The Art of Sacred Smoke: How to Burn Resin & Herbs Correctly
When burning resins, plants, or woods, the primary goal is to release the Plant Spirit from its matter. The plant spirit donates its inherent, primal power to us, bringing our intentions to perfection. The specific incense helps us navigate our emotional world, but it also does our physical body good.
How to Smoke Correctly: A Step-by-Step Guide
To start with incense rituals, you need some basic equipment:
A fireproof bowl or vessel
Sand (Fire sand or bird sand)
Incense charcoal (Self-igniting) or a Tinder Fungus (Fomes fomentarius)
Charcoal tongs (or simple sugar tongs)
Your incense material (Herbs, Resins, Woods)
The Procedure:
Fill the bowl with sand and place the charcoal disc on top.
Light the charcoal and wait until it glows through completely (it will turn grey/white).
Now you can begin your ritual.
The Right Dosage & Air Circulation
To begin, take about a knife-tip worth of herbs or a small piece of resin. You can also place the resin and herbs together on the charcoal. The amount depends on how large your room is and how much smoke the specific material develops. You can always add more if needed.
Windows: Open or Closed? It is often recommended to have the windows cracked open during fumigation. I, personally, do not open a window, in order to preserve the full effect of the plant spirit within the space. Alternatively, I perform the ritual outdoors in nature. However, every incense practitioner must decide this for themselves—experimenting with your incense is the best way to learn.
Understanding the Effect of the Smoke
The smoke that rises should not be inhaled directly. Instead, it should be distributed throughout the room with your hand or a feather. Alternatively, you can “smudge” (cleanse) yourself with the smoke. The direction matters:
From Top to Bottom: If you want to turn something away from you (banishing/releasing).
From Bottom to Top: If you want to internalize something (invoking/strengthening).
Only through this conscious act can the plant spirit develop and unfold its full power.
Why the Scent is Delayed
Many incense materials do not smell “good” immediately. This is because they are not pure isolated perfumes; plant components and other substances are burning along with the essential oils.
The aromatic substances burn together with the rest of the ingredients, are carried upwards by the smoke, cool slowly in the air, sink into the environment after a short while, distribute themselves, and only then unfold their actual fragrance in the room. These aromatic substances contain the physically and spiritually effective ingredients of the incense, which are then absorbed through our mouth and nose.
I wish you always a benevolent and sensual incense experience.
