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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 suble
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
cool SPELL CASTING - used to promote a purpose, e.g., love,
fertility, money, luck, fortune, concentration, etc.

Many botanicals fall into several categories, for example:
Wormword (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
cool 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
Lavendar ------------------ Rosemary
Life Everlasting ------------------ Wormwood

4) 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 ------------------

5) 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

6) Banishing:
Agrimony ------------------ Lavendar
Ash ------------------ Pine
Camphor ------------------ Rowan
Dragon's Blood ------------------ Vervain, Blue
Juniper wood ------------------ Wormwood

cool Spell Casting:
Basil ------------------ Patchouli
Bayberry ------------------ Peppermint
Bezoin gum ------------------ Rosemary
Camphor ------------------ Rowan
Cinnamon ------------------ Rue
Damiana ------------------ Sandalwood
Dragon's Blood ------------------ Tormantil
Frankincense ------------------ Uva Ursi
Lavendar ------------------ Vervain, Blue
Lemon peel ------------------ St. John's Wort
Life Everlasting flowers ------------------ Wormwood
Mandrake ------------------ Yarrow
Mistletoe ------------------ Ylang Ylang

Just a note about Wormwood:
Inhaling the smoke from burning Wormwood can be fatal. This said, I do make and use incense blends which contain Wormwood, but I exercise a little caution. I try to only burn these outdoors and I tend to use Wormwood sparingly in these mixtures. I have burned it indoors before, but better safe than sorry I say. smile

Ooh, rose is a good incense 3nodding

It's Healing, Protective, Enhancing, and Spell Casting

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