Mixing Essential Oils for Magic: Aromatic Alchemy for Personal Blends (29 page)

Correspondences

Zodiac
: Aquarius, Capricorn, Scorpio, Taurus, Virgo

Solar System
: Mars, Saturn

Celebration
: Samhain

Elements
: air, earth

Goddess
: Modron

Pepper, Black

Botanical Name
:
Piper nigrum

Family
:
Piperaceae

Indigenous to southwestern India, this woody vine can grow up to 16 feet long. It has small white flowers and heart-shaped leaves. The red berries turn black as they ripen and become the familiar peppercorns. As an important trade commodity in the 4th century, pepper was the must-have food flavoring. Medicinally, pepper has been used in China and India for thousands of years. In addition, monks throughout India used it daily to increase energy and stamina for their rigorous ascetic way of life. Pepper was so valuable in Europe during the Middle Ages that it served as payment for dowries and taxes. Merchants 206 Essential Oil Profiles

who were called “pepperers” and “spicers” dispensed their wares for culinary and medicinal purposes and became the forerunners of apothecaries.71

Oil and Blending Information

The unripe fruit is steam distilled producing a white to pale olive colored oil. It has a somewhat sharp, spicy, and slightly woody scent. Unlike ground pepper, the oil does not cause sneezing.

Strength
: 3

Scent Group
: spicy

Perfume Note
: middle to base

Plant Part
: As Above/Fruit

Warnings
: may cause skin irritation; not compatible with homeopathic treatment; use in moderation

Magical Uses

Pepper’s energizing qualities stimulate the mind bringing focus and inner strength. Use it to amplify awareness for dream work and divination. Pepper can get things going when you are in a rut and helps resolve problems. This oil is instrumental in defensive magic when seeking justice. It also helps to bolster determination and courage, and bring success. Effective for banishings and binding spells, pepper also removes hexes. Its purification properties make it ideal for consecrating ritual gear to release old energy and provide protection. Additionally, it aids in manifesting abundance and security. Pepper is also associated with healing, increase, and lust.

Correspondences

Zodiac
: Aries

Solar System
: Mars

Elements
: fire, water

71. Duke,
Duke’s Handbook of Medicinal Spices
, 24

Essential Oil Profiles 207

Petitgrain: See The Orange Oils

Pine

Botanical Name
:
Pinus sylvestris

Family
:
Pinaceae

Also Known As
: forest pine, Scotch pine, Scots pine

Reaching over 100 feet tall, this evergreen has rough, reddish-brown bark, pointed brown cones, and needles that grow in pairs. Pine was associated with Pan and other woodland gods, and its species name means “of the woods or forests.”72 Extensively used for shipbuilding in ancient Greece, pine was dedicated to the sea god Neptune. Various parts of the tree were used medicinally throughout Europe and Asia where it is indigenous.

Oil and Blending Information

The needles and twigs are steam distilled creating a colorless or pale yellow oil that has a fresh, woody, and slightly turpentine-like scent. It is often called pine needle oil.

Strength
: 4

Scent Group
: woody

Perfume Note
: middle to top

Plant Part
: So Below/Twigs & Leaves

Warnings
: may cause skin irritation; avoid if you have high blood pressure

Magical Uses

Pine is well known for purification, which works for releasing negative energy and is especially effective in public spaces. This same quality makes it an ally in defensive magic and in protection from hexes especially for the home. Use it for blessings and to attract abundance as well as for spells that banish or bind. It is also well known for its association with cycles, beginnings, fertility, and renewal. This oil can steady and focus the mind for psychic work as well as communication with spirits. On a spiritual level, it aids in healing and growth that brings inspiration, peace, and access to ancient wisdom. Pine is helpful when learning to trust intuition and memories paving the way for self-transformation.

Building confidence and courage, pine provides hope and determination when dealing

72. Neil,
Gardener’s Latin
, 120

208 Essential Oil Profiles

with legal matters. This oil is both stimulating and balancing, which enhances creativity and provides emotional strength. Pine is also associated with friendship, desires, longevity, truth, and well-being.

