Full Description
Make a spiritual connection to nature with real, raw, natural incense
The Incense Bible is a comprehensive guide to the spiritual meaning of real, raw, natural incense and how to use it in prayer, meditation, or simply in creating a home environment to reconnect with divinity and nature. This unique book examines the spiritual and ritual uses of pure incense (not sticks, cones, or synthetic mixtures), explores our attraction to it, and explains how we can use it at home to increase wellness. Filled with easy-to-use references and easy-to-understand technical information, the book also looks at the use of incense in health and medicine, a history of its use in a variety of countries and cultures, and various types of raw incense, including eucalyptus, sandalwood, sweet grass, agarwood, frankincense, and myrrh.
The Incense Bible examines aspects of spirituality and religion, health and medicine, botanical medicines, ethnobotany, and history of real incensenot the low-quality, processed, synthetic fragrances most people think of as incense. This enlightening and entertaining book, written in everyday language and filled with photgraphs, examines why incense appeals to our sense of smell, of adventure, and of spiritual and physical well-beingand has for centuries. The book looks at the use of incense for purifications and cleansings, creative inspiration, meditation, worship and prayer, for inducing dreams and sleep, to improve learning and problem solving, and as a perfume for clothes, hair, and body.
Topics examined in The Incense Bible include:
types of raw incense, including balsam, cedar, mugwort and moxa, and white sage
safety
how the sense of smell works
the link between taste and scent
scent and memory
allergies and sensitivities
oils and flower essences for healing
how to make incense
incense materials and symbols
the use of incense in Egyptian, Greek, and Roman times, in Buddhism and Shamanism, in Israel, in the Catholic Church, in Native American sweat lodges, and in the African rainforest
and much more!
The Incense Bible is an essential resource for anyone interested in health and natural medicine, botanical medicines, and ethnobotany, and for anyone seeking to express their spirituality by reconnecting to nature
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. The Most Spiritual Use of Plants
A Worldwide Ritual
Honoring the Divinity in Nature
Unification of Mind, Body, and Spirit
What is Incense?
A Quick Tour of Incense History
Is Incense Safe?
Types of Raw Incense
How Can I Use Incense?
Chapter 2. The Sacred Sense
Scent Through Time
Scents in Ancient and Classical Times
Christianity and the Odor of Sanctity
The Olfactory Revolution
The Essence of Culture, Class, and Gender Differences
Seduction and Scents
Scents in Non-Western Cultures
Synthetic versus Natural Scents
How the Sense of Smell Works
The Link between Taste and Scent
Scent and Memory
Scent as a Direct Path to the Soul
Perfume and Fragrance Allergies and Sensitivities
Essential Oils and Flower Essences for Healing
Incense for Keeping Time
The Divinity of Scents
Chapter 3. The Pervasiveness of Incense
The Early Incense Trail in Egyptian, Greek, and Roman Times
Arabian Secrets
India's Bridges to Inner Awareness
Following the Buddhist Path to China
Israel: Incense Arising From the Holy Land
The Catholic Church and Christianity
North America: The New World's Indigenous Incense Traditions
Europe: The Old World of Incense
From the High Andes to Deep in the Rainforest: Incense Use in South America
Africa: The Origin of Man and Incense?
Chapter 4. Types of Raw Incense
Agarwood (Aloeswood/Jinkoh/Eaglewood): Promoting the Soul's Development to its Highest Levels
Balsam of Peru/Balsam of Tolu: Two Soothing Incenses with Similar Names
Benzoin: A Sweet, Fast-Burning Fragrance
Camphor: Cool and Camphorous
Cedar: Helps You to Find Your Vision
Copal: Latin American Food of the Gods
Dragon's Blood: Smoke from the Dragon
Eucalyptus: Beats the Toxins Out of You
Frankincense: The Choice Incense
Mugwort and Moxa: Protection and Medicine Worldwide
Myrrh: The Female Quality of Incense
Sandalwood: Sweet Sensuousness
Sweet Grass: A Braid to Attract Good Spirits
Vetiver: A Cool Relaxing Scent
White Sage: Big Medicine
Chapter 5. Bringing it Home
Making Incense
Forms of Incense
Some Incense Materials and Symbols
Chapter 6. Nature's Divinity Awaits Us
Different Uses of Incense
Becoming More Alive
Appendix A. Resource Directory
Appendix B. Selected Experts
References
Index
