Angelica Encounters with God: Writing Fragrance in the Holy Spirit By Kathryn Ross

Kathryn Ross is my guest today on Thyme for Writers with Angelica Encounters with God: Writing Fragrance in the Holy Spirit. This article is a part of the series — The Write Spice: Writing Tips for Flavorful Words.

Recently returned from the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference (GPCWC), my thoughts in the aftermath swirl while thumbing through pages of notes and organizing photos. I review new friendships forged, linking with each on social media. Reconnecting with other kindred writing peers I only get to see once a year also requires follow-up. My to-do list lengthens with the addition of information and inspiration for accomplishing my goals—and setting new objectives to advance my writing and publishing aspirations.

Conferences overwhelm a writer’s brain cells and sap valuable energy. Spending fourteen packed hours for three days or more moving from learning labs to continuing sessions to workshops to panels to keynote addresses, with worship, meals, and one-on-one appointments squeezed in between, I need a few days recovery to reorder my writing life with all I’ve absorbed.

Retreat to advance. And the best place I know for retreating is the presence of God.

Sitting down in my Secret Place corner, I breathe in deep and relax into God’s Word to inform the many words poured into me at the conference. I ought not take in anything I learned unless it be infused with the fragrance of the Holy Spirit. I’m thankful for the many professionals and mentors who gave of themselves, pouring into all the writers gathered this past weekend, but I have learned that such a banquet must be sweetened by the Lord’s direction, or all my efforts to follow through will be bitter.

The central theme of the GPCWC stems from director Marlene Bagnull’s original vision for it—to equip and encourage Christian writers and communicators to Write His Answer. Habakkuk 2:2, the inspiration for the conference for over thirty years, acts as a compass to keep writers focused on the main thing:

Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. (NLT)

I’ve attended this conference for many years and always come away sensing a greater need to make my words healing words—correct words—in whatever genre I choose to work. Writing has long been considered a solo profession—an author and keyboard alone. Extract brilliance from the mind. Distill it down into words that persuade, entertain, correct—and heal.
This brings me to a fascinating ancient herb, linked to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and prized for its sweet, healing constituents that once protected against the plague. Large green, glossy leaves extending from hollow stalks, flower in green and yellow clusters on or near May 8, the historic feast day of Michael the archangel.

Originally sourced by medieval herbalists and Renaissance doctors, Angelica continues to enjoy a hallowed reputation in healing aromatherapy. Referred to as “root of the Holy Ghost,” its precious essential oils infuse perfumes and colognes with a sweet fragrance to lift the heart. Its seed flavors Chartreuse liqueur. Pastry chefs candy its stalk and leaves for elegant cake decoration.

All these uses elevate Angelica to a pampering herb useful to refresh and renew mind, body, and spirit. Just the thing when one needs a retreat.
Retreat to advance: in the same way a writers conference bathes one in the sweetness of inspiration, instruction, and kindred spirits; in the same way seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the aftermath of a conference brings focus and correction to one’s writing ministry.

When our writing is rooted in the Holy Ghost, we grow our words from the leading of Christ. In so doing, the scent of the goodness of God permeates our message like the sweetness of perfume fills a room.

But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.
2 Corinthians 2:14 NLT

Whether you’ve had the opportunity to retreat for a few days at a writers conference or not, breathe in the revitalizing effects of Angelica through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Let Him inform your words to heal like a sweet perfume. To correct that which plagues you in meeting your goals. Though I have grown through the years of conferences, and the ministry of the mentors and training found there, apart from that growth being rooted in the Holy Ghost—Angelica—I cannot hope to pen words that heal and ultimately, spread the knowledge of Christ.

Make time for an Angelica encounter with God to sweeten the scent of your words every day.

(C) 2018 Kathryn Ross

Writer-speaker, Kathryn Ross, ignites a love of literature and learning through Pageant Wagon Productions and Publishing. She mentors writers as a book shepherd and publishes homeschool enrichment and Christian living books for home, church, and school. Her passion is to equip women and families in developing a Family Literacy Lifestyle, producing readers and thinkers who can engage the world from a biblical worldview. She blogs and podcasts at TheWritersReverie.com and PageantWagonPublishing.com. Connect with Miss Kathy on Facebook.