#herbal-oil

[esoteric-chaos]

Safety in Witchcraft

What’s not talked about enough in the spiritual community is mundane safety along with spiritual. Critical thinking is vital. I wanted to share a lot of my personal rules for myself that I have adapted into my craft.

Fire safety, never leave an open flame unattended. Ever. Always burn in an open enough area with a fire safe dish or on ceramic tile away from animals and children. If you leave the room extinguish the flame. Do not sleep with fire going. I know we want to keep that spell going even during a nap but sometimes we don’t wake up in time for danger. This is absolutely vital to keep you safe. It won’t ruin a spell I promise or anger anything. Please do not add those herbs to that candle. I know it’s nice and pretty but that is a fire hazard. Stay safe.

On that note always have an open window or a well ventilated area when burning items. That goes for herbs, incense, or candle. Smoke inhalation can ruin your lungs.

Rodents, reptiles, birds, any animal is sensitive to scents and have small respiratory systems. Be careful using anything around them. Research what can be used around them. I mean research! Cross reference. Use veterinarian hospital guides, not pro essential oil blogs. Please don’t put any essential oils on your pets. They can be seriously harmed.

Moon water actually molds, very easily. So can herbal blends if not stored correctly. Check frequently and use before end of date. Distilled water is your friend to prolongs shelf-life along is storing in a cold dark place.

Witchcraft and magic is not a replacement for medical treatment and medically prescribed medication. It absolutely can aid your treatment but it is never a replacement.

Do not ingest any herbal remedies without consultation with your doctor and/or Herbalist. Especially if you have pre-existing conditions and need to take medications for it. Things can conflict and are deadly.

Also forage responsibly. Unless you are 100% certain what you have foraged is the correct plant. Don’t even chance it. It’s not worth sickness or in worst cases death.

Do NOT ingest essential oils. I don’t care what you have heard from pro essential oil pages. The distillery methods are not safe for ingestion. It can tear up your stomach lining and throat. Cause extreme nausea and vomiting. Seizures and in worst cases death.

Some covens and practitioners are not your friends. Be cautious and use stranger danger. Be cautious and never give out all of your personal information online. There are predatory people everywhere, including in this community. Please be safe. Always use your gut instinct.

Please feel free in the comments and tags to add important safety pointers you have.

[lunasapphire]

My collection of Scott Cunningham works I have read so far:) - more coming soon! Just bought six books of his

[amsmuch]

I found this picture of James with 8 polish fans that invited Metallica to drink vodka with them after a concert

The picture was taken February 10th to 11th at night, 1987

[magickmama777]

Oils and their ritual correspondences Part 5

🍋🍃 Bergamot: In herbal folklore, it is said that the oil of Bergamot leaves, when rubbed on money, will ensure the return of riches; it is also well known for prosperity spells.

✨Planetary rulerships: Mercury

[arcane-botanica]

Arcane Botanica

[veiligplekje]

Het Blauwe Huis in Ruinerwold, the Netherlands

[romanceaesthetics]

𝑺𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒙𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒉

[samwisethewitch]

Aromatherapy for Processing Trauma

Aromatherapy uses scent, usually in the form of essential oils, for physical and emotional well-being. Our sense of smell is very closely connected to memory, and certain smells can have an effect on our emotions and mood.

Essential Oil Safety and Ethics

Because this is the Internet and because certain multi-level marketing corporations have intentionally spread misinformation about essential oil safety, let's talk about a couple of things real quick.

You should never, ever eat or drink essential oils. These are very concentrated extracts of the active compounds from plants, and just like you would never sit down and eat 200 pounds of lavender, you shouldn't eat lavender oil. Ingesting essential oils can have very serious side effects, up to and including organ failure and death. Just don't.

If you want to work with a liquid plant extract that you can take internally, I recommend trying a tincture or a tea.

Use caution when applying essential oils topically. Again, essential oils are very concentrated, so they can cause skin reactions even if you are not normally allergic to the plant they come from. Always do a patch test to check for an allergic reaction before applying an essential oil to your skin or putting it in a bath. Some, like cinnamon oil, should never be used topically.

Always dilute your oils. Whenever you put essential oils on your skin, mix them with a carrier oil (like olive oil or coconut oil). Typically for adults you want to only use two drops of essential oil for every teaspoon of carrier oil, but you might use a stronger or weaker concentration depending on your body and your needs. If you're adding essential oils to your bath, make sure you mix them into a bath salt (either Epsom salt or plain table salt) before adding them to the water.

