Kassandra wrote:I'm catching up on posts I didn't respond to during my recent hiatus, and I think this is the last one, finally.
Its been nice to have you back. I had posted a few threads while you were gone in hopes that maybe other people would be interested in joining in the discussions. This was actually one of the few topics I have started related to Hoodoo that I even had some experience with so that is why I was hoping for posts and discussion. Oh well. Welcome back. Lets rock this party.
Kassandra wrote: Hey, I'm surprised no one else responded to this...you couldn't be the only one making or using magical powders, could you? lol
I didnt think that I would be. I mean the idea and use of herbs in different forms is common in many different cultures and practices. I started my work with powders based on working with powdered herbs in incense formats. I figured why not try another way of working with my powdered herbs.
Kassandra wrote:They are so fun to both make and use!
I enjoy making them. I enjoy taking the time to thumb through my herb collection and look at the associations and properties. I typically grab all of the herbs I have related to the need at hand and then I basically look at them and let my hand choose which ones to pop into my mortar and pestal.
Kassandra wrote:Making Magical Powders
Pretty much any recipe used for a magical oil blend could be used as an herbal base for a magical powder, as well.
I have also found that most incense recipes can double as oil based recipes as well. This is where I figured I could take the same approach I do with my incenses and try using the same herbal recipes in a powder form. This was before I actually read anything on working with powders in the context of Hoodoo.
I had basically heard of working with herbs in magical powders. I didn't know anything about using a base powder or anything along those lines. I just powdered herbs measured them, mixed the herbs in the mortar and pestal (or bag depending on batch size) one at a time and then all together at the end blessing them and focusing on the intent with each shake and practice. Its very fun and its a great way to raise energy.
I've found that powders are an effective way of working magic in a simple and easy manner. I also like how once its prepared you can basically just use them any time that you need them or want to use them. I've found that they are also a great way of working magic for other people when they approve of it without having to make a big deal of it. Powders are awesome.
Kassandra wrote:Talc is a common carrier, but I've heard of people using anything from baby powder to baking soda.
See I haven't used a powder for my bases. All of the powders I sell don't have that base. None of the powders I have made have had any sort of base. One of the reasons is that I am also leaving them open to be used as an incense if needed. I figure why not use them as both an incense and a powder at the same time. Burn the incense in a censor while sprinkling the powder. Here you get fire, air, and earth. The only way to add more elemental power would be to have an oil or in my case more likely a tincture with the same recipe applied as well.
Mama Starr uses rice powder in her powders. She uses rice powder because of how it absorbs oils. She also mentions how it relates to being applied to the skin for some effects. She does mention how other people use other powders as their bases. She even includes salts as a base for powders. Would you consider salt a base for magical powders?
Kassandra wrote:For magical powders I grind the herbs down to a fine consistency using a coffee grinder. The mortar and pestle I use for a coarser consistency for herbs to go into an oil carrier or alcohol tincture base because I like to still see what the separate ingredients are. But for powders, I don't really care to see the herbs.
That is a good point. My first powders werent really ground all that well. Neither my grinder and blender were that effective nor was my mortar and pestle effective for what I really wanted. Now things are a bit different.
I do agree about in tinctures wanting a less fine consistency. For me the only difference for that is in herbs and resins that are incredibly difficult to powder at all and may be better in a fine powder form for tinctures. Dragons blood both in tincture and powders for me is finely ground. Myrrh and Frankincense are also two herbs I use finely ground in powders. Otherwise they remain very sticky in resin form which for my desires aren't effective. You still can strain them.
Kassandra wrote:And the coffee grinder is good for herbs going into a (salt) "crystal bath" formula, as well. This is used for bathing the body, or for "fixing" clothing in the laundry. An example would be to use a "protection" blend to wash a child's clothing in to magically protect him from a bully that's been bothering him. Another example would be to put a "success" or "money-drawing" formula in the laundry of someone going job hunting in those clothes (be sure to wash underwear and socks in this). "Baths" could also be added to bucket water for magical "washing" of the floor, along the lines of this post. Versatile stuff, these powders and baths.
So you consider bath salts and baths to be types of powders as well? I guess they could be. I think of most bath salts as being mostly salts blended with essential oils rather than the herbs themselves though sometimes the herb are added. I do believe that salt does absorb the properties of oils blended with it when combined with intent. So maybe thats why salts can be powders. Same for baths.
The only salt I am really familiar with aside from bath salts is black salt. Though I have made my own protection salt which has been very effective and has produced wonderful vibrations in my home since being applied. The story behind that creation is actually in my blog here. I also posted the recipe in the Kitchen Witchery forum here. Now that good weather is here I plan on actually making some black salt as well.
