The Magic and Mystery of Incense: A Feng Shui Perspective and Summary of The Big Book of Magical Incense by Sara L. Mastros

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In her comprehensive and engaging book The Big Book of Magical Incense (2021), Sara L. Mastros invites readers into the ancient and aromatic world of incense. Drawing from traditions ranging from Biblical ritual to modern witchcraft, the book serves as both a practical manual and a spiritual guide. It offers recipes, ritual suggestions and personal insights into the magical uses of incense resins, herbs and flowers. While this work is primarily aimed at those exploring magical and mystical practices, its relevance extends deeply into the feng shui tradition, particularly through the lens of environmental psychology, symbolism, and the intentional design of space.

Incense and Intentional Space Design

In feng shui, incense has long played a role in space clearing, energetic alignment and the invocation of particular energies. The burning of resins such as frankincense or herbs like mugwort is used to shift the qi (vital energy) of a place, often with the goal of purification, activation or spiritual connection. In Mastros’ book, incense is described as a form of “distilled sunlight” (frankincense being a resin that literally oozes from trees like golden tears), connecting it poetically to the celestial and divine. She associates frankincense with the upperworld and the full moon, a time of clarity, illumination and divine access.

This cosmological layering is not dissimilar to the feng shui cosmogram, in which different sectors of a home relate to celestial energies and life aspirations. For example, burning mugwort—associated in Mastros’ writing with the middle world, dreams, and psychic protection—may be appropriate in the Knowledge and Self-Cultivation area of the Bagua map, particularly if one is working with dreams, intuition or healing.

A Word of Caution: The Smoke Factor

Although incense holds deep symbolic and ritual importance, especially across both magical and feng shui practices, it is vital to remember that incense smoke is not without health implications. Modern research shows that the burning of incense can produce fine particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – all of which can pose health risks if inhaled frequently or in enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces.

As a feng shui practitioner, it is important to ensure that the intention to purify or elevate energy does not compromise physical wellbeing. Alternatives such as essential oil diffusers, herbal sachets, or water-based sprays (infused with the same botanicals used in incense) may be advisable, especially in bedrooms, small apartments, or for individuals with respiratory sensitivity. If incense is used, it should be done sparingly, with windows open to encourage circulation.

Recipes as Ritual: Aligning Elements with Feng Shui

Mastros offers several practical incense blends that harmonise well with feng shui principles. For example:

Solomonic Incense

  • 3 parts frankincense (solar, kingship, power)

  • 2 parts myrrh (underworld, death, mystery)

  • 1 part cedar wood (stability, grounding)

  • 1 part cedar needles (gentleness, air element)

  • 1 part cinnamon (heat, passion)

  • 1 part rose petals (love, luxury, heart energy)

This blend, when understood through the five elements of feng shui, can be seen as a rich synergy of fire (cinnamon), wood (cedar), earth (resin), metal (frankincense), and water (myrrh). It offers a balanced energetic structure suitable for ceremonial work, meditation spaces, or activating the Fame and Reputation (Li, Fire) area of a home. However, such mixtures are not only recipes – they are rituals in themselves, ideally prepared and used with focused intention.

Basic House Blessings Incense Recipe

• 2 parts resin
• 3 parts mugwort
• 1 part rosemary
• 1 part cedar
• honey to bind

The Spirits of the Plants: Symbolism and Connection

One of the more enchanting aspects of Mastros’ book is her personification of plant spirits. Frankincense is imagined as an old Middle Eastern man in golden robes, mugwort as an old white-haired woman in a rocking chair, and blue lotus as a lion-headed Egyptian holding a lotus blooming from his crown. These archetypal images can help users engage more meaningfully with the botanicals they burn, invoking not just the chemical properties but the symbolic and psychological presence of these plants.

In feng shui, where symbolism is foundational, this approach aligns well with the method of activating a sector not only with appropriate colour, element, or object, but also with the intentional invocation of qualities and archetypes. For instance, the blue lotus, associated with the dark moon, vision, and relaxation, would resonate with the spiritual stillness of the Helpful People and Travel area (Qian), particularly when seeking guidance from ancestors or dreams.

Local and Ethical Sourcing

An important theme in The Big Book of Magical Incense is ethical sourcing. Mastros repeatedly cautions readers to be mindful of where and how their incense materials are harvested. This is particularly relevant for rare or over-harvested species like frankincense, sandalwood, and blue lotus. From a feng shui standpoint, the energy of an item begins with its origin. Ethically sourced materials carry cleaner, more beneficial qi, while overharvested or industrially processed goods may carry the imprint of harm or exploitation.

Practitioners are encouraged to grow or harvest their own herbs when possible, or to source from reputable, sustainable providers. Locally grown plants also carry the qi of the land you live on, and using them helps foster a deeper connection with one’s immediate environment.

