Arcane Herbalism Masterlist

“This kitchen magic is not to be despised on account of its seeming simplicity. In each case the ingredients are strongly associated with the mythic themes of the study; they range from magnets and iron to various herbs, olive oil and so on. This magical involvement with substances and senses reifies the mythic language; time is transcended, through experiential praxis the magician is united with the ancestors and gods of the tradition.”

~Jake Stratton-Kent (Geosophia)

“I have from time to time been able to advise people on spells that have failed, or to witness ritual work that doesn’t manifest successfully. This is almost always due to a failing of understanding the role of one of these three layers. For instance, I have seen several Pagan and ceremonial rituals raise quite a lot of Level 2 energy aimed for a specific purpose, which is just sort of released at the end of the rite hoping it will hit its target. If these folks instead channeled it into a material object such as a talisman or powder that could be given to or planted near the target, it would give the energy a path to run along. Similarly, I have seen people take meticulous care with the mixing of a proper oil or mojo bag, but not make any real effort to pray fervently or channel any energy into it, and so end up with spiritually “dead” materials.”

~ Jason Miller (Sorcerer’s Secrets)

Mythopoeia · October 14, 2022, 7:44pm

Mythopoeia · October 14, 2022, 8:14pm

UncleAl · October 17, 2022, 10:56pm

How much incense do you need? Seriously, I very rarely use it; perhaps because being steeped in ceremonial, ritualistic teachings I rejected both the baby and the bathwater when I discovered workable Magick. I’m also deeply ashamed of the fact that I’m also a lazy cheapskate addicted to shortcuts.

‘The reason why my Magick didn’t work was because I had to get up at 3:30am to give myself time for a coffee and smoke, plus a toilet break, then a quick freshen up before I evoked at 4:00am, but I used the incorrect incense and halfway through I realised that my candles were the wrong colour.

‘Relying, as I do, upon my Wand and Dagger, I’d forgotten my Chalice – in the cold darkness. And I couldn’t break my protective circle because only a cat can with impunity. Moreover, Arthur Edward Waite almost stated once…’

I also continue to stress scavenging and experimenting with your own, local, natural incense – like tree bark, leaves, flowers, herbs, etc., because that’s how it was originally done, and you learn a lot in the process. For example, get yourself a cheap, handheld spaghetti press (I got mine online, a really cheap, nasty but functional Chinese one), seal the end with a little aluminium, then learn how to press your own incense into hard coins so pieces can be broken off when needed.

Hope that helps.

ReyCuervo · April 20, 2023, 3:20pm