Many students of Kundalini Yoga will enjoy using incense alongside their meditation practices to help to enhance the experience and allow a deeper, more profound meditation. Depending on the goals of your meditation, some scents will be more appropriate than others.
In this guide we will explore four of the best incense aromas to use alongside meditation in order to help open the mind and allow a deeper, more effective meditation.
Rue
Known as the “Queen of the Herbs”, rue is a beautiful evergreen shrub that grows predominantly in the Mediterranean region. It has been believed for centuries to have protective powers, being used to banish negative energies and remove hexes historically.
When used around the home, rue acts as a sedative, calming nerves and helping to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. The beautiful fragrance is the perfect meditation aid, blocking negativity and allowing the mind to open without fear or threat. This allows us to meditate more deeply, opening up unknown chambers of the inner self.
Sandalwood
The beautifully pungent sandalwood is the key to unlocking the chakras, and is used abundantly in Hinduism and Buddhism for this property. Found predominantly around Australia and the Indian sub-continent, it promotes mindfulness and is also used for cleansing and purifying the air in the home.
When used during meditation, sandalwood promotes inner peace, allowing positive feelings to flow throughout the body, making space for self-love and understanding. This enables a deeply spiritual connection between the body and the spirit, allowing the energy to flow freely, targeting blocked chakras and promoting balance and serenity.
Rosemary
If you’re looking to boost your concentration or memory, look no further than rosemary incense. This prolific herb isn’t just used to add to soups and stews, its sumptuous scent is the perfect meditation aid. Rosemary allows the brain to focus, banishing distractions and negative energy. In doing so, it enables us to meditate more deeply and thoroughly.
Try using rosemary incense if you suffer with stress or anxiety related headaches, as it works in two ways here, acting as a pain relief for the headache while also helping to reduce feelings of stress and promoting effective sleep habits. It has even been proven to help to reduce the degenerative effects of Alzheimer’s disease, protecting memories for longer.
Musk
Historically, musk came from the abdomen of the male deer, but don’t worry, that’s not where modern musk comes from. These days it is a mix of naturally occurring incense and spices, created to form this deep, husky perfume. One of its main benefits is that it promotes positive energy, banishing negativity.
When used during meditation, musk allows the user to get deeper into their mind, opening themselves up to the universe and allowing the energy to flow freely through the interface. Throughout the whole process, it keeps us protected from negative energy, and leaves positivity in its place.
The Takeaway
Burning incense alongside meditation can help to elevate the experience, making the meditation deeper and more profound. Try bringing one of these four beautiful scents to your next practice.
