Air Incense (caution)

4     Parts Benzoin

2     Parts Gum Mastic

1     Part Lavender

1     Pinch Wormwood

1     Pinch Mistletoe* (poisonous, substtution allowed)

Suggested stones: Aventurine, Mica, Pumice, Sphene

Follow the mixing instructions below.

Burn to invoke the powers of the element of Air or to increase intellectual powers; to obtain travel; for communication, study and concentration, or to end drug addiction. Smolder during divinatory rituals.

To make the Incense:

1) Gather all the ingredients together. If you do not have a certain ingredient, consult a substitution list suc as the one in Scott Cunningham's Incense, Oils & Brews.

2) Fix your mind on the incense's goal: protection, prosperity, etc..

3) IN a large wooden or ceramic bowl, mix together the gums and resins with your hands, mixing their energies together as well. Visualize your personal power, vibrating with your magickal goal, leaving your hands and entering into the contents of the bowl. If the resins are large they should be individually ground in an electric grinder (I use an electric coffee grinder), and then each added to the bowl and blended as above with your hands.

4) Grind each of the herbs, leaves, barks, flowers, roots, etc. and add them to the bowl in which you have placed and mixed the ground gums and resins. After all the herbs are  added one-by-one, then again blend with your hands.

5) Add any essential oils you may need, again blending the whole mixture together with your hands.

6) Finally, add any additions you may want: glitter, ground gemstones, etc.

Note# 1 : To grind gemstones there are 2 methods depending on the size of the stone you are using. If the stone is large, use a rasp or metal file that you would find in a hardware store, and file the stone down into a powder. If you are using chips, such as those from a gemstone chip piece of jewelry (my preference), grind these in a stoneware (marble) mortar and pestle. DO NOT GRIND IN THE COFFEE GRINDER. You will only need the tiniest pinch of gemstone powder.

Note# 2: Although blending with your hands is recommended, you may wish to wear surgical gloves for this process as many resins, herbs and oils may be irritating to the skin. You may visualize your energies entering the mixture as usual, the gloves will not be a deterrant.

7) Place the mixture in a tightly closed jar, label with the name of the incense and the date of composition.

8) Empower the incense by holding the container in which you are storing the blend. Light a candle appropriate to the use for which the incense is intended. Focus on the incense and on the intent for which you have created it. Build energy within your body beginning at your feet and working up until you feel the enetgy concentrated in your hands, and then allow this energy to flow into the mixture. If necessary, create a little chant such as

I charge you by the Sun and Moon

to (state your intention for the incense)

So mote it be!

When you feel drained of energy, you know it has entered the mixture. Sit dow, shake your hands vigorously for a few minutes, relax your body, then snuff out the candle.

Empowering can be incredibly powerful, and not empowering your blends is a sign of a lazy herbalist. The incense is now ready for use.

TO USE:

Light the charcaol block and quickly place it in the censer. Allow the block to burn until it is evenly glowing and red, then pour on the incense. Do not use too much or you will snuff out the charcaol, and be aware that incense burnt in this manner creates quite an amount of somke, so be sure to use in an adequately ventilated area.

Sources may include any or all of the following: Llewellyn's 2003 Witches' Spell~A~Day Almanac ISBN # 07387-0227-7 Green Witchcraft By: Ann Moura ISBN # 1-56718-690-4 Natural Magick: Inside the Well-Stocked Witch's Cupboard; Sally Dubats ISBN # 1-57566-461-5 Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs: By Scott Cunningham ISBN# 0-87542-128-8 Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews, The: By Scott Cunningham ISBN # 0-87542-128-8 Wylundt's Book of Incense ISBN # 0-87728-869-0 Azure Green Catalog  2003 # 2A  www.azuregreen.com