Mixing Essential Oils for Magic: Aromatic Alchemy for Personal Blends (31 page)

Perfume Note
: base

Plant Part
: So Below/Roots

Magical Uses

Associated with peace and kindness, spikenard aids in communication between people

as well as with animals. It also aids in contact with the Otherworld. This oil is useful for consecrating altars, purifying magic tools, and grounding energy after ritual. Spikenard’s cleansing properties also negate negativity bringing balance and fidelity to relationships.

Use it in spells to attract love and luck. This oil is instrumental in focusing the mind for solving problems as well as creative expression. Spikenard can be instrumental in healing especially when recovering from emotional wounds. It is also associated with longevity, secrets, stability, and well-being.

Correspondences

Solar System
: Mercury, Saturn, Venus

Elements
: earth, water

Spruce

Botanical Name
:
Pinus canadensis
syn.
Tsuga Canadensis

Family
:
Pinaceae

Also Known As
: common hemlock, eastern hemlock, hemlock spruce

This tree should not be confused with the hemlock (
Conium maculatum
) used to poi-son Greek philosopher Socrates in 399 BCE. Native to North America, hemlock spruce

can grow as tall as 100 feet, has small, brown cones, and flat needles that grow in spirals around the branches. As was often the case, Europeans learned about the treasure trove of medicinal applications from Native Americans. The settlers also brewed young twigs to make a tea and used the bark to dye wool brown or give leather a rich reddish highlight.

The Lakota people believed this tree helped them connect with the Great Spirit.

Essential Oil Profiles 221

Oil and Blending Information

The needles and twigs are steam distilled to produce a colorless or pale yellow oil. Its scent is fresh and balsamic with a fruity hint.

Strength
: 3

Scent Group
: woody

Perfume Note
: top

Plant Part
: So Below/Twigs & Leaves

Magical Uses

Spruce enhances memory and stimulates psychic abilities especially channeling. It helps develop intuition as well as to discern when to act on it. Use it to connect with forest spirits. Instrumental in releasing stagnant emotions, this oil brings clarity, hope, and renewal.

It aids in finding inspiration, deepening spirituality, and strengthening trust. Use it to keep energy grounded when seeking wisdom. The stability engendered by spruce is a boon to protection while dealing with problems. Known as a healer on many levels, this oil aids in personal growth bringing comfort and security. It is also associated with balance, longevity, and money.

Correspondences

Zodiac
: Cancer, Capricorn

Elements
: earth, water

Goddesses
: Cerridwen, Cybele, Danu

Gods
: Attis, Poseidon

Star Anise

Botanical Name
:
Illicium verum

Family
:
Magnoliaceae

Also Known As
: aniseed stars, Chinese anise

Star anise’s botanical names come from the Latin
illicium
meaning seductive, which refers to its fragrance, and
verus
, which means true.81 Reaching about 60 feet in height, this evergreen has tapering leaves and green-yellow flowers. The seedpods, which are picked 81. Ibid.

222 Essential Oil Profiles

and dried before ripening, are in the shape of an eight-pointed star. This liquorice-flavored spice has been popular in kitchens throughout southeast Asia where it is indigenous, and used in Chinese medicine for over a thousand years. Buddhists in Japan planted star anise near their temples and burned the seedpods as incense. Because of its similarity in taste, Europeans often substituted it for anise (
Pimpinella anisum
).

Oil and Blending Information

Steam distilling the fruit produces a pale yellow oil with a spicy-sweet, liquorice-like scent.

Strength
: 5

Scent Group
: spicy

Perfume Note
: middle

Plant Part
: As Above/Fruit

Warnings
: avoid during pregnancy; use in moderation

Magical Uses

Star anise is instrumental for increasing psychic abilities and supporting clairvoyance. As a powerful purifier, this oil is useful for consecrating altars and magic tools as well as for banishing negative energy. Anoint each cardinal direction of an altar to amplify the power of ritual and magic. Star anise boosts awareness for divination practices and when contacting the Otherworld. Use this oil in spells to manifest abundance, happiness, luck, and success.

