Observations placeholder
Book of Enoch-31
Identifier
003263
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
* Note: Sarara, galbanum and statcte are all sweet smelling plant resins. Stacte, for example, is a gum that exudes from the tree of the same name. It was used from very early days in religious ritual. Not only was it common in the time of Enoch, but it was also used in England to perfume pomades and in the Roman Catholic church as incense. Incisions are made in the branches of the tree so that the resin flows out where it hardens and is scraped off. The "tears" as they are called contain resin and benzoic acid and will dissolve in, for example, wine. The stacte or storax plant itself is a beautiful shrub. It reaches the height of a medium sized tree when fully mature. In March the blossoms come in clusters, four or five together, and have a delicious scent. The flowers are shaped like a snowflake and are pure waxen white. The anthers are a vivid orange colour. When in full bloom, the shrub appears to be covered in snow. The leaves are a clear, shining green on their upper side and grey-white underneath.
A description of the experience
The Book of Enoch – 31 Further journey to the east
1. And I saw other mountains and amongst them were groves of trees and there flowed forth from them nectar which is named sarara and galbanum
2. And beyond these mountains I saw another mountain to the east of the ends of the earth whereon were aloe trees and all the trees were full of stacte*, being like almond trees
3. And when one burnt it, it smelt sweeter than any fragrant odour