The ritual use of smoke from incense or dried plants has been around for millennia and is still practised today in many different ways and forms. I have been drawn to the incense burning for some time and occasionally experimented with dried leaves of various plant species.
There is some magical quality to the smoke. Perhaps we all humans are mindful (at least on the unconscious level), that smoke that comes from lighting a fire is what made us human - we are the only species on Earth that have mastered this element.
Incense in the Scriptures
The special uses of fragrant herbs and spices stretch back to ancient times. In the Exodus book of the Bible, the Lord asks Moses to take gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense, in equal amounts, to make a fragrant blend of incense. “It is to be salted and pure and sacred.'"
Another, probably the most famous fragment, relates to the homage paid to baby Jesus: "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, incense and myrrh."
Incense next to gold! This is how important it had been in those times and to the eyes of the ancient people.
Incense Burning as a Way to Communicate with the Spirits
Incense burning is still a wide practice in the many Asian cultures. I found an interesting study in the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine:
Incense is burned for communication with spiritual entities at graves, temples, and cooking stoves, as well as for personal well-being. (...) the use of incense mixtures at the household and community level is regularly practiced for communication with ancestors, ghosts, and deities (...).
This study concentrated on a particular region in China with a few references to Himalayas and Buddhist, Confucian, and Daoist religious practices. I gather that most of what the folks told the researchers applies to other regions in the world and also to prehistoric use of incense and ritual use of smoke, in general.
Each place is connected to a unique myth about the spirits that can be called there. The most conspicuous place for incense burning is at the entrance gates of a house, (...) so as to prevent bad influences from entering the house. Incense is also burned on a small altar close to the stove in the kitchen where Zaojun (Kitchen God), can be worshiped. It was mentioned that the same altar is also a place for ancestors to meet the household members and to enjoy a meal. Incense is thus burned to invite the ancestors into the home.
Fumigations at sacred spaces and temples are often related to the worship of local nature deities, to show respect or to call for blessings about specific undertakings.
Incense Burning as a Way to Repel the Unwanted
Interestingly, the research shows that many people in the remote region are burning the incense to clean the air of germs, to repel insects, to prevent snakes and small animals from entering the house, and also - to keep unwelcome people outside.
Many aromatic substances used for this purpose, such as frankincense, myrrh, and storax, are imported from African, European and other Asian countries.
Incense burning as a Way of Self-Awareness
An interesting emphasis on oneself and a spiritual path instead of the communication with deities or ancestors is given by a Buddhist nun in this field research. For her, incense has mainly an effect on the individual to strengthen the meditation practice and self-awareness:
Burning incense has five main effects: It is a statement of not doing bad things any more. Through the burning of incense you settle down. Through the burning of incense you get rid of hardness. Burning incense increases wisdom. Through the burning of incense you get rid of the feelings about precious old things.
Incense burning for Sceptics
An even more interesting fragment of the research paper shows that there are local people who do not give a damn about any of the above staff:
I don't burn incense by myself and think that young people in general have little time to burn incense. The young people don't believe in superstition and don't belong to a religion. Nonetheless, I feel comfortable when smelling it. In my family, my mother burns incense and, in general, older women do it. They are all victims of superstition.
The person questioned (or similar) confirmed nevertheless that he likes the fragrance of incense and does not mind when it is lit for practical purposes.
I think all of the above results of this research give a perfect overview on how different people and traditions see the use of incense.
In the European countries and the US it is seen more in practical terms - to give a room a nice fragrance, to get into a better mood or occasionally to drive off negative energies or insects, and to assist in a prayer or meditation - to lift vibrations.
Incense Burning in Scientific Studies
Some forms of incense, and especially white sage have been giving me a headache and even stomach cramps and a sense of nausea. I have stopped using the incense on any regular basis indoors apart from the Summer time - to repel insects (with mixed outcome).
I switched to essential oils for room fragrancing, spiritual awareness, hygiene, cosmetics, high-vibes etc. They certainly have much more to offer. However, I still like the occasional smoke of a burning stick around.