When you diffuse essential oils, make sure you don't use too much. For a typical aromatherapy diffuser, you really only need 1-5 drops of oil.

Be careful using essential oils around children and pets. Contrary to what some MLMs say, essential oils may not be safe for your baby or your dog. If you have kids, make sure your oils are stored out of their reach. Don't diffuse essential oils around babies under 6 months old, and don't apply oils to the skin on children under 3 years old. If you use essential oils on your older child's skin, they should be TWICE as diluted as for an adult (so you would use HALF as much essential oil for the same amount of carrier oil). If you diffuse oils around your kids, don't run the diffuser for more than 60 minutes. Follow other essential oil safety rules.

If you have a pet in the house, only diffuse essential oils in open, well-ventilated rooms, never let the diffuser run for more than 60 minutes, and make sure your pet is able to leave the room if they want to. Never apply essential oils to a pet's skin. Research your oils to make sure they aren't toxic to your pets.

Moving from safety concerns to ethics concerns, don't use essential oils in public spaces. Many people don't tolerate these scents well because of health conditions, allergies, or chemical sensitivities. For this reason, you should only practice aromatherapy in your own private space.

Try to be an eco-conscious consumer. It takes a whole lot of plant material to make essential oils -- one pound of lavender oil requires 250 pounds of lavender buds! That's a lot of natural resources. Even "wildcrafted" or "wild harvested" products may still be contributing to overharvesting. Try to limit your environmental impact by using oils sparingly, avoiding oils made from endangered plants, buying from companies that use sustainable harvesting practices, and reusing or recycling the bottles.

Making Aromatherapy Trauma-Sensitive

Because scent is so strongly connected to memory, scents that remind us of a traumatic event can trigger anxiety or panic, or even make us physically ill. Before using aromatherapy, think carefully about the scents you feel drawn to and whether they may be triggering for you.

For example, if your abuser wore a floral perfume with rose and geranium notes, the scents of rose and geranium might activate your fight or flight response, even though those are usually considered calming scents. If your abuser wore a cologne or deodorant with a lot of woodsy notes, you might want to avoid woodsy essential oils like cedarwood.

If at any point you start to feel triggered or activated when using aromatherapy, stop using that scent until you can speak to a therapist or counselor about your experience.

Helpful Essential Oils for Trauma Survivors

Note: Much of the information in this section comes from Elizabeth Guthrie's book, The Trauma-Informed Herbalist.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): The ultimate relaxing scent. Guthrie says that lavender "allows a person to completely relax. It is a wonderful tonic for a person who has been overthinking situations." Lavender is really helpful for anxiety and paranoia, especially if your anxiety takes the form of doom spiraling or thinking about worst case-scenarios.

Cedarwood (Cedrus virginiana): An excellent grounding scent. Guthrie says that cedarwood "is loved for its ability to help people reconnect to themselves." Be aware that Atlas Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica) is endangered due to overharvesting -- try to use more sustainable varieties.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): Great for mental clarity. Rosemary strengthens memory, and it can be useful for people who struggle with short-term memory or who are dealing with brain fog or gaps in memory as a product of trauma. Rosemary promotes alertness.

Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea): Promotes a sense of well-being and helps decrease feelings of stress.

Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana): Brings balance to the body and mind. Marjoram has a relaxing effect and can help release tension.

Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens): Another relaxing scent. Guthrie says that geranium "can also help a person who is feeling jumpy, as if they're living in a horror movie and a jump scare is just around the corner."

Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis): Reduces anxiety and relieves feelings of depression. Chamomile also famously helps with sleep issues such as insomnia.

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin): Very strong grounding. Guthrie recommends patchouli to help reset the sleep-wake cycle for people struggling with insomnia and/or fatigue.

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia): Balances emotional energy and uplifts the mood. Guthrie recommends it for brain fog from exhaustion and for aid in letting go of anger.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus): A superstar for healing, whether physical, mental, emotional, or even spiritual. Guthrie recommends eucalyptus "to jumpstart the emotional healing process" and "to release the feeling that their trauma is part of their identity."

Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis): An uplifting and energizing scent. Great for bringing up the mood, promoting happiness, and helping with burnout.

Aromatherapy on a Budget

Listen, y'all. Essential oils are expensive. Ethically sourced essential oils are even more expensive. I save some money by 1.) using essential oils sparingly, and 2.) buying pre-mixed blends. I'll typically look for a blend that contains several oils that I want to work with instead of buying each oil individually. Right now I'm working with the "Harmony" synergy blend from Eden's Garden, which contains lavender, cedarwood, rosemary, clary sage, sweet marjoram, geranium, and chamomile.

