**This salve is less about actual flying & more about supporting your meditations & trance journeys.**

*All you need to do is add a small amount to your inner wrist & allow yourself to energetically take flight!*

Flying Ointment Formulation

This post may contain links but they are not affiliate links. I am not in any sort of affiliate program at this time. They are links to things I actually use.

When I first came across flying ointments I must admit I thought it was a bit too woo.

But in reality flying ointments are just salves containing psychoactive ingredients that can cause hallucinations & the sense of flying. However the formulation I’m sharing today is a much milder version that the witches of yesterday used. It comes from the book The Spirited Kitchen Recipes & Rituals for the Wheel of the Year.

This ointment is to be used during your personal ceremonies, trance journeys & rituals.

What's in a name?

Flying ointments have been traditionally used by witches who practiced European witchcraft dating back to the 16th century when they were first recorded. There have also been accounts of these types of ointments, although they weren’t necessarily called flying ointments in certain shamanistic cultures & some Native American rites have included such tools.

When we think of the word witch oftentimes what comes to mind is an image of a woman flying on a broomstick signifying that witches can fly.

*Image of a witch flying on a broom stick in front of a pink moon. Courtesy of Canva.com*

What if these flights were more astral journeys, trance meditations than an actual flying woman? What if it was more a flight of the spirit into another realm of existence not a person actually taking flight?

Many of the concepts of witches come from the witch hunting era & those fear mongering attempts have surely stuck around. Without getting into some disturbing details do you not find it odd how we were taught to fear the witch but not those who burned them alive? Just something to think about.

I will say that some herbs that have been traditionally found in flying ointments are considered poisonous or baneful herbs such as belladonna, datura, mandrake root & even opium. Some of the herbs historically used had the potential to cause hallucinations as they were considered highly toxic. Our formulation is going to be using non-toxic herbs so we don’t be experiencing any hallucinations per se but that doesn’t mean this ointment won’t bring you energetically to new planes for you to discover & explore.

So, I will ask that if you are new to plant medicine stick with the ones that are suggested as this is a safe formulation. While there is no reason to fear an herb or plant we must remember to approach them with a humble heart & open mind.

If you’re wanting to use this ointment to get high or feel intoxicated I’m going to gently ask you to revisit your intention before embarking on this type of exploration of your psyche. I don’t say this out of fear but rather out of love so with a word of caution I ask you, are you ready to open a door that you will not be able to shut?

This is a powerful medicine that needs to be approached with the same respect you are expecting from the natural world around you.

Ok enough about that. What types of plants & herbs go into a flying ointment?

Flying Ointment Formulation

*Images of herbs & oils courtesy of Canva.com*

Magical Correspondences & Properties of Plants

This list is by no means exhaustive but these are some of my favorites herbs to work with & a few that have been calling my name.

Agrimony → ancient healing herb, benevolent protection

Angelica → warding & banishing, summons strength

Astragalus → protection herb, promotes mental clarity & concentration

Bay Leaf → strength & visions. Sacred herb of Apollo

Bearberry → psychic awareness, dreams

Birch Bark → psychic protection

Blessed Thistle → protection, healing & cleansing by fire

Calendula → divination & remembrance

Catnip → trance work, relaxation & feline magick

Dandelion → divination & calling spiritus

Dill → protection herb

Hawthorn Berry → shielding & clarity. Ancestor & Faery magick

Horehound → mental clarity

Hyssop → cleansing herbs & can be used to rid a person or space of unwanted or undesirable psychic energies

Jasmine → dreams & divination

Lavender → psychic & visionary trance work, strengthening the intuition. Used as an amplifier, balances by both calming & energizing. Spiritual attunement

Lemon Peel → cleansing & purifying

Licorice Root → divination

Lobelia → spirit communication & trance work

Mugwort → prophetic dreams, divination, protection. Known to awaken the psychic eye & aid in dream work

