Incense Exchange

Incense Exchange

I received a box today containing an "incense exchange" I'd contributed towards a couple of months ago. This is where Vicki Bloom of "Mother's Hearth" in the US collects samples from a load of people who make incense, and re-distributes out a whole set to each of us. That way, we get to sample what many other people are making.

As well as that, I took the opportunity to order some new stock for myself, and many other commercial samples of incense ranging from japanese sticks to heavy wood resins! For everything from gentle meditation to deep shamanic trance!

My incense for the Exchange was a loose incense which I called "Desert Campfire". The recipie is below, and my notes for the incense. The Nard oil was extremely expensive (about £7 GBP Sterling for a small phial) but worth it for adding a sharp intense scent inbetween the other warmer aromas.

Resins: Hojary, Frankincense, Olibanum

Wood: Aloes Wood (Agarci)

Powder: Sandalwood (red)

Oil: Nard (Spikenard)

Because it has a rough sandy texture, and I've left it coarse, it reminded me of gritty sand out in a desert of the Middle East. Imagine arriving at an Oasis late at night, pitching tent, watering your Camel and scattering a certain Magick Sand on the campfire; and it carrying this rough scent that brings to mind 'sacred journeying'. The Nard reminds us of the Garden of Eden or our Spiritual Home however that is envisaged, the Resins carry the essence of Divinity. The Aloes Wood is indicative of the Magical and Sacred Union intimated by the Song of Solomon, and the Sandalwood is our meditation to attain that Union. We dream that night of all our travels and where they have lead us to Understanding, awakening deeply refreshed and with Wisdom in our Sight.

Summer Lane after the Rain

Everything is green and sunny today, despite the rain and flooding elsewhere. I've had to go up the lane and cut back branches and everything else straggling across the lane. There's grass to cut and plants to revive after the winds and rain. Good to take a Taoistic view of gardening - it's a flow without cease, not something you 'do' and 'attain'!

Too Many Networks!

Well, it's been a while from Blogger, as I've been investigating - or being invited to join - a multitude of other social networking systems. These are where you can now also find me:

http://www.myspace.com/farawaycentre

http://www.facebook.com

Although I'm going to keep family, domestic, and suchlike here on Blogger.

Marcus.