#potionrequest

[potionslab]

To Awaken Latent Magical Abilities

Requested by @skullkisser-jynx

Supplies Needed:

-          One boiling crucible

-          Source of fire

-          Wooden Spoon

-          Mortar & Pestle

-          Vial or other container for storing the potion

-          Wand (your hand will suffice if you lack a wand.)

-          Sieve – for straining the liquid.

Ingredients Needed:

-          One pint purified water

-          2 fresh lemons

-          Honey

-          Handful of fresh mint

-          An orange peel

-          1 small piece of fresh ginger root

-          Three coffee beans

-          One sage leaf

Most opportune time for conjuring: Monday during a Full Moon, although any time is the time for magic.

Prepare for brewing as you would for any magical working. Cleanse the space and yourself as you see fit. You may wish to illuminate the workspace by candlelight. If incense is desired, sweeten the air by burning a mixture of frankincense, cedar, dragon’s blood, or any other fragrance that pleases you.

INSTRUCTIONS

1.        Bring the pint of water to a boil, then reduce the heat and allow it to simmer.

2.       Squeeze the juice from the lemons and contribute to the water.

3.       Add 1 tablespoon of honey.

Bring to a boil again and stir clockwise, making sure all three are combined as one. Concentrate on your goal while stirring.

4.      Add the handful of fresh mint leaves, which should first be washed to remove any excess dirt.

5.       Crush the ginger root into a paste and add to the brew.

Bring the brew to a boil again. Continue to stir clockwise while concentrating on your goal.

6.       Contribute the orange peel.

7.       Add the 3 coffee beans.

8.       Add the sage leaf.

Allow the potion to boil for the space of thirteen minutes, stirring frequently while contemplating your magical abilities. After this time has passed, remove the potion from the fire. Point your wand at the brew (or the index finger of your hand of power) and project energy into the concoction. Allow this enchantment spell to be recited. (Fair warning: I really need to work on my rhymes. )

Power to charm, bewitch, and conjure

Locked within a deep, dark slumber

When to my lips, this brew is brought

My magic powers will then wake up

Project as much energy into the potion as you deem necessary. Afterwards, the liquid can be strained through the sieve and poured off into the vial or other container. It may then be consumed immediately before meditation, magical workings, or going to bed. Pay close attention to your dreams or any visions you might receive as they may very well point to which types of magic you ought to explore.

I think it goes without saying that you consume potions at your own risk. The ingredients given are noted as safe, however, everyone’s body reacts differently. Please note, the potion recipes are developed for effectiveness, not taste! (How many Witches on TV look forward to actually drinking a potion! 😉)

ANALYSIS:

This potion request was to awaken magical abilities. I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve certainly had days where I’ve been groggy and felt like my magic was down. I wish I had written this simple potion ages ago! It could be a fun little way to jump start your magical abilities on one of those slower mornings.

As far as the ingredients go, everything selected is associated with awakening. Think about eating a lemon. Just thinking about it should make your mouth salivate and provoke a physical response. This is the same type of awareness we want to create for our magical abilities. The coffee beans are the main ingredient of a potion made my millions of people every day! No surprise why they’re included – they symbolize the awakening of those abilities. Ginger represents power, orange peel and honey represent the sweetness of life and the sage leaf represents wisdom.

[potionslab]

A Potion to Commune with an Animal Familiar

Working with spirit familiars is a common practice in many magical traditions. They act as guides, escorting Witches through the astral realms and aiding us in our magical workings. According to legend, familiar spirits can manifest themselves in animal form. When this apparition occurs, the Witch should take steps to strengthen the newly-formed bond. As the relationship between Witch and familiar develops, so too will the gifts they bestow.

@phat-lava requested a potion to commune with an animal familiar through dreams. To achieve this, I have written the following. As always, use caution when taking potions internally. Keep the #potionrequests coming!

Equipment Required

-          Boiling Crucible

-          Mortar and Pestle

-          Glass Vial

-          Measuring spoon

-          Wooden Spoon

-          Sieve

Ingredients Needed:

-          475ml Pomegranate Juice (2 cups)

-          44ml Absinthe (1 shot; available from any well-stocked liquor store)*

-          The skin of 1 red apple

-          1 fresh fig

-          1 tablespoon valerian root

-          ½ teaspoon poppy seed

-          13 rose hips

-          1 tablespoon of chamomile flowers, dried

-          1 teaspoon of honey

-          Essence of the animal spirit, optional (feather, fur, etc)

INSTRUCTIONS

1.        Heat the pomegranate juice over a high heat and bring to a boil.

2.       Lower the heat and bring the juice to a simmer then add the absinthe.

3.       Contribute the apple skin.

4.       Take the fresh fig and grind it into a fine paste using the mortar and pestle.           Contribute this to the brew.

5.       Raise heat and bring to a boil while stirring and concentrating on your                    intent. Allow it to boil for five minutes.

6.       Set the heat to its lowest setting and let the potion return to a simmer.

7.        Add the valerian root and continue simmering for five minutes.  

Make certain the potion is not allowed to return to boil after this point lest the properties of the valerian root are destroyed.

8.       Stir in the poppy seeds.

9.       Contribute the rose hips, one at a time, while concentrating on your intent.

10.     Add the chamomile flowers and simmer for five minutes.

11.      Contribute the honey, stirring vigorously to ensure it is well-blended into                the potion.

12.     If you have the animal essence, ensure it is clean then simply touch it to               the surface of the potion.

