Witches and Shamans have used different incense to burn as sacred smoke in their workings for thousands of years. Each one has its own vibration that helps in magical workings to clear negative energies. Though the uses vary, it is used in magic to raise ritual consciousness, the state of mind needed to raise personal energies. Burning incense purifies Altar space and tools. The Witch/Shaman chooses the incense for the vibrations in mind. If he/she is doing a ritual on healing, then a combination of leaves, flowers, roots, barks, woods, resins, gums, and oils are brought together to create an incense that promotes healing.
Each Incense has a specific vibration that can be used for specific magical workings. Specially formulated incense are burned to attract specific energies to the Witch/Shaman and to aid her/him in charging personal power with the ritual's goal, eventually creating the necessary change. Scent is power.
Two Forms of Incense
There are two types of incense used in magic: Combustible and noncombustible.
Combustible: Contains potassium nitrate (saltpeter) to aid in burning, burns in forms of bricks, cones, sticks..
If you are a beginner to incense you may wish to use combustibles incense for a ceremony or ritual. Cones or sticks do not have the bellowing smoke that is sometimes called for in some rituals, but it is still useful to bring the vibrations need.
Noncombustible: Must be sprinkled on a hot coal to release it fragrances.
Noncombustible is my preference, I have my own pestle and mortar sets,grinders and incense burners I use for this. It is some times a challenge to grind down gums and resins but I have worked out my own ways of dealing with it after a lot of time and screaming.. But I find it easier to make my incense blends to the magical purposes they are created for, I have been making my our incense blends for ritual use for years. I actually love to do so.
For a beginner, I add these simple incense that can be burned on charcoals when needed.
Allspice:
Esoteric Uses: Female aphrodisiac (a female lust for a male), competition, vigor and therefore health, strength, confidence
Esoteric Associations: Mars, Fire
Incense Aroma: Sweet, peppery, nutmeg, very smooth roasted nuts - a bit more of a charred aroma than the whole form
Burn to attract money and luck and to provide extra physical energy.
Arabic Gum:
Esoteric Associations: Sun, Fire
Incense Aroma: Very slight resinous aroma
Burn for purification and protection of the home.
Bay:Esoteric Uses: Divination, Courage, Success, Competition
Esoteric Associations: Sun
Incense Aroma: A delightfully fresh, joyous, spring like aroma before burning, spicy and fresh when burned
Used in small amounts for purification, healing, protection and to sharpen psychic powers.
Benzoin:Esoteric Uses: Inspiration, love, peace, protection, tranquility, calm
Esoteric Associations: Venus, Water
Incense Aroma: A smooth balsam, with a floral background. Produces lots of smoke.
Burn for purification, prosperity and increase in mental powers.
Cedar:Esoteric Uses: Luck, happiness, prosperity, wealth, success, home
Esoteric Associations: Jupiter, Air
Incense Aroma: Husky smooth cedar aroma
Smolder for purification, protection, to speed healing anf promote spirituality, and to obtain money.
Cinnamon:Esoteric Uses: Success, Courage, Power, Energy, Spiritual Development
Esoteric Associations: Mars, Fire
Incense Aroma: Hot, strong and fiery
Burn to sharpen psychic powers, to draw money, speed healing, confer protection and to strengthen love.
Clove:Esoteric Uses: Confidence in love money and all competitions, protection, gain, reward
Esoteric Associations: Sun, Fire
Incense Aroma: Physically stimulating, spicy, similar to the smell of clove cigarettes, gives a feeling of satisfaction
Burn for protection, exorcism, money. Love and purification
Copal:Esoteric Uses: Grounding, attraction, evocation, happiness, celebration
Esoteric Associations: Venus, Earth
Incense Aroma: Powdery sweet, soft, orris, nutty, toffee and copal aroma
Burn for protection, cleansing, purification, to promote spirituality, and to purify quartz crystals and other stones before use in magic.
Dragon's Blood: Esoteric Uses: Strength, virility, victory, victorious celebrations, prosperity, potency booster
Esoteric Associations: Mars, Fire
Incense Aroma: Smooth, very resinous aroma with a hint of fruit, - lots of smoke
Burned for love, protection,exorcism and sexual potency.
Frankincense: Esoteric Uses: Banishing, consecration, protection, ritual fumigations, divination, exorcism
Esoteric Associations: Sun, Fire
Incense Aroma: A husky and earthy frankincense lemony aroma, slightly sweet
Burn for protection, exercism, spirituality, love and consecration
Juniper:Esoteric Uses: Festivities, protection, gain, good fortune, mirth, happiness
Esoteric Associations: Jupiter, Air
Incense Aroma: Pleasant, fresh, woody, and slightly fruity.
Exorcism, protection, healing and love.
Myrrh:Esoteric Uses: Purification, scrying of images, calming of emotions
Esoteric Associations: Moon, Water, sometimes Saturn
Incense Aroma: A strong and husky aroma
Burn for healing, protection, exorcism, peace, consecration, meditation
Pine:Esoteric Uses: Banishing, luck, protection, inspiration
Esoteric Associations: Jupiter, Air
Smolder for money, purification, healing and exorcism
Rosemary:Esoteric Uses: Remembrance, Love, Fidelity, Oaths, Clarity, Purification, Home, Friendship, Happiness, Youth
Esoteric Associations: Mercury (in its nature), Sun (in its use)
Incense Aroma: A burst of lemon, and then a long roll of light invigorating subtle-pine. It leaves a lingering aroma in the room like a pleasant sage.
Burn for protection, exorcism, purification, healing and to cause sleep;to restore or maintain youth, to bring love and to increase intellectual powers.
Sage: Esoteric Uses: Protection, banishing, cleansing
Esoteric Associations: Earth
Smolder to promote healing and spirituality
Sandalwood:Esoteric Uses: Love, happiness, attraction, beauty
Esoteric Associations: Venus, Earth
Incense Aroma: Powdery and soft
Burn for protection, healing, exorcism, spirituality
Thyme:Esoteric Uses: Clarity, clear mind, courage, nobility, honor, banishing of poisonous things and hidden treacheries
Esoteric Associations: Sun, Fire
Incense Aroma: Slightly raw when burned but bright and clarifying to the mind, similar to Oregano but more invigorating.
Burn for health, healing, and purification
SatinkaMiakoda
2016