http://bluewindbreaker.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] bluewindbreaker.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2007-03-05 10:14 am

DAMM - Monday 1st Period (3/5/2007) - Get Incensed!

As the students arrived today, they will notice there's something a little different about the classroom. There's a slight haze and a heavy (hopefully not unpleasant) sent in the air.

Scattered about the room are a variety of different incense burnders, some of which are actively giving off the aforementioned haze and smell.

Anybody or anything that spends any amount of time in the room today? Will probably smell like incense for a while unless extreme measures are taken.

"Smoke and sent have been used since time in memorial for spiritual purposes. Cleansing, carrying prayers up to heaven or into the spirit plane, or even to repel evil. Incense made from materials such as citronella can repel mosquitoes and other aggravating, distracting or pestilential insects. This use has been deployed in concert with religious uses by Zen Buddhists who claim that the incense that is part of their meditative practice is designed to keep bothersome insects from distracting the practitioner." Byron explained producing a large platter with an assortment of incenses on it. "Stick incense, coil incense, cone incense, loose powder, smudge sticks, frankincense and murr to name a few.

And don't even get me started on scented candles.

Incense composition requires one to be rather precise in the case of direct burning incense since it must be carefully proportioned and blended such that it has ability to slowly and evenly burn itself in its entirety.

While indirect burning incense consists mainly of fragrant materials and need not adhere to any specific proportion, recipes and mixes for all direct burning incense must include and balance two things: fragrant materials and a combustible base."

Instructions and materials for making incense are passed out. A table off to the side provides a dizzying (if you're not already dizzy from the smell) number of ingredients. (Including agarwood.)

"You may follow that recipe to the letter or use it simply as a guide. In order obtain the desired combustion qualities, attention has to be paid to certain proportions in direct burning incense mixtures:

Firstly, oil content: Resinous materials such as Myrrh and Frankincense must not exceed the amount of dry materials in the mixture to such a degree that the incense will not smolder and burn. The higher the oil content relative to the dry mass, the less likely the mixture is to burn effectively.

Secondly, oxidizer quantity: The amount of chemical oxidizer in gum bound incense must be carefully proportioned. Too little, and the incense will not ignite, too much, and the incense will burn too quickly and not produce fragrant smoke.

Thirdly, mixture density: Incense mixture made with natural binders must not be combined with too much water in mixing, or over-compressed while being formed. This either results in uneven air distribution or undesirable density in the mixture, which causes the incense to burn unevenly, too slowly, or too quickly.

The manner with which you burn or heat your incense is entirely up to you. Something more ceremonial, special made and consecrated for a purpose can heighten a spiritual or arcane effect... Covered verses uncovered is also entirely up to you. Though I believe that covered is rather better for safety reasons. But honestly, all that matters is that the smoke can escape and air be given access so that the incense may continue to burn and not be smothered by its own smoke.

The spirits don't care if you burn you incense in a vessel that's shaped like an alien smoking a hookah if such a thing suits your nature...

Anyway.

Your task for today, if you have not already surmised is to make your own incense. Have at it."

[[ooc: Please wait for OCD. Open! Today's class was supposed to be about something else, but we're pushing that to next week.]]
sensethevisions: (Darkly Amused : Squishcreations)

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] sensethevisions 2007-03-05 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"You know... I'm sure I can alter the spell a little so you feel what Anders is feeling," she threatened her nephew lightly.

Of course, she really wouldn't do such a thing to him.

Really.

Maybe.

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] blessed_twice 2007-03-05 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay, that made Wyatt stop laughing. "You wouldn't," he said.
sensethevisions: (Darkly Amused : Squishcreations)

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] sensethevisions 2007-03-06 12:05 am (UTC)(link)
Phoebe raised an eyebrow at him. "Laughing at your aunt's embarrassment could have all kinds of side effects."

Hey, she had been the youngest of three sisters for most of her life and knew how to bargain... or blackmail.

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] blessed_twice 2007-03-06 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
"That's frakked up!" Wyatt protested. "And way too wrong."
sensethevisions: (Default)

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] sensethevisions 2007-03-06 12:13 am (UTC)(link)
Phoebe grinned at him. "I was the youngest sister for most of my life, Wyatt. I learned survival techniques to use against Prue and Andy."