If you can't find a blend that has all the qualities you want, you can still save money by buying a blend with most of the qualities you're looking for, then adding one or two low-cost oils. For example, I wanted a slightly more grounding effect than the blend I'm using has, so I add a little bit of patchouli oil to bring in that earthy, grounding quality.

Sources:

The Trauma-Informed Herbalist by Elizabeth Guthrie

"5 Benefits of Clary Sage Oil" by Corey Whelan

"Marjoram Essential Oil" on AromaWeb

"The 8 Proven Benefits of Chamomile Oil and How to Use It" by Jill Seladi-Schulman, Ph.D.

"Essential Oils & Pets" on Saje

"Are Essential Oils Safe for Kids?" by Teresa Carr

[freyja-lestrange]

𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 & 𝑱𝒐𝒚 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒃𝒂𝒍 𝑰𝒏𝒇𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝑶𝒊𝒍

Hello witches, I want to share with you a recent magic oil I made for candle dressing & spell making🕯✨️ you can also use it for your overall craft,

You'll need:

🌼 Chamomile

🌼 Calendula Flower

🌼 Lavender

🌼 Clove Powder (*can be replaced with whole clove)

🌼 Copal Incense (*I used copal resin for a concentrated infusion)

🌼 Carrier Oil (*I used olive oil)

🌼 Small Jar

Instructions ~

Cleanse your jar with salvia/sage incense, or cleanse with your preferred method,

Gather your dry ingredients into your jar: the chamomile, calendula flower, lavender, love & copal resin,

Set your intentions for your herbs, I like using my hand over each herb before putting them inside the jar, guiding each herb with which correspondence or property I'll need,

Pour in your carrier oil of choice, do it slowly allowing the oil to get to the bottom, this will get rid of any air bubbles,

Say your last intentions for the overall oil, close with the cork or cover, and let it sit for a few days to allow the infusion to set in,

When the oil is done resting, pour your concentration infusion unto another bigger jar without the herbs, it's okay if bits go in though,

Finally, top off the remaining or the jar with more olive oil,

And that's it! Your Prosperity & Joy Oil is ready for use, whether you want to dress a yellow candle to bring joy, happiness, prosperity & clarity to your daily life, or use topically before bed, etc.,

*Please note that this or any oil infusion posted here is NOT meant to be ingested/eaten, keep away from children & animals !!

Happy Crafting!

[greenwitch301]

Whipped up some witchy herbal oil for sore muscles yesterday. It was great to be back in my kitchen working my craft!!

20 drops lavender oil

20 drops chamomile oil

20 drops mint oil

15 drops organic coconut oil

Simmer together in Bain Marie for 20 mins with a pain banishment spell 💚💚

[angel-inbloom]

so in love with this nervine salve i made last night for my apothecary, it’s infused with lavender, rose, elderflower, and holy basil, with a touch of pink grapefruit essential oil to give it a shimmery fragrant finish. so comforting and grounding✨

[esoteric-chaos]

Apollon's Blessing Deity Oil

"APOLLON (Apollo) was the Olympian god of prophecy and oracles, music, song and poetry, archery, healing, plague and disease, and the protection of the young." - Theoi

I actively work with Lord Apollon for my health and Herbalism. He aids me with knowledge along with helping me with my chronic pain and chronic fatigue. I venerate him on Sundays as that is the planetary day of the sun.

I made an oil for him to call upon him. I use it to carry him with me and as a candle-dressing. It helps me with my intuition, my mental/physical health (I am in no way claiming this will heal you. This is a personal association) and creativity.

You will need

Clean and cleansed bottle to place oil in

Chamomile - The Sun, stress, insomnia, anxiety, banish negativity

Rosemary - The Sun, mental clarity (to lift brain fog), memory and concentration

Bay Leaf- The Sun, healing, inspiration, creativity,

Cypress - The Sun, healing (traditionally eternal life and the continuity of the soul), strength, protection, historical plant

Carrier Olive Oil - Fire, protection, historical offering

You can either do the folk method or the hot method. You can find my post on infused oils here to learn how to make infused spell oils. I suggest if you are an animist or someone who wants more power from your oils. Speak to the herbs kindly, treat them less like an ingredient and ask them respectfully for their aid and the purpose they'll have in your oil. Use intention. The same goes for the Olive oil.

