Incense Burning

Occasions & Application

Why and When to Burn Incense

1. To Cleanse the Atmosphere

Burning incense has a very powerful effect on surroundings.It is as if the fragrant smoke creates its very own vibration,creating a new morphogenetic field in a room. Negative moods,thoughts and actions can influence the energy in a room.Their vibrations seems to linger in the air.Nothing neutralizes and changes these vibrations better than burning incense.People have practiced the ritual of incense burning throughout history to cleanse,neutralize or positively change the atmosphere in places where many people gather e.g. temples,holy places and chuches.We can also clean objects we use during healing ceremonies - e.g.healing crystals and icons by suspending them in the smoke of burning incense.Sometimes negative energies can surround pieces of jewelry or antiques.It can be neutralize through incense burning.The power of incence burning can also effectively be used in places in which there is a lot of arguments or much grief,houses or apartments before you move in,places in schools where students take tests,every type of public space,sick rooms and rooms where people are dying or have died

Method: To cleanse the atmosphere in a room or a space,keep the windows closed.Walk through the space or from room to room and fan the rising smoke in all directions.Then leave the room and close the room.If done in the everning - leave the container used for burning the incense in the room an air out the space the next morning.Otherwise leave the windows and doors closed and don't go into the space for at least 3 hours.Then make sure that you air out the space

Incense for Cleansing:

Frankincense, Sage, Juniper, Dessert Mugwort, Pine

2. To Calm and Reduce Anxiety, Stress and Fear

Fragrances influence our emotional, an mental moods.They can stimulate,calm and harmonize.We use incense that has a direct and relaxing influence on th psyche

Method: The incense burning may take place in the evening,possibly supported by relaxing background music and candlelight.Allow all your tensions and troubles to dissipate along with the fragrant smoke

Incense for relaxation:

Cinnamon, Benzoin, Sandalwood, Golden Copal, Sandarac, Storax, Anise, Costus, Saffron, Amber Pine, Galbanum and Propolis

3. For Revitalization, Stimulation and Energy Renewal

Some types of incense have stimulating as well as revitalizing effects.These may be helpful in strengthening our potential and energy when we feel weak,discourage or exhausted.the herbs used by Native Americans work particularly well here,as do those of the element fire

Method: While the incense is burning and as the smoke ascends,we might want to envision our inner strength increasing

Strengthening incense:

Desert Mugwort, Pine, Himalayan Rhododendron, Cedar, Juniper, Ginger Lily, Galangal, Dragon's Blood, Calmus, Clove, Camphor, Scotch Pine

4. Help with Insomnia

Some plants provide substances that have balancing and calming effects and that might be helpful in dealing with insomnia.These substances are relaxing in an emotianal as well as a physical sense

Method: Burn the incense in the evening before retiring.Try to get a sense of how the smoke from the incense is relaxing your body and calming your mind

Incense from plants for a good night's sleep:

Sandalwood, Amber Pine, Asafetida, Cinnamon, Saffron, Spikenard Aloe, Galbanum, Dream Herb, Avar Wood, Marsch Forest

5. To Encourage Dreams

For centuaries people have used incense to encourage dreaming and even to create dreams that come true.Today burning incense can help support therapeutic dreamwork because it increases the ability to remember dreams.Scientific dream labs have recently discovered fragrances and aromas have a strong effect on dream activity

Dream incense Herbs:

Dream Herb, True Sage, Laurel, Mastic, Hops, Mistletoe, Mugwort, Elemi,Ledum,White Copal, Elderberry, Iron Herb

6. For Prayer, Meditation and Contemplation

From early in human history people have recognized that the specific fragrances released when incense burns have the power to strengthen spiritual energies.Incense burning can open us up to the subtle planes that lie beyond our everyday world.It connects the human spirit with the energy of the cosmos.It is believed by some that Prayers often are more effective when accompanied by incense-burning ceremonies.Burning incense is a profound symbol for change, for the process of transformation.It is inspiring to contemplate the transformation of the earthly to the heavenly.Fragrant smoke crate an atmosphere of worship an dignity and reflection that can support prayer or meditation.The ascending smoke is a symbol for the soul seeking a connection to the godly

Method: When you burn incense at the beginning of a meditation,the fragrant smoke accompanies your prayers,inspiring contemplation.During the ceremony,imagine how your thoughts and prayers connects to the sacred energies of the divine

Incense for prayer and meditation:

Frankincense, Balsam, Mastic Sandarac, Dammar, Common Myrrh, Cedar Elemi, Camphor

7. Incense Burning to Celebrate the Season

The season of the year are the moods of nature.Consciously becoming aware of them and getting in tune with them greatly contributes to our well-being and in that sense,enriches our lives.Celebrations and incense burning can bring us into harmony with the seasons of the year and strengthen our experiences and awareness.Try to celebrate a seasonal feast such as Christmas,Easter or the Solstice by including the appropriate incense burning for the occasion

Incense for celebrations of the

Full Moon:

Elemi, Camphor, Mastic, Myrtle, Costus, Common Myrrh

New Moon:

Ledum, Agar Wood, Spineard, Myrrh, Black Copal

8. Incense Burning for Love

As scientific research has shown,the fragrances of some of the classic incense-burning substances are very similar to human pheromones.These fragrances send messages that have a strong influence on human sexuality.Throughout history,people have known that burnng incense stimulates their capacity for love an eroticism.Allow yourself to be seduced by a fragrant incense and enjoy the pleasure of incense burning with your partner

Sensually stimulating incense:

Sandalwood, Vetiver, Benzoin, Agar Wood, Ledum, Patchouli, Rose

9. Incense Burning for Creativity

Many artist have used fragrances for inspirations.They found that the fragrant smoke of incense burning supported their imagination and helped their creativity.Let the fragrances inspire you when you are involved in music,painting,writing or any creative work.Start your day in the studio with incense burning.Use incense burning to heighten your enjoyment of a concert

Incense that stimulates creativity:

Cinnamon, Blossoms, Frankincense, Benzoin, Balsam of Tolu,Tonka Bean, Japanese Anise, Iedum, Dream Herb, Hops

10. For Healing

Burning incense for therapeutic purposes originated in ancient times.Through the Middle Ages,people considered incense burning part of taking care of their bodies and their homes.Because the process of burning frees fragrant substances and has a pharmacological effect,incense burning was often used to treat respiratory illnesses, Muscle Tension, Rheumatism, Insomnia and Pain.People have also used it during childbirth and as a disinfectant.Today incense burning is very helpful when used in conjunction with other therapies such as Reiki,Massage,Colour therapy and Psychotherapy

11. Incense and Rituals

Since the beginning of time incense buring and rituals have belonged together. Rituals strengthen incense burning and journey, such as birth, initiation, marriage and death. These rites give it much greater dimension. A ritual is like a magnifying glass, concentrating and increasing energy. They serve religious as well as social purposes. Today many people no longer feel the necessity for rituals. But most of us do practice them every day of our lives. Rituals are a timeless way of supporting our inner development and of experiencing it consciously. They are powerful forces, enabling us to master our lives and overcome crises. They help us gain wisdom and expand emotionally. Incense can support our mental experiences and increase our spiritual growth. We should find our way back to rituals again and experience rituals alone or in groups. Incense can be a great help in this endeavor

info source:The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oil-Julia Lawless