Rachel Callahan has said what many of us have quietly said in our minds for a long time now. She used some sarcastic humor to call attention to the idiotic claims a lot of people make about essential oils. As with anything that grows exponentially, there’s a lot of education that needs to happen. Otherwise, the speed of growth creates a lot of uneducated chaos. I’ve seen a lot of outlandish claims about essential oils as well, especially in the “essential oils for beginners” books on Amazon. I’ve downloaded several (when they appear for free, because quite frankly they aren’t worth my money) and I shake my head at the amount of idiocy coming from ‘authors’ and in their reviews. Not to mention the insane amount of plagiarism.
The buzz about essential oils, coming from excited women who have read yet another blog post, is often aimed at beginners. As a result, a lot of superstitions are being perpetuated. Then there’s the attempt at evangelizing the ‘lost’ about making money and the guilt trips if you don’t want to enroll. The manipulation is tiring and unethical. Excitement about essential oils tends to bring out the competitive spirit in people and hostility can ensue! That’s bad business and those people are making the entire industry look foolish, pushy, and unprofessional.
Multi-level marketing companies such as Mary Kay, BeautiControl, Pampered Chef, doTERRA, Young Living, Tupperware, Melaleuca, and many more are not pyramid schemes. They are business models that allow for reps to build their own businesses. Their efforts can help advertise the products, connect with people, and make money. You don’t criticize Subway for allowing people to open stores for themselves, or McDonald’s for that matter. However, I think the products put out by a lot of these MLM companies far surpass that of Subway or McDonald’s.
As comical and true as some of Rachel’s comments are, some are not.
“You have begun to step out of your chrysalis and into REAL LIFE.”
I started using essential oils a couple of years ago (from our local health food store) and then began using essential oils from one of those ‘sinful MLM companies’. I use them in a variety of ways, mostly for skin care, aromatherapy, and natural cleaning products. My spiritual practices have been enhanced by diffusing them in the home. I suppose you could say I did come out of a chrysalis and emerge into real life. Prior to my using essential oils, I was suffering from PTSD and depression. By using essential oils, along with good counsel, I have healed in a lot of ways emotionally and spiritually. Someone like Rachel, or perhaps her readers, could snark at me for this claim, but they don’t know what I’ve been through in the last 6 years of my life.
She calls attention (and needfully so) to the outlandish claims people make about these ‘dews from the gods’, as Rachel sarcastically nicknames them. I have that inner voice that shouts “Amen to that, sister!” about some of her snark.
People who make exaggerated claims about essential oils just make the entire EO industry look ignorant and some appear downright gullible. What a disservice to such potent gifts from the earth (and the chemists who test their purity for us).
Though, I gotta say, a side effect of floral burping is a heck of a lot more pleasant than having an erection for 7 hours or bed wetting. Yikes!
Her 7th point gave me a chuckle (Thanks, Rachel);
“You quickly realize that in order to succeed in this Status-Eats-Status World, you will need to know how to defend your position against those who challenge your oils as perhaps not being the most pure, most miraculous, and least witchcrafty oil out there.”
The LEAST witchcrafty? Damn, I was looking for the MOST witchcrafty oil on the market! Maybe these witchcrafty oils will keep the end-of-the-world conspiracy theorists out of my green face! I’ll bet some folks will have an essential oil specifically formulated to remove the wart from my hairy nose, too!
But heaven forbid any essential oil rep make any money, that’s right folks, we should all stay poor and never create a business doing anything that we actually love. Yep, we oughtta just submit our joys and goals to the mundane life of a pregnant, barefoot mama pushing out
19
20 kids (and counting, of course). Don’t you know you can’t make any money doing something you love?
Hey, sometimes some humorous sarcasm can take the edge off the 7 annoying habits of seemingly successful people.
Lets not leave out Michelle, from A Southern Ruckus. You see, she wants to be sure to keep those stay-at-home moms as submitted to her God as possible because Jesus forbid any of his followers EVER think to shout praises about his own creation! Attention female believers, you oughtta know better (shaking finger and wagging tongue)..yep you oughtta know better, it’s a good thing believers have Michelle to hold authority over them…ya because God isn’t doing a good enough job on his own! Way to shame the ladies, Michelle. Good job!
“ Especially for those of us who are believers, anything more about the creation than the Creator is not going to be okay. “
And while we’re at it, forget about ever experiencing the victory of Christ!
“We need to take a long, hard look at why we are craving the sense of empowerment and control that can be provided by a substance in a bottle. “
Damn it! I shouldn’t be empowered or in control of my own health. Why didn’t I see it that way? I should just submit to the western freak shows that call themselves doctors! I’m sure they know exactly what they’re doing with all that Viagra! (Maybe that’s why the Duggars are still counting?) And why would Jesus EVER want us to feel that sense of empowerment from his finished work on the cross? I’m certain he wants us to feel weakened and lifeless. How dare we grasp the amazing essence God created FOR us.
“So they’re magical, right? Well, no.”
What?? No magic?
Say it ain’t so!
In fact, the early Egyptians believed so strongly in magic that they incorporated their magic into their herbal use to help treat their people. I wonder if today’s modern people know that western pharmaceuticals try to use magic to help promote healing? Don’t you see the commercials? They’re filled with affirming videos of families enjoying vacations and doing yoga while whispering all the insane side effects their meds cause. They’re trying to use magic to convince you to trust their chemical laden “cures”.
But here’s the thing about magic, they’re not supposed to use it to bend a person’s will or LIE to the people. Magic is about living an affirming life with hope, along with making wise choices that heal the body. Most of the best herbal healers in history were those who practiced magic! (source Handbook to Life in Ancient Egypt by Rosalie David)
Who the hell do people think they are? If a cancer patient has an improved quality of life by using essential oils to lift their spirits and aid their bodies in wellness, then who do you think you are to tear that down? If they’re dying then let them have as much hope as possible! I don’t care if they apply the oils to their butt or their feet, does it really matter??
I’ve been in the blogging community for around ten years and I can’t begin to tell you how disturbing it is to see Christians (as well meaning as they appear to be) put people down, wag their tongues at success, and then disguise their “buy from me” pitch in there with it. Right, because I want to be shamed, belittled, mocked, then encouraged to buy from you. Oh, but isn’t that just how (some renditions of) their God is?
I seriously thought God and Jesus were into healing people.
It’s infuriating to see the essential oil industry made into a mockery, but even worse when people take God’s name in vain to further their hit count.
I bet I missed their whole point, right? Maybe not.
Before you buy another ‘essential oils for beginners’ book on Amazon, find out how to know if they’re legitimate sources for essential oil education.
And if you’re interested in a bit of magic, or just the simplicity of living an affirming life, try this book,
Now available Exclusively on Amazon:
(Comes with the freebies described here)
*Disclaimer: As an Wellness Advocate I provide my personal opinion and experiences with essential oils, and am not endorsed by dōTERRA Corporate. None of what I testify of has been evaluated by the FDA, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. I am not a registered medical professional and I encourage you to discuss your health concerns with your own doctor. I simply share resources and tools to raise consumer awareness. This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclaimer here.
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
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