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Incense Ingredients
Breaking down the five elements and their Ayurvedic relationship to plants and common incense ingredients we find them falling into five classes. The following chart shows the relationship:
1. Ether (Fruits)
Star Anise
2. Water (Stems & Branches)
Sandalwood, Aloeswood, Cedarwood, , Cassia, Frankincense, Myrrh, Borneol
3. Earth (Roots)
Turmeric, Vetivert, Ginger, Costus Root, Valerian, Spikenard
4. Fire (flower)
Clove
5. Air (leaves)
Patchouli
Making Incense
The process of making herbal incense without the use of salt peter, or even charcoal is actually quite easy. Perhaps the easiest way is by using a binder commonly called Makko. Makko not only serves as a water soluble binder, but as a burning agent as well. Makko is a natural tree bark from an evergreen tree and contains no synthetic chemicals, charcoal, or salt peter.
To make incense, simply mix the desired ingredients, in powdered form, with makko and add some warm water. Knead the incense-dough thoroughly and form into cones or sticks and let dry at room temperature for about twenty-four hours.
Sandalwood is common to almost every incense formula, and serves as a wonderful base aroma as well as a burning agent of it's own right. If you were making an incense of sandalwood alone, the amount of makko required may be a little as 10%. However, resins like Frankincense are more difficult to burn and must be used in much lower percentages to burning agents such as sandalwood or makko. Otherwise, your incense won't burn properly and may me too smoky or keep going out.
Here is an incense recipe you can use to get you started:
Recipe for Cone Incense:
Mix together:
2 parts Makko
1 part Sandalwood powder
1 part Cassia powder
½ part Clove powder
Add a little warm water and knead dough completely.
Form in small incense cones.
Dry at room temperature for 24 hours.
Circle Incense
4 parts Frankincense
2 parts Myrrh
2 parts Benzoin
1 part Sandalwood
½ part Cinnamon
½ part Rose petals
¼ part Vervain
¼ part Rosemary
¼ part Bay
Burn in the circle for all types of rituals and spells. Frankincense, myrrh and benzoin should definitely constitute the bulk of the mixture.
Altar Incense
3 parts Frankincense
2 parts Myrrh
1 part Cinnamon
Burn as a general incense on the altar to purify it and to promote ritual consciousness during rituals.
Fall Sabbat Incense
3 parts Frankincense
2 parts Myrrh
1 part Rosemary
1 part Cedar
1 part Juniper
Burn during fall and winter Sabbat rituals.
Spring Sabbat Incense
3 parts Frankincense
2 parts Sandalwood
1 part Benzoin
1 part Cinnamon
a few drops Patchouli oil
Burn during spring and summer Sabbat rituals.
Purification Incense
This incense can be powdered (use a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder) or left in a chunky form. It is a mixture of resins, wood and herbs with a dash of essential oil. Don’t forget, a little of this incense goes a long way, so this quantity will be quite sufficient for one purification ritual.
1 teaspoon Frankincense
1 teaspoon Dragon’s Blood resin
½ teaspoon Myrrh
½ teaspoon Sandalwood
¼ teaspoon Dill seed
2 or 3 drops of Rose Geranium essential oil
If you want to make a larger quantity of this incense, store any leftovers in an airtight glass jar. If you cannot find one or more of the ingredients for the incense, here is a short list of magickal substitutions. (You can change the recipe to suit your taste based on this list if you wish, or add extra herbs or resins.)
Substitutions:
Gums and Resins: Benzoin, Copal, Gum Arabic
Herbs and Woods: Chamomile, Fennel Seed, Lavender, Pine, Rosemary, Tobacco (chemical free)
Essential Oils: Chamomile, Peppermint, Lavender, Thyme, Benzoin
Spiritual Harmony Incense
This incense recipe comes from Herb Craft by Susan Lavender and Anna Franklin. This incense should be burned on charcoal to promote a calm atmosphere and it is especially good for temples, sacred circles and meditation places.
1 part Benzoin
2 parts Frankincense
½ part red rose petals
Incense Site of Choice
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