About Pneuma

What is incense? Why do we burn incense? And why loose incense?

Incense typically consists of herbs, woods and/or resins. People have used incense for as far as we can look back into history. Our ancestors burned incense for medicinal purposes, for example to treat certain physical illnesses or disinfect living spaces. They used it for aesthetic reasons, to mask odors or smell nice (they would hang their clothes above the fragrant smoke, for instance). They also used incense for spiritual purposes, such as connecting with the divine and the energies of the spiritual realms. 

Burning incense was sacred. Smoke, they believed, lifted the veil between the two worlds: it carried their prayers and messages to the heavens and vice-versa. It enabled people to connect with nature and with the energies of the plants in the incense. By building such relationships with different aspects of the natural world, some of our ancestors became skilled healers. Incense was one of the many tools they used to restore balance either within themselves or in others who needed it.

There are many forms of incense: sticks, cones, powder, etc., each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Given its very long history in many cultures and spiritual practices, loose incense comes closest to the ancient ways. It does not have to contain any binding agents or chemicals that are unavoidable in mass-production. Because of that, the fragrance of loose incense is raw, more intense and pure. It also offers quite a lot of freedom when it comes to the ingredients that can be combined, depending on needs and intentions.

What is Pneuma?

Pneuma is an online store that offers loose incense and focuses on the spiritual dimension of its use. It started with a growing curiosity for the ancient practice of incense burning and the love for reviving the plant combinations that our ancestors worked with in different parts of the world.

The research and the heart put into the Pneuma incense blends are dedicated to restoring people's relationship with nature. There is much to learn from this communion that our ancestors cherished, deeply rooted into the idea of oneness. The universe is recycling itself into different forms of experience and for this reason alone, everything around us is worthy of respect and can teach us something. Living from this space can greatly enrich our human journey.

What's special about Pneuma?

All incense mixes listed on this website are based on historical recipes. Deep gratitude to the researchers who spend countless hours digging through archives, investigating archeological finds, traveling to distant places to interview people and bringing to light the history of incense.

Making incense is a wonderful process. It is based on building a relationship with the plants. It is extremely powerful and humbling to recognize that we are working with the plants and that they bring their essence to assist us in what we wish to achieve. Like any relationship, it involves getting to know the other and mutual respect. All incenses are made with the core intention to assist you in your process.

One of the main reasons for using historical recipes is that by burning incense, we tap not only into the essence of the plants but also into the traditions of the civilizations that have utilized the respective plants for those specific purposes for hundreds or thousands of years. This includes getting to know their history (with good and bad) and ontologies. Looking into their values, myths, customs, etc. cultivates respect and honor in the growing relationship. All Pneuma incenses have a description that shares key aspects about the ingredients and their traditional use, so that you, in turn, have the means to an empowered conscious use of the incense.

A final note on ingredients. Our ancestors sometimes used substances of animal origin in their incense (it’s no secret that they even sacrificed animals and hunted some species to extinction). Whenever a historical incense mix requires such an ingredient, a plant substitute is used. Threatened species are also excluded. All Pneuma incenses contain only natural ingredients: resins, woods and herbs.

Thank you for reading this. I hope you’ll find something in the shop that speaks to you and will help you in your process.