This is just a simple list. Additives, like practitioners, can be unique and endlessly creative. These items were chosen for their ability to make a single bond to the intended goal. The purpose of the additive is to build a unique connection to the goal that your consciousness deems empowering.
Basic Supplies for Creating Your Own Magickal Powders and Herbal Blends
The following supply list represents an example of what I have used over the years to make and store magickal powders and herbal blends. It is a simple guideline that you are free to change.
Glass Bowls: Use for mixing. Some practitioners believe that metal bowls taint the blend; however, others feel that the metal actually helps to enhance the work—only you can choose what is right for you. You will need at least two bowls if you are making a powder, one to blend the raw herb mixture and one to hold the finished powder after grinding (or during the grinding process if you are making a large batch). Clear bowls work well because you can see what you are doing through the entire process, making sure all ingredients are thoroughly blended before storage. Metal containers, on the other hand, are light and less likely to break if you drop them. And, metal bowls will also sing (vibrate) during the stirring process, which does add a special energy to the blend.
Wooden Spoons: Some practitioners use individual spoons hand-carved with magickal sigils, words of power, or other artistic designs. Others use sticks, bamboo skewers, or their fingers during the blending process. A few use a metal fork, particularly if they want the metal bowl to sing.
Mortar and Pestle: Use to break up large herbs or roots for herbal blends and to grind herbs and roots into powder form for magickal powders. The size of the mortar and pestle depends on the number of ingredients, how large a batch of powder you choose to make, and the consistency of the ingredients. For example, a larger, heavier mortar and pestle set is extremely handy for tough roots and barks, such as angelica root, or resins, such as dragon’s blood chunks. Every herb breaks down in its own way. For example, lavender fluffs, which makes it a difficult herb to add to a smooth powder. You can either leave it whole or use a heavy mortar and pestle to break down the buds. If you put lavender in a coffee grinder, it tends to get puffy. There are herbs that retain moisture, like pumpkin seeds, which can clump your powder. You may wish to use the heavier mortar and pestle to break down the seeds, and then press your results with folded paper towels before adding them to your powder blend. Resins like frankincense and copal can be ground in a coffee grinder; your results may be somewhat sticky but not unmanageable.
Mallet or Hammer: Use for crushing raw resins such as frankincense, myrrh, and dragon’s blood, as well as some of the tougher roots: Solomon’s seal, angelica, etc. The hammer also can be used for creating protective brick dust or pulverizing gemstones. Some individuals use a heavy metal meat tenderizer.
Measuring Spoons: These can be useful in ensuring that the more aromatic ingredients do not overpower the lighter elements.They are extremely helpful in designing a formal magickal recipe or when creating a formula that you wish to repeat or share with others.
Kitchen Shears: As I mentioned earlier, although some magickal practitioners frown on using any metal in a magickal process, others don’t have a problem with it at all. Kitchen shears can be very helpful in the pre-grinding process. For example, if you have dried long sheaves of lemongrass and you are ready to grind some of it for a cleansing powder or blend, or perhaps you are making your favorite magickal cleansing soap, cutting the leaves into tiny pieces helps to release the natural oils and makes the grinding process easier. Lemongrass is tough, and you could be grinding all day just to get what you need if you don’t use the shears.
Safety Mask: This can be obtained at your local hardware store and is used to protect the lungs, mouth, and nose area when grinding herbs, particularly if you are using a coffee grinder or adding sulfur, saltpeter, or any kind of fine dirt, chipped gems, or glitter in your formulas.
Coffee Grinder: This works wonderfully for that final blending process and can create a variety of powder weights from rough and coarse to medium ground to a very fine powder, depending upon the ingredients. A good grinder can also be used for bits of copal, frankincense, myrrh, and for some pre-crushed roots. In our busy society you may not have several hours to sit and grind everything you need by hand. I agree that the more time you spend grinding the herbs while uttering prayers, spells, songs, or incantations can help to strengthen the bond of the powder, but this is often unrealistic when it comes to time management. I can hear you now: “I’m sorry, I can’t pick up my granddaughter today from daycare because I will be busy grinding a very special magickal powder.” Yeah, right.
Magickal Powder Journal or Notebook: You think you will remember…how could you forget? Especially since the powder worked so fast or so well in your magickal operation! Unfortunately, time passes and a year later, when you have a need for that formula again, you may remember the key ingredients but not every single element. Writing down all your magickal recipes—and including the date, the reason for its creation, and, later, the outcome—is an essential part of the enchantment process and gives you written documentation of your work as reference for future applications. I have three journals spanning approximately five years each that contain a compendium of formulas. It’s fun to look back over the events and see how I have changed personally, and how some of my techniques have changed as I continue to learn. These books are so used and worn that the covers are coming off and many of the pages are stained, but to me they are priceless.