You can sub any of these, however, Cypress is historical for him. Try to keep herbs within the theme of the sun, fire and healing for his oil. Olive oil is a traditional offering for example.

Blessings!

Looking for all of my posts in one place? Check out the Masterpost

[los-plantalones]

I'm making plant ID brochures for my talk tomorrow. i'm discussing common "weeds" that you find in the garden that are useful either for food, medicine, or craft.

[salixsociety]

Introduction to Herbal Oil Infusions

A brief starter for those interested in making oils infused with herbs.

What is an Herbal Oil Infusion?

An herbal oil infusion, also herb oil, infused oil, etc for short, is an oil wherein you have steeped herbs in order to draw out their various beneficial components (such as fatty acids, essential oils, tannins, etc). These oils can be used for an array of purposes, from culinary (adding flavor to foods or garnishing salads), medicinal (making balms, treating skin conditions), practical (making cleaning products, conditioning furniture), cosmetic (hair oils, skincare, perfume oil), to magical (anointing oil, smalltime cures, etc).

Don't be confused: though it is referred to as an 'herb oil', an 'herb' is in this case loosely defined as any plant or part of a plant that has a practical application. You can infuse flowers, roots, bulbs, fruits, seeds, spices, stems, and anything else you desire!

Selecting Your Materials

When you're just starting out, the nitty-gritty of something like oil selection is usually not relevant. But it is important to know that the following are all considerations you can have.

HERBS Your herbs will obviously be the star(s) of the show. Depending on your purpose, you can choose really any herb or plant. Fresh or Dry Herbs? When you're a beginner, you should be using dried herbs first and foremost, unless the herb in question has an exceptionally low moisture content (such as rosemary or lavender). The reason for this is that the amount of water in your oil heavily affects how long you can keep it for and how safe it is to use. More water normally means more odds of moldiness. Dry herbs are not normally less potent, and also pack better into jars, which may result in stronger herb infusions. When can I use fresh herbs? You can use fresh herbs if/when you:

Will finish your oil within about two weeks;

Are using herbs that have a very low moisture content to begin with;

Are using the hot method.

In most of these cases it is still recommended that you let the herbs wilt and dry out a bit before adding them. Herb oils that frequently feature fresh herbs are those you see in kitchens, with a few sprigs of rosemary and a few cloves of garlic in them.

OILS Picking an oil can feel like semantics, and if you are using your oil purely for magical purposes, especially as a beginner, it may be. However, here are some considerations: Consistency The consistency of an oil (viscous, runny, sticky, etc) can make a difference. For example, if you are creating an oil to use in your hair, you may not want to go for a sticky and viscous oil that is hard to wash out. Consider what you are doing and what texture would be ideal. Certain oils are what they call non/comedogenic, which means it can clog the pores of your skin. If you intend to use the oil on your skin, especially for skin/wound care, opt for a noncomedogenic oil. Components Plain oils have their chemicals, history and properties too. To take a magical example: if you are making an oil relevant to something like prosperity magic, you may choose an oil that is historically valuable. If you want to use your oil for skincare, choose an oil rich in beneficial chemicals like vitamin E. Other things like taste, smoke point, scent, cultural background, etc could all be important things to consider as well depending on your goal. You can combine oils to change these properties or negate them! Different oil types also lend themselves better to different extraction methods, so if you would like to make an oil that reaches its fullest potential, do research into this!

Preparing Your Materials

There are a few things to always make sure of before you combine your herbs and your oils.

Make sure your container and its lid are clean, free of grease and water. If you are going to use your oil for consumption or would care, make sure it's sterile. Google sterilizing jars for the various methods and find one that suits you!

Make sure your herbs are clean, dry, free of debris and bugs. Depending on your circumstances and your herbs, you may need to dry your herbs prior to putting them into your oil. (See above). If you are using dried herbs, the best way to clean them is to toss them well or use a salad spinner. You can rinse dried herbs, but it's a pain in the ass. Only recommended if you intend to consume them and they were airdried!

Write down on your jar the date on which you combined your ingredients, what the carrier oil is, and what herbs are in there. For example: "20/6/2024 calendula, orange peel, mint in sunflower oil"

Infusion Methods

There are two primary methods of infusion (I am not covering the culinary method for what is literally called 'herb oil!). One of them can be achieved overnight, the other takes several weeks. We will call it the hot method and the cold method. I prefer the long method, as I feel it ensures all the properties I need in my oil are preserved.

