Topic of the Month: Flying Ointments
The History of Flying Ointments
Flying ointments are steeped in both history and mystery. Their true uses often hidden and unknown behind the lies spread by witch hunters during the witch hunts in both Europe and the US. It was said that witches used flying ointments to fly to Sabbath rites in the time of the European Witch Hunts. However, they date back far before and have a colorful history that remains unknown to many in the modern world.
While most of the information, recipes, and writings about flying ointments date back to the middle ages, flying ointments and their ilk are actually much older. Flying ointments themselves have been traced back to 200 BCE, 160 CE, and the oldest possible reference is from around 800 BCE . So we know that at the very least, flying ointments go as far back as ancient Greece and Rome.
However, the ingredients that are commonly used in flying ointments have been discovered as far back as the Neolithic period,a time that was at least 10,000 years ago. Remains found of henbane, belladonna, and marijuana in Scotland and Northern Europe have been found dating back to Neolithic times and were found mostly in the form of seeds and remnants of ritual alcoholic beverages. It is unknown if they were ever used in salves of by magical peoples in general, but the fact remains that these plants were used dating as far back as 10,000 years ago.
Originally animal fat was used in the creation of flying ointments. In earlier times this was due to animal fat being cheap and readily available even to the poor. The fat was used to extract both oils and alkaloids from the toxic plants needed for flying ointments. Animal fats are still used by some today due to the science that has now proven that human skin is better able to absorb a salve made with lard. It enters the blood stream more quickly and easily than other substances because our genetics are apparently very similar to a pig’s. This helps to trick our bodies into absorbing the foreign components from the plant matter. However, many people now uses other plant based oils instead of animal fats. It is a matter of personal preference.
-Silver
Common Ingredients
Many flying ointments make use of the Solanaceae family of plants. Some of the most commonly used plants in this family are henbane, belladonna, datura, and mandrake. These plants are still commonly used in modern flying ointments by witches today. A few other plants that have been historically used in traditional in flying ointment's include the opium poppy, water hemlock, monkshood, and foxglove. Of these ingredients foxglove, hemlock, and monkshood should never be used, unknown to our earlier ancestors they are not effective and only poison and paralyze the user.
Plants from the Solanaceae family contain the alkaloids atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine. It is best to do your research on these components so that you are aware of the acting alkaloids of your flying ointments. Tropane compound within the Solanaceae family is well known to cause heart problems, heart failure, and many other issues when ingested. Thanks to experience and modern science, we know that when using them externally they are much less dangerous. Even so, uses beware as careful dosing is very important as an overdose can cause blindness or even death.
Some other, less poisonous ingredients commonly used in traditional Flying ointments include balm of gilead, calamus root, cannabis, clary sage, dittany of Crete, mugwort, tansy, wormwood, and yarrow.
-Silver
Flying Ointments as Medicine
As we have learned from modern day revolutionaries like Sarah Anne Lawless, flying ointments are believed to have started out at medicine. In fact, Sarah Anne Lawless sells these ointments as medicine now on her website. She had discovered people in remote places still selling medicines made in the same ways as flying ointments to their communities. places.
"I think modern occultists tend to compartmentalize too much and be too serious — flying ointments can be medicine, intoxicants, and magic all at once with no need to separate out each application._ -Sarah Anne Lawlwess
Gone are her special 'Flying' ointments much to the dismay of many a witch. She found that her medicines were less accessible to non witches due to marketing them as such and chose to relabel so that people form all backgrounds could feel comfortable using the ointments as medicine. However her Medicine ointments can do the exact same thing. Feel free to relieve your arthritic joints and go visit the other worlds! please go visit her page on Flying Ointments as Medicine to learn more! (Link at bottom of page)
-Silver
Modern Flying Ointments
Many modern ointments that are being sold as Flying Ointments are nothing more than a few herbs and oils made into salve, often having no connection to soul fight or astral travel. They are, for the most part, pretty smelling ointments that will have no real effect. If a flying ointment does not have any 'Toxic' ingredients in it that are used for flying, it is not truly a flying ointment.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, beware of ointments or recipes that do not list all of their ingredients or do not have health warnings. It is important to know what you are using in case of an allergy or reaction and I would not trust anyone not giving warnings for ointments using toxic plants.
