incense

Incense has smoldered on wiches' altars for at least 5,000 years. It was burned in antiquity to mask the odors of sacrificial animals, to carry prayers to the Gods, and to create a pleasing environment for humans to meet with Deity.

Today, when the age of animal sacrifices among most Western magicians is long past,
the reasons for incense use are varied. It is burned during magic to promote ritual
consciousness, the state of mind necessary to rouse and direct personal energy.
This is also achieved through the use of magical tools, by standing before the candle-
bewitched altar, and by intoning chants and symbolic words.

When burned prior to magical workings, fragrant smoke also purifies the altar and the
surrounding area of negative, disturbing vibrations. Though such a purification isn't usually necessary, it, once again, helps create the appropriate mental state necessary for the successful practice of magic. Specially formulated incenses are burned to attract specific energies to the magician and to aid her or him in charging personal power with the ritual's goal, eventually creating the necessary change.

Incense, in common with all things, possesses specific vibrations. The magician chooses the incense for magical use with these vibrations in mind. If performing a healing ritual, she or he burns a mixture composed of herbs that promote healing. When the incense is smoldered in a ritual setting it undergoes a transformation. The vibrations, no longer trapped in their physical form, are released into the environment. Their energies, mixing with those of the magician, speed out to effect the changes necessary to the manifestation of the magical goal. Not all incense formulas are strictly for magical
use. Some are smoldered in thanks or offering to various aspects of Deity, just as juniper was burned to Inanna 5,000 years ago in Summer. Other blends are designed to enhance Wiccan rituals.

Incenses are composed of a variety of leaves, flowers, roots, barks, woods, resins,
gums and oils. Semiprecious stones may also be added to incenses to lend their
energies to the mixture, much as emeralds were once burned in fires by ancient
Meso-American peoples.

Out of the literally hundreds of potential incense ingredients perhaps 14 are most
frequently used. Keep a stock of these herbs on hand if you plan to make several
incenses. These might include:

                                 Frankincense
                                 Pine needles or resin (pitch)
                                 Myrrh
                                 Juniper
                                 Benzoin
                                 Sandalwood
                                 Copal
                                 Cedar
                                 Rose petals
                                 Thyme
                                 Bay
                                 Basil
                                 Cinnamon
                                 Rosemary

     Be aware that many plants (if not all!) smell quite different when being smoldered.