Essential Oils or Liquid Perfume Fragrances: Only 2–3 drops are used for small batches of powder or herbal blends (12–14 for larger quantities); be careful of overpowering the natural aroma of the work. The oil can be added to the raw herb mixture or massaged in with the fingers when the grinding process is completed. When using an explicit formula, if an ingredient is not available in the herbal form, many times an essential oil may be added in minute amounts to replace that necessary dried herb. Not only does this round out the magickal pattern of the formula, but the oil also heightens the aromatic properties of the mixture, which can affect the performance of the practitioner in positive ways. As a result, many of your personal blends may contain both herbals and oils to capture the totality of the magickal essence.
Eye Droppers: Use for adding minute amounts of essential oils, fluid condensers, or fragrances to your powder or herbal blend mixture.
Storage: Once your powder or herbal blend is made, you may choose to complete the empowerment process and then store it, or store the powder or blend until you wish to empower it for a particular purpose. Select the storage that best suits your lifestyle. Storage depends on quantity made and the shelf life you desire. For example, the shelf life of an edible magickal powder is approximately four months in plastic, six months in glass, or a year if you use a food sealer. The general rule for nonedible magickal powders is six months in plastic, one year in glass, and two years if you use a food sealer. However, some practitioners feel that nonedible empowered powders or herbal blends stored in glass actually gain potency. There are individuals who will use a powder that is twenty-five years old simply because it was empowered by a deceased individual who carried masterful abilities in life. Powders and blends created during a special event, whether personal or astrological, are also thought to be potent in their own right, due to the energy pattern of the special occasion. For example, powders can be made from herbs and flowers used in a handfasting (wedding), wiccaning, or initiatory celebration. The same applies for astrological events, particularly those that will not occur again in your lifetime; however, other cycles, such as full moon, new moon, and dark moon, are commonly used for specialty powders.
In Process/Collection Bag, Box, or Lidded Jar: These are holding areas for projects in process. They can be as decorative or as plain as you like, from highly decorated boxes and jars to machine-stitched and appliquéd bags to a
good old paper sack. These containers hold the herbs or ingredients you have collected until the right timing occurs for you to actually create the powders and blends. They can also be used as an energy-holding vehicle, where you gather all the ingredients together for a particular blend that you want to use for an individual person. For a holding bag you may like to use black (the absence of color) or white (the blend of all colors), depending on your intent or preference. In Braucherei we often bury items in the ground or in jars containing dirt gathered from place relating to the issue so that the object can gather power and be “birthed” at a later date.
The timing for this process is usually from moon to moon, but we use the method with other numbers as well (3, 9, 21). You might choose to have a variety of containers that apply specifically to a favorite signature powder or a theme, such as prosperity, healing, banishing, etc. Holding jars and containers come in very handy the more involved you become with the art of powders and herbal blends, particularly if you have a very busy schedule or if you have a very busy household where folks just can’t seem to keep their fingers off of your stuff. It may take you an entire month to gather all you need for a very specialized powder: this might include items collected on a Spirit Walk, things ordered from the internet, herbs picked up on your next grocery store run, dirt from a specific graveyard or business, blood gathered on white cloth from a menstrual cycle, a certain plant that you had to drive for several hours on the weekend to obtain, or a gemstone that a family member sent you from across the country as a result of your request. Perhaps you see a banging planetary configuration coming up and you want to use that to make a sigil for a powder associated with that type of positive energy, which will work well for a powder that you wish to make, but you don’t have time to gather all the supplies right now. Design the sigil at the right moment, wrap it in black or white paper or cloth, and add it to your intent bag.
Having a place to put these items until you are ready to use them saves so much time when you are ready to actually grind and empower the powder or mix the herbal blend. There is nothing more irritating than searching through a compendium of drawers, boxes, shelves, and jars, saying to yourself, “I know I have that! I even remember when I got it! Where the heck is it now?” If you spiritually cleanse all the items before you put them in the container, they will begin to blend together in your mind as a result of your mental purpose. Yes, you will have to take the process further for the realization of your intent to occur, but this initial step can help to fine-tune the work. If your bag or container is large enough, you can even add the candles, incense, and other components of ritual or spellcasting that you will be using in a working.
For example, I make hand-rolled beeswax candles that contain magickal powders, and I paint the bottom of the candles with a fluid condenser that matches the intent. When moon phase and planetary timing match my intent, I will roll a candle for a named person and add it to the bag. That way, when you are ready to do a healing spell for Susan, you already have everything prepared, saving you precious time. If a powder or herbal blend is for a single individual, put their photograph or full name in the bag first along with an initial prayer for assistance to help you find exactly what you need for this working. As you add items to the bag or jar, say the person’s name aloud three times, indicating your intent of healing for that person. By the time you actually put everything together, the focus is already there because you have layered words and energy into a pattern linked to the person. This is truly mystical web weaving; like the spider with her web, you are constructing (weaving) a foundation pattern with your actions to accomplish a specific goal. The things in the bag are energetically sticky because of your intent of attracting something specific. At the proper time of your choice it will be your job to catch the goal, wrap it up, and internalize it, which will lead to its fruition.
