CHAPTER 6

As Above, So Below

The morphological mixing of herbs was a common practice among medieval herbalists, who believed that different parts of plants served different purposes. In ritual and magic work, we often use various parts of plants because of their symbolism, which in turn enhances the energy and power of our intentions. It did not take any stretch of the imagination for me to see that using an essential oil or blend of oils in place of an actual piece of plant would work just as well.

From below the earth, roots keep our energy grounded and give our work stability. Wood and bark represent the middle or center, giving us balance, helping us grow, and providing protective energy. Resins represent life-giving blood and vitality, providing control, and the power to heal. Leaves symbolize growth and expansion and can be used as an aid in developing our purposes. Flowers represent beauty, fertility, and sexuality. With the base word fruit, fruition means completion or culmination, and so a piece of fruit symbolizes the manifestation of intentions or desires. Also symbolizing abundance, fruit can be used to amplify or increase energies. Seeds and nuts represent the beginnings of things and can be instrumental when encouraging something new in our lives. They also represent duality, such as the alternation between life and death or light and dark. Because of this they can provide balance, embody change, and represent cycles.

Just as we can use an acorn to symbolize beginnings and the promise of the future, or an apple to represent abundance, so too can we use essential oils, because most are produced from specific parts of plants. While single oils work well for this, creating blends can amplify energy and boost intentions, which is why I devised this method. And of course, it’s always fun to create new mixtures. While the individual categories are fairly straightforward, I found it useful to combine them into two larger groups that I call As Above and So Below. While using these larger groupings expands the number of oils from which to choose, they also provide a broader level of energetic support. For example, a combination of root and wood oils can form a powerful grounding and centering blend for use after ritual. A leaf and fruit oil combination can be used to manifest purpose. Let’s take a look at the plant-part classifications.

Figure 6.1 The As Above/So Below categories of oils.

The major groups of As Above and So Below are each divided into three categories plus one subcategory. Categories in the So Below group include roots, wood and bark, and resins. The resins category actually consists of resins, oleoresins, and gums. The subcategory in the So Below group is twigs and leaves. While these oils are produced partly from leaves, an As Above category, I felt that the bark and woody parts of twigs would make these more energetically suitable for the So Below group. However, you may want to experiment to see where these oils fit best for you. The general attributes of the So Below group are:

Roots: grounding, stability, longevity, secrets, the Otherworld/Underworld

Resins: vitality, healing, control, spirituality

Wood and bark: protection, growth, balance/center, strength

Twigs and leaves: leaves add energy to wood and bark attributes

The categories in the As Above group include leaves, flowers, and fruit, with the subcategory of leaves and flowers. The general attributes of the As Above group are:

Leaves: energy, growth, purpose

Flowers: beauty, attraction, sex, fertility

Leaves and flowers: a combination of these categories

Fruit: manifestation, success, abundance, increase

Straddling the worlds of As Above and So Below is the category of seeds, which includes nuts. I have found that these oils function well with and support the energy of both the As Above and So Below groups. In addition, seeds provide a wheel-of-the-year continuity that underlies our sabbat and esbat rituals. The general attributes of seeds are beginnings, changes, cycles, and balance/duality.

Parts of plants and their respective essential oils also relate to the elements:

Air: leaves, flowers, leaves and flowers

Water: fruit, resins

Earth: roots, wood and bark, twigs and leaves

Fire: seeds

At first we may think of seeds as being associated with the element earth because they rest in the ground; however, they hold the fire/spark of life that sets the cycle in motion. Likewise, we may think of wood relating to fire, yet while a tree is alive it is connected with the earth—think of woodsy/earthy scents.

Figure 6.2 Plant parts and the elements.

There are three ways to create a blend with this method:

• Use oils of the same plant part

• Use oils of multiple plant parts from either the As Above or So Below groups

• Balance several oils from both groups

Keep in mind that even two oils can create a nice mix that will enhance your work. In many instances you will notice that plant parts often coincide with scent groups, something to keep in mind while planning. The tables in this chapter provide details about which oils blend well together within their plant-part categories and group, as well as oils in the opposite group. As with the blending methods in the previous chapters, follow the same procedures for mixing and assessing your oil combinations.

