essential when reinhabiting our bodies. Desire for a relationship with oneself must be palpable. Like a child, let your heart be captivated by the sound of wind in the trees and the dance of bees pollinating flowers. Embrace what these mundane moments unveil to you.
“I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; let us delight ourselves with love.”
Proverbs 7:17-18 NRSV
Nature blesses us with many tools that can support our devotion to presence. These tools are extensions of our being, formed from the same soil, rooted in the same Source. Cinnamon is referenced in the Hebrew Bible as an ingredient in anointing oils (Exodus 30:23) and perfume (Proverbs 7:17). Appreciated for her warm essence and sweet aroma, Cinnamon is the perfect guide for reconnecting with the divine in all that is. One way to work with the ancient wisdom of cinnamon is ingestion during contemplation. Cinnamon can be prepared as a decoction (tea) to drink during static or dynamic forms of prayer like meditation or dancing. Focusing on the sensations that arise during this experience may reveal subconscious thoughts and feelings, concerns and curiosities, ideas and inspiration. In this way, cinnamon can become a portal to your internal world and the realm of things unseen.
Reflection
What do you currently understand connecting with Source to mean or look like?
Were you taught there are specific ways one can speak to the Creator?
Are there any lingering beliefs about how you’re not allowed to connect with God?
Do any new ways of spiritual connection interest you? If so, what are they?
Recipe — Cinnamon Tea
Bring 2 to 3 cups of water to a boil
Add 2 to 3 fresh slices of ginger and 1 stick of cinnamon to boiling water
Reduce to simmer and cover
Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes
Add ¼ tsp of honey