HOT METHOD

Mince the herbs of your choosing. They don't have to be very fine, but they should be all fairly even in size, so they distribute well.

Add the herbs to a slow cooker or double boiler (you can make a double boiler at home, it's very easy!) while it's off.

Cover them with enough oil that all the herbs are submerged. An extra inch of oil is recommended. If you wanna get scientific, a good ratio is 1 part herbs for 3 parts oil, by volume.

Heat the oil up to 110F (44C). Do not let it get hotter than that! Any hotter and the quality of the herbs will go down, which is detrimental if you are using it for their chemical properties.

Let it sit at this temperature, occasionally checking on it, from anywhere between 2 hours to overnight. (Longer is usually better!) DO NOT COVER!!! The water of your herbs should be able to evaporate out, especially if you are using fresh or wilted herbs.

After the amount of time you deem appropriate through your research, turn off the heat and let the oil completely cool.

Strain through a cheesecloth rested in a sieve. You can strain it directly into your container or into a pitcher, just remember to sterilize the pitcher if you need to.

You can let it rest in the sieve for a bit, and then pick the herbal debris up in the cheesecloth and squeeze it, to wring out the excess oil. If thin particulates of herb material come through the cloth and cloud up your oil, that's okay. But if you want clear oil, skip that last bit.

COLD METHOD

Add your herbs, intact or not, to a jar. Ideally, the herbs should not come further than 3/4ths of the way up.

Fill the jar with oil. You may need to wait for the oil to settle on occasion as it needs to travel through all the air bubbles between the herbs. The herbs may float, that's fine.

Close the jar and set it somewhere cool and dark to infuse for anywhere between 3-12 weeks, depending on the materials used. If I don't know when exactly my oil will be done, I normally consider it done after six weeks. It's recommended to shake the jar every couple of days.

If condensation appears in the jar, open it and dry it off with a paper towel or clean cloth. Try storing it somewhere cooler or darker.

After the time is up, strain in the same manner as with the hot method.

Storage, Preservation, Expiration

Your oils made with dry herbs, if stored properly, will be safe to use normally for at least 12 months after the date that you wrote on your jar. After that, check for mold, funky smells, water, and similar (though cloudiness is not always a bad sign). Don't use your oil on wounds, rashes, or food after the end of the 12 months or after improper storage. Exceptions to the twelve month rule are, for example, grapeseed oil and sweet almond oil, which are recommended you don't use after about five months. Other oils, for example jojoba, can last for several years with ease. Check the bottle of the oil!

You should store your oils in a cool, dark and dry place. Direct sunlight, heat over about 90F or 25C, frost, and moisture are all things that can damage or soil your oils.

Ways to Use Herbal Infusions

There are too many ways to use herbal oils for me to ever list them all, but here is some ideas ranging from basic to very creative.

Soaps

Candles

Salves and balms

Finishing wood projects

Perfume oil

Anointing oil

Body/massage oil

Hair oil

Facial moisturizer/oil cleanser

Salad dressing

Garnishing meats

Frying/searing foods

Bug bites, rashes, eczema

Incense making

-------------

And that concludes my intro to herbal oils! I think I covered all my bases, but if you have additions or questions feel free to leave them literally anywhere I can see them and I'd love to respond.

[sagescented]

[Incense's] sacred purpose [to our ancestors] was to convey messages to the heavens, to carry prayers to their destination. And to this day, it deepens and supports prayer and meditation in all major religions.

Our Ancestors also used incense […] to disinfect living spaces, sick beds, and animal stalls. They believed it healed the sick.

They used it to make clothing and other objects smell good; the word "perfume" comes from the Latin word per fumim, which means "through smoke".

Cobbled out of order from The Complete Incense Book, published 1998; Susanne Fischer-Rizzi (My Ko-Fi Here)

[rurinnfane]

I’ve started reading a book that my step grandpa gave me years ago. It’s a book about herbs written in the 70s by Sybil Leek, a witch. He said he met Sybil once and that she’s “one of the few good witches out there,” which is a little bizarre to hear from a god-fearing conservative man…. He also insinuated that I’d like it purely for that reason, but I’d never dared to tell him about my interests in that area (because he was a god-fearing conservative).

I read a chapter every night before I go to sleep and now I have silly dreams about herbs every night :’) I dreamt last night that my herbalist friend had flowers growing out of her head and that water lilies could talk. Super normal