After coming across some studies and research, it is worth to be more mindful when using incense burning. It all makes logical sense.
First of all, indoor incense burning has been linked to worse (not better!) air quality. Levels of benzene and formaldehyde and other air pollutants increased and they all have carcinogenic properties. The smoke of incense can have a fatal effect on people with asthma or may even develop such symptoms.
The second observation is even more dramatic:
Research published in Nature in 2020 has found that indoor incense burning was associated with worse cognitive performance and decreased brain connectivity (...) Air pollutants released from incense smoke have been associated with accelerated cognitive aging, intellectual decline, and an increased risk for Alzheimer’s Disease and vascular dementia.
All links to these studies can be found on the website of Psychology Today.
There is also research on the internet that incense smoke does not serve well house plants. And not hard to imagine - it does not serve our pets either.
Safe Way to Use Incense
Proponents of recreational or spiritual incense burning will tell you that it has many positive effects on the mind, revealing a similar approach as the Buddhist nun quoted above. And I agree to some degree. I like the occasional stick to get myself into a proper mood or as a remembrance and tribute to somebody's passing away.
There has to be good air ventilation, limiting time or burning incense outdoors.
To take it holistically, it is best to take both approaches into account. As I come from the so-called Western world, my attitude towards incense had been strictly practical for many years. As I developed more of the spiritual senses, I discovered that incenses are - or can be - so much more than only a fragrant stick used with little or no intention. They can add another dimension to our life, connecting us with those ancient practices when people were close to their ancestors and nature.
So in a way they help us focus not only on ourselves but also get in subtle touch with the spirit world - whatever it means to you.
There are of course many varieties of incense which is another whole topic. Many of them are nothing else but fragrant sticks - made with artificial substances. To my taste they are rather pungent and repulsive. However those made in a more or less traditional way with natural ingredients can have a sublime effect on our psyche and perception.
Of course, let's be mindful that some people do not like the smell of any incense, and some people with asthma and other respiratory conditions should not be around them. Plants and pets as well.
There are several incense types that are most common and likely to be of good sourcing:
Cedarwood
Cedar is a mighty tree with an evergreen foliage of dark-green to bluish needles arranged in dense rosettes. The wood has a delicate, resinous fragrance.
Like all conifers, Cedar is associated with eternal life, and it is often planted around burial grounds to ease the passage to the otherworld.
The scent is considered particularly purifying and sacred. It was used to consecrate ritual objects and to cleanse the ceremonial grounds. It is one of the best to lit up when you want to commemorate somebody's passing away.
Cinammon
It is a wonderful incense that attracts money, success and abundance into your life.
Cinnamon adds energy and grounds your vibrations and intentions.
Dragon's Blood
Dragon's blood is a resin extracted from the Dracaena plant, also known as the dragon tree.
I am not particularly fascinated by its scent. However, I like the association with this incense and feel they sometimes work well.
Use Dragon Blood for protection, to strengthen your intentions and to cleanse a place from any alien, sticky yet invisible residue.
It is an excellent crystal stones charger.
Frankincense
This incense helps us to relax and relieve the stress. Frankincense also balances any energy disorders in the areas of the body and spirit.
It balances the chakras, which is why it is often chosen as an incense accompanying yoga or meditation.
This incense also has cleansing properties and drives away bad energies.
Lavender
Lavender incense can be used in various enhancing ceremonies. Be it love, money, health.
You can also use dry herb for the same purpose.
Palo Santo
It is usually in the form of chopped wood sticks that burn very slowly. The smoldering stick fills the room with a light, warm, refreshing scent, cleansing the air and putting us in a blissful mood.
Palo Santo is the sacred tree of the Amazon. The smoke of its wood is used during ceremonies that allows shamans to enter a trance and access additional stimuli, sensations and information. In Indian folk medicine, Palo Santo is also used for healing rituals. It means "Holy Tree" in Spanish.
The government of Peru is very strict about the methods of obtaining it, and the tree itself is under strict protection. The wood needs to dry up to 5 years to gain its properties.