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 and bark oils can add protection during Otherworld or Underworld contact. Resin oils bring vitality to longevity, and the twigs and 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.

Table 6.1.a Roots and So Below Oils
Roots	Other Roots	Wood and Bark	Resin	Twigs and Leaves	Seeds
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

Table 6.1.b Roots and As Above Oils
Roots	Leaves	Flowers	Leaves and Flowers	Fruit
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

Table 6.2.a Resins and So Below Oils
Resins	Other Resins	Wood and Bark	Roots	Twigs and Leaves	Seeds
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 lifeblood 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 and 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 overambitious manifestation in check.

Table 6.2.b Resins and As Above Oils
Resins	Leaves	Flowers	Leaves and Flowers	Fruit
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

Table 6.3.a Wood and Bark and So Below Oils
Wood and Bark	Other Wood and Bark	Resins	Roots	Twigs and Leaves	Seeds
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 and bark combined with other So Below oils bring strength to the stability of root oils. The growth and protection attributes of wood and bark oils give a potent boost to the healing of resins, while the energy of the twigs and leaves oils augment all their powers. With the As Above oils, the growth of wood and bark complements 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.

Table 6.3.b Wood and Bark and As Above Oils
Wood and Bark	Leaves	Flowers	Leaves and Flowers	Fruit
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

Table 6.4.a Twigs and Leaves and So Below Oils
Twigs and Leaves	Other Twigs and Leaves	Resins	Wood and Bark	Roots	Seeds
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 (l)	myrrh	cedarwood	spikenard	celery
spruce	pine	galbanum	cedarwood
tea tree	niaouli		cinnamon	ginger	nutmeg

Twigs and Leaves

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

Table 6.4.b Twigs and Leaves and As Above Oils
Twigs and Leaves	Leaves	Flowers	Leaves and Flowers	Fruit
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

Table 6.5.a Leaves and As Above Oils
Leaves	Other Leaves	Flowers	Leaves and Flowers	Fruit	Seeds
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 (common)	lavandin	basil	bergamot	coriander
clove	cassia	peppermint	clary sage	grapefruit	nutmeg
dill	lemongrass	spearmint	lemon balm	orange	cardamom
eucalyptus (bg)	sage (Spanish)	lavender	mugwort	lemon	anise

Table 6.5.a Leaves and As Above Oils continued
Leaves	Other Leaves	Flowers	Leaves and Flowers	Fruit	Seeds
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	rose	clary sage	bergamot	angelica
sage (common)		lavandin	hyssop	lemon
sage (Spanish)	eucalyptus (bg)	lavender	mugwort	juniper
tarragon	fir (silver)	chamomile	basil	juniper	carrot

The “As Above” Oils

Leaves

From the time they burst forth in the spring until the wind whisks them away in the autumn, leaves enfold the world with aerial enchantment. Personifying energy and growth, leaves give our magic and personal endeavors an encouraging boost. In addition, oils produced from leaves are particularly helpful when seeking and developing our true purpose in life.

Leaves add energy to other As Above oils. When combined with flowers, their growth aspect enhances beauty and amplifies attraction. With fruit oils, leaves intensify and multiply intentions, making it important to use these judiciously. For the So Below oils, leaves bring their energy to the longevity and stability of roots. The growth aspect of leaves complements that of wood and bark and enhances their strength. Being partially of leaves, the twigs and leaves oils benefit from all aspects of leaves.

