Reflections on Writing The "Spiritual Meaning of Myrrh" Series for Youtube

When researching for keywords for my Youtube channel, I came upon an old friend. I wondered if I may have created hundreds of searches for the term “spiritual meaning of myrrh” myself over the ast few years. It seems entirely plausible that the times I have plugged it into the keyboard could conceivably run into the thousands while I was researching a book about myrrh and yet, the book still shows no signs of being finished. Too many threads, the weave of it is way too tightly rendered to pick them apart and start again, and so I thought I would use it to try and creat a huge body of work for the channel. And so it begins, what could be months and months of content (in bits and pieces) about this very holy oil

What Is The Spiritual Meaning of Myrrh?

I don’t mind telling you that I have become a little frustrated with myself, because in a way, for me, the spiritual meaning of myrrh is very simple.

Myrrh is a personification of a love that can transcend death. It is the ultimate wound healer, support for women, a salve on the most painful of days. Myrrh is beauty. It is mortality. It signifies the sepulchre and the tomb. It is Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the end.

The Changing Vibration of Myrrh

But here's the thing, the spiritual meaning of myrrh snakes, like a serpent in the Garden of Eden, wrapping itself around a tree, it first moves this way then that.

For example, in ancient Egypt, the goddess Hathor was named the Mistress of Myrrh. For me, looking at a portrait of Hathor is almost synonymous with seeing a prescription for myrrh. She’s there at birth. She’s there at death, and she’s this benevolent aspect of the Sekhmet (a terrifying lion goddess) who is in turn goddess of medicine.

So, myrrh is female?

I would have thought so, yes.

But then if you look to the Roman author Ovid, he relates a myth of Myrrha, a beautiful maiden whom the goddess Aphrodite hexes, so that she will fall in love with her father. The spell is powerful, she becomes pregnant, and has to run when her father realises it's his daughter he has been laying with, and wants to kill her. Ovid tells how Myrrha is turned into a tree to protect her and thereupon. gives birth to Adonis.

Adonis is male…

See? it snakes…just when you think you have got it, it changes into something else.

So Why Make A series About The Spiritual Meaning of Myrrh?

Well, honestly, the book has become impossible to write.

For me anyway.

Because, you know what I’m like.

I can’t see a word or a concept I don’t understand and just leave it that way. I have to look under every rock…and myrrh is under so, so many rocks!

There is certainly more than a hint of imposters syndrome around it, mainly because my writing is not academic and it's very hard to talk about academic texts while also talking about the medicinal aspects of myrrh. There are lots of rites I can see myrrh in, in ancient Egypt for example, that are easier to talk about than to write. Similarly, I am not a Myrrophore, in the same way that Soul Midwives are, and that has also given me pause, at least for now. Maybe when I see all my research laid out end to end, the imposter thing will leave me. We'll see.

Now, I have wrung every drop of myrrh out of both the Hathor connection and the Adonis myth, but you will have to wait a few weeks to hear these a) because they are so addictively fascinating they have become too long to do in one go , but also b) it’s advent, and who doesn’t want to think about Myrrh at Christmas?

Setting The Christmas Stage

Before I show you my videos, let’s set the stage because it is Christmas as it's important to keep the children happy. In this case, this is 31 year old Middle Child, Andrew who insists that Christmas must always follow a very organised structure.

1. The right food, which is Stilton, Mince Pies, Mulled Wine and Chestnuts, not necessarily in that order

More food..."Panatoast" must be served in the morning with presents (which is essentiallly toasted Panatone, invented by his sister.)
We must "perform" We Three Kings with Dex. Perform because, despite all of Andy's friends' proclamations that this is a serious carol, it must be sung miming that you are riding a plodding camel on "Star of wonder, star of night". It looks like something out of flippin Morecombe and Wise!

Every year Dex gets a little bit closer to being "Too cool to do this". I don't fancy our chances this year. I am looking forward to this years 16 year old refusing to sing it. I know Andy won't go for that. It forsee Mickey-taking fr hours.

Ironically, it did actually begin in church one year with Dex saying "I'm bored, can we go now" REALLY loudly during someone's reading so I started being daft " bouncing on a camel" in the next hymn. It did nothing for Dexter's desire to get back to chocolate but his older brother was laughing uncontrollably, and relives it every year. I feel so guilty about how we have ruined this lovely song that I sneak into church once a year to sing it properly, just so St Peter knowsI'm not making fun,
And then last, but finally not least, we have to answer the question "Myrrh? What's that then?" as seen in Monty Python's Life of Brian

"Myrrh is a balm"

" A balm? Get it out of here. It might bite him! It's a wise animal with big pointy ears"

"No, a balm is an ointment"

Wise Man #2: "Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh.

Mandy (Brian's mother): Sorry the place is a bit of a mess. Well, what is. Myrrh, anyway?"

Wise Man #3: "It is a valuable balm."

Mandy "A balm? What are you giving him a balm for? It. Might bite him. That's a dangerous animal. Quick! Throw it in the trough."

Later, as they are leaving, Mandy says "Don't worry about myrrh next time"

It does make me chuckle.

But despite what Monty Python would have you believe about myrrh, in the 1st Century BC, it is my belief that most people knew what myrrh was, although given its prohibitively expensive price, perhaps it was a bit like caviar is today. Most people know what caviar is…or at least that it's black stuff that rich people eat, but don’t know its taste, or that it's fish eggs. Nevertheless they have some kind of cultural reference.

What is The Spiritual Meaning of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh

I believe, that even in the first century when the Gospel of Matthew was written it may have known it was part of a trio, bbecause I was able to find mention of the three things together, much older as part of an ancient offering.