-Silver
There is a bit of debate on what makes a flying ointment. Some authors and practitioners state that it must have a psychotropic substance that creates a physical or neurological effect, and they are definitely not wrong in their definition. However, others say that any ointment can be used as "flying" ointment if it gets you to that head space that is needed for trance and journey work, and they too may not be wrong. I can see both sides of the argument. For me, any ointment can be considered a flying ointment if that is the effect it has on the individual using it. No, it may not have a direct reaction in the body but if it works to induce trance then I think it can be considered a type of flying ointment. I think it is important to consider the magical properties of any plant you may be working with but one's personal experiences with a plant can be a profoundly different than another's and should not be dismissed by the person having those experiences just because it is not typical to the properties assigned to them. For example, sage is often burned and is considered a spiritual plant by a lot of practitioners, for another person burning oak leaves may be their key to a spiritual experience. Oak is no less a spiritual plant to that practitioner than sage is to the other. This is something to consider when working with your own plants. What is your relationship with these plants and do some call in a different way than their commonly known properties suggest? Educate yourself on the historical and magical uses and properties of a plant but also develop a working relationship with the plants to gain a deeper understanding of what you are creating with them.
-Ayda
Using Flying Ointments
Always test out any flying ointments on a small patch of skin to ensure that you are not allergic to the ingredients. It is important to start out slowly with small amounts and gradually increase them so that you can test your tolerance and the effects that particular ointment may have for you. Each person is different and can be effected differently by flying ointments. After applying your test strength, no more than a pea sized amount should suffice, wait at least 30 minutes to gauge your reaction. Flying ointment takes time to take full effect. If you are are not yet satisfied with the effects, apply another pea sized amount until you are happy with the results. This way you know exactly how much to apply before ritual to receive the desired results. The effects can take between 30 minutes and two hours to fully manifest and can last anywhere from one to six hours.
We must stress the importance of getting your flying ointment from an reputable source and highly recommend Sarah Anne Lawless's many flying ointments (Please note that she had to change the name to appeal to a wider customer base so they are now called 'Herbal Ointments'). Receiving your ointments from a known and experienced source allows you to experiment with a tried and true flying ointment that has been proven effective and are good for someone starting out with flying ointments.
-Silver
Making Flying Ointments
I was able to find a recipe from a blog, wildspiritherbs.blogspot.com, that has worked really well for our purposes. There are several ointment recipes that can be found on the internet and in books and magazines that specialize in homemade healing and moisturizing products. I'm sure any of these ointment recipes can be used in place of this one if the feel of one is more to your liking. The benefit of this one is all of the ratios of the plants to ointment base is figured out. If you convert a recipe to be used as a flying ointment I suggest making this one first and then converting it to the ingredients you want without adjusting the ratios of ointment to infused oils and plants. Also to consider, traditional flying ointments used animal fat. Animal fat can facilitate the plants chemicals absorbing into the skin a bit more than plant based fats but it needs to be rendered and then strained several times to extract the pure fats and oil and to reduce the smell that animal fat tends to carry. Animal fat is not something we want to work with, so we have chosen to use a vegetarian recipe.
Please Read full disclaimer at the bottom of the page. This is for informational purposes only and we are not responsible for any adverse reaction anyone may have from making, handling or using anything we may discuss on this site. Use at your own risk. Keep all ingredients and ointments away from children and in a secure place where animals and children cannot access.
Alrighty, on to the ointment.
Vegetarian Friendly Flying Ointment
1-3 oz (by weight) of plants (1 oz dried or 2-3 oz fresh) this is the total weight of all plants being used
1 cup of a base oil such as olive oil, almond oil, coconut oil, clarified animal fat, etc
1 oz (weight) or 2 Tbsp of a thickener such as beeswax
1-5 drops of Essential oil, optional
Containers to cook/melt the ingredients such as a crock pot, jar, or pot/pan
A spoon for stirring
Cutting board
Knife
Gloves
digital scale and measuring spoons/cups
Fine sieve or mesh strainer or a coffee filter
Containers for the completed ointment
This can be made as part of a ritual or in a sacred space or made in a mundane setting with magical intention. Make it in any way that works for you. Be sure to dedicate any container, spoon, pot, and any thing that comes into contact with the plants as being solely used for flying ointment purposes to reduce the risk of contaminating food with a potentially toxic substance.
