Use for purification and protection (against the evil eye and the demons of disease), and also for healing, for love and for divination.
Copal trees are now quite rare and their yield is fairly low, so that true copal is often substituted with commercial grade copal. True copal (a sticky white derivative from protium copal) was and is the most important incense used by the Maya, and the Aztec and Inca cultures both used it as their main offering to the gods. This particular commercial copal gum comes from various types of bursera trees from Central and South America, and it is related to Frankincense and Myrrh.
50g pack.
How to use sacred herbs and resins
Place a charcoal disc on a fireproof surface away from anything flammable. A ceramic or metal dish containing some sand is ideal.
Hold a match or a lighter to the rim of the disc, taken care as the disc may spit and spark on ignition. Also allow a good air flow around the disc so that it can burn evenly, and be aware that it may give off quite a lot of smoke.
Once the disc is red hot and glowing, drop a pinch of the incense on the top.
Scrape off the ashes from time to time to expose the glowing centre of the charcoal disc and add more incense as required.
NEVER hold a lit disc in your hand, and dispose of spent discs carefully.