Most of us that are involved in a magickal and spiritual path make a serious effort in our practice to learn and become proficient in at least one form of divination. While using tools like tarot, runes and pendulums are some of the most common, there are some interesting forms that are lesser known that, once discovered by someone, can become quickly part of someone’s magickal practice.
One of these forms is one that many of us could utilize in every ritual or even on a daily basis through a simple act that many of use do regularly. It’s called Libanomancy, also sometimes called livanomancy, livanomancy, or knissomancy, the act of divination through the observation and interpretation of incense smoke. The signs of messages and information are drawn off of the pops, flares, crackling sounds and the various patterns found within the rising smoke. Manuals detailing the signs and their meanings and well and the methods employed to do this form of divination date back to about 2,000 -1,600 BC and originated from Mesopotamia eventually traveling to Egypt and Europe.
In one of these original transcripts giving such information, “Three Collated Libanomancy Texts” (which was translated by Irving L. Finkel in 1983-1984) lists some of these recommended ways to read the incense.
- If when you sprinkle the incense, its flame burns smokily, your army will defeat an enemy.
- If when you sprinkle the incense, it stops short, and afterwards its flame burns smokily, an enemy will defeat your army.
- If when you sprinkle the incense, the smoke goes to the right and does not go to its left, you will prevail over your adversary.
- If when you sprinkle the incense, the smoke goes to its left and does not go to its right, your adversary will prevail over you.
- If when you sprinkle the incense, the smoke goes to the east and does not go towards the crotch of the diviner, downfall for your adversary.
- If when you sprinkle the incense, the smoke goes towards the crotch of the diviner and does not go to the east, your adversary will prevail over you.
- If when you sprinkle the incense, the smoke goes equally in all directions: equal weapons.
- If when you sprinkle the incense, the smoke clusters: success: the man will enjoy profit wherever he goes.
- If the top of the incense smoke is fragmented: there will be financial loss and loss of cattle in the man’s estate. (Next line 9a too damaged for translation)
- If the top of the incense smoke is cleft (in two): madness.
- If the top of the incense smoke is cut off: the man will experience hard times…
- If the top the incense smoke (looks) like the brickbasket of Šamaš: there will be di’u disease in the man’s household.
- If the top of the incense smoke gathers like a date-palm and is thin (down) at its base: hardship will seize the man.
- If the incense smoke after a while is constricted: hard times will befall the man.
- If the incense smoke after a while pushes through and gets out: the man will pull through hard times.
- If the incense smoke pushes through to the east and gets out: the man will pull through hard times.
While many of these specific translations might not pertain to us today (I’m sure many of us aren’t too worried about whether our armies are going to defeat an enemy, we can certainly modify these meanings, taking their essence, and rewording and reworking them to make them more relevant.
The best kinds of incense to use for this sort of divination is loose incense that is cast on burning coals. Using incense that includes seeds, especially hemp, fennel and coriander seeds, and salt peter, also known as Vesta Powder, allows for more than just divination based on the smoke itself but allows for the pops and flames of flame to be interpreted as well. When you use cone or stick incense you can always work with any changes in burn patterns, if the incense goes out suddenly etc. When using loose incense that uses just herbs you may occasionally get some pops or flares but you can instead utilize the patters in the smoke as well as any images that you may see in the pile of herbs as they burn on the coals utilizing the same techniques often used in water, fire or mirror scrying.
If you enjoy creating your own incense you can pick herbs and seeds that might either pertain to the specific type of question that you have or one designed specifically for divination. Take a few moments to focus on your question or questions while the coals warm, asking for the Spirits, Guides and Gods you work with to guide your divination. Then when you’re ready toss a good amount of incense on the coals. You want to be sure to use enough to allow it to burn for a few minutes to give you time to divine from it; a small pinch will not be enough for this, and because of that it is advisable to work in a well ventilated area but being careful not to be working right by a window or outdoors since the wind can play a factor.
Some interpretations used today include:
- One pop for “yes”.
- Two quick pops together for “no”.
- Silence (no pops if you have incense with seeds that should pop) for “answer unclear”.
- If the smoke quickly moves away from you it can indicate either a negative outcome or things moving away from you.
- If the smoke quickly moves toward you it can indicate either a positive outcome or things moving toward you.
- If the incense goes out before it should it can indicate that now is not the time to ask this question.
- Look for shapes in the smoke and interpret them much like in tea leaf reading.
Try using this method of divination at your next Esbat or Sabbat rituals. It’s a simple method that you can customize and personalize to your own needs, working with your chosen Gods and Spirits, and making part of your personal tradition no matter what your spiritual practice is.
