Mixing Essential Oils for Magic: Aromatic Alchemy for Personal Blends (13 page)

As Above, So Below 81

Throughout this chapter it should be understood that oils produced from different

parts of the same plant are listed in their respective categories. For example, oil is produced from both the roots and seeds of angelica and where this plant is listed in the roots category it refers to angelica root oil and so forth. In the case of sandalwood, which is produced from a combination of roots and wood, you will find it in both categories. Where necessary to avoid confusion, I have maintained details to distinguish between balsam and silver fir and a few others. To conserve space I have abbreviated details. For example, Atlas and Virginia cedarwood, and lemon and blue gum eucalyptus are shown simply as cedarwood (
A
) or eucalyptus (
bg
). Each table in this chapter is divided between As Above and So Below and lists their respective oils. Even though seeds fit into both groups, they are listed once in each table where space allows, which should not be construed as their belonging to only one group. Now, let’s take a look at the oils in each category along with the powers of their plant parts.

The So Below Oils

Roots

Residing under the earth, roots are the most natural plant part for grounding energy and providing stability. Blends from this category can aid us during psychic or astral work as well as post-ritual grounding of energy. Roots are a symbol of longevity and they encourage us to hold secrets when bidden. In addition, roots offer access to the Underworld, making these oils useful for connecting with ancestors, other spirits, or chthonic deities.

As a result, a Samhain blend of these oils can be very powerful.

Roots combined with wood & bark oils can add protection during Otherworld or Un-

derworld contact. Resin oils bring vitality to longevity, and the twigs & leaves oils can add energy to all endeavors. Combining root oils with As Above oils enhances their powers.

Roots keep us grounded as we seek our true purpose in life and lend stability. The energy of beauty from flowers can benefit from the longevity of roots.

82 As Above, So Below

Table 6.1.a Roots and So Below Oils

Roots

Other Roots Wood &

Resin

Twigs &

Seeds

Bark

Leaves

angelica

cedarwood

frankincense

pine

coriander

galangal

cinnamon

opopanax

pine

parsley

ginger

vetiver

sandalwood

frankincense

eucalyptus (
l
) coriander

lovage

galbanum

bay

celery

sandalwood

ginger

myrrh

cypress

snakeroot

vetiver

sandalwood

pine

coriander

spikenard

vetiver

frankincense

cypress

dill

turmeric

ginger

labdanum

nutmeg

valerian

cedarwood

petitgrain

vetiver

spikenard

sandalwood

opopanax

angelica

As Above, So Below 83

Table 6.1.b Roots and As Above Oils

Roots

Leaves

Flowers

Leaves &

Fruit

Flowers

angelica

patchouli

lavender

clary sage

lemon

galangal

myrtle

lavandin

rosemary

lemon

ginger

cinnamon

neroli

orange

lovage

lavandin

sandalwood

palmarosa

jasmine

clary sage

lemon

snakeroot

patchouli

clary sage

bergamot

spikenard

patchouli

lavender

clary sage

juniper

turmeric

clove

ylang-ylang

clary sage

valerian

patchouli

lavender

rosemary

mandarin

vetiver

patchouli

rose

clary sage

84 As Above, So Below

Table 6.2.a Resins and So Below Oils

Resins

Other Resins Wood &

Roots

Twigs &

Seeds

Bark

Leaves

benzoin

myrrh

cassia

sandalwood

cypress

coriander

elemi

frankincense cinnamon

eucalyptus (
l
) nutmeg

fir (
balsam
)

benzoin

cedarwood

sandalwood

cypress

frankincense opopanax

camphor

angelica

bay

caraway

galbanum

storax

lovage

pine

cumin

labdanum

frankincense sandalwood

vetiver

cypress

fir (
silver
)

myrrh

elemi

sandalwood

angelica

pine

opopanax

labdanum

sandalwood

vetiver

fir (
silver
)

coriander

storax

galbanum

cedarwood

Resins

Whether they are somewhat liquid or viscous, I think of resins, gums, and oleoresins as the life-blood of plants supplying vitality and administering healing. They also embody spirituality and aid us in tapping into that level of energy for meaningful ritual. Quite naturally many of these are members of the resinous scent group. Resins combined with other So Below oils add vitality and vigor where needed. Their healing aspect can encourage the longevity of root oils and work in synergy with wood & bark’s strength. With the As Above oils, resins add vitality to the energy and growth of leaves. They also bring an element of control, which can be helpful when dealing with attraction, especially sexual.

Control might also be warranted to keep over-ambitious manifestation in check.

