Using cheap indian incense

[noob99]

so I have a lot of cheap incense just laying so can use them like giving them as offerings or using in rituals evocation

 

[Tryp]

You can use it in offerings, but the fact you see it yourself as "cheap incense just laying" doesn't make it look like a very enjoyable offering, does it?

It's a bit like "Oh, I have two bottles of that cheap wine I don't feel like drinking myself. Maybe I will just open them the next time I have guests, so I don't have to prepare or buy anything and they will drink it anyway".

I'd say, consider you get what you give.

 

[frank1]

I have two cases of knock off incense from India that I ordered from Amazon and got scammed. I give them away any chance I get.

Agreeing with Tryp on this one.

 

[Dyn Hysbys]

You're better off binning the cheap stuff.
Offerings, like sacrifice, have to mean something. Giving offerings is part of forming & maintaining relationships.
Offer the good stuff, pour the expensive wine, burn the fancy candles.
Otherwise what are you doing in that relationship?

 

[noob99]

i see that it might be a little disrespectful twords them

 

[agloval]

i see that it might be a little disrespectful twords them

Perhaps it can be offensive, sure. But if you don't have the money at the moment and genuinely don't have anything else available, I don't see why you couldn't offer it anyway. You could simply make it clear that when you have better-quality incense, you'll be able to offer that as well.

It is a relationship, as you guys said, but if that were the case, nobody could practice Enochian magic, because the PELE ring is supposed to be made of gold. I don't know... there's a bit too much snobbery here, and people seem to forget what it was like when they were just starting out.

 

[frank1]

Perhaps it can be offensive, sure. But if you don't have the money at the moment and genuinely don't have anything else available, I don't see why you couldn't offer it anyway. You could simply make it clear that when you have better-quality incense, you'll be able to offer that as well.

It is a relationship, as you guys said, but if that were the case, nobody could practice Enochian magic, because the PELE ring is supposed to be made of gold. I don't know... there's a bit too much snobbery here, and people seem to forget what it was like when they were just starting out.

100%. Intention is everything.

 

[Tryp]

Perhaps it can be offensive, sure. But if you don't have the money at the moment and genuinely don't have anything else available, I don't see why you couldn't offer it anyway. You could simply make it clear that when you have better-quality incense, you'll be able to offer that as well.

It is a relationship, as you guys said, but if that were the case, nobody could practice Enochian magic, because the PELE ring is supposed to be made of gold. I don't know... there's a bit too much snobbery here, and people seem to forget what it was like when they were just starting out.

I did not intend to imply it would be offensive... just that it could feel careless. Like, recycling dinner leftovers to offer deipnon. It's not a matter of snobbery (Enochian magic is perhaps an extreme comparison, and personally I wouldn't aim to have guests that require a Dom Perignon glass to get along) but rather about making an offering meaningful.

You only have cheap incense and you cannot afford to go pick up some fresh herbs, or to buy a bit of frankincense online? Okay, use that incense, but dress it nicely, or improvise the best burner you can use, and put some heart in the rest. Which OP can surely do.

But I don't think that trying to offer something you procured for the occasion, instead of recycling cheap stuff you were not otherwise going to use, is being a snob.

 

[agloval]

I did not intend to imply it would be offensive... just that it could feel careless. Like, recycling dinner leftovers to offer deipnon. It's not a matter of snobbery (Enochian magic is perhaps an extreme comparison, and personally I wouldn't aim to have guests that require a Dom Perignon glass to get along) but rather about making an offering meaningful.

You only have cheap incense and you cannot afford to go pick up some fresh herbs, or to buy a bit of frankincense online? Okay, use that incense, but dress it nicely, or improvise the best burner you can use, and put some heart in the rest. Which OP can surely do.

But I don't think that trying to offer something you procured for the occasion, instead of recycling cheap stuff you were not otherwise going to use, is being a snob.

yeah, I see your point. I didn't mean to sound so harsh, and you're right that “offensive” wasn't really the word I was looking for. And yeah, obviously I wouldn't offer leftovers either.

i also admit the Enochian example was a bit extreme. I just couldn't think of a better example at the time haha.

i was mainly thinking about someone who genuinely has nothing else available and is trying to work with what they have. But I agree that, when you can, putting some thought and effort into an offering and getting something specifically for the occasion makes much more sense.

 

[Tryp]

yeah, I see your point. I didn't mean to sound so harsh, and you're right that “offensive” wasn't really the word I was looking for. And yeah, obviously I wouldn't offer leftovers either.

i also admit the Enochian example was a bit extreme. I just couldn't think of a better example at the time haha.

i was mainly thinking about someone who genuinely has nothing else available and is trying to work with what they have. But I agree that, when you can, putting some thought and effort into an offering and getting something specifically for the occasion makes much more sense.

Yeah, understood.

For me it pays off to think about it like giving a pleasant treat to guests I appreciate. Within my possibilities, of course. In the past I did think about following the letter of the law, so to speak. I'm supposed to give some incense? okay. So I will just comply with that, and job done. But unless you are already close friends with your guests (that buddy who will drink whatever as long as it's cold and he gets to hang with you) that's not the best attitude, specially as you start to make friends.

 

[frank1]

Yeah, understood.

