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BOTANICAL INCENSE - Botanical and other incense are a tool which can be
tailored to the user's desire. At their simplest they may be used to stimulate
the sense of smell and bring enjoyment to those nearby, alternatively, they can
be a subtle compilation designed to create a specific ambiance for a ritual or
magical operation.
The following guide contains some botanical (and a few
other substances) and their uses when burned. The attributes have been derived
from a great many sources, both published and personal communication, and like
most magical properties they are most effective when tailored to the individual
or group using them. So sit down and burn some and see if they work for you. Try
combinations. I have included some recipes which have worked for myself and
others in the hopes that you will find them useful. Happy Censing!
A Scheme of Things: The botanicals which I will discuss
fall into several broad categories: 1) EVOCATIVE - used to get the attention of
divinities or to summon spirits 2) DIVINATORY - used to foretell the future or
to see hidden secrets 3) PURIFICATORY - used to purify the purpose of a rite or
the action of a given object 4) ENHANCING - used to intensify the purpose of a
rite or the action of a given object 5) PROTECTIVE - used to shield the user or
area from harm 6) BANISHING - used to drive out unwanted influences or spirits
7) HEALING - used to promote wholeness in mind, body or spirit 8) SPELL CASTING
- used to promote a purpose, e.g., love, fertility, money, luck, fortune,
concentration, etc.
Many botanicals fall into several categories, for
example: Wormwood (Artemesia) can be used 1) to evoke Artemis and call\ the dead
2) to promote divination 6) when consecrated to Mars in banishing 6) & 7) it was
used to banish the Black Plague fleas 8) when consecrated to Mars, in works of
anger.
Some Examples:
1) Evocative Almond Lotus Ash Mandrake Basil Myrrh Bay
Olive Blessed Thistle Patchouli Damiana Rowan Dittany of Crete Rue Elm Thyme
Frankincense Verbena Henbane Vervain, Blue Life Everlasting Flowers Wormwood
Yarrow
2) Divinatory: Ash Linseed Bay Mugwort Cinquefoil Rowan
Clove Thyme Elm Wormwood Frankincense Yarrow
3) Purificatory: Angelica Mastic gum Bayberry Myrrh
Burnet Olive Cinnamon
4) Healing Balm of Gilead Myrrh Lavender Rosemary Life
Everlasting Wormwood
5) Enhancing: Anise seed Lotus Angelica Mandrake Celery
seed Mastic gum Cinnamon Mugwort Cinquefoil Orris root Cloves Peppermint
Damiana Sandalwood Dragon's Blood Styrax Frankincense Uva Ursi Henbane
6) Protective: Alfalfa Juniper wood Basil Life
Everlasting flowers Blessed Thistle Mastic gum Bay Mistletoe Camphor Mugwort
Cinquefoil Orris root Elder Rosemary Five Finger Grass Rowan Frankincense St.
John's Wort Garlic Vervain, Blue
7) Banishing: Agrimony Lavender Ash Pine Camphor Rowan
Dragon's Blood Vervain, Blue Juniper wood Wormwood
Spell Casting
8) Spell Casting: Basil Patchouli Bayberry Peppermint
Benzoin gum Rosemary Camphor Rowan Cinnamon Rue Damiana Sandalwood Dragon's
Blood Tormantil Frankincense Uva Ursi Lavender Vervain, Blue Lemon peel St.
John's Wort Life Everlasting flowers Wormwood Mandrake Yarrow Mistletoe Ylang
Ylang Orris Root
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