Table Of Contento t l o n s
Enchanting recipes for dozens of
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For IammJI and Kristy,
Thanks, you two. Your support is unbelievable!
ALPHA BOOKS
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Index 175
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Introduction
Potions have gotten a bad rap in the past, but the
age-old art is making a tremendous comeback.
That's because more and more people are recogniz
ing the magical and medicinal properties of herbs
and other natural ingredients. Combine such mix
tures with a specific intent, such as to increase
energy, achieve success, heal, or even find love, and
you have a potent brew.
You have probably already used potions hundreds or
thousands of times without even realizing it. For
instance, ever had one of those neon-colored energy
drinks after a race or during an intensive workout?
Most of these contain a blend of guarana and gin
seng, herbs that are known to increase energy.
These specialty drinks are essentially potions, it's
just that they are manufactured in mass quantities
and marketed to a specific audience.
Or open your bathroom cabinet, pick out a couple
of bottles, and look at their list of ingredients. Most
shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and liquid soaps
contain herbal extracts, and so are all potions
designed to benefit the user in some way.
Although we don't usually call energy drinks, sham
poos, teas, and other natural mixtures potions, that's
what they are: a potion is simply a combination of
natural ingredients that contain medicinal or magi
cal properties. (Don't worry, I'll talk about what it
means for something to have magical properties in
Chapter
PocKet Idiot's Guide to Introduction vii
This book will teach you everything you need to casting a spell, you build up the magical energy
know to get started on using and making your own inside of you by focusing on your intention, and
potions. I cover everything from the history of release the energy into the universe. The use
potion making, to their modern-day uses, and along of herbs, oils, incense, and potions are all ways to
the way I introduce you to dozens of common and increase this enerh'Y and to help you focus on your
not-so-common ingredients and their magical intention.
properties. Although I provide you with the tools
Spells may be elaborate and contain the use of tools
you need to create your own recipes, I also give you
magical ingredients along with spoken words,
several recipes that are known to be effective for
or they may be as simple as wishing upon a star.
achieving specific aims.
Divination
ABit of Magic
Divination is the practice of finding answers to
questions through magical meanings. There are
Ifyou are new to magic, you may be wondering just
many forms of divination, including tarot card
what exactly it is. Magic is a form of energy. It
readings, runes, pendulums, scrying, and using a
resides in'iide of you, inside of me, inside of animals,
crystal balL The type of divination you use dictates
and inside of plants. As a matter of fact, every single
how the practice is performed. For instance, you
organism has magical energy inside of them.
interpret tarot cards' meanings by studying the pic
Some people learn how to harness this energy and
tures on the cards and/or relying on standard inter
use it, while others deny its existence and never get
pretations, whereas divining using scrying and
to experience their own glorious magical abilities.
balls involves focusing intently on the ques
Since you are reading this book, you obviously want
tion and watching for an answer to appear.
to know more about harnessing your magical energy
to improve your
Rituals
Magic can take a number of different forms. Let's
take a look at a few of the more common magical Rituals are usually performed for one of two rea
practices. sons: either to celebrate an event or experience
(usually in a form of giving thanks), or to ask your
Sprlls deities for a specific blessing. I include a brief
blessing ritual in Chapter 2.
A spell is similar to a prayer. It is a request sent out
to the universe, including any deities-Gods,
Goddesses, High Powers-you work witll. vVhen
PocKet Idiot's Guide to Introduction vii
This book will teach you everything you need to casting a spell, you build up the magical energy
know to get started on using and making your own inside of you by focusing on your intention, and
potions. I cover everything from the history of release the energy into the universe. The use
potion making, to their modern-day uses, and along of herbs, oils, incense, and potions are all ways to
the way I introduce you to dozens of common and increase this enerh'Y and to help you focus on your
not-so-common ingredients and their magical intention.
properties. Although I provide you with the tools
Spells may be elaborate and contain the use of tools
you need to create your own recipes, I also give you
magical ingredients along with spoken words,
several recipes that are known to be effective for
or they may be as simple as wishing upon a star.
achieving specific aims.
Divination
ABit of Magic
Divination is the practice of finding answers to
questions through magical meanings. There are
Ifyou are new to magic, you may be wondering just
many forms of divination, including tarot card
what exactly it is. Magic is a form of energy. It
readings, runes, pendulums, scrying, and using a
resides in'iide of you, inside of me, inside of animals,
crystal balL The type of divination you use dictates
and inside of plants. As a matter of fact, every single
how the practice is performed. For instance, you
organism has magical energy inside of them.
interpret tarot cards' meanings by studying the pic
Some people learn how to harness this energy and
tures on the cards and/or relying on standard inter
use it, while others deny its existence and never get
pretations, whereas divining using scrying and
to experience their own glorious magical abilities.
balls involves focusing intently on the ques
Since you are reading this book, you obviously want
tion and watching for an answer to appear.
to know more about harnessing your magical energy
to improve your
Rituals
Magic can take a number of different forms. Let's
take a look at a few of the more common magical Rituals are usually performed for one of two rea
practices. sons: either to celebrate an event or experience
(usually in a form of giving thanks), or to ask your
Sprlls deities for a specific blessing. I include a brief
blessing ritual in Chapter 2.
