Copal

Also called White Copal

Perfume or incense1 tradition

overview

Copal is the sacred resin of Mesoamerica, burned by the Maya and Aztecs as food for the gods and still central to Day of the Dead altars. Its smoke is sweet, pine-like, and bright.

Uses

Purification
Offerings to spirits and ancestors
Protection
Love

ritual

Working with it

Burn white copal to clear a space before ritual, or as an offering on an ancestor altar on the Day of the Dead.

ingredient_profile

Botanical name: Protium copal
Planet: ☉︎ Sun
Kind: Resin
Element: Fire
Works for: Purification Protection Love
Forms: resinincensepowder
How to use: Burn as incense or loose herbAltar or offeringSachet or charm bag

Projective

found_in

Where the traditions place it

Sun — Common practice