I have some commercial Black Salt I bought from the store called Hex. That store is one of the few in New England that sell Hoodoo supplies from premade salts, powders, and oils to herbs for use in your own salts, powders, oils, and the like. I may use some of that in an inspired hex breaking or uncrossing spell I have in mind to work. Its a combination of one I read in Mama Starrs book with my own twist on the spell. Stiill Hoodoo inspired at least.
I don't have the vigils for that exact spell. I do have the main ingredient which is a white egg and permanent markers for the marking of the egg. So I have an idea to adapt the spell to work with the black salt in the uncrossing as well as with my protection salt also as part of the uncrossing. One thing I have found to be true in Hoodoo is that you use what you have on hand and adapt the spells if necessary. That is one thing I am doing there. Maybe not traditional conjure but I'd still call it Hoodoo just ala me.
Kassandra wrote:Using Magical Powders
But, back to powders; another example: use a "healing" magical powder formulation to sprinkle on the sheets of someone suffering from an illness.
I have heard of using love powders under the bed of your lover to keep the love strong. I've also heard of the same powder being sprinkled to encourage strong long lasting relationships to remain strong and true to each other.
I do like the idea of the healing powder in the sheets of the person with the illness. I guess the one draw back I can think of is if they have any allergic reactions to certain herbs. There are people who are allergic to herbs in any form of contact. So I think that would be something to consider in a practice of applying the powder to something that comes into contact with the skin or air (sprinkled on the floor eventually would be kicked up a bit through motion into the air).
Kassandra wrote: Likewise, take a candle of a color corresponding to the idea of "healing" in your tradition, inscribe it with a healing phrase of some sort (or rune, sigil, etc.), dress it with healing oils, then sprinkle it with a related magical powder. Burn it in the room of the sick person, calling forth healing energy from the elements, the god(s), help from ancestors, etc. I think an angel-themed candle would be really good for this, like that of the "healer angel," Archangel Raphael.
Due to my personal relationship with the arch angel Michel I would call on him for healing. He was and actually is an angel of healing as well as protection. Its actually one of his earlier associations. The ritual spell for uncrossing I mentioned earlier actually invokes archangel Michel as a healer in that respect. Though I may also call on more than one angel. I may also call on my Dragon guide who is a healing spirit.
I have a tincture I would use for this which was based on an incense I crafted out of healing pure love for my fiance'. That incense blend is actually base for the incense blend I sell in my store as well. For me a healing color is blue, green, or purple depending on what the issue is. Blue for me tends to be an all purpose healing color. Green for me is more related to emotional healing as well. Blue also relates to issues with communication (emotional, physical or any form of communication). Purple for me is for issues with the mind and mental health.
Kassandra wrote:For those who don't have a problem with more commanding type work, some might call "sneaky tricks" in hoodoo, you could sprinkle some magical powder on a door knob, computer keyboard, or desk chair of a person you want to compel/command.
Hot Foot powder is one of these powders. I've even heard of it being applied to the leaves of desk plants in addition to war water being used to water the plant. That combination would be very powerful at eliminating your enemies. You can also sprinkle powders in their cars (if you have access) or in their yards. Locations for placing tricks can play a key role in Hoodoo I have found.
Kassandra wrote: Say, you want someone to think about you in a positive way, like a boss you'd like to give you a raise, or a cute co-worker you'd like to get to know better (I don't advise this, though!), or say your significant, whom you love and adore, is a chronic procrastinator and you've frankly gotten tired of repeatedly asking him or her do the thing they already know they're supposed to do for you...break out the magical powder. Respectively, you might use hoodoo formulations known as Crown of Success, Follow Me Boy (or Girl), and Compelling (though, I think it's more effective to use a simple sugar bowl or honey jar spell, hehe).
I think a sugar bowl spell could actually count as a magical powder and a sweetening spell at the same time. Depending on how you worked it I think it could also be used as a jar spell. Again it all depends on how the powder is constructed and the spell is applied.
Powders are fun and quite diverse. There are many different types of powders. I mean we can as you have mentioned discuss salts and baths as powders. There are lucky powders. There are protective powders and healing powders. You have powders for offensive work (best known I believe is the Hot Foot Powder) and much more. I personally think that magical powders are going to become a staple in my practice.
Kassandra wrote:I could go on and on about all the ways magical powders could be used. Fun stuff.
They are fun to make. They are also fun to use. I have made a banishing powder, a love powder, a money powder, and most recently I have made a protection salt. I have a feeling I may adapt the powder recipes I have made up to this point and try using probably baby powder as a base. I think it may make a distinct difference in both the consistency and the actual ability to use the powder.