Mixing Essential Oils for Magic: Aromatic Alchemy for Personal Blends (35 page)

A strong choice for Samhain, pomegranate is effective any time for honoring the dead or connecting with the Otherworld. Pomegranate serves as a reminder of the cycles of change and new beginnings prevalent at Samhain. This oil helps when dealing with the loss of a loved one and provides support for the home and family in general. Use it for clarity in divination as well as anointing others and consecrating altars. This oil also helps to ground energy and come into balance after ritual. Pomegranate is a symbol of hope and boundless love that quietly brings desires to life. Use it in spells to increase luck, prosperity, and security as well as provide protection. Pomegranate is also associated with creativity, fertility, money, and wealth.

Correspondences

Zodiac:
Gemini, Scorpio, Virgo
Solar System:
Mercury

Celebration:
Samhain
Elements:
earth, fire

Goddesses
: Aphrodite, Astarte, Ceres, Demeter, Hera, Persephone, Sekhmet

Gods:
Attis, Hades, Pluto

106. Duke,
Duke’s Handbook of Medicinal Plants of the Bible
, 362

252 Carrier Oil Profiles

Rosehip

Botanical Name
:
Rosa rubiginosa
; in South America:
R. mosqueta

Family
:
Rosaceae

Also Known As
: English: sweet brier; Spanish: rosa del campo

This thickly branching shrub reaches three to nine feet in height and produces more fruit than any other rose. Pink flowers grow singly or in groups of three to five and the berry-like rosehips are orange-scarlet. In some parts of France it was called
rose du diable
and
rose sorciere
(rose of the devil or sorcerer) because its thorns point down toward the Underworld.107 Native to Europe and western Asia, it became naturalized in South America after being introduced there by the Spanish. Rosehips have a long history of medicinal use and have been found at prehistoric sites where they may have been used as food and/or medicine. Since the time of ancient Rome they have been popular throughout Europe.

The sweet brier was made immortal by Shakespeare as one of the three types of roses in Titania’s bower (
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
) as well as the rose that grew from the grave of Tristan (
Tristan & Isolde
). In Siberia rose twigs were placed with cut logs to prevent evil from entering the structure that would eventually be built with the timber.

About the Oil

Oil is obtained from the seeds. Because it is expense it is often used diluted with another carrier.

Scent
: faintly earthy

Color
: pink tinge to reddish

Approximate Shelf Life
: 6 -12 months

Plant Part
: As Above/So Below—Seeds

Magical Support

Even though this oil does not come from the rose flower, it still carries the powers of love, attraction, and fidelity. Rosehip oil is also instrumental for divination, clairvoyance, dream work, and psychic work. It engenders confidence, courage, and trust, and aids in building inner power for magic. This oil is supportive when dealing with sorrow when a loved one dies as well as general problems. Use it to break hexes and in banishing spells as well as to 107. Watts,
Dictionary of Plant Lore
, 105

Carrier Oil Profiles 253

release anything unwanted from your life. Also use it to attract luck or provide protection.

Rosehip raises spiritual energy bringing peace, wisdom, and inspiration as well as blessings. The healing energy of rosehip is especially helpful for fertility, strengthening family ties, and engendering happiness. It is also associated with balance, beginning, changes, creativity, cycles, and knowledge.

Correspondences

Zodiac:
Cancer, Libra, Sagittarius, Taurus

Solar System:
Venus

Celebrations:
Mabon, Ostara, Rosalia

Elements:
fire, water

Goddesses:
Aphrodite, Demeter, Flora, Freya, Hathor, Holle, Isis, Venus

Gods:
Adonis, Cupid, Eros

Sesame

Botanical Name:
Sesamum indicum

Family
:
Pedaliaceae

Also Known As
: benne, sum-sum

Sesame is forever linked with Ali Baba’s magical phrase “open sesame”, which may have come from the way the seed pods suddenly spring open with a popping sound.108 Pods

holding 50 to 100 flat, oval seeds form inside the trumpet-shaped flowers as they fade.

Sesame’s species name means from India where the plant is believed to have been do-

mesticated. Cakes of sesame and honey called
melloi
were offerings to the Goddess at the Thesmorphoria, a women’s autumn festival in Sicily. Sesame cakes were also used in the festival of Elaphebolia to honor Artemis.109

In addition to a temple offering, sesame and honey cakes were a symbol of fertility and included in Greek and Roman wedding meals.

