Oud Is My Fortress
- Thread starter Steel Hyaena
- Start date
Thank you so much for your kind words @Steel Hyaena. We do pray that Allah bless our oils and those who use them with abundant blessings spiritual and emotional, and we never cheat on the scales by the grace of the Most Gracious. Perhaps that is what you feel in the oils. People whose heart is in need of healing might be more sensitive to the subtle lata'if that Allah places in secret places. May Allah cure you of your worries and fears one and all, and imbue your life with His light. (This little prayer for you from a blessed place, by a traveler. May the Ever-Near hear and accept!) Amin.
I hope you're feeling better now, and I hope you can make a daily time to just sit, be still, or meditate/pray (maybe you already do), and focus on breathing with the aid of your favourite ouds. The healing power of a divine natural fragrance such as agarwood is amazing, especially when you have access to quality distillations like the ones you enjoy from Ensar. Having a strong connection to your olfactory senses is a blessing, and Insha'allah your blessing will be a gateway to your healing.
Today, to my astonishment and delight, my local grocer had a thirty-pound jackfruit. I immediately bought the thing since I have not had it in many years. It is now sitting on my counter, and I will stare at it until it is ripe. Once it is, I am going to get out some gloves and my heavy chef's knife and go to town. I will roast the seeds and most happily wolf down probably enough of the pods to make myself sick! And I will do this while wearing another lovely thing from that part of the world: oud. I plan to make a video of me opening the fruit. I don't know if I will share it here, because it's probably going to end up with some swearing!
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Just for grins, here is a piece of the artwork I did tonight. How is this relevant? I went to Dhul Q and did deep breathing with some on my philtrum to open my creative centers. Of course, I also somehow managed to get it in my eye. Never do that. Never, ever, ever do that. I am still laughing at myself.
All in black, wearing Oud Yusuf and getting ready to meet an online friend for the first time ever. I am going to let her catch a scent of the beauty that is oud. It might be an unkindness to her pocketbook, but she deserves this galaxy of astral beauty. Oud enhances everything else with its presence—even just two giggly women having brunch!
First and foremost, I commend you dear @Steel Hyaena for speaking out about these sometimes not so easy to talk about situations. A lot of times our not-so-Steel sides are sides we shelter and protect, vulnerable and delicate we often disguise them or pretend they don't even exist, so bravo, kudos and mubarak for being strong enough and comfortable enough to share your experiences with everyone =)
It's truly a service to share yet another tool in your belt for dealing with the situations that at one time or another we may all find ourselves in.
I find it fascinating how much benefit, both spiritually and mentally is derived from oud, so much so that I had a long conversation on this topic when my father visited. Steel Hyaena isn't the only one to have proclaimed the tremendous benefit that oud had to soothe occurrences from PTSD, another Veteran from Florida, whom for anonymity I'll just call JDN has enumerated the benefits he has experienced as well (interestingly, also from Oud Yusuf). Another, whom I'll just call "M" mentioned the pain-numbing effect an old Oriscent oil had, and used it to soothe the aches and pains from a thrown-out back when she needed to focus and her prescribed medicine left her too drowsy and foggy-headed.
My father is a psychologist in New England currently dedicating his time to a community practice, counseling those with borderline personality disorder and who cannot afford private doctors. The following is my layman's understanding of his explanation. When discussing the topic he described how brain synapses are in fact like little streams, or channels, and the more they are accessed the wider, thicker, and stronger they get.
This means that when someone is 'triggered' the avalanche has begun and stopping it would be as impossible as holding back the avalanche with your bare hands... So rather than prescribed "solutions" which can leave people in a zombie like state, the doctors at his practice provide tools and skills for how to recognize the buildup before the avalanche, and what to do when it's at its breaking point.
One of the skills or tools that they impart on their clientele is sensory diversion. Because often these moods; the anger, panic, anxiety, depression or even embarrassment is all in the mind, we begin wandering down what has developed into a vast chamber of ingrained thoughts and they are so deeply routed that it takes a dramatic shift in perception to literally get out of it.... and, cue the oud!!!
Here's where oud comes into play, one of the most powerful senses is smell, it can take you back to childhood, or whisk you away to far off jungles and mountaintops. No matter how stuck in your thoughts you are, something sensory can snap you out of it, be it taste, touch or smell.
