Guides for Beginner Witches: Incense Cleansing, Banishing and Warding
Incense is a common tool and ingredient in a witch’s arsenal - commonly used for spellwork, meditation and its relaxing properties. These good smelling sticks of fragrance are also often used in practices for cleansing spaces, warding off negative energies, banishing negative forces and even yes breaking and weakening curses. Let us cover that today!
Incense Cleansing
Incense is commonly used for cleansing purposes as it is a type of smoke cleansing. There are a few different methods for this. For cleansing one’s space, lighting a stick of incense and carefully walking a room with it is probably the most common (please ensure you are using something to catch the ashes). Lighting some incense near an open window and letting it waft through a room or space is the most hands off method, though be sure to keep an eye on it.
For cleansing oneself before or after spellwork place some lit incense, either stick or cone form, upon a table or surface and carefully waft the smoke towards you. Run your hands through the smoke and up your arms. If you have the tool, a hanging incense burner pendant can be a wonderful alternative for cleansing oneself or cleansing another - carefully swing it as it is directed (most come with instructions) around your immediate area or around the other person you are cleansing.
For cleansing one’s tools, crystals and other objects light some incense and run the items through the smoke very similarly to how you would run your hands through it for self cleansing. Be thorough with the object to ensure it is fully cleansed, this should take a few minutes.
Incenses commonly used for cleansing: Benzoin, Citronella, Lavender, Pine, Cedar/Cedarwood, Copal, Dragon’s Blood, Eucalyptus, Jasmine, Lemon, Myrrh, Thyme, Rosemary
Incense Banishing
Banishing is a bit different than cleansing, while cleansing is removing mild negative energies or unwanted energies to help maintain purity of items, spaces and tools - banishing is the aggressive assertive act of forcefully removing and pushing out unwanted energies, entities and forces. This would include banishing out the baneful magic of others, such as hexes and curses, from yourself, others or objects.
Incense banishing is similar to the process of cleansing though it is much more assertive - when banishing unwanted forces, arm yourself with your incense, stick form or swinging pendulum tool is best. If using a stick for cleansing place it into a jar or container with salt and if possible charcoal - both strong banishing ingredients. Walk the space you are banishing and forcefully and strongly state “I banish you” in a chanting manner but very firmly, while you ensure the smoke of your incense spreads around thoroughly.
If banishing negativity or possible baneful magic from yourself or another, like cleansing use the smoke to ‘bathe’ yourself or the other. While you do this state firmly as many times as you want “I banish you from me/them, I send you away, I push you away and break your ties. I banish thee, I banish thee” or any other chant you feel comfortable doing. Continue this for several minutes preferably.
Incenses commonly used for banishing: Myrrh, Pine, Sage, Sagebrush, Basil, Citronella, Clove, Dragon’s Blood, Fern, Frankincense, Juniper, Mint, Vetivert, Peppermint, Sandalwood, Vervain, Yarrow
Incense Warding
Warding is less assertive than banishment and it is more so putting up barriers and protections to prevent negativity from entering your space or home in the first place. Warding should be done regularly every month or so - maintaining your wards is like maintaining a fence to keep away annoying unwanted neighbors.
For warding, it is a bit more hands off when it comes to incense. You can repeat the walk around method like in cleansing. Though a popular way to ward using incense is to fill a bowl with salt, dried sage and dried rosemary, mix well. Stick your incense stick at an angle to so it doesn’t catch any herbs on fire but so its ashes still fall into the bowl. Light your incense and let it burn down to the stick - warding your space. Repeat this as necessary. This is also a little ‘recipe’ for some warding salts if you wish to stir in the ashes and bottle them.
Incenses commonly used for warding: Citronella, Lavender, Sage, Benzoin, Frankincense, Myrrh, Damar, Rosemary, Ylang Ylang, Peppermint
Incense Safety
Please use incense responsibly! Incense is still using fire and heat, make sure you have an ash catcher or a fireproof dish to catch the ashes and embers in. Never leave incense burning in your home without supervision, do not leave your home unoccupied with lit incense. Keep it away from anything flammable such as fabrics and curtains.
Do not burn incense in rooms with small mammals or birds - it can cause them breathing distress and can cause them serious health concerns! When burning incense around cats or dogs, keep it in a ventilated area with open windows and airflow and do not burn it for too long. If you are using it around cats or dogs, research to ensure the type of incense you are using does not upset or cause negative effects to animals. If your cat or dog has a respiratory issue such as asthma do NOT burn incense around them.
When burning incense for self cleansing or cleansing another, keep your hair tied back. Do not let your hair fall onto the incense at risk of it catching fire or being singed. Do not wear long flowing sleeves or scarves with using incense in this manner.
When disposing of incense, ensure to clean up the ashes if you are outside, do not leave your trash or sticks behind. Ensure your incense has either been thoroughly snuffed out or burned out before disposing. Do not throw away still smoking incense.
For those in apartments or dorms, check your rules and leases - many apartments do not allow the burning of incense. Do not risk losing your deposit or getting in trouble - there are other ways to cleanse, banish and ward without smoke.
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