Incense sticks
Lit and burning
Shedding ash
Offerings to the Gods
Until our sticks are burnt

And we are gone..

I used to hate incense – as recently as last month I hated incense – now I’m addicted to the stuff.

The smell hasn’t changed, although now I open up my entire house and the scented smoke disperses so it is not overwhelming.

What’s changed? Ritual.
Incense has been burnt for thousands of years
For purification – it kills bacteria in the air
For meditation – some oils in certain incense mixes bring peace and calm breathing allowing a deeper connection to the divine
Prayer – the smoke is believed to carry our prayers to heaven
And for beauty and enjoyment of the rich aromas – this took awhile for me but now that I have tried a few blends I have found ones I love. (I’m also awaiting the arrival of some natural Australian blends from Byron bay which is exciting.)
Lighting incense has become part of my daily ritual and through ritual we find meaning and carve out sacred space for ourselves.
I light incense to send prayers, I light incense before yoga or meditation, I light incense to set an important intention and I light incense to celebrate a clean house.