Incense

[mucgwyrt]

Writing about the 4 festivals in my BOS, I got to thinking.

What purpose does Incense serve, other than as 'air' in your circle?
I was stumped. I know there must be one, but I at least have no idea!

Also, what do you use for incense for the 4 festivals which fall on the equinoxes/solstices, and why?

-Me :floating:

[asamananara]

I often work with plant-spirits, so burning herbal incenses
serves to incorporate their energies within the ritual, a tangible
bridge between their manifest aspects and my own.
For the solar sabbats, I use a strong base-blend of cedar, patchouli,
benzoin, frankincense, juniper, and lavender. This base is
then augmented throughout the rituals as appropriate to the
work.
.
edited to add:
.
It's interesting to note that I don't associate burning incense
with elemental air at all.

[mothwench]

for me it has something to do with the fact that the sense of smell is directly connected to the subconcious. for some this means it's connected to the underworld as well. so incenses are used alot in invoking, or banishing.

[Faeawyn]

Burning incense is a tradition that dates back thousands of years, in practically all of earth’s ancient civilizations, and is well known for it’s mood-altering qualities. It is derived from the Latin verb incendere, ‘to burn’.

Each different fragrance has its own vibration, so incense can be selected to assist with mood enhancement, to help you feel good; soothing and uplifting – to reduce stressful situations, and to assist with personal development. It is also excellent to burn whilst saying affirmations, to raise your consciousness and purify the atmosphere in which you live. Most people choose their incense ‘from their heart’, thus allowing for intuition to guide them for their ‘highest good’. Therefore, incense plays a very important role in creating a healthy environment in which those people seeking wisdom and truth can ‘tune in’ to their ‘purpose in life’.

[mucgwyrt]

I often work with plant-spirits, so burning herbal incenses
serves to incorporate their energies within the ritual, a tangible
bridge between their manifest aspects and my own.
For the solar sabbats, I use a strong base-blend of cedar, patchouli,
benzoin, frankincense, juniper, and lavender. This base is
then augmented throughout the rituals as appropriate to the
work.
.
edited to add:
.
It's interesting to note that I don't associate burning incense
with elemental air at all.

When circle casting (if you do it), what do you use as a representative of air?

Faewyn: I also prefer to pick the incense I use from my mind rather than research, as I'm a big believer in the Collective Unconscious and I'm positive I'll be picking the 'right' herbs. I think I was just curious what everyone else uses :)

Thanks for all your very enlightening replies so far!

[Ben Trismegistus]

Incense is often used as a process of purification. Many cultures (the Native Americans, notably) burn sage and use the smoke to purify themselves, their tools, etc.

[skilly-nilly]

I often work with plant-spirits, so burning herbal incenses
serves to incorporate their energies within the ritual, a tangible
bridge between their manifest aspects and my own.
For the solar sabbats, I use a strong base-blend of cedar, patchouli,
benzoin, frankincense, juniper, and lavender. This base is
then augmented throughout the rituals as appropriate to the
work.
.
edited to add:
.
It's interesting to note that I don't associate burning incense
with elemental air at all.

I also make my own incense from things I grow, and use it to include the plants in the ceremony as you do.

I view 'smoke' as having the same spiritual meaning as 'fog' ---it indicates the threshold between Spirit and mundane--like dawn, evening, tide-line, shore, bog, edge-growth, thaw, budding .....
I also don't have a belief system that incorporates the elements per se. I don't associate incense with Air, but I do associate feathers with Sky, which is somewhat the same.


:elf: , skilly-nilly

[asamananara]

When circle casting (if you do it), what do you use as a representative of air?



Well, I personally don't see the point of using a static image or symbol when surrounded by, and composed of, the vital living essence itself. Can you fill your lungs with a symbol?
An image of a man is not the man himself; the map is not the territory. When calling the sky, I address the sky.

[asamananara]

Skilly-nilly, I've read many of your posts and feel that we see eye to eye on many points. I, too, honor the sky- as well as the sea, sun, and soil- as being the primary manifest virtues of the divine spirit. This is as close as I get to "elements", although I consider each to be a vital manifest virtue of god, and the threads of the soul.