Table 6.5.b Leaves and So Below Oils
Leaves	Roots	Resins	Wood and Bark	Twigs and Leaves
allspice	ginger	opopanax		bay
birch		benzoin		pine
cassia	ginger	frankincense
cinnamon	ginger	benzoin	cedarwood (A)	spruce
citronella			cedarwood	pine
clove	sandalwood		sandalwood	bay
dill	spikenard	elemi		petitgrain
eucalyptus (bg)		frankincense	cedarwood	cajeput

Table 6.5.b Leaves and So Below Oils continued
Leaves	Roots	Resins	Wood and Bark	Twigs and Leaves
fir (balsam)		benzoin	cedarwood	cypress
lemongrass	angelica		cedarwood	tea tree
myrtle	ginger	fir (balsam)		bay
palmarosa	sandalwood	storax	amyris	eucalyptus (l)
patchouli	vetiver	frankincense	sandalwood	fir (silver)
sage (common)	ginger	elemi		pine
sage (Spanish)	ginger		cedarwood	pine
tarragon	ginger	galbanum		pine

Table 6.6.a Flowers and As Above Oils
Flowers	Other Flowers	Leaves	Leaves and Flowers	Fruit	Seeds
cananga	jasmine	citronella	lemon balm	bergamot	cardamom
catnip	peppermint	eucalyptus (bg)	rosemary	lime
chamomile (G)	neroli	patchouli	marjoram	lemon
chamomile (R)	rose	tarragon	clary sage	bergamot	cumin
clove	lavandin	allspice	rosemary	grapefruit	nutmeg
helichrysum	chamomile (R)	lemongrass	lemon balm	litsea	cardamom
hops	lavender	myrtle	lemon balm	lemon	nutmeg
jasmine	spearmint	birch	clary sage	mandarin	coriander
lavandin	clove	citronella	thyme	lime

Table 6.6.a Flowers and As Above Oils continued
Flowers	Other Flowers	Leaves	Leaves and Flowers	Fruit	Seeds
lavender (s)	rose	sage	rosemary	lemon	caraway
lavender (t)	spearmint	patchouli	clary sage	orange
neroli	ylang-ylang	patchouli	clary sage	orange	coriander
oregano	lavandin	citronella	rosemary	bergamot
peppermint	lavender	eucalyptus (bg)	marjoram	lemon	dill
rose (Damask)	jasmine	palmarosa	lemon balm	bergamot	fennel (s)
rose (Maroc)	clove	patchouli	clary sage	bergamot	fennel (s)
spearmint	lavandin	eucalyptus (bg)	basil	mandarin
ylang-ylang	neroli	birch	lemon balm	bergamot	cardamom

Table 6.6.b Flowers and So Below Oils
Flowers	Roots	Resins	Wood and Bark	Twigs and Leaves
cananga	sandalwood	labdanum	sandalwood
catnip		myrrh		eucalyptus (l)
chamomile (G)		benzoin	camphor	tea tree
chamomile (R)		frankincense	camphor	tea tree
clove	sandalwood		cinnamon	cajeput
helichrysum	vetiver	labdanum		tea tree
hops				pine
jasmine	vetiver	storax	sandalwood	petitgrain

Table 6.6.b Flowers and So Below Oils
Flowers	Roots	Resins	Wood and Bark	Twigs and Leaves
lavandin	lovage	storax	amyris	bay
lavender (s)	vetiver	elemi	cedarwood	petitgrain
lavender (t)	vetiver	frankincense	cedarwood	pine
neroli	ginger	opopanax	cedarwood (A)	petitgrain
oregano			camphor	pine
peppermint		benzoin		niaouli
rose (Damask)	ginger	frankincense	sandalwood	eucalyptus (l)
rose (Maroc)	ginger	benzoin	sandalwood	eucalyptus (l)
spearmint		myrrh
ylang-ylang	vetiver	storax	sandalwood	tea tree

Flowers

Showy or subtle, flowers are the crowning glory of plants. They represent beauty with a goal: attraction, sex, and fertility. These essential oils can create wonderfully intoxicating blends for magic. It is no wonder that poets and lovers for thousands of years have sung the praises of flowers. Flower oils can be used to pull the energy of leaves and the manifestation power of fruit to a centric focus of attraction and sex. When combined with a leaves and flowers oil, flower power soars. The beauty aspect of flowers can add a different dimension to leaves’ purpose and fruit’s power of success. The sexual aspect of flowers can be tempered with the control of resin oils and the stability of root oils.