Correspondences

Zodiac
: Aquarius, Aries, Cancer, Capricorn, Pisces, Scorpio

Solar System
: Jupiter, Mars, Saturn
Elements
: air, earth, fire

Celebrations
: Beltane, Midsummer, Yule

Goddesses
: Aphrodite, Artemis, Astarte, Cybele, Diana, Ishtar, Isis, Rhea, Venus
Gods
: Attis, Bacchus, Dionysus, Neptune, Pan, Poseidon, Silvanus, Vulcan

The Rose Oils

Botanical Family
:
Rosaceae

Through the centuries roses have symbolized confidence, love, happiness, passion, and more. Their importance and mystery have been highlighted in myth, art, and literature.

According to Greek legend, a drop of Aphrodite’s blood gave the rose its red color. In addition, roses were said to have been a component in Cleopatra’s arsenal of seduction.

Myth tells us that Eros presented a rose as a gift to Harpocrates, the god of silence. Using this as a cue, it became common practice to hang a rose over the dinner table when the conversation was to be confidential, which was the source of the term
sub rosa
. In the ceremony of
Rosalia
, Romans scattered rose petals on the graves of loved ones symbolizing the start of a new state of being as well as to give them a good send-off.

For centuries rose oil has been known as otto of rose, rose otto, and attar of rose.

When shopping for rose oil today it is common to find it listed as rose otto or rose attar.

Unlike jasmine, rose petals can be steam distilled, however, this method has a low yield of essential oil making it expensive. Because rose absolute is often distilled into an oil, it is wise to use a vendor that offers specific information about the extraction methods for each oil.

Rose, Damask

Botanical Name
:
Rosa damascene

Also Known As
: Turkish rose

Essential Oil Profiles 209

Despite its name, this rose did not originate in Syria, the land of roses, but is thought to have come from Asia. The Damask rose is a shrub that grows to between three and six

feet tall. It has single, medium pink flowers and many thorns. This type of rose has been found in Egyptian tombs and it is believed to have been introduced during the reign of Ramses the Great (1279–1213 BCE). In Indian myth Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu, was

found in a rose and from this came the custom of a groom giving his bride attar of rose on their wedding day.

Oil and Blending Information

A pale yellow or olive colored oil is produced by steam or water distillation of the petals.

The scent is rich, sweet-floral, and just slightly spicy.

Strength
: 5

Scent Group
: floral

Perfume Note
: top

Plant Part
: As Above/Flowers

Warning
: avoid during pregnancy

Rose, Maroc

Botanical Name
:
Rosa gallica
syn.
R. x centifolia

Also Known As
: cabbage rose, French rose, Moroccan rose, rose de Mai, rose of Provence Believed to have originated in Persia (Iran), this rose shrub reaches about five feet in height and has semi-double, pink or red flowers. It is the rose that Greek poet Sappho (circa 615–550 BCE) called the queen of flowers.

Oil and Blending Information

The petals are steam distilled to create a pale yellow oil that has a rich, rosy-sweet scent.

Strength
: 3

Scent Group
: floral

Perfume Note
: middle to base

Plant Part
: As Above/Flowers

Warning
: avoid during pregnancy

210 Essential Oil Profiles

Magical Uses

Roses are the greatest symbol of love and beauty. Use rose oil to attract love, heighten desire and passion as well as to increase fertility and fidelity. Working on a spiritual level, rose instills deep devotion that brings inspiration and wisdom. It attracts peace to the home and aids in dealing with family issues. Additionally, its healing energy brings happiness, friendship, and luck to the home. This oil is a powerful aid for divination, Otherworld contact, and encouraging prophetic dreams. It is supportive when engaging in clairvoyance, communicating with spirits, and psychic work in general. Because fairies are quite enamored with roses, these oils help to attract them and to invite their blessings. Rose oil is also good for consecrating amulets and charms. Use it for banishings and binding spells, for aid in releasing hexes, and for help when keeping secrets. This oil is instrumental in providing emotional comfort during times of sorrow or loss especially following the death of a loved one. Rose is also associated with confidence, courage, creativity, power, self, and strength.

