This page still being added to, probably for quite some time. So enjoy it feel free to comment, someday we hope it will be a book on Incense, Sacred Smoke.
What Is incense?
Incense is food for spirits. It is said, the smoke
arising carries the prayers to the Creator.
What is it's purpose and reason
for being?
Incense is the offering in exchange for what you are
asking or seeking.
Spirits, Angels, or whatever you choose to call them are pleased
by the offering or the burning of incense. Today, many
think that one needs to give money for redemption, but what does
God need with money? Seriously think about it. It is the essence of that which is
offered for the prayer or for what is being asked that is
needed. Asking from your heart along with the offering is
all that's really required. It really is that
simple. Look at the smoke as sacred, cleansing the soul
and whatever objects one passes through it.
The smoke is healing.
The '60s.
Okay, so people burned incense to cover up some
odors. But that was never the intent of incense. So
let's get with it; bring in the new Millennium by burning some
incense and asking for help for all of us humans. Then
perhaps we will open our eyes and see that we can all live
together as a people. As different as we all are, we still
share this one small planet.
Looking for a home on a distant planet isn't the answer.
Come on, and save what we have. It's time we learn to have
compassion for others, passion for life, and let's leave this
planet better than we found it, as a legacy for the future.
Strawberry, Watermelon?
Naturally made incenses are made from real resins,
essential oils, and aromatic wood powders. Scents like
Watermelon and Strawberry, to pick on a couple, are purely
synthetic chemical scents. Ever smell either of those
flowers??
Does incense really work? Try it for your self; offer it with all you heart.
How far back incense goes is anyone's guess. However, it's primary uses are well known through most Ancient Cultures. The first incenses were gathered from aromatic plants. For Example, The People(s), we now call American Indians, offered cedar, juniper, sage, mugwort, and others. Resin incenses, gathered from aromatic shrubs and trees, are the concentrated sap that oozes from wounds, branches stressed by storms, or lightening strikes. "Tears" form as water from the sap evaporates. These tears were placed on Hot coals, and the fragrant smoke, considered sacred, carried the prayers to the Creator. The smoke also purified objects and people prior to and during ceremonies, as well as doctored those in need.
Another form of incenses are what we call Resin Drop Incenses. These are extremely powerful in all aspects. They begin with pure ground resins, which are incorporated with essential oils and spices. The recipes were said to have been received from Voice or Vision. Moses was given recipes by the Creator during his encounters on the Mount at the burning bush. Throughout the ages of time, various Saints and Holy people were also given recipes through Voice or Vision.
In the Old Testament (Hebrew version) the book of Psalms freely gave the recipes. Psalms or actually Songs are just that, songs of praise. The New Testament gave references to essential oils and recipes as well. However, today these recipes are all but lost, except to those that can read Hebrew, Ancient Greek, or Arametic. Through the ages of translations, monarchs/governments became more involved with religions' future in order to control the masses with translations that suited the rulers. King James is the most stunning example of this manipulation. Did you know that the Monks translating the Greek & Hebrew texts were on a literal and physical dead line? They were given a time limit, and they were to translate only to his liking! Do some research on him; you'll be shocked.
The best example of this is in the New Testament when Mary Magdalene washed Christ's feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, and anointed his feet with the costliest of essences. In Greek it says pretty much the same, except that it names the essence as Narthos (Nardo, Mediterranean Tuberose). The formulas for these incenses were and still are kept by Monks, Nuns, and Priests as this is considered Sacred Art and Gifts. Basically, it takes about 4 days to create a batch of Resin Drop Incense, and one pellet is enough to transform a person or the area for ceremony.
Stick Incense got its start in India
and the Far East. Originally, these were hand rolled resins,
powders, essential oils, and spices that were rolled onto a
sliver of Sandalwood splinters and allowed to dry. My guess is
that stick incenses came about because the protocol of the day
was to offer incense when you went to the temple to pray.
With the shear number of people, the smoke plus the upkeep
of hot coals for all the people coming through must have
been a bit much. So, I believe stick incense came about as
a more effective way of handling the amount of people. Nowadays
the sticks are made of bamboo. The original stick incenses were
what is called a masalla, which means "a
mixture". Since the ingredients were fairly sticky,
they would either be mixed with cow dung or with coconut
charcoal. These served as burning agents for the gooey mix. Most
all stick incenses today are dipped into either essential oils or
synthetic oils. A true masalla stick incense would be expensive,
and more than most would be willing to pay.
Cone incenses use sawdust, which is
compressed into a cone mold and saturated in essential oils or
synthetic chemical oils.
The best are made using sawdust of aromatic woods such as
Sandalwood, or Massoia, Aloeswood, etc.
Dhoops are resinous mixtures that contain rice, coconut, flowers, as well as other items for offering, and like resins and Resin Drops they require charcoal to burn.