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KivaRose
Feb
22
2012
Edgewalker
FolkHerbalism
Weedwifery
BioregionalHerbalism
Bramble&TheRoseBotanicalShop
PlantDevotionsinSmoke:BioregionalPlantIncense
Recipes,ReWilding
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~ThispostwaswrittenfortheSmokeThemeoftheWildThingsRoundup~
PostIndex
132
DAYSREMAININGUNTIL
Therisingsmokeoffragrantplantshaslongbeenconsidered
thefoodofgodsandancestorsbyhumankind.Throughout
thecenturies,ithasretainedtheconnotationofsacredspace,
magic,andthesensual.Evennow,justthedescriptionof
whitesmokerisingfromanornatecensercanevokeimages
ofancienttemplesandforgottenrites.Thisisnosurprise
TraditionsIn
WesternHerbalism
Conference
giventhepoweroftheolfactorysystemovermemory,dream,
anddesire.
September15,2016at12:00PM
ForthemodernAmericanhuman,however,thewordincense
TheLodge
TheLodge601Corona
PlaceCloudcroft,NM88317
maybemorelikelytobringtomindthesuffocatingstenchof
chemicalinfusedheadshopfumesthananythingsacred,
RegisterNow!
beautiful,ortheleastbitsubtle.
TweetThisEvent
Myownsenseofsmellissensitivetosaytheleast,andIve
beenstudiouslyavoidingmoststrongsmellingthingslike
perfumeandincenseatallcostsformanyyearsnow.Andnot
justbecauseofsomesortofuppityaestheticseither.Thetruth
isthatmanyscents,mostlysyntheticbutsomebotanically
derivedessentialoilsaswell,canmakemephysicallyill.Ive
grownwaryofstayinginmotelsorotherpeopleshouses
FinishedblockofincensemadewithPion
resin,Juniperberries,RedCedarheartwood,
DouglasFirneedles,Rosepetals,andmuch
more.
PoweredbyEventbrite
EnliveningThePractice,Culture&Art
ofFolkHerbalism
becauseofhowIcanwakeupwithmyfaceswollen,mybody
coveredinhives,anddistinctdifficultyinbreathing.
Nevertheless,Ivelonglovedburningtheresinsoflocalconifersonourwoodstoveduringthecoldseason.I
personallyfarpreferthesweetsmokeofaPionsresintothatofanyofFrankincenseorevenCopal.Even
thedriedleavesofJuniperorCypressspeciesrankamongmyfavoritesmudgeorincensescents,farabove
muchmorecostly,andoftenexotic,alternatives.WhenIbreatheinthesweet,wildscentfromtheverytrees
thatmakeuptheforestIliveinImoverwhelmedwithgratitudeforthemanylevelsofdelightandhealingthey
constantlyprovidemewith.
VisitthePlantHealerwebsiteformoreinfo
ThenImetSarahLawless,anherbalistinBritishColumbia,whointroducedmetotheconceptofmore
andtoseeasampleissue.
complexnativeplantincenses.Aftersmellingtheincrediblysweet,complex,andeuphoricsmokeofher
RockyMountainandHawthornRoseKyphiincensefromherForestGroveBotanica,IknewIwasdonefor,
andhadtohavemore.Youcanreadherarticleonmakingkyphionherblog.
SarahslovelyworkalsoinspiredmetocreateincensefromSouthwestplants,andmorespecifically,withthe
plantsoftheSalizandWhiteMountainsofNMandAZthatIsoadore.Ihavetosaythattheseexperiments
andexplorationsintherealmoffragrancehavebeensomeofmymostmeaningfulwhenitcomesto
establishingintimacywithplaceandgainingagreaterunderstandingoftheirmedicineandmagic.
Nowfirstoff,beforeIlaunchintoanyrecipes,Iwanttomakeaquickbutimportantpoint.Thatstickystuff
gluedtothebarkofyourlocalPinetree.ThatisNOTsap(orpitch,forthatmatter).Sapisfounddeeper
insidethetreeandtransportswater,nutrients,hormones,andothervitalfluidsthroughtheplant.Resinisan
immunologicalsecretionusedbytreestohelpprotecttheplantfrompotentialpestsandpathogens,often
secretedaftertheoutersurfaceofthetreehasbeenbreached.WhileIwontbegettingintothedeeper,more
detailedworkingsoftreefluids(moreonthatcomingsoon)inthisarticle,Ifeelthatunderstandingthe
purposeofresinforthetreeisimportantforacoupleofreasons.Notleastissothattheharvesterwill
understandwhattheresinproducedfor,andinturnhopefullyrealizethatitsveryimportantnottoriplarge
Categories
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ReWilding
chunksofresinoffawoundonalivingtree.Youthenopenthe
RootedMuse
treeuptopotentialinfectionandcouldplacethattreeslifein
TalkingWithPlants
danger.Mypointthen,isthatitmakesthemostsensetoharvest
TheVillageHerbalist
resinthatsalreadyonthegroundorisoverflow,notfromthe
TherapeuticsandNutrition
actualwound.Anotheroptionistofinddownedtreesorbranches
TraditionsinWesternHerbalism
andharvestresinfromwheretheyarenolongerneeded.