Correspondences

Zodiac
: Cancer, Libra, Sagittarius, Taurus

Solar System
: Venus

Celebrations
: Ostara, Rosalia

Elements
: air, water

Goddesses
: Aphrodite, Demeter, Flora, Freya, Hathor, Holle, Isis, Lakshmi, Venus
Gods
: Adonis, Angus, Cupid, Eros, Harpocrates

Rosemary

Botanical Name
:
Rosmarinus officinalis

Family
:
Lamiaceae

Also Known As
: elf leaf, incensier, rosmarine, sea dew

Native to the Mediterranean, rosemary is a shrubby plant with pine needle-like leaves and pale blue flowers. Often found growing on the sea cliffs of southern France, rosemary was described as having the smell of the ocean with a hint of pine. This is the source of its genus name which means dew of the sea.73 Since ancient times rosemary was used in religious ceremonies, magic spells, and more mundanely as a medicinal herb. The Greeks and Romans used it at weddings as a symbol of fidelity and at funerals for remembrance.

73. Wilson,
Aromatherapy
, 113

Essential Oil Profiles 211

In the belief that rosemary improved memory, students in ancient Greece burned it or wore a sprig of it in their hair for help in passing exams. In 14th century Europe, rosemary blossoms were sugared and eaten as a preventive measure against the plague.

Oil and Blending Information

A colorless or pale yellow oil is produced by steam distillation of the leaves and flower tops. It has a minty-herbaceous scent with a woody undertone.

Strength
: 4

Scent Group
: herbaceous

Perfume Note
: middle to top

Plant Part
: As Above/Leaves & Flowers

Warnings
: avoid during pregnancy; avoid with epilepsy or other seizure disorders; avoid with high blood pressure

Magical Uses

As in the past, rosemary is associated with remembering the dead. Use it at funerals or in Samhain rituals to honor those who have passed beyond the veil. Because it improves memory, it is instrumental for remembering dreams as well as for past-life work. Rosemary’s cleansing properties make it useful for clearing negativity before ritual, magic, or healing work. This oil reduces the intensity of strong emotions making it helpful in balancing relationships and engendering fidelity between lovers. Also use it in spells to bind people together as well as to banish what you no longer need in your life. Rosemary is instrumental in defensive magic to release and protect against hexes. Also use it to consecrate charms and amulets. While it can attract elves and fairies, it also protects against ma-licious entities. Rosemary enhances awareness and increases magic and psychic powers.

This oil provides focus and clarity for all forms of communication as well as inspiration for creative pursuits. Rosemary is also associated with friendship, luck, lust, marriage, and wisdom.

Correspondences

Zodiac
: Aquarius, Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Virgo

Solar System
: Mercury, Moon, Sun

Celebrations
: Samhain, Walpurgis, Yule

Elements
: air, fire

Goddess
: Kupala

212 Essential Oil Profiles

The Sage Oils

Botanical Family
:
Lamiaceae

The genus name for sage,
Salvia
, comes from the Latin
salvare
meaning to cure or make healthy.74 The sage oils in this book do not include white sage (
Salvia apiana
) which is used as a sacred herb by Native Americans. Although white sage oil is becoming increasingly popular in specialty shops, it is not as readily available in the form of a true essential oil as are the other sages. In addition, it is important to note that although the essential oil from
Artemisia douglasiana
is usually called blue sage oil, the plant itself is commonly called white sage, which is sometimes confused with
Salvia apiana
.

Clary Sage

Botanical Name
:
Salvia sclarea

Also Known As
: clary, clary wort, clear eye, muscatel sage, see bright

This herb has large leaves tinged with purple and small, blue flowers. Indigenous to southern Europe, clary’s species name comes from the Latin
clarus
meaning clear.75 This sage was used for centuries as a remedy for eye problems and during the Middle Ages it was known as clear eyes.76 For centuries clary was held in high regard as a general tonic and was often added to wine or beer to increase their euphoric effect as well as impart a better taste.