Palo Santo contains a large amount of essential oils that have a positive effect on the psychophysical well-being. The resin has a strong antiseptic, antiviral and antifungal effect. It has an anti-allergic effect, has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, refreshes the mind and improves concentration.
In Europe, its air-freshening properties are used as an absorber of unpleasant odors. It also functions in the esoteric world as an effective tool for cleansing negative energy and uninvited entities. It also repels mosquitoes and insects.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood incense is made from an evergreen tree or shrub growing in Southeast Asia, Australia and India. The tree is protected in most countries. Even if it grows on a private land - it cannot be cut down until it reaches the age of 30.
The Indian sandalwood of intense red colour is especially valuable, and it is where most of the all world production occurs. The wood has extraordinary durability, beauty and aroma, and is used for pricey furniture, ornaments, caskets, carvings and for making incense and essential oil.
The aroma of the sandalwood extract is very rich, balsamic, sweet and woody, with ethereal depth, invoking oriental mystery. In Hindu and Buddhist tradition it is believed that it connects the material world with the spirit.
According to many reports the scent is calming and relaxing, aids meditation, prayer, stress reduction, and better sleep.
On the other hand it has some enthralling and exhilarating properties that can counteract melancholy, and may have a slight sensual and sexually stimulating effect.
When you burnt a sandalwood incense the vibrations are risen and have a beneficial, comforting and entrancing effect on people and everything around. Sandalwood smoke purifies the room or an outdoor area of bad vibes and protects against any form of negativity - be it a wrongful thought, feeling or annoying insects.
So, the fragrance evokes good spirits - and we can translate it as being in a uplifted mood.
White Sage
Like Palo Santo, you can have this incense in natural form or stick incense. You probably know perfectly well that White Sage is used in the Native Americans smudging ritual.
White Sage cleanses us, our houses and stones from inappropriate energy. However, these are not the only properties of this incense. Another equally important power is that it invites positive, clean and uplifting energy into our interior.
General rules of using Incense in a Ritual Way
If you want to purify your home, light the incense and walk with it through all the rooms so that the smoke can purify every doorway, corner, nook and cranny.
A good idea is to start at the entrance door and then move in the clockwise or anticlockwise direction. Clockwise is connected to the Sun and sky energy and it increases good vibes of growth and expansion. Anticlockwise is related to the Earth and chthonic energy and it helps to remove negative energy by contracting it and sending it down and away to be transformed.
To strengthen the idea - move your incense stick from a bottom up in each doorway and corner for the Sun direction, and from the upper level to the bottom for the Earth direction. Of course you can use both in one go, but it does take time and an effort of focus, believe me.
Another rule is to include the Moon. So when it is waxing (growing to the Full Moon) use the Sun direction, and when the Moon is waning, use the Earth direction.
Ventilate all rooms well after the incense burning. The smell produced is beneficial, but the smoke can be harmful - so it is important to have good ventilation.
You can also use an incense with a specific intention, as a mindfulness exercise that also improves your imagination. Sit down, hold the stick in both your hands and focus on your intention.
Lit it up and place it on the incense holder, watching the smoke, for a while. Imagine the smoke carrying your request to the spirit world. Give thanks afterwards.
Use your own initiative and imagination to experiment with those things. The rules are good but not always have to be obeyed, especially when you are on a spiritual path. Intuition is most important. Do what feels right for you at this moment and with a pure heart - there is no more important rule than this.
The greatest spiritual knowledge lies not in the pursuit of magical power, control and dominion, but in serving the Whole with pure intention.
How are the incense sticks made?
The traditional way is described in the research I mentioned above. It shows that women between the ages of 54 and 80 years are involved in incense making.
The incense powder is evenly distributed over a wooden stick and glued with a water-solved wheat flour. Adhering incense powder onto the sticks is repeated until the sticks are of the desired thickness.
There are many ways of doing it, I just wanted to give a general idea.
Let's respect the work of others, especially those involved in any craftsmanship. If you are buying an incense pack, do as much as possible to know that it comes from a fair trade and sustainable resources.
Namaste
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