Tree of Many Feathers:

I’ve always been a fan of incense and flower waters/herbal infusions; I use them almost every day to keep the air and energies of my home/mind/body balanced and fresh. (As within, so without). I particularly love woodsy scents that serve triple duty, freshening the house, grounding me and dispelling any pent up, unwanted, or unproductive energies. There’s something about the smell of woods particularly–reminiscent of camp fires and the best smudges–that both grounds and energizes me.

I began making my own incense a few years back. These blends were typically a collection of loose herbs that required a charcoal brick to burn. I’d mix herbs commonly used in Druid-craft: mugwort, vervain, lavender, rose petals, mistletoe, a bit of rue (to dispel evil). A pinch at just the right time in a ritual sends up a performative cloud of pungent smoke. A pinch at the beginning of a meditation can set the mood, open the senses, and call up the desired energies.

And, because I love the smells and smoke and work these mixes do, I’ve been experimenting a bit more intentionally with incense making this fall. These experiments have entailed mixing more wood-based blends (using wood/bark I’ve collected from trees that I pass/chat with on my walks) and creating blends that will allow the incense to burn on its own.

It is surprisingly easy to make your own incense. It’s a bit messy, but not as messy as you might fear. And, a batch or two really doesn’t take much time or an enormous amount of start up equipment. If you have the basics that people into herbs usually have on hand already (mortar and pestle, an old chopping block, a knife that is used only for your work with herbs, etc) you will likely be ready to go. And, a number of excellent recipes use herbs that you likely already have on hand. (For an exhaustive list of magical incense recipes, check out StarFireCircle, for instance.)

So much excellent information is already available online about making incense, I won’t repeat what has already been written. I followed the directions on Druid’s Garden for making cones. (My friend Artie often makes little balls of incense blends in lieu of cones.)  I did not actually make cones, but pressed one mix flat into a box with a layer of wax paper in it and the other into a plastic container–when it dries, I will take it out and cut it into squares that can be burned on a censer. (I like how the squares keep on the shelf a little easier than cones. I can package them in wax paper envelopes to seal in the oils. For smaller pieces, these break/tear quite easily as well.)

I had intended to take photos yesterday, but the whole process was the best kind of messy–at times I was covered in a fine dust of herbs and powders. At other points in the process, my hands were oily/slick or my fingernails were caked underneath with the mixture. So, I didn’t ever actually pick up my phone–didn’t want to have to clean it after. But this also speaks to the lovely visceral nature of making your own incense. YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR HANDS RIGHT INTO THE MIX. All of that amazing fresh energy and oil and potency seeped right into my hands (which are super soft today because of it). . . It was a grounding way to end a holiday that was in itself no-stress, grounded, and quiet (exactly as I like my holidays).

The first “Wild God Incense” was mixed with the intention of strengthening my divinations with the Ogham and deepening my connections to the spirit of the forests I visit. I wanted it to smell like a camp fire so that it might bring grounded forest energies into my meditations/divination work. The woods and oils chosen (and largely foraged by mine own hand) speak to a balance of earth, air, water, and fire elemental properties; they are also associated with divinatory abilities, and the creation of harmony. I’ve named this blend “Wild God Incense” after the remarkable poem by Tom Hirons, “Sometimes a Wild God.”

Here it is “The Wild God” blend (to the left) in its box as it cures/dries. It is more brown than green and has a rich, earthy smell. The only ingredient I might yet add would be orange peel. Orange peel would give just a touch of fruity-lightness. I am hoping the honey, juniper berries, and whiskey give it a top note.

The other blend I mixed is named “Lucid Dreaming Druid” and it is intended to help with intellectual focus, inspiration, imagination, and a stronger sense of the magical self within the walking dream. There are a lot of aromatic and airy elements in this mix, to create ease, dispel negativity and stress, and to focus the mind. (Others might add an earth or water element to the mix for balance, I skipped those elements, instead seeking an extra boost of mental focus and acuity through uber-air elements.) I will use it as a tool during meditation, reading, study (especially language memorization), and in journeying and dream work. I composed it very intuitively. . . thinking about the herbs and woods I am most attracted to and that have most supported my efforts in these areas already. I am thinking that it might benefit from a hint of rose. . . so for future similar blends, I may add a sprinkle of rosewater or rosehips to the mix.

The “Lucid Dreaming Druid” you see to your right is greener than the other blend (the color is washed out of this photo, sadly) and is aromatically fresh and piney. After another day or two when it will hold its form without a container, I’ll thump the incense out onto a sheet of wax paper and allow it to dry a few more days outside of a container. I’ll flip the incense each day so that it can dry a bit more evenly.

Here are the recipes for anyone interested:

Wild God Incense
1 part Patchouli (earthiness)
1 part Mugwort (opening the psychic eye–divination)
1 part Oak (knowledge and protection)
1 part Birch leaves (renewal and quickening)
1 part Ash wood (bridging heaven and earth)
1 part Pine (vision, perspective)
1 part Juniper Berries (purification)
1 part Red Sandalwood (opportunities and success)
_To Moisten/Bind_:
–1 part Guar Gum
–Yarrow oil (divination and protection)
–Honey
–Whiskey

Lucid Dreaming Druid
1 part Vervain (protection and truth)
1 part Mugwort (opening the psychic eye)
1 part Lavender (calming, depth, clarity of thought)
1 part Heather flowers (self discovery, sweetness)
1 part Yellow Sandalwood (opportunities and success)
1 part Juniper Berries (purification and protection)
1 part Cinnamon (clairvoyance, communication, mood)
1 part Pine Resin (focus, staying power)
1 part Eucalyptus (cleansing, healing)
_To Moisten/Bind_:
1 part Guar Gum
–Clary Sage Oil (for ease)
–Juniper Oil (purification, protection, dispels negative energies)
–Rosemary Oil (strengthen mental powers)
–Honey
–Whiskey

Both mixes should be ready for use in my end of the year closing ritual on the 31st.  If you have made similar blends, I would love to hear your experiences and thoughts.

I’ll be experimenting with rose an awful lot in the winter months and am going to make batches of nine woods incense and oil for trade.

Until next time: H-Uile Beannachd/ Every Blessing!