Incense Crafting

Incense (from Latin incendere “to burn") is composed of aromatic natural materials, which release fragrant smoke when burned.  Incense can generally be separated into two main types: “non-combustible incense" and “combustible incense". Non-combustible incense is not capable of burning on its own, and requires a separate heat source, such as a charcoal. Combustible incense is lit directly by a flame and then fanned or blown out, leaving a glowing ember that smolders and releases fragrance. Direct-burning incense comes in several forms, including incense sticks (or “joss sticks"), cones, and pyramids.

Creating your own non-combustible incense

To create a long-burning complex incense which produces plenty of smoke and provides a good magical charge you will need to work from a formula of at least five different types of ingredients.  You may add as many of each of the five ingredients as you choose, but there should be a minimum of one of each type in each incense you blend.

The five types of ingredients are:

Herbs or Leaves (any dried fragrant botanical leaf or grass)
Resins (such as frankincense, myrrh, dragonsblood, etc.)
Oils (essential oils and high-quality fragrance oils are most desirable)
Wood or Roots (such as sandalwood, cedar chips, angelica, etc.)
Blossoms or Berries (these can be dried flowers, petals, or fruits)

In addition to the above list you may choose to add extra magical ingredients, such as ground gemstones, salt, nuts, honey, wine or juice, aromatic seeds, and magical powders or dirts.

You will want to consult a formulary or book of correspondences when you begin blending your own incenses for inspiration, magical associations, and health warnings.  There are some traditional incense recipes that are made with dangerous or poisonous ingredients.

Keep record of the incenses you make in a personal formulary, so that you will remember the proportions and ingredients for your favorite blends.  Store your incense in an airtight container and it will keep for at least a year.  Incenses usually improve upon some aging (about two weeks) so that the different scents blend together.  Burn your incense on a hot charcoal to release its fragrance and its magical properties.

NOTE - This article was originally published by Laurelei on the Blade and Broom blog.

Poppets

A poppet is a specially prepared doll for magic.  The concept behind a poppet is that symbols can serve as magical substitutes for actual things.  The doll can be made of wax, clay, fabric or some other material. The image of the poppet has been popularized as a “voodoo doll” in modern culture, but the use of poppets in folk magic throughout the world is ancient.  The image to the right is of a clay dolly found in Egypt, bound and pierced with 13 pins.  It is now displayed in the Louvre. 

To make a cloth poppet you will first need to identify your intent for the figure.  You will want fabric in a color that symbolizes your intent, for example green for wealth.  Trace the figure below onto cardstock and cut it out to use as your pattern.  Cut two figures from your cloth to sew together.  Place the two fabric cutouts right-side facing inward stacked together.  Stitch all the way around the poppet about a quarter-inch inside the edge of the fabric. Be sure to leave the top portion of the “head” un-sewn so that you can stuff the poppet after its edges are sewn.

Turn the poppet right-side out through the unsewn portion of the head after the edges are sewn together.  Use embroidery floss or a permanent marker to create any distinguishing features of the person you are wanting the poppet to resemble.  You may choose to paste a photo of the person on the “face” of the poppet, or just write their name across the chest.

It is now time to stuff the poppet.  You will want to gather any herbs, small gemstones, or other spell components that you have that will be associated with the work you wish to accomplish.  For example rose petals and jasmine flowers for love.  Consult a book of correspondences to assist you.  Stuff the poppet with these components and with cotton balls or polyfill batting.  You may need to use a chopstick or pencil to push the filling into the arms and legs. When the poppet is filled to your liking stitch up the head.

Now take khernips (saltwater into which burning incense has been extinguished) or the leavings of the housle meal in a ritual setting and baptize the poppet with your left hand saying:

“In my hand I hold this poppet of my own making. I baptize and name it [NAME] that it will be like him/her in every way.  As he/she lives, so does this poppet live.  All that I do to it I do to [NAME].  This is my Word.  This is my Will.  So Mote It Be!”

You may now perform conjurations on the poppet that will in turn work upon the person you have fashioned it after.

Poppet Template.
Click for larger version.