Marjoram → protection, calming the mind & easing grief

Meadowsweet → sacred flower of Spring, the Maiden & the Underworld

Mugwort → divination, psychic ability & lucid dreaming

Mullein → protection, illumination & hedge-crossing

Nettle → courage, protection & consecration

Parsley → soothing helper when working with the deceased

Peppermint → healing, purification & psychic awareness

Poplar Buds → faith, heart healing, visions

Rose → soothes the inner child, protection, thwarts the evil eye

Rosemary → cleansing, purification, protection

Sage → purification, grounding & centering, clarity, longevity, soothing, healing, wisdom

Star Anise → clairvoyance & psychic dreams

Thyme → clarity, spiritual vision, prevention of nightmares. Protection herb & a favorite of the Faeries

Valerian → strength, visionary trance work. Banishing herb

Vervain → divination, communication with spirits, ancestors & otherworldly entities, protection, purification

White Sage → cleaning, meditation

White Willow Bark → divination

Wild Lettuce → visions, trance, dram magick

Witch Hazel → protection, soothing of anger, comfort & healing

Wormwood → psychic visions

Yarrow → protection, clear perception, divination, intuition. Intensifies the work of other herbs. Amplifier

Once you choose the plants you want to work with or you allow the plants to choose you, you will need to decide what fat you are going to be using. Any neutral oil such as olive, canola or vegetable will work. Historically animal fat such as lard or tallow were options as well.

Remember that fear mongering I mentioned earlier? Well one of those lies/rumors were that witches used the fat of infants & I can tell you that was just a bold faced lie. We know that stores get embellished throughout history so why wouldn’t the concept of the witch be any different?

*Image of a witch at a caldron. Courtesy of Canva.com*

Formulation:

4 tsp of dried herb in your preferred combination

3 Tbsp neutral oil or fat

2-3 tsp beeswax

6 drops of floral essential oil (optional)

Equipment:

Double boiler or melting pot
Whisk
2-1 oz storage containers

Instructions:

Prepare an herbal infused oil in your preferred method. See NOTES
Once the appropriate amount of time has elapsed strain the herbs from the oil
Pour the infused oil into a melting pot or double boiler
Add the beeswax & allow it to melt while stirring thoroughly. The more beeswax you add the firmer the finished product will be. See NOTES
Remove from heat & add the optional essential oil
Pour the hot liquid into storage containers & allow to cool completely before placing the lid

Dosage:

Take a small amount & rub it in the inner wrist or temples before your meditations, journeys & rituals. Wait for 30 minutes & reapply if needed.

Notes & Substitution Recommendations:

The effects of this ointment can last 4-6 hours.
Be cautious & responsible when using this ointment. In other words don’t slather yourself with the ointment & operate heavy machinery.
If you experience any adverse reactions or skin irritations wash the area immediately with soap & water
You can infuse an intention into this salve. Learn how to do that HERE
To make the infused oil with an herbal infusing machine: place all the desired herbs & oil in the reservoir. Hold the temperature at 120F for 1 hour. Strain & use as needed. Learn more HERE
To make the infused oil in a double boiler: place all the desired herbs & oil into a double boiler. Bring to a low heat & allow the water to simmer for 1 hour. Strain & use as needed. Learn more HERE
To make the infused oil in a mason jar: place the desired herbs & oil into a mason jar. Leave the jar in a window for 4-6 weeks. Strain & use as needed
If you aren’t sure how much beeswax you want to use try 2 tsp & test the consistency before adding more. To test consistency once everything is melted & incorporated drop 1 Tbsp of the mixture onto a plate & put the plate in the freezer for a few moments to set up. With a clean finger test the salve, if it’s still too soft, add more beeswax. If it is the desired consistency put it back into the original batch, remelt & proceed

Comment down below & let me know, what herbs did you use?

Be sure to come back next week for a fermentation recipe featuring the humble, yet mighty & powerful onion.