Incenses

"Incense has smoldered on magicians' 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...."  - Scott Cunningham (Incenses, Oils and Brews)

Incenses are wonderful!  Used for thousands of years, they have helped to provide an atmosphere of peace and contentment and magic.  They smell wonderful and (best of all) they are easy to not only use but to, also. make.  Here, then, are some recipes as taken from Scott Cunningham's Incenses, Oils and Brews book (one of my favorites!):

The Materials

-Incenses are made up of many different ingredients including woods, flowers, gums, resins, roots, barks and leaves. I even read that you can add semi-precious s stones to the incense mixtures to lend their energies to them. It's worth a try.

-There are literally hundreds of ingredients you could use for incense but there are 14 basic (most frequently used) ingredients that are recommended to keep on hand at all times if you plan to make alot of incense. They are:

• Frankincense
• Myrrh
• Benzoin
• Copal
• Rose Petals
• Bay
• Cinnamon
• Pine Needles or resin (pitch)
• Juniper
• Sandalwood
• Cedar
• Thyme
• Basil
• Rosemary

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