13.     Remove the potion from the heat and allow it to cool. Once cool, strain it             through a fine sieve.

14.    Pour off the potion into a small glass vial.

15.     Ingest the potion right before bed while concentrating on that which is                   sought: communion with your animal spirit. In @phat-lava’s case, this                   would be the raven.

*Nota Bene: for a non-alcoholic version, you can substitute one ounce of dried wormwood. 

ANALYSIS: Pomegranate and Absinthe (a wormwood derivative) have long been associated with the other world. Apples and figs also have spirit associations. Chamomile, valerian, rose hips, and poppy seeds all bring sleep. The animal essence can be used to heighten the strength of this working, but if your mind is strong enough, the animal essence isn’t required.

[potionslab]

Potion to Acquire a New Residence

Requested by @markandreid-trash

This potion-ritual can be used when working to acquire a new home or residence. Do not ingest. Keep the potion requests coming! This is a lot of fun for me! If you’ve already submitted a request, worry not! I will get to them all!

Supplies Needed:

-          Boling crucible

-          Glass vial

-          Small mojo bag

-          Fireproof dish (optional)

-          Sieve

Ingredients Needed:

-          A pint of water

-          A pinch of salt

-          A small stone from the desired dwelling

-          A teaspoon of dirt from the dwelling

-          An old key that has touched the lock of the dwelling.  

-          A jade leaf

-          A grain of rice for each housemate

-          A silver coin

-          A feather from a bird of flight

-          A personal item for each housemate (lock of hair, fingernail, drop of blood, or saliva)

Instructions 

1.       Bring the water to a boil.

2.       Contribute the salt.

3.       Add the stone from your desired dwelling.

4.       Add the dirt from the dwelling.

5.       Add the key

6.       Contribute the jade leaf.

7.       Add the silver coin.

8.       Contribute the rice.

9.       Add the feather.

10.     Last, add the personal item of each housemate.

Allow the brew to boil and bubble while concentrating on your goal. When the concentration can no longer be held in the mind’s eye, remove the brew from the fire and allow it to cool. Once cool, filter the liquid through the sieve into the vial and remove the stone, coin, and key and secure them in the mojo bag. Take the vial to the dwelling and use the potion to anoint the threshold. Leave behind the mojo bag with the stone, coin and key, taking care to hide it somewhere out of sight and out of mind. Turn away and do not look back.

If you are moving out of state and visiting the dwelling to carry out this potion-ritual isn’t possible, this working can still be carried out with ease. Write the address of the desired dwelling on a slip of paper and burn it. Contribute the ashes to the brew, saving a bit to rub into the key and the stone. A small portion of ashes can be mixed into a measure of dirt from any location and this used in place of dirt from your desired dwelling.

Analysis

The symbolism of the above mentioned potion ingredients are pretty obvious. First, the salt is a symbol of the earth which is manifestation and the ground on which we build our shelters. The key, dirt, and stone are all links to the home that is sought. The jade leaf is a common plant that is often kept in the home to encourage luck. A silver coin is added to ensure financial requirements for the home are satisfied. The grains of rice are added to keep each housemate from going hungry and the personal items are added to tie the home to those that seek it.

[potionslab]

A Potion to Banish Unwanted Persons

Another potion request! Keep them coming!

Not intended for ingestion. Use at your own risk.

Supplies Needed

-          Cauldron or other boiling crucible

-          Wooden spoon

-          Glass vial

-          Fireproof dish

-          Mortar and pestle

-          Sieve

-          Small funnel

Ingredients

-          One pint water

-          One cup of sour milk

-          ½ cup of apple cider vinegar

-          1 pinch of Devil’s Dung (Asafoetida)

-          A dandelion root

-          1 garlic clove

-          Handful of sea salt

-          An item belonging to the victim. A snipping of clothing is ideal.

-          Oil of Rue or Oil of Sandalwood

INSTRUCTIONS

1.       Heat the water over a low heat.

2.       Add the sour milk and apple cider vinegar.

Stir with a wooden spoon while concentrating on the target of your working.

3.       Take the oil of rue or sandalwood and anoint the victim’s personal item. Once anointed, carefully burn it in the fireproof dish taking care to preserve the ashes.

4.       Add the ashes to the mortar, along with the garlic clove, and grind with the pestle. Add this to the brew.

Continue stirring while concentrating on the target.

5.       Add the dandelion root.

6.       Contribute the Devil’s Dung.

Allow the brew to boil for ten minutes, stirring frequently.

7.        Add the handful of sea salt.

Continue boiling for another five minutes. As you stir, imbue the concoction with your personal energy. The intent you program therein should be “banishing.” Once you’ve contributed all of the energy you can into the brew, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool. Once cool, strain the brew through the sieve into the glass vial.

Now, take the vial and go forth on a moonless night to a crossroads, old cemetery, or some other deserted or liminal location. Hold the vial before you and see your victim’s face therein. Recite this incantation:

Here you dwell but through this spell you quickly take your leave

Remove your face from this my place so I can now be free.

Banished be for eternity from me and all that’s mine

I set you free immediately until the end of time

Hurl the vial at the earth making sure it breaks when it hits the ground. Walk away and do not look back and your victim will soon depart.

ANALYSIS:

All of the ingredients have strong affiliations to banishing. First, the liquids selected represented the sourness of life – which will create the motivation for the victim to leave. The Devil’s Dung is often used in exorcisms and banishing spells due to its pungent odor that “no being, mortal or otherwise, can tolerate.” The garlic is another protection and repelling ingredient. The sea salt represents purification. The rue or sandalwood oil represent banishing, at least to me, but I suppose they could be substituted with other scents you find most fitting. If you're trying to be environmentally conscious, you can return afterwards to pick up the broken glass.