Conference
Uncategorized
TypesandTechnicalities
Therearecertainlyeasiertypesof
incensetomakethanwhatIliketo
do,andabundantrecipesforthem
canbefoundonline.Imwriting
aboutthistypebecauseIloveitso
andfeellikeitcoulduseabitmore
PonderosaPineresin
exposuresothatmorepeoplecan
tryitwiththeirownlocalplants.On
theotherhand,itcangetway
morecomplicatedthanthis,andonceyoufamiliarizeyourselfwiththe
process,itwonttakelongatalltogetthehangofitandstartadaptingin
manydifferentdirections.
ThekindofincenseIllbetalkingaboutherewillbeconsideredkyphiliketo
somebutdoesnotadheretoanyrulesorhistoricalrecipes.Ilikeitmuchbetterthanmostpowdered
incenses,andmakesagreatalternativetolooseincensewhenyoufeellikemixingthingsupabit.Idividemy
ingredienttypesupintocategories,whichmakesiteasiertocomeupwithabalancedrecipewhenIknow
whatIneedandallowsforsimplersubstitutionsaswell.
Ingredients
Resins:
ConiferResinPrettymuchanysortofconiferresinwillworkhere,thehardenediseasiertodealwiththan
thatwhichisstillsoftandgooey.IworkwithPion,Ponderosa,Juniper,Cypress,
BudResinsCottonwoodsarethemostobviousofthesebutanumberofothertreesproduceleafbud
resinaswell,includingAlder,Birch,andsomeCherrytrees.
BeeResinThisissimplypropolis,themoreunrefinedthebetter.Liketheotherresins,ithelpshold
everythingtogetherandsmellswonderfulaswell.
Leaves&Flowers
Hugenumberofoptionsheredependingonwhatyouregoingfor,
experimentwithasingleisolatedingredientandseehowitsmells
whenitburns.Figureitsgoingtoburnwayhotterandscorch
easieronitsownthaninthefinalmixsojustgoforthegeneral
idea.Rosepetals,Yarrowleaves/flowers,DouglasFirneedles,
WhiteFirneedles,YerbaSanta,allsortsofSages,Artemisia
flowers/leaves,Vervainflowers/leaves,and
Roots&Barks
Orris(aspecificspeciesofIris)rootmaybethemostfamous
exampleofrootsinincense,buttherearemanyaromaticroots
Artemisiacarruthii,anativearomaticplant
thatworkwellhere,includingCalamus,aromaticCyperusspecies,
andAngelica/Lovage/Osh.HeartwoodorbarkofJuniper,Cedar,
Alder,andmanyotherplantscanalsoaddamazingnuancesto
theincense.
Berries&BerryLikeObjects
Rosehips,Hawthornhaws,Elderberries,andJuniperberries(actuallycones)aresomeoftheeasiestto
comeupwithbutmanymoredriedberriescouldworkhere,includingCranberriesandHuckleberries.
InfusedHoney,Meads,&Wines
Anyaromatichoneyorfermentedhoneypreparationcanworkhere,oragoodwinemadefromlocalplants.
IveusedRoseinfusedhoney,Alder/Rosemead,Alderleafinfusedhoney,Applemead,Hawthorninfused
wine,andmanyothervariations.Infusedhoneysthatarejustabitoff,butnotgrowinganystrangefuzzy
VitalistHerbalActions&Energetic
Spectrums
animals(inwhichinrefertoourfriendlymolds)canworkgreat.
Miscellania
Unrefinedbeeswaxismymainitemhere,ithelpsholdthingstogetherwhilesmellingnice.Toomuchwill
makeyourincensesmelllikeagutteringcandlethough.
