Beltaine: Make Scents
by Jon Bergeon
article
The following herbs listed fall under the categories of the element
of fire, of growth, renewal, fertility, prosperity and gain, harmony
and success. Items in parentheses are attributes of secondary
concern that may help in designing a suitable incense recipe.
- Angelica: gain and renewal (also guards against negativity)
- Basil: prosperity, harmony and success (also aids in banishment)
- Bay: harmony (also guards against negativity)
- Cedar: gain and success (also aids psychic activity)
- Cloves: growth (also aids psychic activity)
- Coriander: gain and fertility (fire part of fire element/Mars)
- Garlic: success (also aids in self-assertion and banishment)
- Hyssop: prosperity (also aids in purification)
- Juniper: gain and fertility (also guards against negativity)
- Marigold: renewal and success (also aids psychic activity)
- Mustard: fertility, success and gain (also guards against
negativity)
- Onion: success (also aids against negativity)
The following lists the recommended parts of the herbs to be employed
in the making of incense.
- Angelica: root
- Basil: all
- Bay: leaf
- Cedar: all
- Cloves: buds
- Coriander: seeds
- Garlic: bulb
- Hyssop: all
- Juniper: berries
- Marigold: flowers
- Mustard: seeds
- Onion: bulb
In all cases, the oils of the herbs listed may substitute for
the recommended parts to be employed for incense.
Flowers, due to their place in May festivities, may be used to
reduce the martial qualities of some of the herbs. The following
flowers do not magically interfere with the previously listed
herbs.
- Alyssum: quells anger
- Chamomile: calms
- Geranium: fertility, love
- Lavender: calms, aids in psychic activity
- Lilac: protection, banishment of negativity
- Rose: love, peace and protection
As an alternative to burning herbs as an incense, the herbs may
be placed in water and the water heated to produce a desired effect.
This may be done by obtaining a stand with a small bowl, underneath
which a candle may be placed.
Herb parts may be used in a loose incense and burned with the
use of charcoal, or herbs may be powdered (which is best done
with a coffee grinder) and saltpeter, gum arabic and water added
to make the herbs into a paste from which cones may be fashioned.
Making cone incense is, however, more difficult than just burning
loose incense, as sometimes the saltpeter mixture, when too much
or too little is used, burns at an undesirable rate or even not
at all.
Sources
- Smith, Steven R., Wylundt's Book of Incense, Samuel Weiser,
Inc., 1989.
- Zalewski, C.L., Herbs in Magic and Alchemy, Prism Press.
England, 1990.
- Cunningham, Scott, Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Llewellyn,
1993.
Copyright © 2006 by the article's author
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