A splendid idea and a great source of information on the technique itself, Rowan. I have just finished reading from pipe smoke, and even though I wouldn’t agree with strict correspondences that you have listed, I became inspired to try with incense as well.
Thanks for the idea 🙂
Is there a way to find out the significance (if any) of this: Hint of brown mixed with gray….sometimes the smoke goes straight up and other times it goes straight out in twin streams… not really thick either
Straight up usually means your work is happening without any conflicts and will be successful. If it splits off into two different streams it means “madness”…typically chaos around your work.
The color of the smoke isn’t usually taken into account with libanomancy because different herbs and resins produce different amounts of soot which can effect the color of the smoke. If you personally feel it’s telling you something then by all means dig into that future and find some answers that make sense for you.
I have a question. This page has been very helpful, however I was wondering about somethin that has happened on three seperate occasions in my life. I lit an incense and the smoke travels downwards, flowing like a waterfall over the edge of the table and to the floor. It was very odd each time and I’m just curious to know if there is any particular reason. Thanks
That’s a great question, Alyssa! I have noticed this happen as well from time to time and I see it as the blessings or energy of whatever magical work you’re doing involving the incense is being sent to you right away, that you’re getting your wish easily.
Hi Jess, I had burned a long thin incense the regular incense and it had curl into two perfect circle I had stuck it in a glass candle jar while burning. I would like to know if it mean anything if so what.
Thanks in advance
My son sees things that are not there he no longer sleeps without his light on, I’ve cleansed the house and now burn a stick of sage incense in his room the ones through the house burn like a short straight stream then to a whirling cluster at the top, the one in my sons room burns with a very long straight line then a large cloud like mass at the top then changes to smoke rings from the burning end then back to the long line with the large mass any ideas as I’d like to get the visitor problem sorted please.
I am new at the divination with incense smoke. I use incense cones. Like now I’m on my back deck and, I’m enjoying the full moon. I have my cobalt incense burning. I’m on my 2nd one however, there is not a breeze at all. The smoke keeps traveling down and goes straight to me in my face. Then it will travel straight up, then it will go straight up and split into two streams. I’m not asking any questions. Just watching the smoke and the flame on my candle burning also. My candle flame goes straight then kind of dance towards the northeast then to me. Then it will go in all directions. I have studied paganism for 17 years and just started my year and a day class. We haven’t started on these things yet. However, I know somewhat about these things. Like now the smoke came straight in my face but, broke off into 2 different streams before coming in my face. Thank you for your insight on this question. Blessed be
Hi, I have a question as well. I lit my insence and at first it burned straight up, but I noticed as I moved around it it immediately went the opposite direction of where I was standing. At first I thought it was because my movement might have caused a draft, but as I stood there it stayed in the same place and didn’t go back to being straight up. I’ve heard of smoke following people but what does it mean when it moves away from you??
Hi Sara,
It kind of depends on what the incense was, why it was being burned, and why the magick was that you were doing. The smoke can follow you and signal that the spirits are follow you and protecting you but if moves away from you, again depending on the work, it can signal that the spirits are going off on your behalf to do the work you’ve petitioned for. It can also mean a few other things but, again, more details would be helpful. 🙂
I just returned from an Ayahuasca ceremony and burned an incense stick in my bedroom while I meditated in another room. When I can back just a few minutes later it was gone. I looked all over the ground thinking it somehow fell out of the dish but realized it had burned down in what seemed like half the time they usually do. What could it suggest or be interpreted as when it burns through quickly. It was like it was burned completely on purpose before I got back into the room.
Thank you for your insight and I look forward to your response!
Hi Jess I was wondering what it means if when burning a incense the smoke goes straight up for a good 5 to 6 feet then dissipates but on a loop of it will become a cone going up will little waves 3 feet up every 5 minutes or so it will switch back and forth between the two would be cool to find out what I means
Merry meet and bright greetings,
So I was in a new space that I am soon moving into and was burning an incense, but it started splitting as it was burning leaving what looked like hair. This is the first time this has ever happened to me in my years with incense. Could you please help me figure out what this means???
What does it mean when a smoke shows a tornado getting bigger straight up..??
This might sound a bit like a silly answer, but what does a tornado make you think or feel? How does the idea of a tornado resonate for you when connected to whatever you were burning the incense for? This is all about the interpretation of symbols…when you see a symbol in the smoke, what does that symbol mean to you and how does it speak to your work at the time?