Censer

The censer, sometimes called a thurible, is a heat-proof vessel that is used in witchcraft, Wicca, and many other neo-pagan paths, to hold burning incense. The type of incense varies according to the purpose of the working, the preference of the practitioner, or the tradition of the rite. A censer can be made from several kinds of materials, including clay, ceramic, any metal, or shell. It may be a bowl that sits on the altar, a stand with holes to hold stick incense, a closed and vented container that is swung from a chain, or a large open-faced shell such as abalone or scallop. It symbolizes the element of air. Censing is done as part of the opening segment of most rituals, as a form of both consecration and purification. The censer is commonly referred to as an incense burner.