Why the world is running out of frankincense....

[AlfrunGrima]

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According to this BBC article we are running out of frankincense. Personally I don't use it, but perhaps there will be a time that people need yo choose another option if they want incense with the same magical properties.... are there more incenses or natural spell ingredients in danger and how did you substitute it?

 

[FireBorn]

Good eye catching that article! Interesting, I had no idea.

I had two thoughts, 1. Can those trees grow in the desert in the U.S? What about in a green house? (potential business opportunity for real). and 2. I would have thought there would be large orchards (like large) owned by large companies to supply the world with the resins.

I am guessing that there are lots of sources of the trees, not just the geographic areas mentioned. I havent researched anything on this yet, and yes, I am admitting my ignorance on the topic lol.

Also it would be pretty badass to grow the trees and supply your own resins. Many folks grow their own herbs for witchcraft, so this would just be a longer term investment, but so meaningful.

I may or may not be buying a shit ton of it. And I may or may not have some extra for sale in the near future. I will be the next underground resin dealer. I got your fix, no substitutes needed, I have the real deal, pure stuff baby! Come see me sucka!!

 

[Kepler]

Another indication environmental factors are going to put stresses on supply for everything.

Outdoor temples surrounded by strong scented flowering trees and plants is an amazing olfactory experience attuned to local seasonal energies.

With the price increase over the last couple decades I've been keeping an eye out for deals and picked up an unopened 500g bag of Frankincense for $5 at the Sally Ann two years ago. Probably used a gram since then, but I'm looking at maybe burning a few hundred grams at the upcoming Candlemas after reading this news.

 

[Morell]

Everyone must have one thing... one specific thing. The dark side of influencer culture.

There is a lot of humans and when everyone must have the same thing, the nature might simply not have enough of it. When it comes to incense, when literature that sells the most advices one thing, a lot of people will do it. Too many people doing and demanding one thing, not realizing that it might not be the right thing for them.

Everywhere you go out, you can see some plants, so everywhere you go, there are magic plants that can be burned for smoke. White sage in America also grows on many gardens here in Europe, including two bushes on my garden. Grow your own resources or learn about local resources. I also have Mugwort growing around I can use for tea, freshly collected or dried during winter when it doesn't grow.

I love incense, especially dragon's blood, but let us be honest, we don't have to have the best stuff of the world.

 

[AlfrunGrima]

I love incense, especially dragon's blood, but let us be honest, we don't have to have the best stuff of the world.

I like this last thing you said. I think it is entirely possible to do exellent magic without the best stuff in the world. (I even think that people should train themself how to do that, I think it can provide eye openers)

 

[Morell]

I like this last thing you said. I think it is entirely possible to do exellent magic without the best stuff in the world. (I even think that people should train themself how to do that, I think it can provide eye openers)

Indeed. I like also that quote: "You were born an original, don't die as a copy."

Definitely it can be huge eye opener. I know from crawling across the occult books when putting them on my shopping list. The best ones are rarely the ones usually claimed to be the best by mases. But we are so good in deluding ourselves into believing what others tell us (important for our survival, deeply rooted for good reasons) that we stop seeing and developing our own individuality.

 

[HermesX3]

Depending on personal practice it may or may not impact you. Good eye spotting that article. Too bad humans don't take better care of natural resources. Especially those who claim the moral high ground. if Boswella becomes unavailable or too expensive there's always an option of using another type of incense. Your practice should not be tied so much to OMG I can't do the ritual without this specific incense/knife/robe/colored candle etc. Use what's most appropriate from what's available. For example hoodoo shops sometimes disappear without notice. Not everything has a one on one replacement. But the magic still works. Sometimes maybe not as well as it used to. Sometimes far better. Are they my own subconscious doubts or the missing ingredient?

If we are able to accept the underlying spiritual nature of the universe we are changing according to our will.. If we accept that maybe the "the mechanism" is more something comparable to Zen buddhism then an old mechanical clock. That incense is only a means of cleansing calling or offering to the spirit is alive. I'll thank the trees for their sapp next time.

In the end stay away from fear and uncertainty.

 

[Graycrow]

Frankincense was used in ancient times, very heavily, as a offering to many Dieties. Especially ones in Mesopotamian times and more so to the Temples of Baal specifically. According to writings by Herodotus as much as 30 tons annually. Seems strange to be having such a significant shortage when theories of his worship by our political leaders, here in the USA, are being heavily tossed about. Any connection between the "shortage" and the recent construction work on the "Baal-room" at the Whitehouse? Which does resemble what we believe those temples looked like.. oddly enough. Something to think about