About the Oil

The oil is obtained from the seeds. It is also known as gingelly oil and teel oil.

108. Armstrong,
Wildlife and Plants
, 972

109. Ransome,
The Sacred Bee in Ancient Times and Folklore
, 132

254 Carrier Oil Profiles

Scent
: sweet, nutty, may be strong

Color
: golden to dark yellow

Approximate Shelf Life
: 6–12 months

Plant Part
: As Above/So Below—Seeds

Magical Support

Sesame’s powers of purification can be employed to consecrate magic space, to banish negativity, or to release a lover. It is also instrumental for defense and helpful when dealing with negative spirits. This oil provides protection in magic work, luck when seeking justice, and truth when keeping secrets. Use it spells to increase money and prosperity as well as to stimulate change. Sesame is also effective in matters of sex and passion, fertility and vitality. It is also associated with balance, beginnings, and cycles.

Correspondences

Solar System
: Sun

Celebration
: Imbolg, Mabon

Element
: fire

Goddess
: Artemis

God
: Ganesh

Sunflower

Botanical Name
:
Helianthus annuus

Family
:
Asteraceae

With a genus name that honors the Greek sun god Helios, the large, yellow-rayed flower heads track the sun’s daily journey across the sky. Sunflowers are tall (almost eight feet), erect annuals with thick, branched stems and coarse, heart-shaped leaves covered in rough hair. Indigenous to the North American prairies, all parts of the plant were used by Native Americans for a wide range of medicinal remedies. The sunflower was considered a ceremonial medicine plant especially for war dances. Cakes made from the seeds were taken along by war parties to help sustain them. Sunflowers were also used for everyday food, dyes, and adornment. By the time the European settlers arrived, sunflowers were grown as crops by settled tribes throughout a large part of North America.

Carrier Oil Profiles 255

About the Oil

Oil is obtained from the seeds.

Scent
: faint nutty

Color
: pale to golden yellow

Approximate Shelf Life
: 6–12 months

Plant Part
: As Above/So Below—Seeds

Magical Support

Sunflower brings solar energy and strength to oil blends focused on spirituality and well-being. It adds clarity to dream work as well as problem solving. Use it for protection and for releasing things that are unwanted in your life. This oil is effective in spells for attracting happiness, money, and luck as well as any magic work relating to cycles and change. Sunflower is instrumental when seeking self-knowledge that brings peace and balance. It is also helpful when dealing with sorrow. This oil is also associated with beginnings, desires, fertility, and wisdom.

Correspondences

Zodiac:
Leo

Solar System:
Sun

Celebration
: Lughnasadh

Element:
fire

Goddesses:
Demeter, Modron

Gods:
Apollo, Helios

A p p e n d i x A

Cross-Reference by Magical Intent

Magical Intent

Abundance (to attract, perpetuate)

Essential Oils
: allspice (
berry oil
), bergamot, birch, chamomile, grapefruit, helichrysum, juniper, lemon, lime, litsea, mandarin, myrrh, myrtle, nutmeg, opopanax, orange,

pepper, pine, star anise, tagetes, tarragon, yarrow

Carrier Oils
: almond, avocado, camellia, cranberry, flax, grape, hazelnut, jojoba, olive, pecan

Animals (to care for, work with, hunt)

Essential Oils
: catnip, mugwort, sage (
common, Spanish
), spikenard

Carrier Oil
: evening primrose (successful hunting)

Astral Realm (to explore, work with)

Essential Oils
: amyris, benzoin, cassia, celery, cinnamon, frankincense, galangal, geranium, ginger, jasmine, mugwort, parsley, sandalwood

Attraction

Essential Oils
: allspice, angelica, basil, cananga, cassia, catnip, chamomile, cinnamon, citronella, clary sage, clove, frankincense, geranium, helichrysum, hops, hyssop,

jasmine, lavender, lavendin, lemon balm, lovage, marjoram, mugwort, neroli,

oregano, patchouli, rose, rosemary, spearmint, spikenard, tagetes, yarrow, ylang-ylang
Carrier Oils
: avocado, camellia, olive, rosehip

