#alchemy-works

[kentuckwitch]

I am loving this book so far. It's so informative and fun. I love it so much, I've already ordered a bunch of seeds for starting my own witch's garden. It's by the proprietor of Alchemy Works.

[skwivr]

Hey this is a wild shot into the void but does anyone know if there’s anything up with alchemy-works (aka alchemy-works.com)?

I ordered seeds almost a month ago now and the dude (Harold Roth) hasn’t responded to either of my e-mails and I’m getting a little miffed, but more than that super anxious. He published his book in January but after that I can’t find any activity on any of his social media (I’m getting desperate, yeah).

I am really scraping the money together atm and these seeds were an investment and I’m way way behind on starting them and I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to have to open a dispute because it’s going to take forever to get my money back and buy more seeds and I just don’t know what to do.

Last ditch is to try calling him on the number he provided but I’ve got the most severe phone anxiety you can imagine so I’ve been putting that off.

I’ve bought from alchemy-works many times in the past when I was a teenager and this is the first time I’ve ever had a problem. This is just because at this point I’m nearly having a panic attack.

[rootandrock]

satsekhem replied to your post: Just ordered 100% silk with which to line mandrake...

What would you use mandrake coffins for?

This is a semi-long response to a very short question. The short answer is "You keep a mandragore/mandrake root in it" - the slightly longer answer is that a mandragora is the ritually harvested/prepared root of the Mandragora officinarum plant. It's variously dried as-is, or carved, sometimes rather extremely carved, it's dressed in fancy little clothes and housed in a miniature burial coffin. These range from simple wooden boxes to very elaborate punched metal affairs with enameled or metal sigils/seals. 

I'm working off of some things I was taught mixed with some research I've done and using this on my own crop (albeit a smallish one) of true Mandragora officinarum roots. I'm doing my best to stick to pure silks, and really regal/fancy things as, historically, they're dressed damned near like tiny kings.  Once they're dressed they'll literally be draped in silk, gold, and precious stones.

In every sense, the mandrake is treated like a little person in these methods. It's fed, bathed, given fresh clothing every-now-and-then, can be consulted for questions about the spirit world, and is historically used to increase wealth. They are familiar spirits housed in herbal curious, so the coffin also serves another purpose by housing what is a fairly fragile, perishable, vessel for the helper-spirit.

[hexenwildling]

Incense, Oils, Bpal, and Planets

Planetary info Compiled From http://www.alchemy-works.com/planetary_corresp.html (where you can find tons more information as well as more affordable oils, but I have only worked with Bpals) Join the bpal madness forum to learn more about their oils and get used bottles on the cheap. The Bpal scents listed here are from my personal collection ^__^

Saturn (Earth and Air - Saturday): Saturn is all about learning one's limits and the emphasizing of borders. Sorcerers through the ages have chosen these plants when doing binding or hexing spells, rituals for breaking one's own bad habits, or spellwork for connecting to crone/elder streams. Saturn plants tend to enjoy growing in shade or in dry ground that would not nourish other plants. Although the classical view of this planetary influence is as evil and its scents as unpleasant, I think this is very limited and dualistic ("there is only good or bad"). Nor is this planet all about stricture; hemp is a Saturn plant after all.

 Scents: All “evil” odors, Asafoetida, Binah Oil, Cannabis, Cypress, Indigo, Norway spruce, Musk seed, blackthorn bark, opoponax, pomegranate, witch hazel, Scammony, Sulphur, Thyme, Yew

Example Bpal: Nephilim, Gomorrah, Pumpkin 2, Twisted Oak, Night Hag Visiting the Lapland Witches, Gacela of the Dark Death, Umbra

Venusian (Earth and Air - Friday): Choose Venus plants when you are making philtres or conducting rituals related to love magic (and also sometimes money). This planetary influence is helpful in combatting martial spells (like attack magic); because it is unexpected, it can work better than a Mars response. Venereal plants tend to have large, lush flowers and its scents are sweet and strong. Rose and lily are good examples

  Scents: African violet, All soft voluptuous odors, Almond, Apricot, Benzoin, Berry, Cherry, Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Lilac, Mint, Myrtle, Palmarosa, Red Sandalwood, Rose, Strawberry (and all berry scents), Tonka bean, Vanilla, Violet

Bpal: The Perfumed Garden, Wanda, Eros, Les Bijoux, Amiable and Lovely Creatures, Dawn Maiden, Brinsingamen

