Ketoret
[Qetoret]* Incense
After much research and
work in locating both a historically accurate formula and working out
the correct ingredients, our founder Harold created a formula for ketoret incense as it was
used in the Tabernacle and subsequently in the Temple in
Jerusalem. The formula is longer than the one mentioned in the Hebrew
Bible and is considered to be complete. It comes from the Talmud, the
oral tradition that began while the Temple still stood and that was
committed to writing during the Dark Ages, centuries later. The
ingredients consist of balsam (sometimes referred to as stacte in these
descriptions), onycha, galbanum, frankincense, myrrh, cassia,
spikenard, saffron, costus root, "aromatic bark" (we use cedar, given
its historical connection to the Temple), and cinnamon. The saffron and the galbanum make this a very
expensive incense today. In the Temple, ketoret was considered a
completely acceptable substitute for blood sacrifice. The incense
sacrifice was made twice a day, in the morning and in the afternoon,
and as you can see, most of the ingredients are solar and/or of Fire,
so cosider it for all sorts of Sun or Fire magic. It is also very fine
as an aid to meditation, prayer, or various sorts of Western "white"
magic. The one prohibition the Hebrew Bible mentions is that it not be
burned just for pleasure. This has concerned some people, who as a
result fear buying it or using it. Here are the verses concerning the
issue: Exodus 30:37-38: You are not to make for your own use any
incense like it, with the same composition of ingredients; you are to
treat it as holy for Adonai. Whoever makes up any like it to use as a
perfume is to be cut off from his people." To me, this is clearly
stating that: this incense is not to be used for the sake of its smell
(as a perfume), as an air freshener, or to worship other gods. It's to
be used to honor YHVH. That might be through using it for spiritual
meditation, for angel magic, for prayer and study of sacred texts, and
so forth. In short, it does not say it should not be made
and/or used. It says neither the actual recipe nor imitations should be
made/used for mundane purposes; doing that would detract from the honor
due to YHVH that it symbolizes and result in the individual involved in
using it that way being cut off from their people.
This incense is
sticky and will become more so over time. It needs charcoal to burn.
You will see fibers in this incense; these are bits of saffron and
cedar after it is pounded in a granite mortar and pestle. *Neither "ketoret" nor "qetoret" is more correct. They represent
different transliteration systems. The spelling with the "k" is more
modern. The "q" spelling tends to be Victorian. Same with Kabbalah and
Qabalah.
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Ketoret
/ Qetoret Incense
1 oz. in tin $21.00
Uses
in Witchcraft & Magic:
Mage Work
Meditation
Prayer
Substitute for Blood Sacrifice
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2000-2024 Alchemy Works; No reproduction without permission
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