257

258 Appendix A: Cross-Reference by Magical Intent

Awareness

Essential Oils
: anise, bay, bergamot, birch, cassia, catnip, cinnamon, clove, cypress, fir, frankincense, galangal, helichrysum, labdanum, lavender, lavendin, lemon, mugwort,

myrrh, neroli, nutmeg, opopanax, orange, pepper, peppermint, petitgrain, rosemary,

sandalwood, spearmint, star anise, thyme, yarrow

Carrier Oils
: almond, borage, camellia, flax

Balance

Essential Oils
: amyris, angelica (
seed oil
), anise, basil, bay, cajeput, camphor, cananga, caraway, cardamom, carrot, cassia (
bark oil
), cedarwood, celery, cinnamon (
bark oil
), clary sage, coriander, cumin, cypress, dill (
seed oil
), elemi, eucalyptus (
lemon
), fennel (
sweet
), fir (
silver
), frankincense, hops, lavender, lavendin, marjoram, myrrh, niaouli, nutmeg, opopanax, oregano, parsley, petitgrain, pine, rosemary, sage, sandalwood,

spikenard, spruce, tea tree, vetiver, ylang-ylang

Carrier Oils
: almond, apricot, borage, camellia, cranberry, evening primrose, flax, grape, hazelnut, jojoba, pecan, pomegranate, rosehip, sesame, sunflower

Banish

Essential Oils
: angelica, anise, basil, bay, benzoin, camphor, cedarwood, clove, cumin, cypress, eucalyptus, frankincense, galangal, juniper, mugwort, myrrh, opopanax,

patchouli, pepper, peppermint, pine, rose, rosemary, sandalwood, star anise, yarrow

Carrier Oils
: evening primrose, rosehip, sesame

Beauty

Essential Oils
: angelica, basil, cananga, catnip, chamomile, clary sage, clove (
bud oil
), geranium, ginger, helichrysum, hops, hyssop, jasmine, lavender, lavendin, lemon

balm, marjoram, mugwort, neroli, nutmeg, oregano, peppermint, rose, rosemary,

spearmint, tagetes, yarrow, ylang-ylang

Carrier Oils
: almond, avocado, borage, camellia, evening primrose, flax, hazelnut, jojoba Appendix A: Cross-Reference by Magical Intent 259

Beginnings

Essential Oils
: angelica (
seed oil
), anise, birch, caraway, cardamom, carrot, celery, clove (
bud oil
), coriander, cumin, dill (
seed oil
), fennel (
sweet
), fir, geranium, juniper, mugwort, nutmeg, parsley, pine, rose, yarrow

Carrier Oils
: almond, apricot, borage, camellia, cranberry, evening primrose, flax, grape, hazelnut, pomegranate, rosehip, sesame, sunflower

Bind (with an oath or pledge)

Essential Oils
: angelica, clove, cypress, frankincense (break bonds), hops, jasmine, pepper, pine, rose, rosemary

Carrier Oils
: apricot, cranberry, flax

Bless/Consecrate

Essential Oils
: allspice, angelica, anise, basil, bay, benzoin, birch, cassia, cedarwood, chamomile, cinnamon, coriander, cypress, fennel, frankincense, galangal, galbanum,

geranium, helichrysum, hyssop, jasmine, labdanum, lavender, lavendin, lime,

mugwort, myrrh, myrtle, opopanax, palmarosa, patchouli, pepper, pine, rose,

rosemary, sandalwood, spikenard, star anise, tagetes, thyme, valerian, yarrow

Carrier Oils
: almond, cranberry, grape, olive, pomegranate, rosehip, sesame

Changes (to cope with, initiate, support)

Essential Oils
: angelica (
seed oil
), anise, basil, cananga, caraway, cardamom, carrot, catnip, celery, clary sage, coriander, cumin, cypress, dill (
seed oil
), fennel (
sweet
), fir (
silver
), hyssop, lemon balm, marjoram, myrrh, nutmeg, opopanax, oregano, parsley, patchouli, peppermint, sage, spearmint, yarrow, ylang-ylang

Carrier Oils
: almond, apricot, borage, camellia, cranberry, evening primrose, flax, grape, hazelnut, pecan, pomegranate, rosehip, sesame, sunflower

Clairaudience

Essential Oil
: grapefruit

260 Appendix A: Cross-Reference by Magical Intent

Clairvoyance

Essential Oils
: anise, basil, bay, cassia, cedarwood, cinnamon, clary sage, clove, coriander, frankincense, lavender, lavendin, lemongrass, mugwort, nutmeg, oakmoss, patchouli,