Copyright © 2013 Gray Seal
Many Wiccans, Witches and Pagans use incense as part of a sacred ceremony. In fact, recently many scientists got on board the incense bandwagon and agreed that there are indeed physiological benefits to using it. For thousands of years, we've been burning dried plants and berries in our homes or outside, as part of our ritual ceremonies. When Imbolc rolls around, we've usually been cooped up in the house for a couple of months, and although we know spring is just around the corner, it's really not quite close enough for us to get out and enjoy the weather just yet. You can make up a batch of this Imbolc incense that combines the scents of the season with the anticipation of the warmer weather to come.
Before you begin making your incense, first determine what form of incense you’d like to make. You can make your incense with sticks and in cones, but the easiest kind of incense to make, uses loose ingredients, which are then burned on top of a charcoal disc or tossed into a fire. This recipe is for loose incense, but you can always adapt it for stick or cone recipes. If you haven't yet read our Incense 101, now's the perfect time for you to do so.
As you mix and blend your incense, focus on the intent of your Magickal work. This particular incense recipe is one which evokes the scents of a chilly winter night, with a hint of spring florals. Use it during a ritual, if you like, or as a smudging incense to purify your sacred space. You can also toss some of it into your fire just to make the house smell like the Imbolc season.
For this incense, you’ll need:
* 2 parts cedar
* 2 parts frankincense
* 1 part pine resin
* 1 part cinnamon
* 1 part orange peel
* 1/2 part rose petals
Add the ingredients to your mixing bowl one at a time. Measure them carefully, and if the leaves or blossoms need to be crushed, use a mortar and pestle to do so. As you blend the herbs together, state your Magickal intent. You may find that its helpful to charge your incense with an incantation or chant as you blend it. Store your finished incense in a tightly sealed jar. Make sure that you label it with its name and date of creation. Use your incense within three months, so that it remains charged and fresh.
Blessed Be . . .
The Big Book of Magical Incense is an invaluable hands-on guide to the vast world of magical incense. It provides tried-and-true recipes, advice on how to create your own formulas, and instructions on how to use incense in all sorts of magical practice.
While the book requires no prerequisite knowledge, it is also appropriate for experienced magicians and learned pagans. The chapters are scaffolded, teaching about basic ingredients and skills, both practical and magical, in early chapters, and gently leading the reader to develop their own recipes, spells, and ritual practices as they move through the book.