For me it pays off to think about it like giving a pleasant treat to guests I appreciate. Within my possibilities, of course. In the past I did think about following the letter of the law, so to speak. I'm supposed to give some incense? okay. So I will just comply with that, and job done. But unless you are already close friends with your guests (that buddy who will drink whatever as long as it's cold and he gets to hang with you) that's not the best attitude, specially as you start to make friends.

What’s your go to incense for a first contact?

 

[Dyn Hysbys]

Context, definitely.
This reminds me of the difference between ethically sourced, organic, grimoire-accurate handmade incense used by some high magicians, and the last Marlboro shared with Loki Leyfarson.
Both are appropriate offerings, but consider means, intent, relationship and, as you guys pointed out, communication with whoever the recipient is.

 

[Tryp]

What’s your go to incense for a first contact?

I'm a plant nerd and love to collect strange resins and essences, make tinctures and the like... so for me it really depends on who, and I like to make simple blends for different cases, again like getting the snack or drink I believe a guest will like.

But an all-purpose, introductory incense? I think you can't go wrong with frankincense. And if it's chthonic spirits, throw in some myrrh.
To cleanse space, and with a little more budget (but highly depends on the variety) I love copal. Specially white copal, is miraculous. Then some black styrax to power up mixes.

But to keep it simple, frankincense. And a pinch of herbs to flavor, or rose water.

 

[frank1]

I'm a plant nerd and love to collect strange resins and essences, make tinctures and the like... so for me it really depends on who, and I like to make simple blends for different cases, again like getting the snack or drink I believe a guest will like.

But an all-purpose, introductory incense? I think you can't go wrong with frankincense. And if it's chthonic spirits, throw in some myrrh.
To cleanse space, and with a little more budget (but highly depends on the variety) I love copal. Specially white copal, is miraculous. Then some black styrax to power up mixes.

But to keep it simple, frankincense. And a pinch of herbs to flavor, or rose water.

Frankincense is my go to as well.

I’m going to look into copal. Thanks!

 

[BBMage]

You can save them for halloween and put them in the trick or treat bags, lol. Or make an incense scented bonfire.

If your feeling really motivated, you can do a bunch of rituals on it to improve the energetic quality with magic.

I'm pretty picky with my incense. As others have said, frankincense is a good solid go to. Nag Champa if you can get the real stuff is a close second for me. Then Myrrh and Copal.

 

[frank1]

You can save them for halloween and put them in the trick or treat bags, lol. Or make an incense scented bonfire.

If your feeling really motivated, you can do a bunch of rituals on it to improve the energetic quality with magic.

I'm pretty picky with my incense. As others have said, frankincense is a good solid go to. Nag Champa if you can get the real stuff is a close second for me. Then Myrrh and Copal.

Great ideas! I have over 40 boxes of knock off Nag Champa for my next bonfire!

 

[ewiz]

I think the main issue is seeing the incense as being cheap or low-quality yourself, because it's your effort and sincerity that matters the most. People use whatever they can use within their means, and can have good results from all of it. If you have a bad feeling like you're not doing enough, then that's going to tarnish your intentions and affect your results.

My suggestion would be to focus on properly preparing and consecrating the incense before you use it, through whichever method you may feel drawn to, or that may be relevant to your work or the spirits at hand. You want to the incense to become something sacred and special before you put it into use. Consecration can make a plastic knife and a paper ring shine like steel and gold, and can turn any offering into one fit for a king.

I have lots of old, low quality incense sticks laying around. They can work just as well as anything else if they're treated properly. But if you have the means to do better and feel drawn to get better ingredients, that may be the best way to avoid getting hung up on it. I know I will go out of my way to get fresh ingredients depending on the work at hand, guided by my own intuition and feelings, and not by any rules or expectations by the spirits.

 

[Timely_Pancake]

I have tried invoknig spirits using exactly the same cheap Indian incenses, and they didn't show up. However, they do show up when I use high-end essential oils. I guess they can tell the difference in quality.

 

[Omee]

so I have a lot of cheap incense just laying so can use them like giving them as offerings or using in rituals evocation

Perhaps it can be offensive, sure. But if you don't have the money at the moment and genuinely don't have anything else available, I don't see why you couldn't offer it anyway. You could simply make it clear that when you have better-quality incense, you'll be able to offer that as well.

It is a relationship, as you guys said, but if that were the case, nobody could practice Enochian magic, because the PELE ring is supposed to be made of gold. I don't know... there's a bit too much snobbery here, and people seem to forget what it was like when they were just starting out.

I agree with @agloval , I think it is the aspect of Water elements when dealing with spirit that really shines in spirit contact and not the incense itself but the medium and the channel of communication that really paints/colors how we talk to spirits. If we try to approach it so strictly materialistically like "if I give XYZ I will get ABC" then I think it won't really feel that good because the spirit would also take the materia magica seriously. If you're easy going with the spirits then they would be easy going with you, if you're strict then they would act strict, and so on.

Not saying that some spirits aren't inherently strict or other that are always easy going but your own "vibe" and impression does play into it as much as the incense being resin, made by yourself or some low quality incense stick.

I use resin, incense sticks, powders, bukhoor, and so on. I think for just a "light offering" or vibe setting an incense stick isn't too bad, but for a proper ceremony or ritual then you might want to use proper incense mixture or resin or actual materials instead of something scented like the material.

 

[Jadziya]

If the incense is of a grade that would be used in India for religious ritual, and just happens to be cheap due to the currency difference, I’d use it. If it’s cheap because it’s a cheap knock off, then I’d bin it.