Incense is a resinous base, often mixed with additional herbs or essential oils and burned to release the fragrance.
Incense is usually available locally in stick or cone form, but powdered incense can be sprinkled on to coals.
Why it is so important? A bit of lore (for dummies!)
Incense has always been used on ceremonies and rituals from very ancient times and all over the world. Why? Because its smoke has always been considered cleansing and protective and also a way to send your intention into the universe.
What is incense good for?
You can use it for many different reasons and goals. The most important ones are:
Cleansing and Purification
To cleanse your space, an item or even yourself. Especially when you feel like heavy energy has been around you and you want to get rid of it
Protection
Its smoke can create a shield of protection when you feel a bit unsafe or not protected enough from any negativity.
Also read:
Protection Spells & Ways to Shield Yourself (DIY With Pictures)
Incorporating Protection Incense into Your Practice (Tips)
Meditation
When doing a meditation incense can be a wonderful help for you to relax and focus while creating a soothing atmosphere around you and most of all, within yourself.
Divination
When working with divination tools like tarot, runes or other ones, incense can help you establish a connection with the tool while opening your mind to interpret their messages.
Gods and Goddess
This is not a fixed rules but when connecting with a deity like a God or a Goddess you want to connect with, incense can even be like an offer to show this deity you are open to do accept their guidance and reveice its blessings.
Prayer
A prayer supported by incense is just great! It sets the tone to a spiritual level and help your message so it can go into the universe, resonate and finally manifest. It’s like it amplifies your words to a deeper higher level. I love it!
Relax
Incense is sooo relaxing! Burning it into your home when stressed out, especially at the end of a stressful day can be so good! Give it a try! You won’t regret it!
How do I choose the right incense?
First and foremost, try to buy natural incense! Heavily processed incense often has synthetic strong fragrances and, personally, being ashtmatic I find it almost impossible for me to burn them!
Natural incense has two massive pros: it’s safe for your health and keep the properties of the incense almost intact. I love this for you. Please make sure you choose wisely!
How to burn incense safely?
Make sure you keep a window open when burning incense so it is safe for you, your family and your pets, if you have them. Ventilation is important as it is using a heatproof holder to keep things safe and, sometimes, even beautifully decored!
How to use incense in witchcraft
You can use it during spells if required or to bless and purify your altar before a casting
You can use it for cleansing rituals, especially when there is a full moon
You can use it as a symbol of the air element
You can use it to boost your intention
Best scents to choose
Sage, Frankincense or Palo santo for protection and spirituality
Lavender for peace, calmness and relaxation
Sandalwood for meditation
Rose for love and kindness
Cinnamon for abundance, vitality and energy
But you can explore them and choose the one that resonated with you and your intentions!
What can I use instead of incense?
If you don’t like incense that’s totally fine! You don’t need to use it! You can substitute with something else like candles, essential oils or even cleansing sprays!
You know, as I always say, when using a magickal tool you need to feel as it’s something natural and you are into it at a spiritual level.
If not, skip it! Using it without intention and without believing in its magic and power is useless. At that point, simply substitute it! That’s for the best!
Conclusion and my personal thoughts
I love incenses and they’ve always been a huge part of my spiritual practice, especially when I started exploring my spirituality via meditation, journaling and other stuff. Give incenses a (safe) try and see how it goes!
It can be an ally for your practices and to set the tone to your daily life making it even more spiritual and open to receive the messages the universe has in store for you while giving you the chance to stay clean, protected and intuivitely welcoming to what’s new in your existence.