As Above, So Below 85

Table 6.2.b Resins and As Above Oils

Resins

Leaves

Flowers

Leaves &

Fruit

Flowers

benzoin

patchouli

jasmine

lemon

elemi

sage

lavender

rosemary

lime

fir (
balsam
)

tarragon

lavender

peppermint

juniper

frankincense

cinnamon

neroli

basil

orange

galbanum

tarragon

lavender

juniper

labdanum

patchouli

lavandin

clary sage

bergamot

myrrh

patchouli

peppermint

thyme

mandarin

opopanax

patchouli

neroli

clary sage

bergamot

storax

palmarosa

rose

86 As Above, So Below

Table 6.3.a Wood & Bark and So Below Oils

Wood & Bark

Other W & B Resins

Roots

Twigs & Seeds

Leaves

amyris

cedarwood

ginger

spruce

coriander

camphor

frankincense

ginger

cajeput

caraway

cassia

cinnamon

benzoin

ginger

cardamom

cedarwood (
A
)

amyris

frankincense

vetiver

cypress

carrot

cedarwood (
V
)

amyris

benzoin

cypress

carrot

cinnamon

cassia

elemi

galangal

spruce

caraway

sandalwood

myrrh

cypress

coriander

Wood and Bark

Sturdy wood and bark from trees and the woody parts of other plants provide protection.

As a result, these oils are particularly potent in blends for this intention. Wood and bark are also a gauge of growth and can aid us in manifesting ours on various levels: social, emotional, and spiritual. These parts of plants also provide balance by being at the center or encircling it as they bolster strength. Wood & bark combined with other So Below oils bring strength to the stability of root oils. The growth and protection attributes of wood

& bark oils give a potent boost to the healing of resins, while the energy of the twigs & leaves oils augment all their powers. With the As Above oils, the growth of wood & bark compliments and amplifies the growth of leaves. Keeping centered and balanced can be valuable in matters of beauty, sex, and attraction as well as when seeking success.

As Above, So Below 87

Table 6.3.b Wood & Bark and As Above Oils

Wood & Bark

Leaves

Flowers

Leaves &

Fruit

Flowers

amyris

citronella

lavandin

mugwort

bergamot

camphor

chamomile

basil

juniper

cassia

clove

lavender

rosemary

grapefruit

cedarwood (
A
)

citronella

ylang-ylang

clary sage

bergamot

cedarwood (
V
)

palmarosa

lavender

rosemary

juniper

cinnamon

fir (
balsam
)

ylang-ylang

thyme

mandarin

sandalwood

patchouli

jasmine

clary sage

bergamot

88 As Above, So Below

Table 6.4.a Twigs & Leaves and So Below Oils

Twigs &

Other T & L Resins

Wood &

Roots

Seeds

Leaves

Bark

bay

cypress

frankincense cedarwood

lovage

cardamom

cajeput

pine

labdanum

camphor

angelica

cypress

bay

benzoin

cedarwood

sandalwood

cardamom

eucalyptus (
l
) pine

elemi

ginger

dill

fir (
silver
)

pine

labdanum

cedarwood

niaouli

cajeput

fennel

petitgrain

tea tree

benzoin

cedarwood

valerian

coriander

pine

eucalyptus

myrrh

cedarwood

spikenard

celery

(
l
)

spruce

pine

galbanum

cedarwood

tea tree

niaouli

cinnamon

ginger

nutmeg

Twigs and Leaves

As a subset of wood & bark, these oils offer the same attributes and powers with the addition of leaf energy. Closely aligned with wood & bark, the twigs & leaves oils can be used for the same intentions and exponentially boost the energy of others in the So Below group. Twigs & leaves oils enhance all aspects associated with leaves. They also boost the energy of the As Above oils.

As Above, So Below 89

Table 6.4.b Twigs & Leaves and As Above Oils

Twigs &

Leaves

Flowers

Leaves &

Fruit

Leaves

Flowers

bay

patchouli

lavender

clary sage

juniper

cajeput

eucalyptus (
bg
)

lavender

basil

bergamot

cypress

palmarosa

lavandin

clary sage

lemon

eucalyptus (
l
)

palmarosa

spearmint

thyme

orange

fir (
silver
)

tarragon

lavender

marjoram

lemon

niaouli

myrtle

peppermint

basil

lime

petitgrain

palmarosa

jasmine

rosemary

bergamot

pine

sage

lavender

thyme

juniper

spruce

lavandin

clary sage

orange

tea tree

lemongrass

ylang-ylang

marjoram

juniper

90 As Above, So Below

Table 6.5.a Leaves and As Above Oils

Leaves

Other

Flowers

Leaves &

Fruit

Seeds

Leaves

Flowers

allspice

patchouli

neroli

orange

coriander

birch

clove

jasmine

rosemary

juniper

cassia

clove

lavender

rosemary

grapefruit

coriander

cinnamon

clove

ylang-ylang

rosemary

orange

caraway

citronella

sage

lavandin

basil

bergamot

coriander

(
common
)

clove

cassia

peppermint

clary sage

grapefruit

nutmeg

dill

lemongrass

spearmint

lemon balm orange

cardamom

eucalyptus

sage

lavender

mugwort

lemon

anise

(
bg
)

(
Spanish
)

fir (
balsam
)

tarragon

lavender

juniper

coriander

lemongrass

dill

lavender

tagetes

bergamot

myrtle

clove

lavandin

hyssop

lime

palmarosa

clove

cananga

lemon balm grapefruit

cardamom

patchouli

allspice