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Feb

22
2012

Edgewalker

FolkHerbalism

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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.

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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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