What Is a Magickal Oil?
A magickal oil is the mixture of plant or resin essential oil created by varying processes (pressing, boiling, simmering, or fermintation), fragrance (which is sometimes synthetic and on other occasions pre-cut essentials)—or both. Fragrances and essentials are housed in what is called a carrier oil. This oil literally carries the scent as pure essentials or fragrances are too powerful in aroma for daily use and can sometimes be considered a health hazard in pure form—such as wintergreen essential. Pregnant women should not work with essential oils.
The quality of the carrier makes or breaks any perfume or magickal oil and is thus considered an extremely important ingredient—just as valuable as the essential or fragrance. Although most people think only of the scent—it is the carrier that actually determines the worth of the oil. There are many carriers on the market today from inexpensive (grape seed oil) to real pocket-book crunchers like jojoba (in 2005, the current market price for a gallon of jojoba is over two hundred dollars). By rule (though products can differ) the more expensive the carrier, the longer the shelf-life and the better grade of the oil. Grape seed may last only three months where jojoba has a 100-year shelf life as long as it is not subjected to intense heat, sunlight, or cold. Jojoba is Simmondsia chinensis, a chemically waxy ester that is derived from a desert plant and is a smooth, non-greasy formula. Of all the oils currently available it is the closest to sebum, your own natural skin oil, rich in vitamin E, has the most carrying power for the essential or fragrance, and has an extremely long shelf-life. To our knowledge it is considered the safest carrier on the market, both people and pet friendly. When working with essentials, the rule of thumb is to use ten times the weight of the essential. For example, if you used one drop of patchouli essential you would add ten drops of carrier. To be safe and regulate aroma, up to 25 or more drops of carrier can be used.
Where Do Magickal Oil Recipes Come From?
Magickal oils are extremely popular in ritual and spellcasting as their aroma is thought to trigger personal energy patterns as well as work in sympathy with your purpose. The more you work with a particular magickal scent, the faster the blend will work for you! Energy patterns of essentials and fragrances are chosen with great care to ensure that they match the overall intent of the oil. For example, you wouldn’t want to choose an essential that carries active Mars energy for an oil designed for relaxation and stress reduction. Correspondences for the compendium of recipes currently on the market were developed from folk lore, old grimoires, planetary associations, and personal experimentation. Once developed and proven to work well, oil formulas are notoriously guarded by the practitioner—just like the famous perfume blends developed by current designers in that industry. As some essentials and fragrances are stronger than others, you will find that each formula contains one heartbeat essential or fragrance which will overpower other ingredients unless it is used in modification. One drop of cypress, patchouli, vetivert, basil, hyssop, etc., is all that is needed to carry through the entire oil. No more than one drop of cinnamon or wintergreen should ever be used as they can be harmful to the skin in large doses. Always check the tox level of any essential if you are mixing oils on your own, as some essentials can be harmful to pregnant women if not used properly. The more essentials in an oil formula, the more expensive it is likely to be.
Fragrances are extremely popular in magickal oils because body-safe formulas can be easily obtained, and because most essentials do not carry a sweet, aromatic odor. Fragrances are used to enhance the practitioner’s mental state, blending a sometimes harsh fragrance into a more pleasing formula.
Care of Your Magickal Oil
Your magickal oil is a tool—like a wand, an herb, or a sigil, the pattern of the oil is developed to meet a specific or general need of the magickal practitioner. Keep oils in a cool (not cold), dark area when storing for best product consistency. Magickal oils are never, ever meant to be ingested. If this somehow occurs, call your Poison Control Center immediately. Always cap oil tightly after use, and be sure to wash hands after every application. If you are prone to allergic reactions, always test an oil before liberal use. Oils should be treated with respect. A magickal oil should be empowered every thirty days for six months to keep the formula at top energy performance.
How to Empower Your Magickal Oil
Simple empowerment involves holding the bottle of oil in your hands and asking your choice of divinity to bestow a blessing. Then, holding the bottle out to the four directions (beginning normally at the north for manifestation, or the east, following the path of the sun), ask that the powers of the directions also bless and consecrate the bottle. If the designer oil is of a specific nature (such as Just Judge, Jinx Removal, etc.), you may wish to be more specific in the blessing you request. Uncap bottle. Hold your hands over bottle and again request blessings from Spirit (or a specific deity) and then say: “I conjure thee, O essence of oil and essential, fragrance and herb, to do my bidding in a positive way. Let thee not be detained by any negativity and fly they energy straight to the need as I so desire!” Stir the oil three times clockwise with dropper, and say: “I know you will do this for me! It is done!” Blessings are often intoned while the oil is being used as well—such as when a gris-gris bag or statue is anointed. Be sure to thank Spirit any and every time you use a magickal oil or any other blessed tool.
Many popular craft books include instructions on cleansing, consecration, and empowerment. If you are unsure of how to use your oil, you may find my book Solitary Witch extremely helpful in your work.
Anointing Oil Blend Recipe
Combine one drop essential mint, one drop essential lavender, one drop essential rosemary, and one drop essential lemon with three drops rose fragrance and six drams jojoba carrier oil. Shake well. Add one dried rose petal in the bottle. Cap tightly. Empower under a full moon. Remove rose petal after seven days. Use for general blessings and anointing objects and tools.
How to Use a Magickal Oil
in Spellcasting and Ritual
Anoint candles. Rub from the outside in to the center to draw energies toward you—rub from the center out to send unwanted energies away from you. Anoint magickal tools in the same manner. Dot gems and stones and place in the moonlight for greater power. Rub on hands briskly (if you do not have allergies) to encourage energy flow through all the major chakras of your body. Be sure to check the ingredients of the oil to ensure it is body safe. Anoint your altar by dotting with a pentacle design to consecrate the surface or focus on a specific working. Anoint your shrine or holy statues intoning the Eightfold Blessing:
Blessed be my feet that walk the path of spiritual service.
Blessed be my knees that kneel at the sacred altar.
Blessed be my womb (phallus) that gives forth life.
Blessed be my heart formed in beauty and strength.
Blessed be my lips that speak only truth and wisdom.
Blessed be my eyes so that I may clearly perceive my destiny.
May I be cleansed, consecrated and regenerated in the service of humankind.
Draw sigils on doors, windows, and other objects. Place a bit of oil on your fingertip and draw the sigil on the object. It is okay if you run out of oil as the essence continues through the design. Add to your own magickal powders or herb mixes. Add a few drops at a time, mix thoroughly with wooden spoon, allow to dry. If the aroma remains overnight, then the powder or herb is holding the scent and you can store in a glass container—no plastic. Anoint conjuring or gris-gris bags. Three drops is usually enough. Add a few drops to your simmering potpourri pot. Sprinkle on logs before lighting magickal bonfire. Be careful. Oil is flammable. Stand back and toss with any large amount if the fire is already burning. A bonfire oil magick ritual is truly inspiring! Anoint petitons to deity. Add to holy water. If you want a clean blend, use an emulsifier (follow instructions on emulsifier label).