Correspondences

Zodiac
: Aquarius, Pisces, Sagittarius

Solar System
: Jupiter, Mercury

Elements
: air, water

Storax

Botanical Name
:
Liquidambar orientalis

Family
:
Hamamelidaceae

Also Known As
: Levant styrax, liquidambar, rosemalles, stracte, styrax

This small tree has purplish-gray bark and gets its genus name from its amber-colored resin. Storax flowers are yellowish-white and its leaves have five lobes. Its species name Essential Oil Profiles 223

means of the dawn or eastern.82 It is said to have come from the Levant, which refers to a large area in the Middle East that encompassed a number of present-day countries. This plant has been used medicinally in both eastern and western cultures for thousands of years. In ancient Egypt the resin was used in perfumery as well as the embalming process.

In France it was an ingredient in the mixture used to wash and scent the shirts of King Louis XIV (1638–1715) who was known as the Sun King.

Oil and Blending Information

A white to pale yellow oil is produced by steam distillation of the resin. It has a rich, sweet-balsamic scent.

Strength
: 5

Scent Group
: resinous

Perfume Note
: base

Plant Part
: So Below/Resins

Warning
: may cause sensitization

Magical Uses

Transforming negative energy into positive, storax provides psychic protection and has the power to break hexes. It rouses the mind to enhance divination as well as creativity. Use storax to attract love and luck, and to increase the power of spells. On the home front, it provides stability and attracts prosperity. The healing aspect of storax bolsters vitality. This oil is also associated with confidence and control.

Correspondences

Solar System
: Mercury, Sun

Elements
: earth, fire, water

82. Neil,
Gardener’s Latin
, 89

224 Essential Oil Profiles

Tagetes

Botanical Name
:
Tagetes minuta

Family
:
Asteraceae

Also Known As
: Aztec marigold, Indian carnation, marigold, Mexican marigold, taget Although this flower originated in South America, its botanical name honors the Roman god Tages, grandson of Jupiter. According to legend, Tages was said to have sprung from the earth and was credited with teaching plowing and agriculture to the Etruscans. The species name refers to the size of its bright orange flowers rather than the plant itself, which only grows 12 inches tall.83 In South America tagetes were used for medicinal and ritual purposes. The Aztecs regarded the plants as sacred and grew them amongst their crops for protection—a practice that actually helps repel insects. Considered the flower of the dead by the Aztecs, tagetes are used on altars for Day of the Dead observances (No-vember 2nd) in present-day Mexico.

Oil and Blending Information

The flowers are steam distilled to produce a yellow or dark orange oil. It has a slightly bitter, herbaceous scent with fruity undertones

Strength
: 3
Scent Group
: herbaceous
Perfume Note
: middle to top
Plant Part
: As Above/Leaves & Flowers

Warnings
: may cause skin irritation; use in moderation

Magical Uses

This oil is instrumental in defining your purpose for divination, clairvoyance, and dream work. It aids in developing psychic skills and enhances the ability to see magical creatures.

Use it for angel magic as well as to provide spiritual protection. Tagetes is instrumental for Samhain as a blessing or offering to the dead, to ease sorrow, and to wish loved ones peace in the afterlife. This oil fosters good communication and is especially helpful for engendering fidelity in sexual relationships. Associated with success, tagetes can be an aid in legal matters by supporting a determined mind. Use it in spells to attract abundance, comfort, happiness, and prosperity. Tagetes encourages healing for personal growth and transformation. This oil is also associated with beauty, fertility, longevity, and wealth.

