The Myrrophore Path: Sacred Oils, Soul Midwifery & Holding Space for Life’s Thresholds

Across time, cultures, and continents, the sacred art of tending to the soul at its most vulnerable moments has been carried by the hands and hearts of wise women; myrrophores, anointers, priestesses, and soul midwives. These ancient roles are finding a powerful resurgence today as more people seek soulful ways to honour life’s transitions, particularly death, grief, and rebirth.

In my recent book The Magdalene Oracle: Awakening The Power of The Rose, I explain how working with Myrtle stirred powerful past life recollections for me and helped me understand why I’d been drawn to working with sacred oils. I introduce this practice alongside my Soul Midwifery for Healers workshop to help others take the first step on this beautiful journey. Mary Magdalene herself was one of a sacred lineage of myrrh-bearers, and we see evidence of this in the New Testament when she anointed Yeshua’s feet with Spikenard oil

This blog explores the path of the myrrophore, the soulful vocation of the modern soul midwife, and how sacred oils differ from essential oils in practice and potency. I’ll also look at how these tools can be woven into holistic healing, especially for those navigating grief or transitioning from this life.

Who Were the Myrrophores?

The word myrrophore means “myrrh-bearer.” In the Christian tradition, the myrrophores were the women who went to the tomb of Christ, carrying sacred oils and spices to anoint his body. These holy women were the keepers of death rites, spiritual presence, and deep reverence for the body and soul in transition.

But the myrrophore lineage reaches further back, into the temples of ancient Egypt, where priestesses of Isis and Hathor anointed initiates and the dying with aromatic oils to assist their spiritual journey. It threads through the temples of Delphi and into the sacred groves of the Druids. These women, healers revered in their societies, understood the power of scent, touch, vibration, and presence. They were midwives of the soul.

The Modern Soul Midwife

Today, this tradition is being beautifully revived by pioneers like Felicity Warner, founder of the Soul Midwives School. Felicity's work has helped redefine how we approach death, not as a medical event to be managed, but as a sacred rite of passage.

Soul midwives offer emotional, energetic, and spiritual support to those at the end of life, holding non-judgmental space with deep compassion. Their role is not to fix or cure, but to accompany; to bear witness, soothe the spirit, and assist the dying and their families with grace, dignity, calm, and sacred attention.

Felicity’s methods include gentle touch, breathwork, energy healing, and the use of oils, sound, and ritual. Her books and trainings have empowered thousands around the world to return to the ancient art of conscious dying.

Essential Oils vs Sacred Oils: What’s the Difference?

While essential oils and sacred oils both hold healing properties, they serve different purposes and are created with differing intentions.

Essential Oils

• Steam-distilled or cold-pressed extracts from plant material.

• Highly concentrated and used in aromatherapy, massage, skincare, and emotional healing.

• Therapeutic effects on the nervous system, immune system, and emotions.

• Commonly used oils for grief: Violet Leaf, Rose, Frankincense, Bergamot, Cypress.

• Used widely in holistic health practices.

  
  

Sacred Oils

• Created through alchemical processes, prayer, intention, and often infused over time with sacred geometry, crystals, or specific energetic frequencies.

• May include base oils, essential oils, resins, flower essences, or vibrational remedies.

• Used in rituals, initiations, blessings, energy work, and anointing.

• Applied at specific energy centres (chakras, meridians) to assist soul retrieval, clearing, or ascension work.

• Often made in small batches with spiritual guidance or ancestral recipes.

In essence: essential oils are therapeutic; sacred oils are ceremonial. Both can be healing, but sacred oils are chosen for their vibrational resonance and used with spiritual intent.

Using Oils in Grief and Transition

Grief is a sacred journey. Whether we are mourning the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a deep soul transformation, oils can anchor us in moments when words are not enough.

Oils for Grief:

• Rose: Opens the heart, comforts sorrow, and invites multi-layered Divine Feminine energy.

• Cistus (Rock Rose): Traditionally used for grief of the deepest kind; connects to the Magdalene.

• Frankincense: Uplifts the spirit, deepens breath, aids spiritual connection.

• Myrrh: Grounding, ancient, helps process endings and sacred release.

Apply these oils (diluted if essential oils) to the heart space, temples, or soles of the feet during times of emotional overwhelm or grief.

Oils for Transition:

In palliative settings or end-of-life rituals, oils can calm anxiety, support breath, and ease the soul’s journey home.

• Lavender: Gentle and calming for the body and emotions.

• Spikenard: Anointing oil of ancient times, associated with surrender and humility.

• Sandalwood: Brings peace, aids in letting go.

• Sacred anointing blends: Often used on the crown, third eye, and heart as part of conscious death rituals, or in the sacral chakra area for womb healing practices.

  
  

Creating Sacred Anointing Rituals

A myrrophore or soul midwife might perform anointing for someone:

• Preparing for surgery or medical treatment.

• Facing the death of a loved one.

• Experiencing heartbreak, burnout, or spiritual rebirth.

• As part of postpartum or menopause ceremonies.

• During energetic attunements or rites of passage.

Anointing is more than oil on skin, it is presence. A silent prayer. A blessing. A remembrance that the body is holy, and every threshold is sacred.

The Way Forward

Alchemical processes and sacred rituals are being revived, and there are many essential oil-based energetic tools available to seekers. Indeed, I was blessed with the channeled recipes for Alchemical Aura Mists that align to the Sacred Flames and craft them in small batches. Powerful mists created from sacred Chalice Well spring water, therapeutic grade essential oils, sound, crystal, energy frequencies, and quantum healing codes with specific purposes eg. nurture,  manifestation and transformation. Find them on my website here.

As the modern world begins to remember the importance of ritual, presence, and reverence, the path of the myrrophore is being reawakened.

Whether you are drawn to this path as a healer, carer, or seeker, may you know this truth: your hands, your heart, and your presence are medicine.

We are returning to the ways of the sacred feminine, walking each other home with love.