The Spellcaster's Source Hoodoo and Voodoo Witchcraft Blog of Talia Felix

Nowadays oils are the common medium for magical formulae, but once upon a time salves and thick ointments were preferred. Here is an old remedy against nocturnal visitors, incubi, succubi and elves (which, unlike their modern counterparts, were viewed as evil spirits akin to demons.) Ewe hop Wormwood Bishopwort Lupin Ashthroat Henbane Viper's bugloss Heatherberry Cropleek Garlic Grains of hedgegerife Githrife Fennel Set these herbs in a dish and place them under an altar, and let nine masses be chanted over them. Then take the herbs and boil them in butter and mutton grease, and add thereto a large amount of holy salt . Strain this, and dispose of the herbs in running water. Use the ointment by smearing it on the forehead of the affected person before he goes to bed. This is an old time English charm.

A Capital Remedy Against the Plague. Take a vial or another kind of glass vessel, and fill it one third with fine molasses, and the next third with Aqua Vitae, and the final third with the urine of a male baby who is clean and in good health. Combine these together well and give one glass of this to the patient to drink upon awakening each morning, for three days. This has been proven in the city of Venice, in the year 1504. -- from "Les Secrets du Seigneur Alexis Piedmontois." (On Mariani Wine or Vin Mariani: a concoction of wine and cocaine that was once much beloved for its, ahem, "stimulating properties.") Mariani Wine quickly restores health, strength, energy and vitality. Mariani Wine fortifies, strengthens, stimulates and refreshes the body and brain. Hastens convalescence, especially after influenza. His Holiness the Pope writes that he has fully appreciated benificent effects of this tonic wine, and has forwarded to Mr. Mariani as a token of...

Blood from Dragons? Dragon’s blood resin is a vibrant red substance that has captivated cultures for centuries due to its striking color and wide range of uses. Contrary to its mythical sounding name, dragon’s blood does not come from dragons but from various species of plants, such as calamus draco   and d racaena cinnabari . These plants are typically found in tropical and subtropical regions, such as Southeast Asia, Africa, and parts of South America. The resin is harvested by making small incisions in the bark or stems of these plants, allowing the sap to flow and harden into resin. Each plant genus produces a slightly different variety of dragon’s blood with unique characteristics. The  Dracaena cinnabari  tree, found on the island of Socotra off the coast of Yemen, produces one of the most famous varieties, known for its use in ancient rituals, medicine, and art. The process of harvesting and processing the resin is often labor-intensive, requiring careful extractio...

St. Hildegard of Bingen lived in the 12th century. She was known to receive visions from God, and perhaps utilizing these, she not only invented a new genre of music (pretty much the first new thing since the Gregorian chant) but also wrote some medical books, plays, and was a highly respected abbess. She was never formally canonized, but it was a simpler time, and she's made her way to having a special feast day on the calendar. One of her recorded medical remedies was a small cake or cookie intended to make a person smarter and happier. The original recipe was only cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and flour with some water added. However, many versions are going around which try to make these a little more palatable to modern tastes. Here is my own effort: 2 c all-purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/3 c butter 1 egg 1 c white sugar 1/4 c water 2 1/2 tsp each: ground nutmeg, cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground cloves Directions: 1. In large bowl, cream together the short...