Understanding the Three Sacred Gifts from the Earth: Blessed Epiphany
Epiphany is a celebration of the coming of the Magi to Jesus, which was a manifestation or revelation of who he was to the world. For the Christian religion this was an incredibly momentous moment and is commemorated on January 6 or 7 each year. Also known as Three Kings Day, what strikes me the most about this celebration is less the religious theme and more the sacred gifts that were brought to the Christ-child: gold, frankincense and myrrh. These ancient plant and elemental gifts from the earth are still valued and being explored today.
There are many wonderful traditions that accompany Epiphany, some of which you might be aware of (like baking a King’s Cake, that beautiful green, gold and purple sugar bomb famous in New Orleans with the baby Jesus inside) and some of which you may not be (like taking a polar plunge).
But I was fascinated by a recent Popular Science article written by Eleanor Cummins which shared the medicinal properties, value and ancient origins of these three precious gifts.
The pharaoh Hatshepsut accomplished many feats in her reign over Egypt some 3,500 years ago. One of few women rulers then or now, she concentrated power against incredible odds. She built temples and obelisks of unprecedented size, technical skill, and number. And, the story goes, her explorers, skilled in botanical espionage, secured the empire its first myrrh tree.
What are frankincense and myrrh, anyway? Myrrh and its cousin frankincense are known to Americans today, if at all, through the Biblical account of the wise men. In the Book of Matthew, it’s said that three Magi followed the Star of Bethlehem to the birth of Jesus, and gave to him three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But Douglas Daly, a curator at the New York Botanical Garden and an expert in the frankincense and myrrh family, says the substances have a rich history far outside the boundaries of a single Bible passage. And, despite millennia of use and study, they’re still yielding new insights to this day.
If you’re interested in deep diving the gifts, please click on the quote above to be taken directly to the article to read in-depth.
If you don’t celebrate Epiphany but are interested in some aspects of the event, you may want to consider trying a version of Three Kings traditions yourself (in addition to cake and ice baths).
Mark your door with the Magi’s blessing. Or any blessing that fits for you. I believe blessing your home is always a wonderful, sacred act for a peaceful environment.
Quiet worship with candles. Consider turning off the lights and utilizing candlelight for your morning prayer or meditation. You may also like to do a candle meditation.
Meditate with the Three Kings’ gifts: gold (spiritual enlightenment and transformation, purity and wisdom), Frankincense (worship, holiness, chemical properties which are released when burned that alleviate anxiety and depression) and Myrrh (antiseptic and analgesic properties, perfume used to anoint the dead).