The Gifts of The Magi...but Three Hundred Years Before...

Seleucus I Nicator was a brilliant Macedonian military leader. He would eventually become king of the region we call Syria and establish the wealthy Seleucid Empire which stretched from Europe to India and would flourish for over 200 years.

Born in Greece, Seleucus was placed in service to the king as a boy. Subsequently, he climbed the ranks to become Alexander the Great’s deputy.

When Alexander died in June 323 B.C.E., a general named Perdiccas was made regent. Perdiccas promoted Seleucus and gave him control of a thousand men. He appointed him Commander of the Companions, where Seleucus led the battle charge beside him.

The political atmosphere of the time was dark. Tribal fracas were sparking everywhere, as the power vacuum of Alexander’s death was exploited. Perdiccas’ response was to attempt to seize Egyptian power for himself, by overthrowing its ruler, Ptolemy. He began to formulate plans for incursions. But thus far, the regent’s success rate for such things had been far from sparkling and the plan made his men nervous.

Seleucus I Nicator may have been the earliest clue to the spiritual meaning of myrrh when he offered igold frankincense and myrrh to Apollo in 300 BCE Bust is c200CE, Roman, from the Louvre — Bust of Seleucus I Necator c.200CE. Now housed in the Louvre.

His Military Climb to Success

In 322 B.C.E., Seleucus saw an opportunity and headed a mutiny against the regent. Six months later, with his political obstacle assassinated, Seleucus was appointed Satrap (Governor) of Babylon.

But his victory was short lived. Almost immediately, tribal wars rekindled. This time, Seleucus was targeted by the head of one of the most dangerous, Antigonus. With his back against the wall, Seleucus fled and was only able to return to Babylon in 312B.C.E. with Ptolemy’s support. Reenthroned, he was now a man with a mission. Ruthlessly expanding his dominions, he eventually conquered all Median and Persian lands, now ruling not only Babylonia, but the entire eastern part of Alexander's empire. He looked to secure India. After many wars, he was victorious. A treaty was signed, and his army was strengthened through marriage of his son to an Indian princess, which gained him land and a dowry of 500 elephants and riders.

His Devotions

The tutelary god of Seleucus’ tribe was Apollo. Legend tells that before he left to do battle with the Persians for Alexander, his father told him that actually, his biological father had been Apollo. After the god had impregnated her, the god had given his mother an anchor shaped ring. This was remarkable since Seleucus and his sons all had anchor shaped birthmarks. All his life then, Seleucus worshipped Apollo.

In 288 B.C.E., a letter was received at Apollo’s shrine at Didyma that accompanied offerings of thanks to the god from Seleucus.

Three centuries before a star shone over the Bethlehem stable, Seleucus sent gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Didyma.

Why Is This Important?

Well a number of reasons really.

I think importantly, we know this to be actual historical fact. Those offerings were given, together, long before Jesus was attested to have been born.

They perhaps also tell us a little something about the spiritual meaning - at least at that time and in that place - to Seleucus.

They are thanks for a victory, and for safe deliverance, so we can I guess we can also say that they were gifts to say thank you for protection and also for abundance.

But what do we also know about Seleucus? That he is comsidered to be a son of a god.

That's weird, right?

Yes. But actually, maybe, not so much. Because remember these were times of beliefs about lots of gods and lots of people being born of mortal mothers. A couple of other names you might know...Achilles, Theseus, Aesclepius...

The difference is that we do know that Seleucus was indeed a person who existed, but of course mythlogy often developed around people of his status.

The Symbolism of The Spiritual Meaning of Myrrh is Connected to A Much Older Story

The Cave of Treasures

Or we should say one that is purported to have begun a long time ago, right back in the Garden of Eden, and then also that the Magi's delivery of the gifts was just the end of a very long story, that had been protected and guarded by Adam and Eve's third son, Seth. these videos to hear those stories.

Myrrh is Given to Adam and Eve

The Revelation of The Magi

The Church Connects Myrrh To Unexplained Life Force

I say that, because they use the word "Myrrh" to describe secretions that come from holy objects. The Myrrh Streaming Icons are some of the most revered items in the Orthodox Church. Often, these pictures, that start to spontaneously secrete sticky substances are venerations of Theotokos, Mary, Mother of God, but there are some others. St Nicholas, for example is known as the Myrrh Streaming Saint, not only because his images secrete myrrh, but even, it is said that his very bones do so too. The liquid is collected annually on May 9th and used for sacred anointing. Thus Myrrh is associated with animate things that should be inanimate. In other words myrrh is life in things that seemingly should not be living. Myrrh seems to have a life of its own.

St. Nicholas The Myrrh Streaming Saint

This is all SO very weird!

I really enjoyed unpacking some of it with another Youtuber, Tiffany Carol. We talked about how we both use it for healing, about how we also work with it for times of initiations and thresholds of times of enduring change. Tiffany's background is in acupuncture and she talks about how she works with oils with acupressure points in her work as a Soul Doctor.

I learned so much from her. I am hoping we will get more opportunities to work together in the new year.

Continuing The Myrrh Mysteries into 2026

I'll keep adding to this I unpack many other sacred traditions about myrrh, but for now, I feel I should rejoin the sacred kin and bring frankincense into the picture. Why not join "The Spirit of Frankincense - The Queen of Sheba" to hear how she moved incenses across the ancient world?

I made this video in lockdown, I never cease to be both amused by myself and impressed.

I don't think I can be reading lines anywhere and yet...there is so much info in this video, it is incredible!

But I should also add mine and Adam's video about Myrrh. This does cover the spiritual meaning of myrrh, but also how to work with myrrh essential oil medicinally.