Incense Ash
In Chinese Buddhist tradition, incense ashes in burners should not be dumped carelessly into the trash can or down the drain, as it is disrespectful to Spirit.
Below are some tips about what to do with incense ash:
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Use the collected incense ashes as fertilizers for your plants. Keep in mind that the more natural and high-quality your incense sticks are, the more likely it is safer and healthier for your plants. Personally I like to stick my handmade incense sticks into my plant plotter and let it burn through so that the ashes automatically fall into the damp soil. I cannot speak for how plants react to other incense sticks as I have been using my own handmade incense sticks and can confidently say that they are plant safe. Just be careful not to place the incense sticks too close to the leaves and burn their edges!
- Create a water cleansing spell. Ever since I was young, my mother used to make incense water to get rid of negative energy. Although not often used (thankfully) there are times when burning incense sticks, powders or smudging doesn’t get rid of negative energies. Here is the recipe - add a few scoops of incense ash, 7 pieces of white rice and water. Dip your fingertips into the incense water so they are wet and scatter the droplets around your space. *Always remember to visualize a white light as you are doing an energetic cleansing and set your intentions.
- Scoop the incense ashes out of your filled burner or holder and transfer them into a glass bottle with a tight lid and store them for future usage in rituals or cleansing spells.