Michael Furie - The Witchs Book of Potions

Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

Copyright Information

The Witchs Book of Potions: The Power of Bubbling Brews, Simmering Infusions & Magical Elixirs 2021 by Michael Furie.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any matter whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Llewellyn Publications, except in the form of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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First e-book edition 2021

E-book ISBN: 9780738765037

Book design by Samantha Peterson

Cover design by Shannon McKuhen

Cover illustration by Eduardo Fuentes / Debut Art, Ltd.

Editing by Laura Kurtz

Interior art by Llewellyn Art Department

Llewellyn Publications is an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data (Pending)

Names: Furie, Michael, author. | Kurtz, Laura, editor.

Title: The witchs book of potions : the power of bubbling brews, simmering

infusions & magical elixirs / Michael Furie ; editing by Laura Kurtz.

Description: First edition. | Woodbury, Minnesota : Llewellyn Publications,

[2021] | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary:

Pagan-focused book on potions and other related recipesProvided by

publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020047248 (print) | LCCN 2020047249 (ebook) | ISBN

9780738764955 (paperback) | ISBN 9780738765037 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Magic. | Witchcraft. | Formulas, recipes, etc. | Paganism.

Classification: LCC BF1621 .F873 2021 (print) | LCC BF1621 (ebook) | DDC

133.4/3dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020047248

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020047249

Llewellyn Publications does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business arrangements between our authors and the public.

Any Internet references contained in this work are current at publication time, but the publisher cannot guarantee that a specific reference will continue or be maintained. Please refer to the publishers website for links to current author websites.

Llewellyn Publications

Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

2143 Wooddale Drive

Woodbury, MN 55125

www.llewellyn.com

Manufactured in the United States of America

To the Witches of the past, present, and future who have stirred the cauldrons, brewed the potions, and kept the magic alive; may it never be lost.

To my partner Drake Furie, for keeping me going through encouragement, love, and lots of coffee.

To my family, for the reassurance, support, and really good food.

To friends close and far away: Ty and Marco, thank you for all of the conversations, laughter, coffee, and really good cheesecake over the years.

To James and Andy, whether hanging out by the bay or up a mile high, thank you for being friends.

To Melanie Marquis, one of the brightest lights in the Witchy world, thank you for your friendship, kindness, and insight.

To my Llewellyn family: To Elysia Gallo, editor extraordinaire and unsung shero of so many authors. I cant sing, so I will say: wed be nothing without you.

To Laura Kurtz, fabulous production editor who has saved me from myself on many occasions when I didnt even catch my mistake. I am always grateful. Many thanks to you.

To Kat Sanborn, wonderful publicist. Thank you for challenging me to try to overcome my fear of public speaking and my overall shyness and for the wonderful conversations at PantheaCon in days gone by.

Contents

Background and Basics

: Brew Making and Magical Basics

: Cauldrons, Kettles, and Other Brewing Options

Magical Potions and Brews

: Astrological and Planetary Recipes

: Cleansing and Banishing Recipes

: Healing Potions and Elixirs

: Love, Money, and Luck Recipes

: Protection Potions and Brews

: Psychic Potions and Divination Brews

: Potions and Brews for the Sabbats and Esbats

: Potions and Brews for the Elements

Beyond Water:
Other Magical Mixtures

: Cauldron Cookery

: Oils

: Ointments

: Magical Color Correspondences

: Ingredient Table of Correspondences

Preface

I feel compelled to state here that my scope for this work shall be primarily potions and brews that have been used by Witchesmyself, those personally known to me, and those historically associated with what is generally understood as Witchcraft. I am making this point so as to avoid intentional cultural appropriation of others practices, and neither do I wish to encourage further consumption of rare plants and other substances by contributing to any demand. Ayahuasca, for example, has gained greater notoriety in the United States in the last few years, but the brew has been a traditional part of spiritual practice for some of the tribes in the Amazonian basin for generations. Popularizing something increases the demand for it, which then increases the strain on the supply and potentially causes that supply to become endangered. We have seen this phenomenon with frankincense, sandalwood, and palo santo. Therefore, it will be my goal to reveal potion recipes that do not appropriate or endanger any culture or substance any more than would a regular trip to the supermarket.

Introduction

W hen I was a kid, I used to play witch. I would take a pot, water, and some cooking spices and stir together potions in the backyard. Unfortunately, I was foolhardy enough to actually taste some of these mixturesthey were the most unpleasant things I could ever imagine. (One involving seasoned salt and another with tons of curry powder come to mind.) Despite my early playtime pitfalls, I had some inner sense that potion making was somehow meant to be a part of my life. Eventually, I grew up and began practicing actual Witchcraft and my intuitive perception was fulfilled; I have indeed become very fond of potion and brew making. There is something so perfectly dramatic and innately magical about gathering various ingredients and combining them into a rich mixture of liquid; adding and stirring as fragrant steam rises from the bubbling cauldron.