Table 6.7.a Leaves and Flowers and As Above Oils
Leaves and Flowers	Other Leaves and Flowers	Flowers	Leaves	Fruit	Seeds
basil	clary sage	spearmint	citronella	lime	caraway
clary sage	hyssop	jasmine	sage	juniper	coriander
hyssop	rosemary	lavender	myrtle	orange	fennel
lemon balm	thyme	ylang-ylang	dill	mandarin	dill
marjoram	rosemary	chamomile	patchouli	bergamot	fennel
mugwort	thyme	lavandin	patchouli	juniper
rosemary	mugwort	oregano	citronella	lime
tagetes	clary sage	jasmine		bergamot	coriander
thyme	marjoram	lavender		grapefruit

Leaves and Flowers

Oils produced from a combination of leaves and flowers possess attributes and powers of both. These oils are instrumental in bolstering the single leaf or flower oils. In addition, they bring an exciting element to all As Above group oils and enhance the powers of increase and manifestation of fruit. The leaves and flowers oils bring a quality of lightness that elevates the energy of the So Below oils.

Table 6.7.b Leaves and Flowers and So Below Oils
Leaves and Flowers	Roots	Resins	Wood and Bark	Twigs and Leaves
basil		opopanax	camphor	cajeput
clary sage	sandalwood	frankincense	cedarwood	pine
hyssop				tea tree
lemon balm		frankincense	camphor	petitgrain
marjoram			cedarwood	tea tree
mugwort	angelica	labdanum	amyris	pine
rosemary		frankincense	cedarwood	petitgrain
tagetes	sandalwood	frankincense	sandalwood	petitgrain
thyme	turmeric		cedarwood	pine

Table 6.8.a Fruit and As Above Oils
Fruit	Other Fruit	Flowers	Leaves	Leaves and Flowers	Seeds
allspice	pepper	neroli	patchouli		nutmeg
bergamot	litsea	jasmine	citronella	tagetes	dill
grapefruit	pepper	lavender	palmarosa	rosemary	cardamom
juniper	bergamot	lavender	tarragon	clary sage
lemon	juniper	chamomile	sage (common)	thyme	fennel
lime	lemon	neroli	myrtle	rosemary	nutmeg
litsea	bergamot	ylang-ylang	patchouli	basil	cardamom
mandarin	lemon	jasmine	cinnamon	lemon balm	nutmeg
orange (b)	star anise	clove	lemongrass	lemon balm	anise
orange (s)	lemon	clove	dill	tagetes	nutmeg
pepper	allspice	rose	fir (balsam)	rosemary	cardamom
star anise	orange	lavender (t)	dill	rosemary	coriander

Fruit

As mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, the word fruition says it all. Fruit represents manifestation and success. The feel and smell of fruit is the personification of abundance and freedom from want. Use blends of fruit oils to increase what you have and to gain what you seek. Fruit adds the power of increase to other As Above oils. In the case of leaves, their aspects of energy and growth multiply exponentially with fruit oils. Combining fruit with flowers can bring an abundance of beauty to all aspects of life. When used with So Below oils, fruit’s manifestation abilities can be instrumental, especially for the longevity of roots, the control of resins, and the protection of wood and bark. In addition, roots bring the aspect of stability, which can be important when manifesting desires.

