One of the secrets of real magic is that it is controlled by the mind. The more things in your ritual to help your mind associate with your goal, the more powerful your ritual may be. Colored candles, scented oils, natural incenses, and more all add to the impact of the magic you wish to do. But how do you know which incense to burn? Is it possible to add scented oils together to get a more powerful oil? And how do you make your own appropriately-scented tools? The answers to questions like these and hundreds more can be found in The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews by world-famous author Scott Cunningham. This is a greatly expanded and rewritten version of The Magic of Incenses, Oils and Brews. It includes over 100 new formulas, proportions for each element of the recipes (the most requested feature from his previous book), how to substitute ingredients, and much more. Besides the formulas, it also includes the exact methods of making all of these scented tools, including how to extract the essences from the herbs. Each one of the formulas in this magic book is precise and easy to make. Do you need luck? Take 2 parts vetivert, 2 parts allspice, 1 part nutmeg, and 1 part calamus, grind them together as finely as possible, then sprinkle the powder in a circle around you, beginning and ending in the East and moving clockwise. Sit within this circle and absorb the powder's energies. Also included are other ways to use magical powders that will have you coming up with your own ideas for them, too. There is a legion of recipes for incenses. There are three for the sun and two for consecrating talismans. There are incenses for each of the astrological signs and ones to help you study better and gain success. You'll also find incenses for each of the planetary influences. There are four for Saturn alone This compendium of magical lore is a vital tool for every magical person on any magical path, whether you are a beginner or an expert.
I've read (and owned) more Craft books of this type than I can count, this is by far the best in it's genre. I doubt I can (or should) add anything in addition to what's already been said by the many other reviewers. All I need to say is that this is the ONE book I turn to time and time again without fail. My copy is dog-eared, stained, wrinkled, spotted, written in, tabbed and highlighted; well worn from many years of loving use. It's truly a master work by one of the best in the business, if not THE best. If you don't have this, you're doing yourself a dissatisfaction. Get it, read it, learn it, love it and keep it close to your heart and your Craft, you won't be sorry.
"Complete" is the Best Description
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
This book, a revised edition of the original, is an essential work for those seeking to learn the uses of incense and other mediums of scent used in performing spells, rituals, and other magics. It is further proof that the late Cunningham had a passion for magic, as he provides in great detail the many processes a magician may utilize in order to create their own incense, oils, salves, tinctures, brews, and more from fresh, natural ingredients. In that respect, this book is a tremendous resource for anyone looking for recipes for creating magical blends but also creating them from scratch. Although I lean more towards the classical or traditional side of spellcraft (where substituting ingredients is not so well-embraced), this book is thorough in providing nearly all substitutions imaginable, for when you cannot find a certain ingredient anywhere or unsure whether or not what you're looking for even exists in the modern age. Also, if you're trying to gather ingredients from a recipe written a few hundred years ago, the name of this or that herb has most likely changed. Cunningham will most likely have covered these in this book. It is not every day that you can recommend a single book on a subject and consider it the only one needed in a library concerning the subject matter, but I feel confident that I will never need to invest in another book of a similar nature. The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews is exactly what it says it is, a complete resource- a virtual one stop shop of knowledge for the herb-crafter magician.
Fantastic resource!!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
If you are looking for a book on Incenses, oils, inks, soaps and more this is an absolute MUST HAVE!!! I couldn't say enough positive things about this book, an excelent addition to any witchcraft library, and FULL of benificial advise. Clear directions on how to make an entire book full of incense, oils ointments,inks, tinctures, herb baths, bath salts, brews, ritual soaps (solid & liquid), Sachets or herbal charms, powders, and there are chapters on substitutions and the considerations for making those substitutions. A chapter on empowering rites, on propotions, on creating your own recipes....Just an all around wonderful reference book, and not a bad read either. All in all a real 10!! You finish reading a chapter and wish there was more, this book is an essential part of my library, and if you are a serious practitioner, I recomend it as an essential buy for yours...enjoy!! Blessed Be.
Packed with information.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
Mr. Cunningham teaches you how to make your own incense, annointing oils, tinctures, bath salts, ritual soaps, and much more.Mr. Cunningham places asterisks beside dangerous plants Beladonna, Foxglove, Henbane, mistletoe and others. and in almost every case gives alternate recipes so you can get similar results without using toxic materials.Questions or comments? E-Mail me. Two Bears.Wah doh Ogedoda
A must-have reference book!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
This is one of my favorite books by Scott Cunningham. He explores so many different methods of magickal creation that there is something for everyone and more. If you want to learn more about making your own incense, brews, potions, powders, inks, soaps, tinctures, oils, herbal baths,etc., YOU MUST BUY THIS BOOK. Each section is informative and full of recipies, explanations, suggestions, and warnings. The chapter on substitution is excellent and the charts and appendixes are helpful as well. The book's tone is more instructional rather than spiritual, especially compared to Cunningham's other books. If you are looking for in-depth information about magical herbs and oils, I highly recommend reading Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs and The Magic of Aromatherapy in addition to The Complete Book of Incense, Oils, and Brews.
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