What Is The Meaning Of Burning Incense?

The practice of incense is an exercise that has been around for millennia. Incense is healing, comforting, and sensible. The usage of incense ranges from aromatherapy to odor repelling.Incense is an accessible way to make your home, space, or room a hub of stability and equilibrium. The external world is often turbulent and wild, it is crucial for us to create safe capacities where we feel unrestricted torelax and engage with our core and elevated higher selves.

Incense has a profound and powerful cultural ancestry. Incense has always been linked to spirituality and soundness. Incense is used during yoga, meditation, and other spiritual as wellas religious practices. The use of incense is understood to have defensive properties that shield its users against evil spirits and demons.

Incense has been a part of our culture for thousands of years. Evidence has shown that the historical Egyptians regularly lit incense in different forms as far back as the 7th centuryBC. Back then, incense was utilized for various purposes. Priests and Sorcerers would light incense to placate gods and chase away demons as well as evil spirits. According to the ancient Egyptians, the pleasant aroma alsohad spiritual abilities aside from its pleasant and soothing aroma. Sorcerers would also use incense during meditations, rituals, and temples.

So then, what does it mean to burn incense? Literally and figuratively. Let us take a look at burning incense from both angles.

Before discussing the physical and spiritual aspects of burning incense we will first discuss what goes into making incense and the various types of incense.   

Production of Incense

Incense is made from the following items:

1. Resins - Resins are combinations of distinct organic compounds. Resins are created in plants and they are whollyaccountable for guarding and providing properties that boost the plant's health during injury. Resins primarily originate in woody plants. Resin plant properties stiffen when they are unearthed to oxygen. They become wax-likeand are then ready for use during the production of incense.

2. Barks - The bark is the external or exterior layer of trees. It is the outermost membrane of the tree. The barkof a tree covers and protects the interior wood. The bark of a tree may consist of the inner and outer bark however only the outermost layer is used in incense production. 

3. Seeds - Seeds refer to the seeds of various fruits or plants. They are important in the production of incense.

4. Flowers - Flowers are also a crucial component of incense. Flowers provide the basis and they provide the originalorganic scent of incense.

5. Roots - Roots refer to the parts of the tree that are covert. They are hidden underneath the soil. Roots help toassimilate and transport moisture around the tree. Roots also help in the movement of minerals and nourish the tree that is visible above the soil. Roots are used for incense production because of their extensive mineralsand nutrients.

6. Combustible Base - The combustible base is the binding material and it is of utmost importance for two reasons.The first reason is that the combustible base is what holds all the ingredients together. Without the base, they wouldn't stick together properly. The second reason is that the combustible base is what provides the abilityof the incense to be flammable. Without the combustible base, you will not be able to light incense sticks, coils, cones, or any other incense variation. Options for a combustible base are usually petroleum-based with theexception of wood powders. You can also use charcoal as a combustible base.

Types of Incense

1. Cone-shaped incense - Cone-shaped incense is called such because it is molded like a cone. The incense mix is tightlycompressed into a cone shape. For incense cones, one requires adequate incense burners because they are not created to be burnt on a flat surface. This is not safe.   

2. Incense Sticks - Incense sticks are the most prominent kind of incense. Incense sticks see just sticks, usuallymade with bamboo or sandalwood wolf with the incense mix ground around the cane. 

3. Coil Incense - Coil incense is incense rendered on a metal coil. The incense paste is ground and rubbed around thecoil.

Now that we are well aware of what incense is and what it contains let's discuss what it means to burn incense.

Burning Incense

Burning incense is simply getting the incense lit and waiting for it to permeate the atmosphere. If you do not know how to burn here is a quick how-to

Incense Sticks

- Place the incense stuck on anincense holder. Ensure it is not in the direct path of wind or breeze. This will only result in the incensestick wasting away or the fragrance being blown out of your space.

- Light up the tip and wait for 5-9 seconds then blow it out. It should be working perfectly now.    

Incense Cones

- For incense cones, you need an incenseburner because cones cannot burn on a flat surface.

- Place the pointed side of your incense cone into the burner.

- Light up the tip and wait for 5-9 seconds then blow it out. It should be working perfectly by now

Coil Incense

- Coil incense doesn't necessarily need a holder. You can burn coil incense in a little metal basket or on an elevated surface.

- Light up the end of the coil and wait for 5-9 seconds then blow it out. It should be working perfectly now.

While that is the simple meaning of burning incense, burning incense goes deeper than the physical aspect.

1. Burning incense is a way to connect to the rich cultural history of incense

2. Burning incense is a spiritual practice

3. Burning incense is a religious practice

4. Burning incense is a way to connect with your soul, your higher self, and other levels of consciousness

5. Burning incense is upholding the history of incense and respecting its roots.