為自己點2019的開運頭香 Burning the first incense stick for good luck in 2019

傳說，人間第一柱清香上達天聽者，玉皇大帝會特別保祐他一切圓滿平安。

Legend has it that the first one who burns an incense stick to send prayers to gods can receive additional good luck from Jade Emperor.

在我們的內在裡，也有一個神聖的殿堂，那就是我們的神性和佛性。

As a matter of fact, there is a holy paradise within ourselves, which is our Godhood or Buddhahood.

一縷馨香，醇厚家風代代傳 The fragrance of incense conveys the virtue of a family

        香，用於禮敬諸佛菩薩、參拜宮廟神明，是華人用香的傳統。而逢年過節的焚香祭祖，更是華人慎終追遠的美德。家，是我們的根本，影響我們甚為深遠，重視家庭經營，彼此尊重包容同理，能讓我們活得扎實。透過焚香祭祖的儀式，感念祖先，凝聚家族情感，學習感恩、孝順與慈愛的倫理人情。

    Incense, traditionally widely used to worship gods with, has been a vital part for Chinese. It has been a significant ritual for Chinese to burn incense at the end of a year to send their best wishes to their ancestors. Home, to many of us, is synonymous with root; that is to say, we Chinese stress the importance of managing our family and learning to empathize with our own family members in the hope that we can have a solid bond with each other and have a fulfilling life. Through burning incense, we remember our ancestors, solidify our family bonds, learn to be grateful and filial, and last but not least, learn to be loving.

香道小常識----淺談品香三種方式 Tips on how to use the incense properly

目前一般所見之品香方式，可分為以下三種：焚香、熏香和生香。

Incense comes in three types, including burning incense, smoking incense and raw incense.

一、焚香First, burning incense

焚香又稱燃香、燒香，就是直接點燃香品的方式。例如使用香粉、線香、環香或篆香法。

Literally, burning incense means that the incense can be burned directly. And this type includes incense powder, incense sticks, and incense loops.

聞香，豈能不讚嘆？Appreciating the Fragrance of Incense in Awe

合香是中國傳統的製香方式。合香，亦寫為「和香」，又稱「合和香」，是將兩種以上的香藥合成的香，運用的是五行生剋的中醫智慧和天人相應的哲學思維。

Traditionally, synthetic incense has been the mainstream of incense manufacture. That is to say, the incense products commonly contain more than two ingredients and the combinations are based on the five elements of Chinese medicine and philosophy.