INCENSE INCENSE.TXT *********************************************************************** This is a basic text on some of the many uses of Incense. Incense has many Magickal uses too many to explore in detail here. It is one of the Mage's most versatile & powerful tools yet it is often over looked or ignored. It can be used; for meditation, cleansing, purification, protection, banishing, charging, invocations, evocations, divination etc. There are many type & kinds of incense. Bulk resin, joss, botanical, personal incense compounds. Each has a place. Botanical and other incenses are a tool which can be tailored to the Mage's desire. At their simplest they may be used to stimulate the sense of smell and bring enjoyment to those nearby. Alternatively, they can be a subtle compilation designed to create a specific effect on the mind, emotions, or soul. Incenses have a direct effect on the ambiance of a Ritual or Magickal operation. They can be the key to a Ritual or Magickal operations success or failure. The bulk incenses such as the commercial church incenses usually have Frankincense, Myrrh or Gun Benzoin as a base. I buy bulk church incense & charcoal blocks in bull at a good religious supply house. They are good for general Ritual purposes. They are usually burned in a thurible either on the alter or for large workings hung from a chain and swung around and through the working area. I keep about 2" of clean sand in the bottom of my brass thurible as a base for the charcoal block. Store bought bird gravel works a good cheap replacement for clean sand. The charcoal block should have a coat of white ash before adding the incense. The so called self igniting charcoal blocks aren't so use a tiny amount of rubbing alcohol on both sides before trying to light. Both Frankincense & Myrrh have a long history in Egypt & were two of the gifts of the legendary Magi to the baby Jesus. They have been used for the base of the Roman Church incense for centuries. Both, correctly used, can have profound affects on the mind & emotions. Ten virtues of Incense 1) Incense opens the mind to Divinity. 2) Incense burning cleanses & calms the mind. 3) Incense burning divests the mind of worldly impurities. 4) Incense burning wakes up & energizes the mind. 5) Incense burning encourages the mind to solitude. 6) Incense burning affords the mind leisure when it is busy. 7) One can not burn too much incense. 8) Yet, a little incense is enough. 9) Age doesn't affect the efficacy of incense. 10) Habitual use of incense causes no harm. Joss sticks are another form of incense that is easy to use. I burn it by standing it on end stuck in the sand of my thurible or in a carved incense boat. Although there are many incenses I find that many of the Chinese, Japanese, Korean incenses among the most suitable for my work. Especially Rose, Jasmine, Frankincense, Myrrh etc. I avoid any fruit incenses such as Strawberry, Peach, Blueberry etc for any serious Magickal work or meditation. In my experience I've found most India incenses such as Patchouli too harsh and grating mentally for most of my practical work or meditation. but even Patchouli has its uses. I of course blend my own incenses for special purposes. Both from resins and botanicals based on various factors; the Ritual purpose involved, the influences I'm working with, the Qabalah, Tarot Astrological, Seasonal correspondences. The meaning I ascribe to the botanical incenses come mostly from traditional sources, as well as my own work. In the actual teaching and working I place more emphasis on what an individual scent does to the student. If, for example, the traditional meaning for cinnamon is concentration and you smell it and think of grandma's pumpkin pie and all you can think about is food, it is not going to be appropriate to burn to help you study! The following contains some botanical (and a few other substances) and their uses when burned. The attributes have been derived from a great many sources, both published and personal communication, and like most Magickal properties they are most effective when tailored to the individual or group using them. So sit down and burn some and see if they work for you. Try combinations. I have included some mixes which have worked for myself and others in the hopes that you will find them useful. The botanicals fall into several broad categories: 1) EVOCATIVE - used to get the attention of divinities or to summon spirits 2) DIVINATORY - used during & for divinatory purposes. 3) PURIFICATORY - used to purify the purpose of a rite or the action of a given object 4) CHARGING - used to intensify the purpose of a rite or the action of a given object 5) PROTECTIVE - used to shield the user or area from harm 6) BANISHING - used to drive out unwanted influences or spirits 7) HEALING - used to promote wholeness in mind, body or spirit 8) SPECIALTY - used to promote a purpose, e.g., love, fertility, money, concentration, etc. Many botanicals fall into several categories, for example: Wormword (Artemesia) can be used 1) to evoke Artemis and call\ the dead 2) to promote divination 6) when consecrated to Mars in banishing 6) & 7) it was used to banish the Black Plague fleas 8) when consecrated to Mars, in works of anger. Some Examples: 1) Evocative Almond Lotus Ash Mandrake Basil Myrrh Bay Olive Blessed Thistle Patchouli Damiana Rowan Dittany of Crete Rue Elm Thyme Frankincense Verbena Henbane Vervain, Blue Life Everlasting Flowers Wormwood Yarrow 2) Divinatory: Ash Linseed Bay Mugwort Cinquefoil Rowan Clove Thyme Elm Wormwood Frankincense Yarrow 3) Purificatory: Angelica Mastic gum Bayberry Myrrh Burnet Olive Cinnamon 4) Healing Balm of Gilead Myrrh Lavendar Rosemary Life Everlasting Wormwood 4) Charging: Anise seed Lotus Angelica Mandrake Celery seed Mastic gum Cinnamon Mugwort Cinquefoil Orris root Cloves Peppermint Damiana Sandalwood Dragon's Blood Styrax Frankincense Uva Ursi Henbane 5) Protective: Alfalfa Juniper wood Basil Life Everlasting flowers Blessed Thistle Mastic gum Bay Mistletoe Camphor Mugwort Cinquefoil Orris root Elder Rosemary Five Finger Grass Rowan Frankincense St. John's Wort Garlic Vervain, Blue 6) Banishing: Agrimony Lavendar Ash Pine Camphor Rowan Dragon's Blood Vervain, Blue Juniper wood Wormwood 8) Speciality Basil Patchouli Bayberry Peppermint Bezoin gum Rosemary Camphor Rowan Cinnamon Rue Damiana Sandalwood Dragon's Blood Tormantil Frankincense Uva Ursi Lavendar Vervain, Blue Lemon peel St. John's Wort Life Everlasting flowers Wormwood Mandrake Yarrow Mistletoe Ylang Ylang Orris Root Some of these such Mistletoe & several others are poisonous if taken internally so be careful!