The Element Encyclopedia of 1000 Spells: A Concise Reference Book for the Magical Arts. Judika Illes
old alchemical process, although it lay dormant, forgotten, and unappreciated for centuries. Now fresh attention is paid to hydrosols; new ones become available every day. They are an increasingly important component of magic spells.
Flower Essence Remedies
Alchemists, witches, and herbalists have always painstakingly gathered morning dew from individual plants to access its magic powers. Infused with the specific power of the particular plant, these tiny liquid dewdroplets also contain the perfect balance of the four primal elements: the power of water, the earth radiating through the plant, the surrounding air and fire from the sun.
Once upon a time, if you wanted to access this power, you were limited to the plants growing on your lawn. This is no longer the case. Modern flower essence remedies bring the power of flowers from all over Earth—from the Amazon rainforest to the Australian outback—right to your door.
The pioneer and founding father of modern flower essence remedies was Dr. Edward Bach, a Harley Street physician and homeopath. Dr. Bach eventually came to the realization that true, complete healing was not possible when approached solely from the physical plane. Emotional and spiritual imbalances are the root causes of dysfunction of all kinds. True healing and transformation must be accessed through the soul and emotions. Dr. Bach devoted the rest of his life, at great personal sacrifice, to developing the original Bach flower essence remedies, which provide the vehicle for this healing and transformation. According to Dr. Bach, the flowers communicated to him directly, sharing their secrets and potential for healing with him. Since then, many other flower essence practitioners have followed in Dr. Bach’s footsteps to bring us greater access to a wider variety of botanical material than ever before.
It’s easy to be confused between flower essence remedies and essential oils: they have extremely similar names and are even packaged in a similar manner (in tiny glass vials). Although they complement each other’s powers and work very well together, they are extremely different and cannot be substituted for one another.
Essential oils are true plant extracts, with extremely potent and sometimes scientifically documented physical effects. When I taught therapeutic aromatherapy, many of my students were nurses learning to incorporate essential oils into conventional hospital practice. All essential oils are, to a degree, antiseptic; many have potent anti-bacterial and anti-viral effects in addition to whatever magical power they also hold.
No one completely understands how flower essence remedies work, although they do—profoundly. General consensus is that it is a form of vibrational healing. Flower essences are pure water, infused and charged with the plant’s energy and vibration. There’s no need to kill the plant to access this energy; typically only a few carefully chosen leaves are used. By definition, the remedy won’t work if the plant used is not a powerful, healthy specimen. These essences provide a healing bridge between the soul of the botanical and your own. While essential oils may be understood as the lifeblood of a plant, flower essence remedies capture the plant’s aura.
Flower essence remedies are the exception to the rule regarding botanicals’ impact on the physical plane—there is no direct physical effect. All the effects are felt on the emotional, spiritual, and magical planes. They are safe for everyone’s use: children, animals, crystals, and other plants.
When using flower essence remedies the most common mode of administration is internal. Manufacturers will supply directions, however the standard dose for most is four drops four times a day. Topical administration is also extremely effective: massage the flower essence remedy into the body, particularly into the soles of feet and the thin skin stretched between thumb and forefinger.
Every manufacturer of flower essence remedies has a specific repertoire of botanicals. When flower essence remedies are cited in the text, the name of their manufacturer follows in parenthesis. For example: Mugwort (FES).
Spell-casting Using the Powers of the Elements
In Western magic and philosophy, Earth’s power is traditionally broken down into four components, known as the elements: Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. Air and Fire are traditionally considered male or yang energies, while Earth and Water are most typically perceived as female, or yin. Life springs from earth and water but air and fire are necessary to spark the process. Healthy magic power derives from the harmonious balance of these elements.
From a magical standpoint, the power of each element is unique, specific, and alive. Depending upon the purpose of your spell, one element may be invoked or emphasized over the others. Power also derives from the interplay between the elements. Power is enhanced when the elements intermingle and form a threshold. Steam emerges from the marriage of water and fire, for instance, and is a potent force for spiritual cleansing and protection.
Individuals are influenced by these elements, too. One or more elements will predominate in every individual’s natal astrological chart and will thus influence not only their character but also the type of magic spell that usually appeals most to that individual and is most accessible. I have listed the elemental affiliations of the astrological signs below, however an accurate gauge can only be received from a complete birth chart. Someone who is a Taurus, an earth sign, but who has five other planets in a water sign is a very watery person, despite their sun sign.
The elements are easily understood if one considers their qualities.
Air
Air serves as a transmitter and a messenger. Because magic (and some schools of higher physics) asserts that nothing that exists truly disappears, to say that something “vanishes into thin air” is meant very literally when discussing magic spells. Candles that access the power of fire also summon the power of air: what is burned disappears into the air. Air is associated with astral travel; witches fly through the air even if the journey is accomplished with dreams or visions.
Air is considered a masculine, yang energy.
Fragrance is the language of air. Word charms also draw upon air power.
Air signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius.
Earth
Earth is our battery and generator, providing capacity for growth and solidity. Earth is a particularly important element for those journeying into magical realms because earth provides stability, reality, and gravity. Magicians should spend time in the garden, even if not gardening, and barefoot whenever possible. If this isn’t appealing, play with real clay (not synthetic), or make mud pies like a child. Go to the spa and take a mud bath.
Earth is considered a feminine, yin power.
Earth’s magical power is accessed through the botanicals that are rooted in Earth, figures formed from clay, and dirt itself, as in graveyard dirt or crossroads dirt.
Earth signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn.
Fire
Fire is the most independent of elements, defying all illusions of human control. Fire heals, energizes, cleanses, and purifies. Fire is transformative and must always be treated with respect. Although you can get into trouble with any element (think floods, mudslides, tornadoes) fire is commonly the most dangerous. I cannot emphasize enough: never assume that because you’re engaged in magical or spiritual acts that common-sense fire safety does not also apply. Fire is never completely safe. Be vigilant.
Fire is a masculine, yang energy.
Candles are the most popular form of fire magic. Magical bonfires and lamps are also lit. Magic mirrors are sometimes used to access fire’s transformative (and potentially destructive) powers.
Fire signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius.
Water
Water is the element most affiliated