Cinnamon Incense
From the great camphor tree family comes some 250 species of evergreen trees and shrubs. Among them is C. zeylanicum (cinnamon).
The fragrant bark of the Cinnamon tree is usually found sold as rolled quills.
As incense it has a warm, spicy, sweet aroma. Burn cinnamon incense or diffuse its essential oil during meditation. Its comforting and uplifting aroma can facilitate a deeper connection with the self and the universe, aiding in spiritual alignment.
In folklore cinnamon has been used widely. Cinnamon is believed to have a variety of magical properties, including protection, prosperity, and love. It is often used in rituals and spells to attract abundance and success, as well as to protect against negative energies and evil spirits. Cinnamon is also associated with the element of fire, making it a powerful tool for transformation and manifestation.
History
Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices known to humans. There are many biblical references to this spice and it is mentioned in the bible by its Hebrew word, kannamon, in Psalms, Proverbs, Ezekiel, and Revelations. The Hebrew bible makes specific reference of this word many times.
Cinnamon was considered so valuable during this time it was equal in worth to gold and ivory. It was regarded as a suitable gift for Monarchs and for Gods. Ancient Egyptians used cinnamon as part of their embalming rituals. Physicians from the middle ages used cinnamon to help treat cold and throat ailments such as coughing, hoarseness and sore throats.
Indonesian rafts transported cinnamon on a “cinnamon route” to East Africa, where local traders then carried it north to the Roman market.
Arab traders brought the spice through trade routes into Egypt, where it was bought by Venetian traders from Italy who held a monopoly on the spice trade in Europe.
At the beginning of the 16th century, Portuguese traders arrived in Ceylon (Sri-Lanka) where this spice was growing and was the largest producer of cinnamon at the time. They took control of the area and started their own monopoly on the spice. They established a fort on the island in 1518 and protected their control over this valuable commodity for over a hundred years.
During the 17th century, the Dutch took control of the island of Ceylon and the monopoly of the trade. When they later learned that cinnamon trees existed along the coast of India, they made certain this was destroyed in order to preserve their high profits on this spice.
Eventually, the Dutch monopoly over cinnamon disappeared because the world found they could grow it successfully in other locations.
Today, cinnamon is grown in South America, the West Indies, and other tropical climates.