Many witches use anointing oils as part of their craft. They are a beautiful way of incorporating the magical energies of plants, herbs and flowers into your rituals. In this issue of witches corner, I'm going to discuss the different uses of anointing oils, and how to create your own oils.
As always the views, opinions and magical workings in this article are my own. Some, all or none of this may apply to your own path and individual beliefs. With that in mind, let's begin.
I have an array of anointing oils that were crafted by myself that sit in my altar space. I use them in my magical workings regularly. I absolutely love the aesthetic of the range of different sized and shaped bottles, and the way the golden liquid within them holds the different flowers, herbs and spices.
Apart from admiring how wonderfully witchy anointing oils look, you may be wondering at this point how you incorporate them into your craft. So let's look at a few ways you could use anointing oils.
Altar tools
Before carrying out any magical workings, I like to cleanse my altar tools with a burning bundle. Once I've done that, I like to anoint them with an oil to strengthen my intention. I feel that anointing my items with my oils transfers that extra bit of magical energy to the magical tool.
Altar tools you could anoint include:
Athames
Candle Suffers
Spoons
Chalices
And of course keppens and wands.
To anoint an altar tool I simply put a bit of oil on my finger tip and run it gently on to the item. I don't coat the item with oil, I just gently apply it maybe on the edge of the tool, or for example on the rim of a chalice. Sometimes I may add in words while I do this but more often than not I simply apply the oil with my intention in my mind.
Candles
This is one of my favourite ways to use my oils. When creating candles to use in a ritual or spell work I apply the oil all over the candle before rolling it in dried herbs. The candle then not only has the energies from the dried herbs, but also the infused energies from the oil.
Divination Tools
This is my most common use for my oils. As a practitioner of Cleromancy, as I discussed in the last issue. Between readings, once I have cleansed my magpie lot, I like to add a few drops of my chosen oil and toss them in my hands lightly coating them in the oil before I throw them into my casting circle.
Spell Sachets/ Mojo bags
These are small magical bags filled with a range of crystals, amulets, herbs, plants and spices. They are sometimes decorated with sigils. Once I have created my spell sachet I like to finish the bag by adding a little oil with my finger tip. Oils can also be used to revitalise the bag with energy every week or so, some consider this ‘feeding’ the bag.
Anointing yourself and others
Another lovely way to give yourself or another a little bit of magical energy is to apply a dab of your oil on to skin. When doing this please ensure the ingredients you have used in your oil are skin safe. I like to apply a little oil to my neck and wrists.
Now you've got a few ways you can build oils into your magical workings, let's look at how to create your oils. First consider your oils intention. I have a few combinations of herbs to share with you this issue, but you can craft your own. Just make sure you do your research and ensure that any ingredients you intend to apply to the skin are safe to do so with. Below is a list of the basic things you will need to create your oil.
A sterile glass, pot or vessel
Jars and bottles are great for this. You can have fun finding them at secondhand shops, antique stores, car boot sales or my favourite is recycling the ones I already have from a sauce or preserve.
Base Oil of your Choice.
This doesn't have to be expensive. I use rapeseed oil as I love the colour and it’s more environmentally friendly as rapeseed oil is produced in the UK. You can also use sunflower oil, almond oil, castor oil or any other oil you feel drawn too.
Essential Oil
To add a scent to my oil, I add in a few drops of essential oil. I select my oil so that it corresponds with my oil's intention. For example, for my Goddess Oil I use rosemary essential oil. For my Fae Connection oil I use cherry. But you can use your own creativity here to make your oil personal to you.
Dried Herbs, Flowers and Spices
These need to be selected according to your intention. Below are a few of my own combinations of herbs. How much you add is up to you.
Goddess Oil;
Mugwort
Rowan Berry
Rosemary
Rose
Sage
Fae Connection Oil;
Cherry blossom
Apple
Hawthorn
Sweetpea
Red clover
Vervain
Elderflower
Protection and Power Oil;
Bay
Cinamon
Ginger
Peony
Clove
To make your oil first fill your vessel with your dried ingredients, then fill your container covering the herbs entirely with your base oil before adding a few drops of your essential oil. Give the bottle a gentle shake to ensure all the ingredients are covered. Place your vessel on a warm windowsill and let the magical energies from the ingredients infuse together. I usually do this for 2 moon cycles. Once your oil is infused it is ready to use.
I hope you enjoyed this introduction to anointing oils. Feel free to send us images of your own oils. Until the next issue.
By Claire Louise
Hedge Witchery UK
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