Making Herbal Creams for Magick

Before condition oils became the substance of preference, solid ointments were sometimes used in American hoodoo conjure magic. A favorite book of mine, Jeanne Rose's Herbal Body Book, has a recipe for making any kind of basic herbal body cream:

1 1/2 oz. solidifier and/or solid fat such as: 1 oz. lanolin and 1/2 oz. beeswax

3 - 4 oz. skin oil such as: 2 oz. Almond oil and 2 oz. Soy oil

1 oz. herb water such as: 1 oz. Rosewater

5 drops essential oil (1 drop/oz. optional) such as: 5 drops oil of Rose

Melt the solidifier and/or solid fat together in the top of an enamel double boiler or in a small enamel pot. Add the oils a bit at a time, stirring continuously. Turn off the heat and slowly add the herbed water, again stirring continuously until the cream has cooled. Add the essetial oil and stir it in completely. Spoon or pour into a 6-oz. jar, labeled as to the contents. The jar should be opaque such as the old-fashioned milk glass or amber glass. You can also use clear glass by covering the jar with some type of colored paper.

To make a magical ointment using Jeanne Rose's method, use essential oils and an herb water or herbal infusion suitable to your needs. For example, a success ointment might use an infusion of Solomon's seal root and be scented with some bay leaf oil. Of course, only use herbs and oils that are skin-safe (unless you mean to use the ointment on other objects.)