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] blessed_twice 2007-03-06 12:19 am (UTC)(link)
Wyatt decided changing the subject was a good course of action. "You going to tell Uncle Cole about you and Anders?" he said. Oh so innocently.
sensethevisions: (Dark Witch : Charmingdesigns)

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] sensethevisions 2007-03-06 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
Phoebe wondered if Piper would get mad at her for smacking her son.

"Of course I am. I don't keep secrets from him."

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] blessed_twice 2007-03-06 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
"You think he's going to be okay with it?" Wyatt persisted.
sensethevisions: (Devastated : CSI_Montana)

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] sensethevisions 2007-03-06 12:45 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, sure. I'll tell him what happened and after he calms down, we'll invite Anders over for a threesome," Phoebe said sarcastically. She sighed. "He's going to be absolutely livid. However, Cole is a reasonable man and I am sure that as soon as he understands that it was drunken accident by two people who were completely broken, he'll realize that it was a mistake that will never happen again." She looked down. "If he forgives me, that is."
blessed_twice: (Wyatt is determined)

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] blessed_twice 2007-03-06 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
"If he hurts you," Wyatt said evenly, "I'll send him straight back to hell."
sensethevisions: (Devastated : CSI_Montana)

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] sensethevisions 2007-03-06 12:53 am (UTC)(link)
Phoebe shook her head. "Cole would never hurt me, Wyatt." She was touched by his protectiveness, though. "He just doesn't have it in him to hurt me."

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] blessed_twice 2007-03-06 12:55 am (UTC)(link)
"Are you sure?" Wyatt said, still dubious. "He still has powers. What if the Source is still in him?"
sensethevisions: (Default)

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] sensethevisions 2007-03-06 01:08 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm sure," she said softly. "The Source is completely gone. Besides, even when the Source possessed him, he prevented the Source from harming me more than he did."

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] blessed_twice 2007-03-06 01:09 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, but he tried to turn you evil and he did hurt other people," Wyatt said. "I just want to be sure that's not going to happen again."
sensethevisions: (Default)

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] sensethevisions 2007-03-06 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
"That's not who Cole is."

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] blessed_twice 2007-03-06 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
"Then you think he'll mind if we put him through some tests, just to be safe?" Wyatt said.
sensethevisions: (Default)

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] sensethevisions 2007-03-06 01:18 am (UTC)(link)
Phoebe stared at him. "Tests?"

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] blessed_twice 2007-03-06 01:24 am (UTC)(link)
"Like having his aura read," Wyatt said. "Stuff like that."
sensethevisions: (Dark Witch : Charmingdesigns)

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] sensethevisions 2007-03-06 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
"I can ask him... but I won't push about it, okay?"

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] blessed_twice 2007-03-06 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
"Maybe you shouldn't ask," Wyatt pointed out. "Just let us surprise him. It's not like it'll hurt him or anything."
sensethevisions: (Facepalm : Squishcreations)

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] sensethevisions 2007-03-06 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
"He already feels like shit about what the Source did, Wyatt. I had to convince him to stay here. If you guys start putting him through tests to prove he's not evil..."

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] blessed_twice 2007-03-06 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
"We have to be sure, Aunt Phoebe," Wyatt insisted.
sensethevisions: (Devastated : CSI_Montana)

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] sensethevisions 2007-03-06 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
"Wyatt, I am about to tell him that while he was in the Wastelands suffering, I betrayed his trust in a major way. Do we have to add this to his mind right now?"

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] blessed_twice 2007-03-06 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
"It can wait, I guess," Wyatt said. Though he really had no intention of waiting. First opportunity he could get Tannim or Bridge to scan him, he was taking it.
sensethevisions: (Devastated : CSI_Montana)

Re: LECTURE

[personal profile] sensethevisions 2007-03-06 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
"Thank you," she said quietly. "Having him hate me for hurting him or betraying him is one thing. I don't want him to think that I don't trust him."