This is the September Blog Comment Content Contest.  Simply read and leave a comment with real content and you will be entered into a drawing for a bottle of Samhain Oil.  All contest entries must be received by September 30th to qualify.

Frankincense

Frankincense has long been associated with royalty, purity, and sanctity.  Commonly blended with myrrh, frankincense has a long history of being used in religious and spiritual practices.  Many people associate it with the Nativity of the Christ in Christianity, as well as it is used often in religious services in Catholic and Protestant Churches.  Frankincense is also commonly used in Wiccan and Pagan services.  Frequently blended with myrrh and dragon’s blood resins.

Frankincense (Boswellia carterri) is also known as Incense, Olibans, Olibanum, and Olibanus.  It is associated with masculinity, the Sun, and the element of Fire.  Two of the gods frequently connected with this herb are Ra and Baal, as well the Christ of Christianity.  It is used for Protection, Exorcism, and Spirituality.

Frankincense comes from the deciduous tree Boswellia Thurifera. Somalia, Oman, and Yemen are all known for having trees that produce this high-quality resin.

In order to collect the sap, the tree bark is cut, allowing the sap to ooze out of the bark in the places it was cut. The sap dries on the tree and is then collected. This procedure is repeated two or three times a year, and the resulting frankincense is opaque if it is of superior quality. The young trees produce higher-quality resin than the older trees.

RITUAL USES: The ancient Egyptians would burn frankincense at sun rise to honor the Sun god, Ra. To this day, it is used in Catholic and some Protestant services to signal sanctity and purity.  When blended with myrrh and dragon’s blood, some Pagans use the scent in ritual for such rites as initiation and Sun festivals.

Magical Uses: When burned, frankincense releases powerful vibrations which not only uplift those in the area, but also drives out all negativity.  Frankincense is therefore used in incenses of exorcism and consecration.  It is also burned to induce visions and to aid meditation and is added to sachets for luck, protection, and spiritual growth. Rosemary may be used as a substitute.

Uses of Frankincense Tears: Create a necklace of frankincense to wear as protection or to aid in meditation and consecration during ritual.  Take several ounces of tears (rounded lumps of frankincense), a needle, and yellow cotton thread.  Heat the needle in flame or hot water, quickly cleaning off any lamp black or water, and pierce the tears clear through, drawing the thread through.  Repeat this process until you have a string of frankincense tears that will go over your head.  Knot the thread securely.

These lumps or tears can also be used as incense.  Place them on a clean burning charcoal and allow them to burn.  The thick smoke of the frankincense will fill the room or waft through the area, purifying and chasing away all negativity.  This is especially useful during the rites of Samhain and Yule.

Frankincense is available as a resin, stick incense, cone, or even as an oil.  The uses are varied and depend only on the beliefs of the person using it.  It is often used simply as a pleasant scent to make the home smell and feel clean.  This is obviously connected to its use as a scent for exorcism and purification.

You can purchase frankincense at Pangaia Metaphysical Store as a resin or as an oil.

How do you like to use frankincense?  Tell us by leaving a comment and you will get entered into our September drawing for a bottle of Samhain Oil.  All entries must be received by September 30th to qualify.  Winner will be announced shortly after the 4th of October.

The August Winner of the Blog Comment Content Contest was Lady Rhi of Colorado.

Some content of this post was adapted from Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs and The Complete Book of Incense, Oils, & Brews, both by Scott Cunningham.  All other content is original.