Magick Potion Power: Fact or Fallacy

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
from Macbeth

A dark Cave. In the middle, a Caldron boiling. Thunder.
1 WITCH. Round about the caldron go;
In the poison'd entrails throw.
Toad, that under cold stone,
Days and nights has thirty-one;
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i' the charmed pot!
ALL. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.
2 WITCH. Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the caldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
ALL. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.
3 WITCH. Scale of dragon; tooth of wolf;
Witches' mummy; maw and gulf
Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark;
Root of hemlock digg'd i the dark;
Liver of blaspheming Jew;
Gall of goat, and slips of yew
Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse;
Nose of Turk, and Tartar's lips;
Finger of birth-strangled babe
Ditch-deliver'd by a drab,
Make the gruel thick and slab:
Add thereto a tiger's chaudron,
For the ingrediants of our caldron.
ALL. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.
2 WITCH. Cool it with a baboon's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good

Witchcraft is inseparable from potions. In myths, lore and history, the most wonderful of supernatural powers were assigned to the magickal brews concocted by witches in their bubbling cauldrons. Now, in modern times, there are many who question these powers, wondering if - after all - potions are not hullabaloo and hocus pocus. Then there are others who firmly believe that Witches' potions are harmful - brewed to serve some evil, unholy and malevolent purpose. In this article we are going to take a glance at the potions of the modern Witch or Wiccan to see how it works and what it is really used for.

Perhaps from the outset, it would be good to clear something up. Wiccans abide by the Wiccan Rede, which is a set of laws that were - according to the majority of sources - written by Doreen Valiente. The Rede clearly states that Wiccans are not allowed to harm anything or anyone in any way: potions included. This means that potions are not for harmful purposes, but to manifest a positive change in the life of the person, place or animal it is intended for.

Wiccan potions can be used to sprinkle an area, to consume, to anoint, to add to a ritual bath or be used to absorb energies. The ingredients of some of the ingredients used in potions can be harmful or harmless if consumed. That is the nature of herbalism and the ability to harm or heal depends on how the ingredients are diluted and applied. Harmful ingredients are not ingested - much as you would not drink an essential oil such as eucalyptus - but applied topically instead. Harmless ingredients can be consumed. An example of this is a brew containing chamomile.

To successfully brew Wiccan potions, one has to either have a failsafe recipe or be adept in the art of herbalism. Added to this, knowledge in terms of lunar phases and astrological correspondences, as well as proficiency in the use of crystals, candles, oils, incenses, etc, are necessary.

This is because the act of brewing potions is preceded by careful planning. You need to know the appropriate herbs to choose with your end purpose in mind, when to harvest the herbs, which parts of it to use, how to extract the essence of the herb, when to do it, and what you need to apply in the lines of colors, incense and crystals to strengthen the efficacy of the potion. While brewing, undivided attention is prerequisite and the brew has to be infused with a steady stream of willpower and intent throughout.

The water used in making the potion is of the utmost importance. The use of spring rain and distilled water is recommended over tap water. Mineral and sea water are only sometimes suitable - if specifically so indicated - because of their high mineral content.

About The Author-- Rose Ariadne has been practicing ancient forms of Witchcraft for over 25 years. Get more info about magick potion power here: http://www.askroseariadne.com/editorials/magick-potion-power.html ...and ask her any question here: http://www.askroseariadne.com

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