Ever heard of comfort food? Well, often when someone is stressed out in a mental rut (those deep synapses) they turn to taste to relieve their mind.
For touch, I can't help but think of someone yelling "SNAP OUT OF IT" and slapping another in the face, but what is meant is a bit more gentle... like gardening, and getting one's hands into the dirt, feeling the grains of sand, or moist loam squishing between your fingers.
And lastly, the wonder of smell; Perhaps the most portable and accessible aide of the bunch and perhaps the healthiest!
So when Steel Hyaena says "Oh I'm so *expletive* mad, where's some oud" I totally get it, oud is a beautiful and healthy choice that takes you out of the dark alleys of your mind, or away from the stresses of the day, and enriches your life!
Of course I am in no way a doctor, and am not recommending one recklessly abandons their prescribed medicine without consulting a qualified doctor, however I do see the numerous benefits of oud and have heard many testimonials proclaiming the tremendous effect it has had on people's lives and well-being.
There's just one problem now... which oud?!?!?
It's truly a service to share yet another tool in your belt for dealing with the situations that at one time or another we may all find ourselves in.
I find it fascinating how much benefit, both spiritually and mentally is derived from oud, so much so that I had a long conversation on this topic when my father visited. Steel Hyaena isn't the only one to have proclaimed the tremendous benefit that oud had to soothe occurrences from PTSD, another Veteran from Florida, whom for anonymity I'll just call JDN has enumerated the benefits he has experienced as well (interestingly, also from Oud Yusuf). Another, whom I'll just call "M" mentioned the pain-numbing effect an old Oriscent oil had, and used it to soothe the aches and pains from a thrown-out back when she needed to focus and her prescribed medicine left her too drowsy and foggy-headed.
My father is a psychologist in New England currently dedicating his time to a community practice, counseling those with borderline personality disorder and who cannot afford private doctors. The following is my layman's understanding of his explanation. When discussing the topic he described how brain synapses are in fact like little streams, or channels, and the more they are accessed the wider, thicker, and stronger they get.
This means that when someone is 'triggered' the avalanche has begun and stopping it would be as impossible as holding back the avalanche with your bare hands... So rather than prescribed "solutions" which can leave people in a zombie like state, the doctors at his practice provide tools and skills for how to recognize the buildup before the avalanche, and what to do when it's at its breaking point.
One of the skills or tools that they impart on their clientele is sensory diversion. Because often these moods; the anger, panic, anxiety, depression or even embarrassment is all in the mind, we begin wandering down what has developed into a vast chamber of ingrained thoughts and they are so deeply routed that it takes a dramatic shift in perception to literally get out of it.... and, cue the oud!!!
Here's where oud comes into play, one of the most powerful senses is smell, it can take you back to childhood, or whisk you away to far off jungles and mountaintops. No matter how stuck in your thoughts you are, something sensory can snap you out of it, be it taste, touch or smell.
Ever heard of comfort food? Well, often when someone is stressed out in a mental rut (those deep synapses) they turn to taste to relieve their mind.
For touch, I can't help but think of someone yelling "SNAP OUT OF IT" and slapping another in the face, but what is meant is a bit more gentle... like gardening, and getting one's hands into the dirt, feeling the grains of sand, or moist loam squishing between your fingers.
And lastly, the wonder of smell; Perhaps the most portable and accessible aide of the bunch and perhaps the healthiest!
So when Steel Hyaena says "Oh I'm so *expletive* mad, where's some oud" I totally get it, oud is a beautiful and healthy choice that takes you out of the dark alleys of your mind, or away from the stresses of the day, and enriches your life!
Of course I am in no way a doctor, and am not recommending one recklessly abandons their prescribed medicine without consulting a qualified doctor, however I do see the numerous benefits of oud and have heard many testimonials proclaiming the tremendous effect it has had on people's lives and well-being.
There's just one problem now... which oud?!?!?
I cannot love this post enough. I have been through Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and that has been a livesaver for me in the most literal of senses. And I have a hyperattentuated sense of smell. I routinely smell things before anyone else can, and I am one of the few people that can smell natural gas that does not have mercaptan added to it. For me, oud has an entire galaxy of layers. It smells different to me every time I experience it. And it has more power to turn my mind and protect me from the avalanche than anything else. That's one reason why a sad, empty sample tube from the Jing Shen Lu that @koolaid79 sent me was so critical for me in the hospital. I was nearly out of my wits from pain, and even the pain meds were messing me up as I can't stand having my senses muddled. Snatching up my oud and taking deep breaths with the cap held to my nose is one of the biggest ways I combat issues both mental and physical. I use it when I write, as well. Oud and the right music are proof against even the worst writer's block.
