{"id":9874,"date":"2021-04-15T12:28:06","date_gmt":"2021-04-15T16:28:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/starlight\/?p=9874"},"modified":"2021-04-15T12:28:06","modified_gmt":"2021-04-15T16:28:06","slug":"the-incense-bowl-the-easiest-way-to-burn-herbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/starlight\/2021\/04\/the-incense-bowl-the-easiest-way-to-burn-herbs\/","title":{"rendered":"The Incense Bowl: The Easiest Way to Burn Herbs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

When I first started burning incense as a teenager, I used incense sticks, cones, and matches.\u00a0 I liked them alright, but what I really wanted was a pure experience with a plant.<\/p>\n

Enter the incense bowl.<\/p>\n

\"Incense<\/p>\n

The incense bowl is a safe way to burn dried plants.\u00a0 It eliminates some of the need to buy incense, and it keeps artificial fragrances at bay.\u00a0\u00a0Burning herbs this way ensures you\u2019re getting the real thing with no fillers or fragrances.\u00a0 It\u2019s my favorite way to burn incense.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t see this method espoused very often.\u00a0 It has become a foundational part of my air magic, so I wanted to share my techniques with you.<\/p>\n

1. Choose a Bowl<\/h3>\n

I use a metal bowl for burning dried herbs, but a ceramic one could be used as well.\u00a0 Basically, you want to avoid anything that can be damaged by fire, such as glass or plastic.<\/p>\n

I found this gorgeous antique metal bowl (below) in a thrift store for a dollar or two, and it works perfectly.\u00a0It has a metal base so the bottom of the bowl isn\u2019t touching the table or anything that could be damaged. If your bowl doesn\u2019t have a base, use a coaster or a heat-safe mat beneath the bowl.<\/p>\n

Something to consider\u2013I like the scorch marks that the burning plant matter leaves in the incense bowl, but if you prefer a cleaner-looking bowl, use a layer of sand in the bottom to absorb the heat.\u00a0 Change out the sand whenever it gets too dusty.<\/p>\n

\"incense<\/p>\n

2. Choose a Dried Herb<\/h3>\n

Which herb would be best for your magical purposes?\u00a0 It\u2019s time to get out your correspondence book or look it up online.\u00a0 My newest book, Air Magic<\/a>, lists the correspondences of all kinds of herbs as well as essential oils and resins.<\/p>\n

Some of my favorite herbs to use with the incense bowl are lavender, mint, rosemary, garden sage, parsley, and catnip.\u00a0 I also wild harvest a few herbs\u2013with respect, and leaving enough for wildlife, of course.\u00a0 Even something as common as dandelion leaves can produce an interesting herbal aroma.<\/p>\n

A note of caution\u2013don\u2019t burn anything poisonous.\u00a0 For example, foxglove is a beautiful and witchy plant<\/a>, but it\u2019s toxic.\u00a0 Burning it might cause breathing issues and extreme harm to you, your housemates, and your pets.\u00a0 Look up the herb online and do your best to identify it.\u00a0 When in doubt, don\u2019t burn it.<\/p>\n