I freakin’ love stick incense. It reminds me of certain comfortable places, memories, and temples. One temple that comes to mind is Táiběi’s Lóngshān Temple, which I visited when I was living there.
Longshan Temple (龍山寺) literally means “Dragon Mountain Temple.” Its name comes from a temple of the same name in Fujian province, China (where most of Taiwanese people’s ancestors come from). That temple sits at the base of Dragon Mountain. – Longshan Temple: How to Pray for Love at Taipei’s Top Temple - Taiwan Obsessed
The Lóngshān Temple is a temple dedicated to Guānyīn, a Bodhisattva associated with compassion. (A Bodhisattva is a person who is on the path towards bodhi or ‘awakening’.) Guānyīn is short for Guānshìyīn, which means “[One Who] Perceives the Sound of the World.” Guānyīn has been historically depicted as genderless but has gradually developed into a female deity.
But instead of frankincense, I used white sage. I also didn’t cross the sticks on a plate or bowl because that wasn’t going to work—the sticks tend to go out when they’re touching something, and once the ends burn, they’ll just fall into the bowl. I really didn’t feel like having the spell interrupted by me having to find a new solution. So, I went and bought some Blu-Tack, stuck the sticks in it, and made a vertical X instead. Winning!
Yes, I have spent most of this entry talking about a tangent. But it doesn’t really feel like there is much to say about the uncrossing other than it being something I felt like I needed to do.
So, as I had said in… another post this AM, I started progressing in my room. I have been reconnecting to my practice in many ways, some I didn’t immediately realize. Meditation is one of those ways, and so is restarting my journaling. I somehow missed that I have also been reconnecting with my deities. I have been learning quite a bit about them, and they are also reaching out in their own ways. I also started wearing jewelry representative of them. So, I’d say my practice is beginning to retake its shape.
I took the recipe for The Morrigan oil and made it into incense. I also made up a bit of the oil too. Mainly because I found that I was running low on it. I did have to substitute or adapt them a little for what I have in my home; I do like having the incense and the oil
→ Image from the linked post for the oil
I am going to make up the meditation incense as well and see if I can make up an oil or blend of the same for my diffuser or as a wearable. I will also make up the incense and oil for Brigid soon
I guess mine is a cautionary tale. In 2022, before Dollar Tree moved out, I found a set of incense. They smelled good, but the boxes labeled them as corresponding to chakras which were randomly chosen. Please verify before following such correspondences.
I craved certain scents last spring- favorites I hadn’t had in years. Temu had some rare ones. When I got them, though, they didn’t smell right. I gave them away. I’d rather have reputable companies make my incense.
My favorite incenses include heather, tonquin and roses, three wishes, lilac, witch against witchcraft, sandalwood, and spring mist. All of these can be hard to find at times; so when I do find them, I stock up. A couple of these seem to be locally created. The one called witch against witchcraft counters depression.
I did find a company which made wonderful- smelling incense. Unfortunately, they were going out of business. However, when they sent me the order, each set of sticks was in a zipper bag, wrapped in tissue. The incense was so fresh, it scented the tissue through the plastic bag! I kept the tissue by my bedside to enjoy the scent.
As incense ages, the scent fades. I keep mine in plastic bags within a tin to keep them as fresh as possible for as long as possible.
Foretell the weather using incense smoke: if the smoke rises straight in a closed room, expect clear weather. The lower the curl begins, the sooner and more rough the storm… unless of course you have a bird who likes to fly through the smoke.
Great share @georgia ! I have noticed issues with the cheaper incense sticks as well. That is why I started making my own. That way I get exactly the scent I want. (Most the time )
I was unaware of the weather predicting with incense smoke! Awesome! Thank you!
Sorry, I forgot to include my sources on this. I first heard about it when I was studying Hasidic Judaism. Sometimes it seems to depend on location and time of year, so test it for yourself in differing seasons.
Okay, so I have like a huge stick incense problem. LOL! I have a LOT. I had a pic on my phone of my collection but I can’t find it. Must have lost it when I changed phones.
But what it is, instead of food or drink to give offerings to the Gods, I use incense. So I like to have a wide variety. When I give it to the Gods, I say this prayer:
Lord and Lady accept this gift of smoke and scent.
May it give you as much pleasure as it is meant.
Bless this smoke to purify and protect
As it is given with the most reverence, and respect.
This week I tried a couple of ways to craft with incense. First I did a divination session. Before this challenge, I didn’t realize that was something that could be done, even though I have noticed different smoke patterns from incense in the past. I noted that at first the smoke came towards me. A moment later my husband sent me a text message–so clearly this showed me that someone was thinking about me, lol. Then the smoke split in two streams. This indicates that I am stuck in some way and that I need to make important decisions. I can see a few areas in my life where this applies. Lastly I saw the smoke spiraling beautifully into the air, showing me that my intentions have been set in motion.
Tonight I did the uncrossing spell noted above using frankincense incense, bay leaves and cinnamon. As the incense burned, I thought about some of the negativity that has been in my life lately and how freeing it would feel to be released from it. I found the spell to feel really peaceful. And afterwards I felt lighter and calm.
Challenge Entry
I don’t use inscence much unless out side or in the bathroom at work. I have incense matches.
I looked up how ro make my own but was not prepared to take on that project today. But I do plan on making some matches by poking holes in them and placing resin inside.
I used to love incense, but now it really hurts my sinuses.
I do enjoy using incense resin in my spell jars.
I usually use dragons, blood, frankincense and myrrh.mi find them to be thr most potent magically. Making your own inscense matches
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I dispense with the boxes because they get ripped up too quickly, take up extra space, and no two companies package incense the same way (so it looks uneven). Some tourist stores have incense sticks in bulk- pick your own scents with empty bags. I pick up a couple empty bags just in case other brands’ bags tear. If I haven’t been to such a place in a while, I’ll use a zipper bag until I can get others. Then I label with sticker labels- which serve double duty to keep the bag closed and let me know the enclosed scent. Then I keep the bags in a repurposed cookie tin from Christmas. At the moment, the tin won’t stay closed!
My experience did not go so well. At least for the incense part. I blended dried rose petals and peppermint together for prosperity and courage. I added a few drops of pine essential oil. I tried lighting a charcoal cube to burn the insence blend but it wouldn’t get hot enough to ignite. I then just added the blend on top of the charcoal in a small cauldron with wood matches to try and get a little fire going and added the pine oil to help it ignite. It worked for awhile. Smoke lasted about 5minutes but the aroma was not very pleasant. It just burned lol. Before sleep, I looked over “how to make your own incense” and developed a recipe to try a real homemade incense for next time. This morning, I went into my space and noticed the pine oil aroma. I must’ve used ALOT. But it was pleasant All in all, I still enjoyed my meditation and opportunity to learn.
It reminds me of certain comfortable places, memories, and temples. One temple that comes to mind is Táiběi’s Lóngshān Temple, which I visited when I was living there.
Guānyīn has been historically depicted as genderless but has gradually developed into a female deity.
I really didn’t feel like having the spell interrupted by me having to find a new solution. So, I went and bought some Blu-Tack, stuck the sticks in it, and made a vertical X instead. Winning! 
But it doesn’t really feel like there is much to say about the uncrossing other than it being something I felt like I needed to do.
the cord which was freeing.
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