Herbs & Oils in Magick Circ De Le Fey This application of herbs in magick is a bit different from those commonly stated in the modern crop of books. I feel that a differentiation of two aspects is appropriate, namely medicinal, and spiritual. Much of herb lore dates back to the time when mankind was barely aware of the existence of chemistry and the effects of chemicals on the human body. As such, these chemical effects were viewed as being magickal. Do we now consider Aspirin to be magickal? No, of course not. We understand that as a medicine Aspirin has a chemical effect on our bodies to reduce pain. To the ancient herbal healer, chewing on the bark of a willow tree was magickal. There was something that worked, but it was not understood by science. Today many Witches feel a connection to the ancient herbal healers and study the naturally occurring medicinal uses of plants. In a way, this is a practice of magick, in that the practice is based on knowledge beyond science. I am confident there are herbal healers using herbs in ways that science has not even noticed. The other aspect of herbs in magick is more spiritual. Herbs are infused with magickal energy and then made into incense, sachets, bath salts, or anointing oils. While this practice is common in Witchcraft, it is not required. It is seen as a way to enhance magick. These items are used in the following ways: · incense - to aid in creating magickal space · sachets - as charms in much the same way as amulets or talismans · bath salts - to aid in ritual cleansing · anointing oils - rubbed on candles, amulets, etc to enhance their magick Incense Incense is made by harvesting, drying, and blending a mixture of herbs. Incense is then burned over a briquette of charcoal made specifically for this purpose. This type of incense should be stored in an airtight container and kept cool and dry to prevent decay or mildew. Sachets Sachets are made by creating a charged blend of mixed herbs and tying the herbs in a small sack made of felt. Sachets are then worn or carried as an amulet or talisman. Another popular use for a sachet is to place it under your pillow while you sleep to calm sleep, promote well being, or induce dreaming. Bath Salts Bath salts are made by grinding herbs into an extremely fine powder with a mortar and pestle. Once ground, the herbs are then mixed with any of a variety of base salts ranging from table salt, Epsom salts, to baking soda. Herbal bath salts are used by mixing a small amount in bath water. Anointing Oils Anointing oils are created by wrapping herbs in cheesecloth and allowing them to soak in a natural oil base for several days. The natural oil from the herbs seeps into the base oil and fragrances it. These oils are then used for anointing candles or in other magick rituals. Growing herbs for magickal use is a common practice among Witches. Many find that it increases their own awareness of the connection with nature, as well as producing herbs that are personally meaningful. There are many books written on the subject of herbs in magick. They tend to be stuffed with magickal associations of herbs and their usefulness. In my opinion, the magickal as opposed to medicinal uses of herbs is best based on a personal understanding rather than what a book teaches. Do not get me wrong, some of the information is quite useful, but to me some of the associations border on the absurd and are often dangerous. Another use of herbs is smoking or ingesting herbs to produce mind and/or mood altering effects potentially inducing spiritual visions. This practice is NOT suggested. Some herbs used for this purpose are poisonous and potentially lethal.
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 21:50:07 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015