True Petrified Amber & Dragon's Blood In Pomegranate Seed Oils

כ"ח שבט תשס"ט
Imbolgen 28

I've just purchased some supplies for items I will be carrying in my new etsy store WITCHCRAFTS by Liorah Lleucu. My first two creations will be true Dragon's Blood-Pomegranate Seed oil and true Petrified Amber-Pomegranate Seed oil. These oil infusions are going to be made with premium ingredients - not the cheap stuff you can buy anywhere at one of a million metaphysical shoppes.

The dragon's blood (daemonorops draco) resin I've purchased is select Gold Seal Dragon's Blood from Sumatra. This is the best on the market.

Most amber oils and incense on the market are not made from real petrified or semi-petrified amber resin at all, but rather are blends of benzoin, styrax or copal resins only. My amber oil will be made with true petrified amber (succinum sp.) from Russia and true semi-petrified amber (succinum sp.) from China, touched with a naughty bit of extra dark India amber (a combination of liquid benzoin or styrax resin with a touch of vanilla and chocolate notes in a beeswax base).

Both my dragon's blood oil and amber oil will be infused into a pomegranate seed (punica granatum) carrier oil. This is a very exquisite premium ingredient - four ounces of it can cost $30-$50 or more. The pomegranate seed oil I am using is certified organic through OTCO, cold pressed and originates from Turkey in the Mediterranean. Pomegranate seed oil from the Mediterranean region is considered to be the most desirable of the pomegranate seed oils on the market because it contains higher concentrations of antioxidants and other beneficial properties acquired due to the climate, soil and traditional farming methods of the Mediterranean. The pomegranate oil I'll be using is a soft amber color, virtually odorless (unlike most carrier oils), and has a shelf life of 14-16 months.

My handcrafted premium oil infusions will be sold in 4 dram (0.5 ounces) amber vials, sealed with professional burgundy (dragon's blood) or black (amber) wine-bottle sealing wax, wax-stamped on the top with either a pentacle (dragon's blood) or a star of David (amber) with inset areas highlighted with gold brocade metallic ink, and hung with a red or black ribboned charm and other unique beautifications (such as beads, ragged fabric threads, etc.). Charms to choose from at this point include a welsh dragon, celtic knot, star of David or a key. All charms are made of copper. Before each vial is sealed, a very small natural clear quartz crystal will be intentionally introduced into it, to magnify the magic each oil infusion contains.

This is only the beginning of WITCHCRAFTS by Liorah Lleucu. Opens March 29, 2009.

Dark Forest Divination

כ"א שבט תשס"ט
Imbolgen 21

In further development of my hedgecraft in the manner of a witch of the wild wood, I've added another piece into the atmosphere of my magical practice - this stunningly handmade Dark Forest tarot pouch.

So exquisitely earthy, it's knitted from handspun animal friendly and environmentally sustainable fibres, has an embroidered felty leaf, a lavender jewel and laced sides. It's perfect!

deep within the winter forest
among the snowdrift wide
you can find a magic place
where all the faeries hide


I absolutely adore handmade things.

Hedgecraft

כ"א שבט תשס"ט
Imbolgen 21

This recently acquired pendant is made from the wood of an elder tree, the witch tree. Elder symbolizes the Elder Mother, Crone and Matriarch of hedgerows and the wild wood. She guards liminal places and blesses with powerful sweetness handfastings and magic rituals.

Sweet Wicked Witch Of The Wild Wood

כ' שבט תשס"ט
Imbolgen 20

I've added nine (ט) wicked blackthorne spikes to my magical curios collection. Extremely strong and very sharp, blackthorne spikes provide strong protection against malevolent magic.

Blackthorne blossoms, usually white with red-tipped stamens, have toothed edges (ש) and cluster in star-shapes.

The dark blue-black berries (sloe berries) of the blackthorne tree are used to make ink, a strong red dye, sloe gin and jam. Medicinally, blue-black red-producing blackthorne berry cleanses the blood and has both astringent and diuretic properties. Sloe berry sweetens after the first frost of winter, magically representing the essence of sweetness brought forth from the experience of adversity. I've acquired 100g of these charmingly holy berries.

Sweet! Like the sloeberry jelly soon to be on my biscuit.

Esoterically, the blackthorne tree is known as the Mother of the Woods and Dark Crone of the Woods.

Pathworking With The Ancestors

ט"ו שבט תשס"ט
Imbolgen 15

Since I anticipate doing a significant amount of pathwork with the Ancestors and Old Ones, I've purchased a small smokey quartz crystal skull for my altar. May the Ancestors and Old Ones bless me with their guidance and goodwill. So mote it be! אמן

To All My Pagan & Witch Friends - Blessed Imbolc!

May this sabbat of Imbolc be a blessing for all and may we all meet with omens for good.