Proportions&Directions
Nowwegettothepartwherepeoplecussmefor
mylackofprecisemeasurements.Ihatetotellyou
this,folks,butIhatemeasuringshitout.Ihaveto
doitincertainsituations,asinformulasIuse
clinically,orwhenImakebotanicalperfumes,and
inparticularlydelicatedishes.Butnothere,hereI
justgobyfeelandsmelluntilIfindthebalanceI
like.Illprovidemypreferenceguidelinesandyoull
havetofigureoutwhatyoulikebestfromthere.
Thethingtokeepinmindhereisifyoudontadd
enoughresinousmaterial,yourincensewillscorch
andsmellburntmuchmoreeasily.Ifyoudontadd
enoughhoney/mead/wineyoullmissoutonthat
sweet,complexflavorthatcomeswiththefermentationandhoney.Otherthanthat,itsprettyhardtomess
thisup.
Youcanmixandmatchendlesslyandmostlikely
nevergetbored,usingeachopportunityto
showcaseanotherdominantscentorscentcombo.
MymostrecentbatchwasJuniperCottonwood,
andtheonebeforethatwasWhiteFirRoseHip,
andtheonebeforeColoradoBlueSpruce
ElderberryJuniper.
Figureabout1partresins(coniferresin,propolis,
budresins),1partberries,1/2partbeeswax,1/2
partroots/bark,and3partsleaf/flower,allby
(eyeballed)volume.
GrindingNote:Igrindallmyingredientsbyhand
inamortarandpestle.Yes,itwouldbemuch
quickerandeasierinanelectricgrinder,Ijustprefertheoldfashionedmethodforthisparticularproject.
Iusuallystartwithgrindingallmyberriesanberrylikeobjectsuptoaroughpowder.WhenIworkwith
Junipercones,Iprefertoroastthemlightlybeforehand.
Ithengrindmyconiferresinsandpropolistoapowderandadd.
ThenIgrindmyleaves/flowersroughly(largerforthingslikeDouglasFirneedles,morefinelyfor
flowerslikeRose)andmyroots/barkstowhateverfinenessIcanmanagebyhandinmymortarand
pestle.
NextIgratethebeeswax.
Thisallgoesinabowltogether,andgetswellstirred.Andthisisveryimportant,becauseifyoudont
getafairlyevencoatingofresinoneverything,youregoingtoendupwithveryinconsistentincense.
Ithenslowlyaddthewarmedhoney/mead/wineuntilthemixisstickybutnotwet.
ThenIcoverabakingsheetwithparchmentpaper,andputa12inchthickcoatingofthemixtureon
thepaper.Thispartismessyandsticky,preparetosmellgoodafterwards(andsticktoanythingyou
touch).
NextIplacethesheetonthecoolsideofmywoodstovewaitforthesheettowarm.Whentheresins
starttomeltandthewholemessstartstolookgooey,Istirandturnthetrayslowlyroundandround
untilthewholethingiswarmandmelty.
Ithenpressthemixtureflatonthetrayagain,andputitinawarm(butnothot),dryplacetocure/dry
forseveraldaystoaweek.
Oncemostlydry(butpossiblystillabitstickysoft),Ibreakorcutintosmallpiecesandstoreinan
airtightcontainerawayfromlightorheat.
Burnoncharcoalorawarm(notblazing)woodstove.
Breathedeep.
Idontconsiderthistobehardearnedroomdeodorizer,butratheraveryvisceralconnectiontothelandand
plants.AnotherformandfacetoftheplantdevotionsIdiscussedinmylastpost.Itreasureeverybreath
takenofthepleasuretheseplantsprovideme.
PostedbyKivaRoseat9:20pm
25ResponsestoPlantDevotionsinSmoke:BioregionalPlantIncense
1.
Butterpoweredbikesays:
February23,2012at12:34am
ThankyousomuchforcontributingthislovelyposttoWildThings.Imfeelinginspired,andcantwaittostartmixingmy
ownblends.
Reply
2.
Farrahsays:
February23,2012at10:29am
Yourwritingmakesmewanttogocollectresin!Thankyouforagreatarticle.
Reply
3.
Lisasays:
February23,2012at10:31am
Thankyouforthepostandrecipe,cantwaittotryit.Iknowwhatyoumeanaboutthestrongsmellwithmostscents.I
cantgointomoststoresbecausetheyhavesuchintensesmellswhenyouenter,thesmellofcinnamonnowgivesme
intenseheadachesbecauseoftheoveruseinmostareas.
Reply
4.