[Heathen Dawn]

The oracle of Delphi spoke in trances induced by inhaling a gas coming out of a fissure where she stood. I suppose the purpose of incense is similar.

[Faeawyn]

The oracle of Delphi spoke in trances induced by inhaling a gas coming out of a fissure where she stood. I suppose the purpose of incense is similar.
Wow really??? What kind of gas do you think it was?

[skilly-nilly]

Skilly-nilly, I've read many of your posts and feel that we see eye to eye on many points. I, too, honor the sky- as well as the sea, sun, and soil- as being the primary manifest virtues of the divine spirit. This is as close as I get to "elements", although I consider each to be a vital manifest virtue of god, and the threads of the soul.

Thank you very very much, it is meaningful praise from someone who'se opinion is valued.
:farmerjoe I am proud to think myself a peasant, too.

[DebLipp]

Writing about the 4 festivals in my BOS, I got to thinking.

What purpose does Incense serve, other than as 'air' in your circle?
I was stumped. I know there must be one, but I at least have no idea!

Also, what do you use for incense for the 4 festivals which fall on the equinoxes/solstices, and why?

-Me :floating:
I did maybe about 2000 words on this in ELEMENTS OF RITUAL. Actually, that's cheating. What I did was take an article I wrote for some Pagan 'zine about 10 years ago and cut it into the incense section. ;) Oh, the joys of writing.

Anyway, the highlights are:
1) Incense is Air
2) Incense blends Air & Fire, thereby balancing the salt water, which blends Earth & Water
3) Incense is purifying
4) Incense is attractive, it attracts the attention of Gods, elementals, and other benevolent beings
5) Offerings rise on the smoke to the realm of the Gods; smoke is considered a "more refined" form of offering; it reaches the more delicate senses of the Gods. This is very ancient.
6) Incense carries the magical and symbolic properties of the herbs that it is made of; hence incense brings the planets, elements, healing powers, protective powers, and what have you of its ingredients into your ritual. This is why each type ritual, each holiday, each spell, can use a unique blend.
7) Scent is a powerful stimulant. The sense of smell is the only sense that goes directly to the limbic system, bypassing the conscious mind. Incense is thus ideal to function as a trance cue -- when you smell it, you know it's time to get into ritual mindset.
8) Incense alters consciousness by mildly altering breathing patterns and (possibly) by using mind-altering ingredients.

[TYRRHENUS]

Hello Faeawyn: The gas was deadly. Plutarch commented on the vapors killing the Pythia.

Check out: Luigi Piccardi, Active faulting at Delphi, Greece: Seismotectonic remarks and a hypothesis for the geologic environment of a myth. Geology, 28, 651 - 654, (2001). Is supposed to discuss the gas itself. (Though the title sounds incredibly boring... I'd stick with Plutarch. ;))

[ArKane]

I don't really us incese. Plays up with my asthma a bit to much. But er...to make your space smell pretty?

[Heathen Dawn]

Thank you, Tyrrh. :)

[mucgwyrt]

Well, I personally don't see the point of using a static image or symbol when surrounded by, and composed of, the vital living essence itself. Can you fill your lungs with a symbol?
An image of a man is not the man himself; the map is not the territory. When calling the sky, I address the sky.
That's a very good philosophy, another one of your gems which I read and think "why didn't that occur to me?!" :lol:




7) Scent is a powerful stimulant. The sense of smell is the only sense that goes directly to the limbic system, bypassing the conscious mind. Incense is thus ideal to function as a trance cue -- when you smell it, you know it's time to get into ritual mindset..

Wow, I didnt realise it bypassed our conscious mind, that's really thought provoking too... Intriguing :)

[mothwench]

:) macha, if you're really interested in this topic and you like reading, you have got to get this book
http://www.noexit.co.uk/jitterbugperfume.htm it's my favourite piece of fiction ever, and i just can't stop recommending it. :kooky: nyah to all the ppl who have heard this a thousand times before.