Loose Incense
By Scott Cunningham
Be sure you have all necessary ingredients.
If you lack any, decide on substitutions.
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Each ingredient must be finely ground, preferably to a powder, using either a mortar and pestle or an electric grinder.
Some resins won't powder easily, but with practice you'll find the right touch.
When I first worked with herbs I couldn't powder frankincense. It kept on gumming to the sides of the mortar and to the tip of the pestle.
After a while I stopped fighting it (and cursing it, I'll admit -- not a good thing to do with herbs used in incenses) and got into the flow of the work.
The frankincense came out just fine.
When all is ready, fix your mind on the incense's goal-protection, love, health.
In a large wooden or ceramic bowl, mix the resins and gums together with your hands.
Next, mix in all the powdered leaves, barks, flowers and roots.
Now add any oils or liquids (wine, honey, etc). That are included in the recipe.
Just a few drops are usually sufficient.
On the subject of oils:
If there's a sufficient amount of dry ingredients in the recipe, you can substitute an oil for an herb you lack.
Simply ensure that the oil is an essential oil, for synthetics smell like burning plastic when smoldered.
Once all has been thoroughly mixed, add any powdered gemstones or other power boosters.
A few -- not many -- recipes will call for a pinch of powdered stone.
To produce this, simply take a small stone of the required type and pound it in a metal mortar and pestle (or simply smash it with a hammer against a hard surface).
Grind the resulting pieces into a powder and add no more than the scantiest pinch to the incense.
The incense is now fully compounded.
Store in a tightly capped jar.
Label carefully, including the name of the incense and date of composition.
It is now ready for use when needed.
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