For an individual person with a specialized need, you may wish to use a paper bag as your collection point and then burn the bag once your spell has been cast or the ritual performed as part of your ceremony. Non-disposable containers can either be washed out with holy water or cleansed with salt or a mixture of salt, lavender, and rosemary. I keep a jar marked “cleansing wash” with these three ingredients in my workroom. You can use it dry or add a teaspoon to blessed water whenever the need arises. I also have a resin cleanser that is pre-ground and mixed frankincense, myrrh, copal, mistletoe, eggshell, and a pinch of salt, which can be used in a variety of applications, from adding a teaspoon to cleansing conjuring bags with other ingredients to burning the resin mixture on a charcoal tab. Whether the holding container is permanent or temporary, I mark the outside (or put a paper inside) that indicates what the collection is for, along with a listing of the ingredients I have already collected. This way I never use the ingredients for the wrong person or intent. Here is one of the sigils that I designed to hold and protect the energy of my temporary or permanent containers:
Eyes of Spirit Sigil
This sigil is entitled “Eyes of Spirit.” Write your intent in the box in the center of the design. You can redraw the sigil or use a photocopy. I often change the planetary symbol at the top of the sigil so that it is in tune with my intent. In this example, Mars is the associated planet. If I wanted to draw something toward me, I would use Venus. If I desired dreams, heightened intuition, or healing work for women and children, I might change the top symbol to the Moon. For success and my will, the Sun. For communication and solutions of all kinds, Mercury. Saturn for protection, foundation, rewards, or karmic work. I also use the modern planets: Neptune (creativity), Uranus (freedom), and Pluto (destruction and significant change). This design can be placed on the bag or container or as a sigil to go with your working.
Witness Stick: This isn’t a must-have ingredient, but I began using this technique about five years ago, and it works extremely well. The witness stick (usually no larger than 3–4 inches in length) is a small stick that you have collected from outdoors before a working, often gathered on a Spirit Walk. It is one from the ground; you do not take a living limb off of a tree or bush, although you can remove a broken stick out of a tree or plant that is unattached and has not yet touched the ground. Both have worked for me. You can use a different wooden stick for each working or you can use one stick for a particular theme; for example, one stick that you have gathered for prosperity rituals and a different one for healing. The stick “witnesses” your spell, takes the energy into it, and then you carry the stick with you until you receive what is asked for or you can leave it on your altar until the desire has come to pass. If someone tries to carry your stick off in the meantime, this is your cue that you need to let the stick go because the working is already in place and it is only a matter of time before it will come to pass. In this case, return the stick to the wild. Otherwise, a witness stick for attraction can be kept. A witness stick for banishment should be burned or buried off your property. The witness stick remembers your words, feelings, and the energy you raised.
Beeswax Sheets: Use these to make your own rolled candles using your herbal powders as the main ingredient. Of all the candles on the market, beeswax seems to hold the power better due to its natural structure designed by the hands of Nature herself. Over the years I have made candles from all the waxes: paraffin, palm, soy, etc. All of them have chemical additives. In fact, when researching soy, I found that soy wax can’t be “all natural” due to the process of making it. (This statement is always subject to change with advancements in the industry.) I found that beeswax takes your charge better, particularly if you put the candle in the refrigerator for approximately half an hour before the magickal operation. The chilling process not only helps the wax absorb better, but the candle also burns longer. You will find instructions on how to roll your own powerful beeswax candles in chapter five.
Powderboard: A powderboard is a flat portable surface that is used for meditation, ritual, and spellwork. For working with magickal po
wders, the surface should be satin smooth. This type of board is used to draw sigils or write someone’s name with your powder on the surface during a magickal application. I have found that flat sticks and a metal ¼ teaspoon can be helpful in the designing process. If this is too complicated, spread the powder on a piece of clear glass and draw your design in the powder. If you use a piece of clear glass for your powderboard, you can place printed or drawn information under the glass (such as a spirit circle, a person’s name, etc.) or the surface can be opaque. Like any other magickal tool, the powderboard should be cleansed and blessed between every working. I have also used wooden cutting boards, although the powder tends to stick to the wood during cleanup. Powders are spread on the surface in the desired design, then activated either by passing a candle flame over the pattern while chanting or by setting and using your hands, teasing the energy to the artwork and then back again several times before actually filling the design with the energy. The powder is then used in the next step of an application (such as loading into a candle) or dispensed where you wish to place your intent. If the work was all about the sigil, then you may want to take the powderboard outside and blow the formula into the air to release the magick. When the powder will be stored for later, you can draw the sigils in the powder on the powderboard as a part of the construction of your formula. I use this procedure particularly for astrological or runic powders, where I draw the symbols of the planets, signs, or rune glyphs into the powder before storing.
The Witching Hour Page 6