Gather your plants. 1/2-1 oz of plants if they are dried or 2-3 oz if the plants are fresh. It is also a great idea to start with a small amount to begin with to be sure you are not sensitive to the plants being used.
Put on gloves if using anything toxic, or if you don't want your hands to smell like the plants, and chop finely, a mortar and pestle can also be used.
Add base oil to a pot on the stove, crock pot, or jar in a crock pot (if you don't want to contaminate your crock pot) and turn on low.
Add the chopped plants and let sit for 4-8 hours stirring occasionally. Do not leave this unattended for safety reasons.
Strain the plants out of the oil mixture keeping the oil and either toss the plants or keep for an offering. We use a coffee filter in a mason jar using the lid to hold the filter in place. Press or squeeze out any remaining oil.
Put the oil back on the heat. Add the thickener and let melt, stirring to combine thoroughly.
Remove from heat, add the essential oil if using, and let cool slightly so you can handle the container. Pour into jars and let cool.
Let cool thoroughly before using.
Should keep for about a year.
Application of the ointment can vary. The wrist, back of knees, elbow bend, groin, armpit, and anywhere where the skin is thin and you can see veins is good places for application. Skin contact in general will get the substances in your system just fine, but the closer the veins are to the surface and the softer the skin is the more will be absorbed. The "traditional" method for women is by insertion via an object. This method is not something either of us have tried, or are willing to do, so I can not speak to this form of application. Application by consumption or on any mucus membrane such as on the genitals or in the mouth is also not recommended. Oral and insertion allows much more of the substance to be absorbed and we do not suggest either method, especially with your first few tries as there is no easy way to wash off or remove the ointment. The good thing about rubbing it into the skin is that it can be washed away if you start experiencing any negative effects. Wash with soap and lukewarm to cool water to avoid ointment absorbing more into your skin.
From our experience, 1-2 pea sized amounts are effective to help with trance like journeying. Some people use just a dot of the ointment on their third eye to help them get to the trance state. Don't slather yourself in ointment and go running in the woods. Be cautious with your first few applications and slowly build up the amount to find an effective amount for you.
-Ayda
Home made Herbal Ointment
Home Made Datura Ointment
Home made Mandrake Ointment
Our Experiences
Flying ointment, to me, is something that can be extremely beneficial to trance work. However, it should not be your sole way of achieving that altered state. Establishing a clear and effective way of journeying without the aid of psychotropics, be it flying ointment, drugs, alcohol, or whatever substance being used, is key to a strong spiritual practice that involves trance work. Flying ointment is not a necessity and may not be everyone's cup of tea. And this is absolutely fine. Flying ointment is there as a way to enhance some people's journey or to help them get to that place easier. The way flying ointment can ease the transition into sinking into the trance is what is most appealing for me. I do struggle at times with fully crossing over into that world where I can have a fully sensed experience. This is where the flying ointment can be a great ally. It has helped me to slip between the worlds less abruptly and slightly easier than when I am without.
-Ayda
Sarah Anne Lawlwess Henbane Ointment
Photo Courtesy of Sara Anne Lawless's website
Sarah Anne Lawless's Sabbat Flying Ointment
Photo Courtesy of Sarah Anne Lawless's website
Disclaimer: PLEASE READ THOROUGHLY: Depending on the plants used, this ointment can contain toxic substances. We do not condone any use of plants, roots, saps, powders, herbs, leaves, etc without thoroughly educating oneself on the affects and contraindications. Use proper safety equipment while handling any toxic plant. Wear gloves while handling any of the plants or infused oil. Do not use if you have any allergies to any of the ingredients in the ointment. Do not use if you have any medical conditions that could be aggravated by any of the ingredients you put into this ointment. Do not use if you are taking any medications that could be affected by this ointment. Do not use everyday if using any toxic plants and allow the body to rest between uses. Use only if you are healthy in mind and body. For external use only. Consult a doctor before use. Not for use by pregnant or lactating women. Do not apply to children or allow children to use this ointment. This is for informational purposes only and we are not responsible for any adverse reaction anyone may have from making, handling or using anything we may discuss on this site. Use at your own risk. Keep all ingredients and ointments away from children and in a secure place where animals and children cannot access.
Resources & Further Reading
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