83. Ibid.

Essential Oil Profiles 225

Correspondences

Zodiac
: Cancer, Leo

Solar System
: Sun

Celebrations
: Beltane, Mabon, Samhain

Elements
: air, fire

Gods
: Tages, Xochiquetzal

Tarragon

Botanical Name
:
Artemisia dracunculus

Family
:
Asterceae

Also Known As
: dragon’s mugwort, French tarragon, little dragon

This cousin to mugwort has smooth, narrow leaves and drooping clusters of yellow-green flowers. Native to Europe, southern Russia, and western Asia, tarragon is an herb that can grow up to three or four feet tall. From the Latin
dracunculus
meaning dragon-like, tarragon’s species name describes the serpentine appearance of its roots. Popular in the Middle East, the Arab physician Avicenna prescribed it for various remedies and its common name comes from the Arabic word for the plant,
tarkhum
. 84 In France it was known for curing serpent bites and called
herbe au dragon
, however, since the time of Charlemagne (742–814) it has been a common mainstay in French kitchens.

Oil and Blending Information

Steam distilling the leaves produces a pale yellow oil with a spicy-sweet, anise-like scent.

Strength
: 3

Scent Group
: spicy

Perfume Note
: middle

Plant Part
: As Above/Leaves

Warnings
: avoid during pregnancy; may be orally toxic; use in moderation

Magical Uses

Despite tarragon’s association with dragons, it is a plant of abundance and comfort. Use its dragon energy in protection spells to instill confidence and a sense of security. Tarra-84. Staub,
75 Exceptional Herbs for Your Garden
, 221

226 Essential Oil Profiles

gon is instrumental for dream work as well as understanding the knowledge received. It supports self-exploration and growth, and aids in finding life’s true purpose. Use tarragon to foster peace when seeking justice. It is also associated with secrets.

Correspondences

Zodiac
: Aries

Solar System
: Mars

Elements
: air, fire, water

Tea Tree

Botanical Name
:
Melaleuca alternifolia

Family
:
Myrtaceae

Also Known As
: narrow-leaved paperbark, ti tree

While tea tree is a general name applied to the 300 varieties of
melaleuca
native to Australia, this is the only one that produces oil. This evergreen has papery bark, needle-like leaves, and spikes of yellowish-white or purple flowers. Its genus name comes from the Greek
melas
(black) and
leukos
(white) referring to its dark green leaves and white bark.85

British captain and explorer James Cook (1728–1779) called it tea tree when he saw Aborigines brewing the leaves. This tree’s powerful antiseptic properties made it part of traditional medicine for centuries and a standard item in Australian Army kits during World War II. As its use proliferated through the ranks of other armies it became known as the wonder from down under.

Oil and Blending Information

The leaves and twigs are steam or water distilled producing a pale yellow-green or white oil. It has a woody, medicinal, and slightly-spicy scent, similar to its cousin eucalyptus, but softer. The oil is also known as ti-trol and melasol.

Strength
: 3

Scent Group
: herbaceous

Perfume Note
: middle to top

Plant Part
: So Below/Twigs & Leaves

85. Johnson and Foster,
National Geographic Desk Reference to Nature’s Medicine
, 354

Essential Oil Profiles 227

Warning
: may cause sensitization

Magical Uses

Tea tree is an exceptional healer that supports both physical and emotional recovery. It builds strength, increases confidence, and fosters trust.With strong powers of purification, tea tree provides protection, and aids in removing hexes. This oil helps to set a determined mind for finding a worthy purpose in all endeavors. Use it for inspiration to enhance creativity and to find balance in personal growth.

Correspondence

Element
: earth

Thyme

Botanical Name
:
Thymus vulgaris

Family
:
Lamiaceae

Also Known As
: common thyme, English thyme, sweet thyme, white thyme

This bushy Mediterranean herb grows about a foot high, has oval leaves, and small, pink to lilac or bluish-purple flowers. The genus name may come from the Greek
thymos
meaning to perfume and fumigate or
thymus
meaning courage.86 In Greece thyme was used to make perfumes for homes and temples. It was burned on altars as offerings as well as to purify sacred spaces. According to myth, thyme sprang from the teardrops of Helen of Troy. Pliny recommended planting it near hives because it attracts bees and results in a special flavored honey. Roman soldiers and Medieval knights used it for courage and to increase vigor. Likewise during the French Revolution it was worn by people on the barri-cades to bolster courage. In some parts of England thyme was thought to be a favorite of fairies and that brushing a sprig of it across the eyes allowed a person to see them.