Table of Contents
Learn the Art of Magical Cookery in this new book by Scott Cunningham
For centuries, the composition of incenses, the blending of oils, the mixing of herbs, have been used by people to create positive changes in their lives. In todays world, there are those who may scoff at the suggestion that the magical use of herbs can enrich our lives; but recent research into herbally derived scents has proven that they do, in fact, have powerful effects on human behavior, and scientists are working on ways to use these energies for the common good.
The actual formulas for such magical incenses, oils, ointments, and brews, etc. were previously kept secret, locked within witches spellbooks or magicians grimoires. With this book, the curtains of secrecy have been drawn back, providing you with practical, easy-to-understand information that will allow you to practice these little-known methods of magical cookery.
Scott Cunningham, world-famous expert on magical herbalism, first published The Magic of Incense, Oils and Brews in 1986. The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews is a revised and expanded version of that book. Scott took readers suggestions from the first edition and has added more than 100 new formulas. Every page has been clarified and rewritten, and new chapters have been added, nearly doubling the size of the original.
In this book you can learn how to make your own incenses, oils, ointments, inks, tinctures, herb baths, bath salts, brews, ritual soaps, and powders. There is no special, costly equipment to buy, and ingredients are usually easy to find. The book includes detailed information on a wide variety of herbs, sources for purchasing ingredients, substitutions for hard-to-find herbs, a glossary, and a chapter on creating your own magical recipes.
Cunningham also provides important information on the basic principles of magic, teaching you how to empower herb mixtures with personal power to attract money and love, heal yourself and others, increase psychic powers, heighten spirituality, promote physical energy, stimulate mental activity, and more.
The secret art of herb magic is a gift passed down through the ages. In this age of advanced technology there is still a simpler way to tap into the rich powers in Naturethrough the magic of herbs.
About the Author
Scott Cunningham practiced elemental magic for over twenty years. He authored of more than thirty books, both fiction and non-fiction, sixteen of them published by Llewellyn Publications. Scotts books reflect a broad range of interests within the New Age sphere, where he was highly regarded. He passed from this life on March 28, 1993, after a long illness.
About Llewellyns Practical Magick Series
To some people, the idea that Magick is practical comes as a surprise.
It shouldnt. The entire basis for Magick is to exercise influence over ones environment. While Magick is also, and properly so, concerned with spiritual growth and psychological transformationeven the spiritual life must rest firmly on material foundations.
The material world and the psychic are intertwined, and it is this very fact that establishes the Magickal Link: that the psychic can as easily influence the material as vice versa.
Magick can, and should, be used in ones daily life for better living! each of us has been given Mind and Body, and surely we are under Spiritual obligation to make full usage of these wonderful gifts. Mind and Body work together, and Magick is simply the extension of this interaction into dimensions beyond the limits normally conceived. Thats why we commonly talk of the supernormal in connection with the domain of Magick.
The Body is alive, and all Life is an expression of the Divine. There is God-power in the Body and in the Earth, just as there is in Mind and Spirit. With Love and Will, we use Mind to link these aspects of Divinity together to bring about change.
With Magick we increase the flow of Divinity in our lives and in the world around us. We add to the beauty of it allfor to work Magick we must work in harmony with the Laws of Nature and of the Psyche. Magick is the flowering of the Human Potential.
Practical Magick is concerned with the Craft of Living well and in harmony with Nature, and with the Magick of the Earth, in the things of the Earth, in the seasons and cycles and in the things we make with hand and Mind.
Other Books by Scott Cunningham
Cunninghams Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic
Cunninghams Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
Dreaming the Divine
Earth, Air, Fire and Water: More Techniques of Natural Magic
Earth Power
Hawaiian Religion & Magic
Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
The Magic in Food
Magical Aromatherapy: The Power of Scent
Magical Herbalism
The Magical Household (with David Harrington)
Spell Crafts: Creating Magical Objects (with David Harrington)
The Truth About Herb Magic
The Truth About Witchcraft Today
Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
Video
Herb Magic
Biography
Whispers of the Moon (by David Harrington and de Traci Regula)
The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews . Copyright 1989 by Scott Cunningham. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including Internet usage, without permission in writing from Llewellyn Publications except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
FIRST EDITION
Twenty-fifth Printing, 2003
Cover design by Maria Mazzara
Interior illustrations by Victoria Poyser-Lisi
Book design by Terry Buske
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cunningham, Scott, 1956-1993
The complete book of incense, oils & brews / by Scott Cunningham. p. cm.(Llewellyns practical magick series)
Revised ed. of: The magic of incense, oils and brews. 1986.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 0-87542-128-8
1. Magic. 2. IncenseMiscellanea. 3. PerfumesMiscellanea. 4. Essences and essential oilsMiscellanea. I. Cunningham, Scott, 1956-1993. Magic of incense, oils and brews. II. Title. III. Series: Llewellyns practical magick series.
BF1623.I52C86 1989
133.44dc20 89-35510
CIP
Note: The old-fashioned remedies in this book are historical references used for teaching purposes only. The recipes are not for commercial use or profit. The contents are not meant to diagnose, treat, prescribe, or substitute consultation with a licensed healthcare professional.
Any Internet references contained in this work are current at publication time, but the publisher cannot guarantee that a specific location will continue to be maintained. Please refer to the publsihers website for links to websites and other sources.
Llewellyn Publications
A Division of Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.
P.O. Box 64383, St. Paul, MN 55164-0383
www.llewellyn.com
Printed in the United States of America
For Morgana, kahuna laau lapaau of Hawaii
Acknowledgements
My thanks go to Marilee and Ed for once again giving me access to their comprehensive herb library, as well as to Marilee for sharing her expertise in incense composition and allowing some of her formulas to be published here.
My especial thanks to fellow author M.V. Devine for allowing me to reprint some oil and incense recipes from her entrancing book Brujeria: A Study of Mexican-American Folk-Magic.
Im also indebted to Ron Garst for his gracious help and willingness to discuss oils and incenses.