A spell is similar to a prayer. It is a request sent out
to the universe, including any deities-Gods,
Goddesses, High Powers-you work witll. vVhen
viii T~e Po{ket Guide to Potions ix
Ixtras
~ ~.
Magical Definitions _____
As you read through the following chapters, like any specialized area, art of
encounter the following sidebars, little extras potion making and magic has its own
are intended to help you perfect your potion prac lingo, I define any terms that might new
tices. and other
glossary.
~.
Toil and Trouble
~
yourr. R.ady to 6.t Start.d!
, ..... These boxes contain important
and precautions to take while preparing
and usina your potions. Following these With this book, you are equipped to make and use
potions to your advantage, while enhancing your
will keep you and anyone
out of harm's magical abilities and spiritual connections.
way.
Tradrmarks
8 All tenns mentioned in this book that are known to
be or are suspected of being trademarks or service
Concoction Clues ----------,
marks have been appropriately capitalized. Alpha
. . you'll find tips, and Books and Penguin Group (USA) Inc. cannot
cuts to help prepare and use your attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a
potions as as term in this book should not be regarded as affect
ing the validity of any trademark or service mark.
Enchanting Explanations
~
or
at
viii T~e Po{ket Guide to Potions ix
Ixtras
~ ~.
Magical Definitions _____
As you read through the following chapters, like any specialized area, art of
encounter the following sidebars, little extras potion making and magic has its own
are intended to help you perfect your potion prac lingo, I define any terms that might new
tices. and other
glossary.
~.
Toil and Trouble
~
yourr. R.ady to 6.t Start.d!
, ..... These boxes contain important
and precautions to take while preparing
and usina your potions. Following these With this book, you are equipped to make and use
potions to your advantage, while enhancing your
will keep you and anyone
out of harm's magical abilities and spiritual connections.
way.
Tradrmarks
8 All tenns mentioned in this book that are known to
be or are suspected of being trademarks or service
Concoction Clues ----------,
marks have been appropriately capitalized. Alpha
. . you'll find tips, and Books and Penguin Group (USA) Inc. cannot
cuts to help prepare and use your attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a
potions as as term in this book should not be regarded as affect
ing the validity of any trademark or service mark.
Enchanting Explanations
~
or
at
Chapt.r
From th. Cauldron
to th. Kit(h.n
In This (haptef
• Demystifying potions
• Taking a brief look at the history of potion
making
" Understanding why potions have a bad rap
in some circles
.. Using potions today
To really understand what potions are and how they
are used today, we must turn back the pages of his
tory to the era before the rise of the Catholic
church, when Paganism was the mainstream form
of religious practice. We must explore how and why
potions went out of fashion, and then take a look at
their revival in recent years.
This brief history will provide a rich background
for the rest of the book, where you will learn the
correct ways to prepare and use potions for your
own purposes.
z
POckft to Potions ~ O~~__"~~~ptf!J_~tr~~_t~~(au l~o_~"1~f Kitc~~" """ "O"~" " )
T~f
Potions of th. Past as today, potions were used for just about
anything-from maladies to magical spells. Potions
Potions have been subject to widely shifting were used for everything from soothing a raspy
tural attitudes. During Pagan times, potions were cough to easing pain to bringing good luck,
primary means of healing and were well fortune, or love to the user.
respected. With the spread of Christianity, how
ever, church leaders discouraged the use of the
magical elixirs, caHin!! them the work of the devil. Enchanting Explanations
~
art of potion
gone out of
~
Magical Definitions ferent names.
0"
makes deSigned to attract
A potion is a combination or mixture
attention to the wearer!
ingredients that contain medicinal or
magical properties. Although a potion is
mainly made up of liquids, some
might PaCJan Practicfs
Many Pagan traditions believe that the knowledge
of potion making was given to humans by fairies or
Thf Potions
~irst the Gods and Goddesses as a reward for good
The origin of potion making is lost in the mists of Although there is no way to confirm this
time. Basic concoctions involving herbs and other story, we do know the use of potions was an impor
natural ingredient~, such as bark and nuts, probably tant part of Pagan practiees in the pre-Christian
date back to the beginning of human existence, world.
those earliest efforts involving a lot of trial
and error to determine which combinations of Mfdicinf or MaCJic?
ingredients were effective. When the potion maker
A cup of chamomile tea will soothe an upset stom
struck upon a successful elixir, he or she would pass
ach. Lavender oil in bath water will help relieve
the recipe on to subsequent generations, first orally
stress and enable you to relax. Are these concoc
and later, with the development of written lan
tions magic or medicine ... or both? Such distinc
guage, in written form.
tions didn't exist in Pagan times, when potions
were a comhination of magic and medicine.