Table 6.8.b Fruit and So Below Oils
Fruit	Roots	Resins	Wood and Bark	Twigs and Leaves
allspice	ginger	labdanum		bay
bergamot	snakeroot	opopanax	cedarwood	petitgrain
grapefruit	galangal	frankincense	cassia	cypress
juniper	spikenard	fir (balsam)		bay
lemon	angelica	benzoin	sandalwood	fir (silver)
lime	ginger	elemi		niaouli
litsea	ginger	frankincense	cedarwood	petitgrain
mandarin	valerian	myrrh	cinnamon	cypress
orange (b)	ginger	elemi	cinnamon	bay
orange (s)	ginger	myrrh	cinnamon	cypress
pepper	sandalwood	frankincense	sandalwood
star anise	angelica		cedarwood	pine

Table 6.9.a Seeds and So Below Oils
Seeds	Other Seeds	Roots	Resins	Wood and Bark	Twigs and Leaves
angelica	coriander	vetiver	opopanax	cedarwood	pine
anise	carrot	angelica		cedarwood	petitgrain
caraway	anise	ginger	frankincense	cassia
cardamom	parsley	ginger	labdanum	cinnamon	petitgrain
carrot	cumin		frankincense	cedarwood	cypress
celery	coriander	lovage			tea tree
coriander	nutmeg	sandalwood	benzoin	amyris	pine
cumin	cardamom		galbanum
dill	nutmeg	spikenard	elemi	cinnamon	eucalyptus (l)
fennel (s)	parsley	sandalwood		sandalwood	niaouli
fir (silver)	fennel		labdanum	cedarwood	pine
nutmeg	dill	turmeric	elemi		bay
parsley	cardamom	galangal	benzoin		tea tree

Seeds

Mysterious and fascinating, seeds move between the worlds. Carried on a breeze or snuggled into the earth, seeds represent beginnings, changes, and cycles. They symbolize the wheel of the year as a fulcrum that balances the duality of the world: above and below, light and dark, goddess and god. Power can come from the smallest of things—from the tiny acorn comes the mighty oak. Use the power of these oils with reverence for tradition and craft.

Table 6.9.b Seeds and As Above Oils
Seeds	Leaves	Flowers	Leaves and Flowers	Fruit
angelica	patchouli	lavender	mugwort	bergamot
anise	eucalyptus (bg)	lavender	rosemary	grapefruit
caraway	cinnamon	chamomile	basil	orange
cardamom	palmarosa	ylang-ylang	bay	mandarin
carrot	dill	lavender	rosemary	lime
celery	palmarosa	lavender	rosemary	lemon
coriander	citronella	jasmine	clary sage	bergamot
cumin		lavandin	rosemary
dill	cinnamon	peppermint	lemon balm	bergamot
fennel (sweet)	dill	rose	hyssop	lemon
fir (silver)	tarragon	lavender	rosemary	lemon
nutmeg	clove	lavandin	tea tree	lime
parsley	myrtle	neroli	clary sage	pepper

The power of change and cycles that seed oils bring to a blend keeps the energy of the other oils flowing. The beginning aspect of seeds and nuts can initiate the growth of wood and bark oils, and the healing of resins as well as working with the Otherworld or Underworld association of roots. The change aspect of seeds can complement the energy of flowers’ beauty and attraction. In addition, the purpose aspect of leaves can be enhanced by the power of cycles and change that seeds engender.

Sample Blend

This blend consists of oils from the So Below group that I use at Samhain. As a resin oil, myrrh has the attribute of healing. It is also associated with the dead and the afterlife. Niaouli’s contribution as a twigs and leaves oil is balance. It is also associated with the emotions and healing. As a root oil, ginger is associated with the Otherworld/Underworld as well as stability. Ginger is also associated with memories. Additionally, the scent of ginger brings an uplifting quality that feels appropriate for me when remembering and honoring my loved ones who have passed to the Otherworld.

Samhain Remembrance Blend

Ginger: 5 drops

Myrrh: 4 drops

Niaouli: 4 drops

Now that we have covered four unique ways of selecting and blending essential oils, we will move on to the carrier oils. Unfortunately the power of these oils has been largely ignored, but they too come from plants and have qualities that can enhance our practices. Let’s explore carrier oils and how we can tap into their energy and magic.

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