 Jupiterian (Fire and Water- Thursday): Think of a king, and you've pretty much got Jupiter's influence pegged. Jupiter plants tend to be large and bold. They often offer nutritious fruits or seeds or have yellow flowers (yellow being one of this planet's colors). They can be aromatic, although generally not in the same was as Mercury plants. In terms of effects, Jupiter plants cause a warm feeling of sedate contentment without any dopeyness or stupefaction. Crowley's designation of Jupiter's scents as "generous" is apt. This is an open-handed king, not a tyrant or a miser. If your ritual focuses on religion, faith, law, or authority, using this planetary influence is a good idea.

Scents:  Burgundy pitch, Copaiba balsam, Copol oro, Gum ammoniac, Lime, Magnolia,

Mint, Norway spruce, Nutmeg, Oak, Red Rose, Red Sandalwood, Saffron, Sage

Bpal: The Twisted Oak, October, Ehecatl, Tezcatlipoca, BTC, Mabon, Coxcomb, Morocco, Lick it vigorously

    Mercurial (Air and Earth - Wednesday): Mercury rules over the acquisition of magical or other types of knowledge, aids in travel between worlds and the guiding of the souls of the dead, and is the patron of merchants, thieves, gays, and any who present a mask to the world. Plants under Mercury's rulership tend to affect thought and the nervous system, usually have finely divided leaves (as it is imagined that nerves are divided), and have a high, zingy scent that generally is not long-lasting (because Mercury is quick). Reach for Mercury plants if you want to throw out a glamour, learn some new rituals, or communicate in a difficult situation.

Scents: Bayberry, Caraway, Clover, Dill, Elemi, Fennel, Fenugreek, Fugitive Odors, Lavender, Lemongrass, Licorice, Mace, Marjoram, Mastic, Sandarac, Storax, Vetiver, White Sandalwood

Bpal: Lurid, The Lurid Library, Elegba, Ouija, Pontarlier, Schrodinger’s Cat

Martial (Fire and Water - Tuesday): Botanicals ruled by this planet should be your choice if your magic is focused on defense or attack, involves building physical strength or courage, concerns masculine energy, or is meant to fend off binding spells, especially of the love magic (Venus) sort. Martial plants tend to be prickly--either literally, having thorns, or by having caustic sap. They often have a hot flavor (like black pepper) or a hot scent and can be red in color (like dragonsblood)

Scents: Asafoetida, Basil, Bdellium ,Calamus, Caper, Cardamom, Catmint, Coriander, Dragon's Blood (incl ink), Euphorbium gum, Garlic, Ginger, Hot pungent odors, Hyacinth, Myrrh, Opoponax, Onion, Pepper, Turmeric, Wormwood.

Bpal: Scorpio, Djinn, Athens, Pandemonium, Fallen Angels in Hell, Bonfire Night, Shub-Niggurath, Tanin‘Iver, Isle of Demons

Lunar (Water- Monday): Moon plants are especially beloved to the witch, handy as they are for divination, especially through dreams. They tend to be watery/juicy, like cucumbers and melons, and to have a smoothly sweet scent, like orris root or violets. They are often sedating, like chamomile, but they can be euphoric, like clary sage. Choose Moon plants when you are working with the subconscious or emotions or traveling the astral plane.

Scents: Almond gum, Banana, Calamus, Camphor, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Melon, Menstrual Blood, Orris, Poppy seeds, Rose, Sandarac, Storax, Sweet Virginal odors, Wintergreen

Bpal: Phantasm, Squirting Cucumber, Ogun, Obatala, Thalassa the Galapagos Mermaid, Sudha Segara

Solar: (Fire- Sunday) Probably the most popular of the planetary influences for the general population, Sun rules over prosperity and general protection. Choose Sun plants when you are looking for centering, doing money magic, or honoring aspects of the divine that are sun-associated. Sun plants often have sun-shaped flowers (daisies, for instance) or when ingested give a feeling of calm warmth (unlike the heating of Mars, which can lead to violent action).

Scents: All glorious odors, Benzoin, Calamus, Cinnamon, Clove, Citrus, Frangipani, Frankincense, Labdanum, Marigold, Olibanum, Rosemary, Rowan, Saffron

Bpal: Faustus, Bess, Harlot, Ecclesiastical Excesses, Third Charm, Mango-Infused, Haloa