The Incense Bible

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.

Mckenna, Dennis J; Hughes, Kerry

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