loose leave incense

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Loose Incense Be sure you have all necessary ingredients. If you lack any, decide on substitutions.Each ingredient must be finely ground, preferably to a powder, using either a mortar and pestle or an electric grinder. Some resins won't powder easily, but with practice you'll find the right touch. When I first worked with herbs I couldn't powder frankincense. It kept on gumming to the sides of the mortar and to the tip of the pestle. After a while I stopped fighting it (and cursing it, I'll admit -- not a good thing to do with herbs used in incenses) and got into the flow of the work. The frankincense came out just fine.When all is ready, fix your mind on the incense's goal-protection, love, health. In a large wooden or ceramic bowl, mix the resins and gums together with your hands.Next, mix in all the powdered leaves, barks, flowers and roots.Now add any oils or liquids (wine, honey, etc.) that are included in the recipe. Just a few drops are usually sufficient. On the subject of oils: If there's a sufficient amount of dry ingredients in the recipe, you can substitute an oil for an herb you lack. Simply ensure that the oil is an essential oil, for synthetics smell like burning plastic when smoldered. Once all has been thoroughly mixed, add any powdered gem-stones or other power boosters. A few -- not many -- recipes will call for a pinch of powdered stone. To produce this, simply take a small stone of the required type and pound it in a metal mortar and pestle (or simply smash it with a hammer against a hard surface). Grind the resulting pieces into a powder and add no more than the scantest pinch to the incense.The incense is now fully compounded. Store in a tightly capped jar. Label carefully, including the name of the incense and date of composition. It is now ready for use when needed. Incense LeavesAt the turn of this century, incense papers were burned more often than the usual incense product, and they were used by the populace in general. The most ordinary homemakers were aware of the little papers' ability to fill the air with sweetness, overpowering theVictorian mustiness that was a product of the times.This is a recipe to re-create the burning papers of those Victorian times, and I like to call them Incense Leaves, for they are most attractive if the paper is cut into leaf-like replicas before saturation. Also, if you plan to use these as a gift, you can write the instructions for their use right on the leaf, but do that AFTER the saturation/drying process.Directions: Begin by dissolving three (3) tablespoons saltpetre in three (3) cups boiling water. Cool this mixture and add 20 to 24 drops of the Essential oil you desire. Mix slowly, using only steel or glass to stir. (Wood, aluminum or plastic will tend to soak up the scent). Cut a large sheet of blotter paper into pieces of a size no larger than a business-sized envelope. (I suggest you start with plain white. If you are determined to use a colored paper, test a bit of it in the scent mixture first, to be sure it will hold its color when immersed in the liquid.) Now you may cut it into leaf shapes, or flower shapes, hearts, or any other shape you like. Simple rectangles will also work. For a natural looking edge, you might want to tear the paper rather than cut with scissors. Even if you choose a leaf shape, cut it a little larger than you want it to be, then tear away a little at a time, until all the edges are softened this way. Dip the papers, shaped or not,into the scented water, until it is thoroughly wetted. Set the pieces aside to dry. I like to clip-clothespins them on a string to let them dry on both sides at once, over the scented water, or over a sink or tub. When the papers are completely dried, you may write the instructions for their use on the leaf, or on the envelope that you will put them in. If you are making more than one scent in a day, you will want to write the scent name on the leaf, to make things easier.Instructions for Use: You may write a wish on the leaf before you burn it, if you desire. Then lay the paper, or a portion of it, on a non-flammable surface, and light one corner. As with any incense, as soon as it has `caught', extinguish the flame and allow the leaf to smolder. Your wish will become part of the smoke which rises up to the heavens.http://www.paulawal la.com/incense_ making_leaves. html Handle every stressful situation like a dog. can't eat it or play with it, pee on it & walk away.