Janasays:
February23,2012at11:16am
Thankyousomuchforyourcontributionsbeautifulspirit!trulyinspirationalIalwaysthinkofthiswhenIsmellexotic
incensesfromfarawayplacesthatsomanyhavebecomeaccustomedto,andiwanttobringeverythingascloseto
homeaspossibleIlookforwardtotuckingsomeofthesegoodiesaway
Reply
5.
Bridgettsays:
February23,2012at11:17am
Ilovethisidea.Howdoyoucollectthecottonwoodresin?
Reply
KivaRosesays:
February23,2012at11:19am
Bycollectingthebudsinearlyspringandthenyoujustusethewhole,driedbud.
Reply
6.
RachaelJeanHarpersays:
February23,2012at1:40pm
ThiisissoinspiringKiva!Thankyouforallofyourwildinspirations
Withgratitude,
RachaelJean
Reply
7.
Catsays:
February24,2012at12:42pm
AnysuggestionsforharvestingDragonsBlood?Ilivewitha150yearoldtreeandhavebeenwonderingthebestway
toharvest.
Reply
KivaRosesays:
February24,2012at1:27pm
HiCat,IhaventpersonallyworkedwithDragonsBlood,butImguessingthatyouprobablyhavetoscore
thebarkwithabladetogetthetreetoreleasetheresin.Justbecarefulnottooverdoitandtaxthetree.
Reply
8.
Karensays:
February25,2012at10:29am
ThankyouforthewonderfulpostKiva,Iappreciateyourteachings.Iharvestedconiferresinsrecentlyandfoundthem
softandsticky.IpoppedabitinmymouthandittookhourstodisolveoffmyteethandthebitIheldinmyhandbecame
gooeyquickly.Icantimagineputtingthissoftstickystuffinthepestle(orisitthemorter?).Shouldtheresinbedried
somewhatoverthewoodstove?Howisitdriedandharvestedwithoutstickingtoeverything?
Reply
KivaRosesays:
February25,2012at10:32am
Aroundhere,itsfairlyeasytofindbothstickyandhardresinfromthesametreessoIusethesoftstufffor
infusedoils/salves/tincturesandthehardstuffforincense.Ifyouonlyhavesoft,gooeyresinavailable
though,thenyes,Iwouldtrydryingtheresinasmuchaspossible.Theotheroptionifthatdoesntwork,
wouldbetoaddthetreeresinlast,andletitmeltsufficientlytocombinewiththeotheringredients.That
wouldbequitemessy,butshouldstillwork.
Reply
9.
CatLanesays:
February26,2012at12:27pm
HiKivaIamworkingupsomeincensetodayandwonderingaboutusingmaplebuds?Also,withmypoplarbuds
howlongwillIneedtodrythem,beforetheyreusable?Ilovethisinspiringpost,Ivemadeincenseforyearsbutnot
likethis!YourrecipeoffersendlesspossibilitiesadIverymuchappreciatethat.
Reply
KivaRosesays:
February26,2012at2:43pm
HiCat,ImnotsureabouttheMapleIhaventtriedthem.AreyourMaplebudsaromatic?Forresinous
Populusbuds,aweekisaboutsufficient,atleasthere.Themainthingistogetwateroutofthemsothey
dontmakeyourwholebatchofincensegomoldy.Sogladyoureenjoyingthepostandrecipe!
Reply
10.
CatLanesays:
February26,2012at4:22pm
ThankyouforthequickreplythespeciesIhaveinmyyard,Acersaccarinum,isnotaromatic,soIfoundouttoday.
Thebudsarebeautiful,tinyanddelicatebutnoaromatospeakof.Iplantousemaplesyrupinsomeofmyown
concoctionsandmayaddthebudspurelyfortheaddedbitofmagic,butnotscent.
StilloneoftheloveliesttreesIveeverseen,soperhapsherbeautyandpresenceinthebackyardwillhavetosuffice.
Reply
11.
Phoebesays:
March5,2012at4:16pm
Whenyousay,burnoncharcoal,doyoumeanactual,hot,charredwood(woodstove,campfire,fireplace,etc.)or
thosecharcoalthingamajigsonecanpurchaseforincenseburning?Someonetoldmetheyincludechemicalsto
keepthemalight.SoundslogicalDOYOUKNOWIFTHISISTRUE?Icertainlydontwanttobreathechemicalswith
mysmudge!
Reply
KivaRosesays:
March5,2012at4:20pm
Itstrueofsomecharcoal,butnotall.IthinkScentsoftheEarthhttp://www.scentsof
earth.com/charcoal1.htmlhavesomenotmadewithignitorsandsuchbutIdonthavealotofpersonal
experienceasIprimarilyusethewoodstoveoracoalfromthestovetoburnmyincense.
