The Meaning of Burning Incense

Incense burning rituals are still a fascinating experience today, as they have been since ancient times.
Precious substances such as wood, resins and herbs being burned are transformed into smoke, which carries the essence to an ethereal level. The purpose of burning incense was and is to connect through the smoke our earthly thoughts with the perception of subtle, invisible spheres.
The gently curling column of smoke gives us peace of mind and draws new strength for the soul.

About Burning Incense

Burning herbs and resins in various forms is part of many ancient traditions of our world. In contrast to evaporation, fire acts as a mediator and transformer. Coarse substances are transformed into smoke which carries the essence to a higher and more subtle level. In this way, a connection with higher and ethereal levels is established.

There are two basic types of smoking:

1 Smoking on Glowing Charcoal

Traditionally, incense was burned on glowing charcoal. This requires a fireproof vessel and possibly some sand.
Nowadays, the most popular type of coal is self-lighting coal. It is easy to use because it ignites itself once lit. But even here we should ensure that the charcoal gets enough air on all sides during the ignition process. It is best to place the round tablet upright (especially when smoking on sand) so it gets enough air to ignite. As soon as grey spots become visible on the edges of the charcoal, you can tip it over again.
Now the pleasure of burning incense can begin. Dose carefully at first, as the smoke volume can be enormous both with resins and herbs.
Another option is Nature Pure - incense charcoal. These are pressed herbs with a pleasant scent. This herbal charcoal glows slowly and gradually burns away the resin on top of it. Therefore, if you find the effect of black charcoal too strong, you can try this much gentler herbal charcoal. It is best to smoke herbal charcoal on a netted vessel, as there is more air for it to glow through than on sand.

2  Incense burning on a Sieve with a Tealight

The other way of burning incense is to burn it over a tea light with a sieve. This method is based on aromatherapy. A very fine sieve is placed at a distance of about 5 to 10 cm above a tealight. Aroma lamps from which you can remove the bowl and replace it with an incense sieve or incense burners specially made for the sieves are suitable for this purpose. Herbs or resins are placed directly on the sieve. The rising heat of the candle flame causes them to slowly burn. Caution: If the net gets too close to the candle, herbs or resins could ignite. Please do not leave unattended!