INCENSE FOR THE MOON

Full Moon / Upperworld – FRANKINCENSE = Boswellia sacra = olibanum
“Levanah” = “Moon”

• Resin – tree wound healing fluid. Distilled sunlight. Foundation most incense.
• Precious ancient trade good. Hard to grow & harvest. Guarded by dragons. Wealth. Protection.
• Melchior (“King of Light”) gift to baby Jesus. Psychic Vision. Enlightenment. Connect with Divine.
• Anti-anxiety. Aphrodisiac. Mild Entheogen.
• Repels bugs and spiritual parasites. Cleansing. Healing. Purification.
• Spirit = old man, middle eastern, long white beard, gold clothes & crown. Gold box of frankincense.

Crescent Moon / Middle World – MUGWORT (Artemisia vulgaris)
harvested here on the property.

• Called “mugwort” because beer flavourant. “Artemisia” after ancient herbalist; sacred to Artemis
• Slows heart. Calms nerves. Dreaming. Abortifacient. Ease sore feet/legs. Acupuncture moxibustion.
• Wodan’s Nine Herbs Charm –
“Remember, Mugwort, what you revealed, what you established at the mighty proclamation:
‘Una’ you are called, oldest of herbs. You may avail against 3 and against 30; you may avail against
poison and against contagion; you may avail against the loathsome one who travels through the land.”
• Spirit = Old white woman. Big grey hair. Green kirtle. Rocking chair. Moxa cigar.

DARK MOON / Underworld – Blue Lotus (Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea)

• Not technically a lotus – a water-lily. Native to Eastern Africa (“Egyptian Blue Lotus”)
• Aphrodisiac. Divinatory. Dreaming. Visionary. Relaxing. Third Eye. Pain relief. Sedative
• Flowers close at night, going inwards, like the dark moon.
• Sun god Ra born from a blue lotus. Closely associated with reincarnation / resurrection
• Spirit – Lion-headed Egyptian man, holding Was scepter and ankh, lotus blooming from head.

MAGICAL INCENSE SUPPLIES TO KEEP ON HAND

  1. Frankincense, Pine or another Simple Resin: Be careful about sourcing!
    Solar, cleansing, healing, celestial, “churchy” smell, mild mood lifter

  2. Cedar, Sandalwood, or another Aromatic Wood: Be careful about sourcing!
    Earthy, balancing, stability, World Tree, helps it burn evenly

  3. Mugwort or another Artemisia
    Cleansing, healing, trance, spirit flight, psychicism, Witch Queens, underworld

  4. Rosemary or another Salvia
    Clearing, uplifting, focus, memory, love, protective

  5. Cinnamon, Cassia, Cloves, Nutmeg or similar Spice
    Family, warmth, healing, arousal, wealth, trade/marketing

  6. Rose or other Fragrant Flower Petals
    Love, healing, peace, beauty, femme sexuality, sleep

  7. Whole Black Peppercorns: NEVER burn ground pepper.
    Protection, martial force, butch sexuality, malefica, heat

  8. Cedar, Pine, or other Conifer Needles
    World Tree, the Dead, celestial, purification, protection, open psychic senses

  9. Local Goodies
    Local spirits, the Land, caretaking, love. Obviously, it depends on what it is.

  10. Honey
    Sweetness, land, fairies, love, the Dead, prophecy, binding

How to Burn Incense

Sara L. Mastros provides detailed guidance in The Big Book of Magical Incense (2021) on how to burn incense – including loose incense, cones, sticks and cigars. Below is a structured summary of her methods, maintaining a feng shui‑sensitive perspective and noting cautions around smoke inhalation.

1. Burning Loose Incense over Charcoal 

Photo‑style Setup

  • Use a metal or stoneware bowl filled with sand, dirt, rice or salt as a heat sink. Compostable material like sand or dirt is best.
  • Light a proper incense charcoal tablet—not barbecue charcoal — in tongs or a spoon until it glows and is covered with grey ash.
  • Place it in the bowl and add loose incense on the concave surface.

Adjusting Smoke Intensity

  • Add a drop of water for a sudden, intense steam burst.
  • Add a drop of honey for slow, dense smoke—excellent for evocation or focused rituals.
  • For gentler burning, place incense in a tea‑light tin cup over charcoal or use small mica plates for slower smouldering.

Health and Safety

  • Use charcoal only for incense; store unused tablets sealed to prevent staling.
  • Let ashes cool fully before composting. To extinguish burning incense, place the bowl inside another and pour water over.
  • Caution: Incense smoke contains fine particles and VOCs. Always provide ventilation—open windows, air purifiers, or use alternatives like diffusers—to protect respiratory health.

2. Electric Burners & Candle Warmers

Electric Burners

  • Common in Middle Eastern households; produce less smoke by burning at lower temperature. Beneficial in small or enclosed spaces.

Candle Warmers

  • Use a ceramic bowl over a tea light ringed with foil.
  • Warm resin‑heavy mixes cautiously; they may not heat evenly. Clean-up is difficult and residue intense.

3. Cones and Other Forms

Incense Cones

  • Grind incense finely, mix with makko powder (approx. 1 part makko to 3 parts incense), and add water to form dough.
  • Shape into cones, allow to dry several hours until suitable for burning.