Reply
12.
Heathersays:
March7,2012at8:17pm
Well,thisisasillyquestion,butnowhereintheinstructionscanIfindiftheleaf/blossomsaretobedriedpriorto
grinding.Ofcourse,inyourpictures,thefinalproductlookslikethematerialshavedried,butinthepictureofthe
juniperberriesandafewneedles,themateriallooksfresh.Imworkingwithorangeblossomsandleavesamongother
things.ShouldIdrythemfirst?
Thanks!
Reply
KivaRosesays:
March7,2012at8:23pm
Alltheplantsinthepicturesaredried,includingtheberries(theydactuallybeenlightlyroastedaswell)
andJuniperleavestheyremucheasiertogrindthisway.Itsnotimpossibletousesomefreshplant
matter,butgiventhecuringprocessandsuch,theyllprobablyfermenttosomedegreeandyoullneedto
beextracarefultocure/drytheincenselongenoughsothatitwontmoldorgooff.
Reply
13.
Heathersays:
March10,2012at2:20pm
Ijustmadethisusingredwoodneedlesandbark,driedorangepeelandblossoms,orangeblossominfusedhoney
andjustabitofsage.Itsamazing.ThanksKivaRose!
Reply
14.
NoraFanninsays:
March18,2012at10:50pm
Thisiselectrifying!!!!Thankyousomuchfortheeducation.Ismudgewithsweetgrassetcandamabsolutelygratefulfor
it.Iknewtherewasmoretoexplorethoughwalkinginthebush,inhaling,sniffingpineandspruceresin,crushing
sweetfernleavesbetweenmyfingersandrevellinginthevapours,mullingpoplarbudsinoilIwantedtodomore,but
didntknowwhatIwasfeelingImsoexcitedtotrythis!!!!
BTWofcourseitsonlyrighttoexpressmygratitudetothe1stNationpeoplesuchasPaulBondywhoeducatedmeon
howtosmudge,theuseofthe4sacredplantsetc.Lifechanging.
Anyway.
Thankyou,Thankyou,Thankyou!!!!!!!!
Reply
15.
Pinetrees,Incense+OwlMedicine|SouthernHerbalistsays:
December31,2012at8:24pm
[]MedicineWomansRoots:PantryMedicineOnionPoultices,Syrups+TincturesandPlantDevotionsinSmoke:
BioregionalPlantIncensebyKiva[]
16.
HedgeWifesays:
January17,2013at3:10pm
ThisisanAMAZINGarticle!Thankyousomuchforsharingit!
TheinstructionsputmeinmindoftheEgyptianincenseKyphi,onlywithouttheweeksofdrying,regrinding,etcsothe
quickmethodofKyphi.Brilliant!IcannotwaittogiveitashotwithsomeoftheamazingplantsIvecomeincontactwith
hereinAlaska.
Reply
17.
MadisonWoodssays:
January24,2013at9:59am
Icantwaittotrycollectingmyownlocalscents.Thanksforthisarticle.Idolikethescentofsandalwood,frankincense
andmyrrhthoughIthinkIlllikethescentsofthingsfromaroundmyhomealotmore.
Reply
18.
TheForestinWinter:ConiferResinsforHealingandPleasureTheMountainRoseBlogsays:
February4,2013at3:52am
[]Thehardergradesofresinmakeawonderfulcopaltypeincenseallontheirown,andcanbeburnedover
charcoaloronametalplateontopofawoodstoveorsimilar.Thesearestrongandconcentratedscents,sostartwith
asmalldustingofcrumbledresinandbuilduptothefragranceintensityyouprefer.Youmaywanttoreadmyprevious
postonincensecalledPlantDevotionsinSmokeformoreoncraftingbioregionalincensefromyourlocalconifer
resins.http://bearmedicineherbals.com/incense.html[]
19.
DiannaClarksays:
February25,2013at8:19pm
IamTHRILLEDtofindsuchawonderfulsite!Iveonlybeenonlineforsixmonthsorso,andIamcontinuallyamazedat
whatyoucanfindoutaboutanything,andIhavebeenwantingtomakemyownincenseforsomanyyears.Iliveinthe
woodsinWestVirginia,soIamgoingtogooutandgatherallkindsofstufftostartexperimenting.Thankyousomuch
forputtingthedirectionsherewherewecanallenjoydoingthis!
Reply
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