Some Basics about Incense

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At Elven Woods, we hand-blend mixtures of oils and herbs from our Formulary to create oils,
incences, soaps, floorwashes, & powders that are correct for a variety of magickal and
spell-casting purposes. The oils can be worn as perfumes or used in diffusers or to anoint
candles. we hand-blend loose incense using the finest of herbs, oils, resins and woodbase.
These incenses are for specific magical purposes and are meant to be burned on a charcoal
in a heat resistant container.
Be sure to check out the resins and gums
(Frankincense, Myrrh, Dragon's Blood, etc. on the misc. page)

Below you will find a brief history of the use of Incense

Religious use of incense has its origins in antiquity. The burned incense may be intended as a sacrificial offering to
various deity or to serve as an aid in prayer.

Paganism

Incense is also often used in pagan rituals to represent the element of air,
It is also believed to release natural energy. Incenses of a wide range of
fragrances are also used in spell and ritual for different purposes.

Although many Pagan traditions associate specific botanical materials with certain magical attributes (see below), those definitions vary widely from one tradition to another. Generally speaking, pagans and Wiccans use incense for two basic purposes in modern rituals. First, incense is believed to create a magical atmosphere that is appropriate for the invocation
(or evocation) of deities and spirits often present around the Pagan altar. Second, burning the incense is believed to release the large amount of energy stored within natural incense so that it can be used for magical purposes.

The associations below do not hold true for all traditions, but provide a general view of the magical associations of incense.

-Frankincense — burned for purification, spirituality and is associated with the Sun. Frankincense is associated with masculine powers.

-Myrrh — has similar properties to frankincense, though it is also used for healing and attraction as well. Myrrh is
associated with feminine powers.

-Copal — most often burned for purification, both spiritual cleansing as well as for cleansing physical items. Copal
is actually a generic term referring to many different types of resins. Varieties include white, black, and golden.

-Dragon's blood — burned for love, strength, and courage and can be used to add potency to any spellwork.

-Pine and Cedar — help cleanse space of negative energy.



Buddhism & Taoism
Incense burning is a common Chinese religious ritual in Chinese ancestor worship, Taoism and Buddhism. Incense use in religious ritual was first developed in China, and eventually transmitted to other parts of Asia. Incense holds an invaluable role in East Asian Buddhist ceremonies and rites as well Taoist and Shinto shrines. It is said to be a method of purifying the surroundings, bringing forth an assembly of Buddhas, Bodhisattva, gods,
demons, and the other spirits. In Taoist and Buddhist temples, the inner spaces are scented with thick coiled incense, which are either hung from the ceiling or on special stands. Worshipers at the temples light and burn sticks of incense in small or large bundles, which they wave or raise above the head while bowing to the statues of a deity or an ancestor. Individual sticks of
incense are then vertically placed into individual censers located in front of the statues.
The formula and scent of the incense used in various temples throughout Asia vary widely.

Hinduism

Hinduism was probably the first religion in which incense was used and sacrificed to show devotion to God. The use of incense is a traditional and common practice in almost all prayers, and other forms of worship. As part of the daily ritual worship within the Hindu tradition of India, incense is offered to God in His deity forms.