Frankincense prices are going to be going up. Stock up now.
Also, if you live in areas where it will grow, consider planting some trees now. They're in danger of being lost due to over-harvesting and global climate changes, and just bad farming techniques. I don't think my area is warm enough year round to support them, but I'm going to try to raise some here. Maybe I can build them a shelter, or keep them in a greenhouse in the winter or something. Maybe global warming will change the climate enough to make it a viable crop around here, who knows.
Head for the Red: The ongoing adventures and insights of a magician's attempts to accomplish the Great Work.
This is somewhat of a problem, given how widely used it is in the Art. Since frankincense can stand in for anything, what can stand in for frankincense? Copal?
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you care about Boswellia trees makes me feel confident that I was right when I first decided you were okay.
ReplyDeleteThinking of ordering some seeds, but first i need to know more about the Boswellia species itself.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about copol as a universal substitute, but I do know I don't want to have to deal with that. I love me my frankincense, and I don't wantt o have to change just because it's being farmed badly.
ReplyDeleteThe Boswellia species is a tough tree that can grow right out of rock itself, and people don't even understand how it does that yet. From seeds, it can take anywhere from four to 10 years before a tree is ready to start harvesting.
They do best in the middle-eastern climates. I won't be able to grow them here in Baltimore outside a greenhouse because it gets too cold in the winters.
If global warming keeps improving my local climate, I might be able to start a Frankincense farm by the year 2032. If, on the other hand, it just keeps making summers hotter and winters colder, I'm fucked. Boswellia needs more steady temperate weather than I get here.
That's what I've been able to gather on the subject so far. I don't know how big the trees can get, but with an 8-10 year average lead time on being able to start harvesting, and the saplings being so sensitive to the cold here, I don't have a lot of confidence that I'll be able to set up my own reliable source of frankincense for a while.
I've used gold copal and it works really good, especially with KOF. You might want to try it out.
ReplyDeleteAccording to this article: http://www.ehow.com/list_7397352_boswellia-sacra-plants.html; if you moved to Arizona or West Texas you might have more luck growing the trees there.
ReplyDeleteWell, at least there is a small farm in the states, otherwise the Roman Catholic/Orthodox/Anglican Church might want to get into the resin business, by starting frankincense monestaries in Arizona, New Mexico, and other arid states.
ReplyDeletePlus, I've seen mages use way too much of this at a time. You don't have to smog-out your temple room. One tear at a time is sufficient for a personal temple. Once the tear is burnt up and you still need more, just add one more. Don't put a spoonful on the charcoal; its too much for a 12' by 12' room anyhow.
ReplyDeleteAs an interested magician, I have to say, if anyone is seriously considering doing this, see if you can seek out Olibanum seeds. Olibanum is just a particular species of the Frankincense family, and has a wider range of magical uses.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to do this in Florida, where I have several people who will let me, erhm, landscape for them, along with some Dragon's Blood trees, which require a similar climate.
Email me if you're interested, I have a few reputable sources I can call up.
I thought olibanum was the same thing
ReplyDeleteThis link explains it better than I can, but it basically boils down to frankincense being an entire family of trees, and olibanum being one specific species in that family.
ReplyDeleteThe undertones (when you can actually find unadulterated olibanum) tend to be more orange-y than lemon-lime-y, which is a trademark of other species in the family (and most generic frankincense is a mixture from a bunch of trees, so you get what you get).
It's a subtle difference, but it's noticeable. Since some magical formulas specifically call for olibanum, I figure go with that and get the best of both worlds, since olibanum subs in for frankincense, well... because it is frankincense.
Here is a useful description of each frankincense, copal, and myrrh, and their properties: http://www.anahatabalance.com/resins.html
ReplyDeleteI had just read about this also. I was thinking of trying to mostly use copal for Mass and the Office, both to be "local" (same continent?) and not to contribute so much to the scarcity.
ReplyDelete