Working without scents/oils?

[ratdog423]

I have rats, which have sensitive respiratory systems. Any type of scented candles/oils could be harmful to them. I'd have to do any spells/rituals in my room, where my rats are. What could I use instead of the scented things?

[Romani Vixen]

The herbs are generally ment to represent something, or to aid in the power for a specific purpose. You can still incorporate other things, like stones, planets, colors, etc.

I love rats! :)

[:: taceo ::]

Scents are just another way of focusing your mind on whatever it is you are hoping to achieve in your working, like colours, numbers, symbols etc. So, there isn't anything you can use to replace scents, but they aren't a necessity. I often do magick without the use scents.

I've had an idea though: You could dab a little scented oil just under your nose, that way you'll smell the scent but your pets won't! Good plan eh?

[SamTheBlob]

Im glad your worried about your little rodent friends. ^.^ i dont know where your from but if your open about your practicing then simply ask a vet around your area what candles/oil burings wont hurt our little critters sytems ^.^ there are specific candles and oils with sents that wont hurt your Rats..(i know i have some small animales my self hamster and bunny, both have sensitive respitory systems ^.^) But i found that out because i was worring about my animals and i asked my local vet about it ^.^

[Soulsong]

I would also look for taper candles when you need them. They come in all the appropriate colors, but usually aren't scented like other candles since they tend to go on the dinner table.

I am unfamiliar with spell craft, but when my asthma is bothering me I use leaves to represent the air element in my rituals in place of incense. Although the connection isn't as obvious, and they certainly don't smell as pretty, my lungs thank me. (Incidently, this has also worked well for me in outdoor devotions, since the West Wind is inordinently fond of my hometown and thus small burning things don't fair well.)

[Ben Gruagach]

A lot of people use things like candles, incense, etc. as elemental symbols for their rituals. It's not really that hard to substitute other things that also make sense to you in cases when things like incense, candles, or in your case, oils or perfumes or herbs, are not going to work out for whatever reason.

For instance, if you're really into rocks and crystals you could figure out (either on your own or by researching) which rocks or crystals could represent each of the elements. For example, I might use a bit of lava rock or another rock that is only formed deep in the earth as a fire representation. Maybe a bit of fine sand that would blow easily in the air for the air representation. A smooth water-worn pebble for water, and something chunky and heavy for earth. For the fifth element, spirit, I might use my birthstone or perhaps a bit of quartz crystal, or a fossil shell that is in a nice spiral shape (I can't think of what that is called officially right now, but you often find them in rock shops.)

It doesn't have to be rocks or crystals though. You could use other things that make sense to you. Feathers are good for air representations, for instance.

Or you could use the four standard magickal tools -- a pentacle for earth, a cup for water, and a wand and ritual knife (for either air or fire, depending on what you think makes sense -- some use the wand for air, and others say the wand is fire, with the knife representing the other element.) Maybe a crystal ball or other sphere for spirit.

[zakzekezedd]

You should be able to use dried herbs if you want, just don't burn them. The herbs still have the energy whether you burn them or simply fill a small bowl with them. One alternative to doing a cleansing smudge is to sprinkle charged water around the space to cleanse it and remove any negative energies.
Depending on where you live, good quality unscented tapers may be hard to find, but you can usually get unscented tea lights or votives that work ok. Remember, a white candle can be substituted for any other candle.
And as the ever wise Ben pointed out, there are many alternatives to oils or incense in rituals. Read up on traditional correspondences, and use your imagination.

[ratdog423]

Thanks for all of the ideas! :) In the books I've read, they talk a lot about oils and scented candles in spells and ritual, but they don't tell you things you could use to substitute if you need to.

[Ben Gruagach]

Thanks for all of the ideas! :) In the books I've read, they talk a lot about oils and scented candles in spells and ritual, but they don't tell you things you could use to substitute if you need to.

It's maybe just the particular books you've been looking at -- there are many ways to do spells and rituals that don't involve using oils or even candles.

Personally, I don't use oils that often, although I do usually use candles.

[cheddarsox]

We have lots of critters in our place. I have noticed the birds are particularly sensitive to incense, we've had some start turning somersaults when it was burned in the same room as them, but we have had no problem with the mice or rats.

I think that stick incense and cone incense has some fillers, in some brands that cause much of the problem, I get headaches from many kinds, but essential oils and resin incense usually don't bother me. This being said, I am bothered by some oils. So you might want to offer your buddies a sniff and see how they react, then go on from there. Since you are sharing living space, I think it is right to be sensitive to the needs/desires of your roomies!

cheddar