The Scent of Worship
altar/dedicational/ritual incense of hekate
You will require: ¼ cup of each of the following ingredients and approximately half a cup of the wood (should there be any mentioned) We must remember that wood is actually sacred to Hekate and that during certain festivals held in her honour it is actually regarded as disrespectful to Hekate. The following is based from an old recipe passed down through my family and I share it with you only to enhance and bless your own rites as they have served in the past, in honour of Hekate. Please use them with revere and only in veneration only to our Dark Mother, Hekate- Queen of the 'Y' Crossroads.
Made: On the night of the Dark Moon.
To make the paste for these incenses: Gum mastic is used because it is sacred to Hekate, which stems back to Ancient Greece, Hekate’s though place of origin. Worship, thanks and blessings.
You will need a tablespoon or two of the powdered gum. Use a sterilized clean glass or crystal bowl (never metal) with 1 cup of warm water (not hot). Sprinkle the powder over the top of the water and whisk until the gum is totally dissolved, skimming off any foam that develops. It should only take a few minutes. Leave, and allow the gum to absorb the water until it forms into a gelatinous paste. Cover the bowl with a damp cheesecloth covering and allow the thickening process to complete, a couple of hours. You may mix in more gum or water to adjust the consistency to your preference.
Poppy Seeds
Cardamon Pods
Lavender Flowers
Whole Almonds
3 tablespoons of Honey
1 tablespoon of Pomegranate Juice
4 drops of Black Musk/Dark Musk
6 drops of Poppy
Mastic Gum
2 tablespoons of Red Wine
Pinch of Dirt from the Crossroads
Roughly grind all the ingredients in order leaving out the oils, honey, wine, pomegranate juice. You do not want a fine powder nor do you want one that is not too bulky (should be about the consistency of rock salt or a little finer) that it may cause the resin itself to crumble. Add the mixture to the prepared gum mixture gradually and mixing well so that the herbal mixture is coated copiously. Add the honey, wine and juice before the oils as you add these last and to the suitability of your own senses, too much may be over-powering to some people, however, you want a thick, full bouquet of scent where Hekate is concerned as she is not a soft Goddess and likes the hefty perfume of her sacred herbs, flowers, spices and beverages. If you do not consider the mixture thick enough, gradually add more powder, a little at a time. You have to remember that it has to be moist enough so that you can roll into balls or small pellets without it sticking to your hands. If it comes off easily, then the mixture is thick enough and will harden upon setting. Your pellets or balls should be large enough to cover a charcoal block, roughly the same size as a large pearl or 10 cent piece.
Place pellets on wax paper to dry, enclose the whole board holding the pellets inside a large paper bag, and close the end of the bag. Turn pellets twice a day to aid in drying them evenly. Once they are dry enough so they feel relatively solid in the palm of your hand, store them in a sealed unglazed ceramic or glass jar but in one layer only for at least 48 hours. The longer you can leave them however they will develop a more refined fragrance. Most pellets containing honey will stick so that is why the single layer must be used. Only use small jars or containers which allow the single layer to fit nicely without having to use a ton of small jars
NOTE: Do not burn these on the actual charcoal block as no resin/incense pellet should be because it burns the actual incense and not gently allow it to heat, giving off maximum scent. Gently heating can be done in a few ways. By burying the charcoal approximately ½ inch under ash and sprinkle or place your incense on the mound of the ash. Use tin foil or copper cup which sits over the top of the charcoal with a flat base where the incense may sit without spilling.
Use alcohol to clean your utensils and bowls.
[photos available soon]