Great post Adam, I relate very much. So nice to have you back Steel
I dedicate this vid to Steel:Peter Murphy of Bauhaus moved to Istanbul about 15-20 years ago. It wasn't religious oriented like Cat Stevens, but he probably got treated like a cult icon too much just Like Cat Stevens and needed to get away for his own sanity. This album of his is very influenced by his new homeland. The lyrics seem very Sufi/ Whirling Dervish oriented.
'More or less, I've told the score
I'll be waiting for you at ascensions shore
Send that shiver shiva look
Dance the chance the writer took'
By far my favorite solo Peter Murphy album.
Full album here:
@Steel Hyaena well it's great to have you back. Amazing how this glorious substance can bring together people that are worlds apart!
I wanted to share something that one of my private correspondences mentioned about Purple Kinam, and I think it fits into the same theme of this thread, which is why I'll post it here. I already asked her permission to share it with my friends, and she was more than happy to consent.
Here's what she said:
"Yes Adam, You found the perfect word to express Purple Kinam,- it’s truly a Galaxy!
I first tried a sample (0,1) from Luckyscent (thank You again for the opportunity ). When I tried the sample, yes it was enough to fall in love with Purple KInam, I thought I smelled purple concord grapes and plums crushed in ice crystals from frozen Mountain tops… definitely purple color…
But now I know, there is a huge difference in trying small sample and experiencing the same oud from a larger vial.
So, when I experienced Kinam I received from You fully… it is really just one pure note of pristine acacia honey magnified thousandfold. But the most amazing thing is not the smell, but frequency signature of this oud. The waves are short and very fast and it goes directly to pineal gland and plays it like an instrument. Pineal has micro crystals that have piezoelectric properties. So as an interesting fact , how comes the purple color? (actually more like violet color).
It actually is an effect of Purple kinam acting on a pineal. Micro crystals squeeze and produce violet color. So it’s not imagination, that produces the violet color, it’s actual color produced by the pineal gland. This violet color then floods the pituitary gland and activates far-vision (vision on a distance) and long-vision (vision in time).
So, yes, for me Purple Kinam is currently my Holy Grail For which I am Very GRATEFULl! "
Along these same lines, there's an entire focus group in California, correlating the relations between sound (vibrations) and scent. If it weren't for clientele privacy rights, I'd share his Ted talk...
I wanted to share something that one of my private correspondences mentioned about Purple Kinam, and I think it fits into the same theme of this thread, which is why I'll post it here. I already asked her permission to share it with my friends, and she was more than happy to consent.
Here's what she said:
"Yes Adam, You found the perfect word to express Purple Kinam,- it’s truly a Galaxy!
I first tried a sample (0,1) from Luckyscent (thank You again for the opportunity ). When I tried the sample, yes it was enough to fall in love with Purple KInam, I thought I smelled purple concord grapes and plums crushed in ice crystals from frozen Mountain tops… definitely purple color…
But now I know, there is a huge difference in trying small sample and experiencing the same oud from a larger vial.
So, when I experienced Kinam I received from You fully… it is really just one pure note of pristine acacia honey magnified thousandfold. But the most amazing thing is not the smell, but frequency signature of this oud. The waves are short and very fast and it goes directly to pineal gland and plays it like an instrument. Pineal has micro crystals that have piezoelectric properties. So as an interesting fact , how comes the purple color? (actually more like violet color).
It actually is an effect of Purple kinam acting on a pineal. Micro crystals squeeze and produce violet color. So it’s not imagination, that produces the violet color, it’s actual color produced by the pineal gland. This violet color then floods the pituitary gland and activates far-vision (vision on a distance) and long-vision (vision in time).
So, yes, for me Purple Kinam is currently my Holy Grail
For which I am Very GRATEFULl! "Along these same lines, there's an entire focus group in California, correlating the relations between sound (vibrations) and scent. If it weren't for clientele privacy rights, I'd share his Ted talk...