Sticks & Cigars

  • Mastros also covers how to prepare and burn sticks and cigars, though she emphasises loose blends and cones.

4. Baths & Oils from Incense

Magical Oils

  • Infuse finely ground incense in a carrier oil (e.g., almond, olive, ghee, even bear grease) using slow heat (such as a small slow cooker in a water bath) over ~6 hours.
  • Add vitamin E to prolong shelf life; store cool and dark. Strain only when using to preserve potency.

Baths

  • Prepare a tea‑bag of herbs (2 Tbsp) for bath or shower rinse. Resins are optional; omitting them is cost‑effective and safer.

Feng Shui Relevance
From a feng shui viewpoint, Mastros’ step-by-step methods illustrate intentional transformation through fire and air, offering a practical guide to ritual space activation. However, the toxicity of smoke underscores the need for balance – feng shui places equal importance on breathability and health. Use incense methodically, ensuring ventilation or using alternatives such as electric burners, diffusers or essential‑oil sprays to maintain integrity of qi without compromising air quality.

Etymology of “Incense”

  • Latin Origin:
    The word incense derives from the Latin verb incendere, meaning “to set on fire” or “to burn.”

    • in = “in” or “upon”

    • candere (root of incendere) = “to glow” or “to shine”

  • Medieval Latin:
    The noun incensum emerged, meaning “something burned” or “perfume exhaled by fire.”

  • Old French and Middle English:
    The word entered Old French as encens, then Middle English as encens or incens, and eventually became “incense” in modern English.

Semantic Evolution
Initially, incense referred literally to the material that was burned to produce fragrance. Over time, the meaning broadened to include:

  • The act of burning aromatic substances, particularly in religious or ceremonial settings.

  • The smoke or fragrance itself, believed to carry prayers or offerings to deities or spirits.

Interestingly, the verb “to incense” (meaning “to enrage”) also exists in English, but comes from a different Latin root (incensare), which is derived metaphorically from the idea of “setting someone ablaze” with anger. Though it sounds the same, it is a separate etymological branch.

Symbolic Relevance in Feng Shui and Ritual
From a feng shui and environmental psychology perspective, the etymology mirrors the function of incense — to transform matter (herbs, woods, resins) through fire, releasing invisible energies or intentions (such as prayer, purification or mood change) into the environment. This aligns with classical feng shui’s focus on the transformation of qi, the life force, through the five elements — in this case, predominantly Fire and Tree/Air.

Final Thoughts: A Sacred Practice, Modernised

The Big Book of Magical Incense (2021) by Sara L. Mastros is not merely a book of recipes, but a poetic and practical guide to working with plant energies. For those practising feng shui, it offers insights into how incense can enhance space beyond aesthetics, grounding the practice in deep ecological and spiritual awareness.

However, this practice must be balanced with modern knowledge about air quality and health. Incense is powerful, but it should be used with discernment. In the twenty-first century, sacred smoke must co-exist with clean air.

As feng shui evolves to meet contemporary challenges, integrating wisdom from various traditions – like Mastros’ blend of folk magic and plant lore – can enrich our toolkit for healing, alignment, and transformation. Whether you choose to use incense, essential oils, or symbolic imagery, the intention remains the same: to make space sacred, balanced and alive.

References

Mastros, S. L. (2021). The Big Book of Magical Incense. Llewellyn Publications.

World Health Organization. (2020). Household air pollution and health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/household-air-pollution-and-health

EPA. (2021). Indoor Air Quality: Burning Candles and Incense. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/burning-candles-and-incense

Table of Contents

The Big Book of Magical Incense
Sara L. Mastros (2021)

Part One: Fundamentals

  • How to Use This Book

  • The Science of Scent

  • A Very Brief History of Incense in the West

  • How to Prepare & Use Loose Incense

  • How to Burn Loose Incense

  • Making Oils from Loose Incense

  • Making Baths from Incense

  • Making & Using Other Forms of Incense

    • Cones

    • Sticks

    • Cigars

Part Two: Ingredients

  • How to Use This Directory of Ingredients

  • Resins

  • Aromatic Woods

  • Herbs

  • Flowers

  • Spices, Seeds, Berries & Other Fruits

  • Drugs

  • Non-Plant Materials

Part Three: Recipes

  • Incense to Set a Scene

  • Basic Offering Incenses

  • For the Worlds

  • For the Elements

  • For the Planets

  • For the Ancestors

  • Offerings for Named Spirits

  • Spellwork with Incense

    • Divination & Trance

    • Cleansing & Protection

    • Glamour, Love & Emotional Healing

    • Luck & Success

    • Money & Prosperity

    • Malefic Spells

Interpreting Ancient Recipes

  • The Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage

  • Sefer Raziel, Book Three

  • Codex Sangallensis 761

  • Eighth Book of Moses

  • Kyphi

  • Ketoret

  • Notes

  • Bibliography

  • Index
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