Beltane Fire Incense

What You'll Need

Fresh herbs will likely be too young to harvest right now, which is why it's a good idea to keep a supply on hand from the previous year. However, if you do have a fresh plant you wish to dry out, you can do this by placing it on a tray in your oven at low heat for an hour or two. If you have a home dehydrator, these work just as well.

This recipe is for loose incense, but you can adapt it for stick or cone recipes. If you haven't read up on Incense 101, you should do that before beginning. As you mix and blend your incense, focus on the goal of your work.

You’ll need:

• 2 parts Mugwort
• 1 part dried daffodil petals
• 1 part Basil
• 1 part Hawthorn berries
• 1 part Patchouli
• 1 part Cinnamon
• 1/2 part Dragon's Blood resin

Add your ingredients to your mixing bowl one at a time. Measure carefully, and if the leaves or blossoms need to be crushed, use your mortar and pestle to do so. 

Mixing Your Magic

As you blend the herbs together, state your intent. You may find it helpful to charge your incense with an incantation, such as:

Fire blend and fire light,
I celebrate Beltane this warm spring night.
This is the time of most fertile earth,
the greening of the land, and new rebirth.
Fire and passion and labor's toil,
life grows anew out of the soil.
By Beltane's flames, bring fertility to me,
As I will, so it shall be.

Store your incense in a tightly sealed jar. Make sure you label it with its intent and name, as well as the date you created it. Use within three months, so that it remains charged and fresh.