Anointing Oils 1: How They Are Made

This week, I'm doing a little examination of the use of anointing oils. Also referred to as "condition oils" because they're formulated to deal with specific conditions, these oils are extremely versatile and inexpensive, making them an excellent tool in anyone's hoodoo arsenal, whether a professional rootworker or someone who just does work for themselves and loved ones.

My Mother Oils

Now, the exact formulas used in my conjure oils - or in any reputable rootworker's, for that matter - are a closely-guarded secret. Many conjure-folk create their oils from a simple carrier and essential oils mixture.

I admit to enjoying the process of creation quite a bit, so I get a little elaborate. My oils consist of four things: the Mother Oil, the Essential Oils, the Curios and the Crossroads Sealing.

The Mother Oils are a selection of carrier oils that I use as a base. Each Mother Oil is an infusion of a specific root or herb that sits in the oil for a good long while. Some of them, like High John, are what are called hot infusions, in which the oil is heated to allow the properties of a tough root or bark to properly infuse the oil. Most, however, are cold infusions, in which the oil is sufficient at room temperature to draw out the botanical virtues of these herbs. Some oils have the same base as others, because the herbs I use for my Mother Oils are often potent curios with a variety of uses in traditional conjure.

It should be noted that I use almond oil in this process. If you or someone you know is allergic to nuts, you should absolutely not use any of my conjure oils in oil-to-skin contact with that person.



Though this infusion process is sufficient to invest the Mother Oil with the virtues of the herb in question, conjure oils are a little more complex than that. So, I then add the proper Essential Oils to the Mother Oil in a ratio specified by my recipe. About half of my recipes are the results of testing, trial and error on my part, using the traditional herbal correspondences of conjure. The other half are recipes I've gotten from elsewhere, tried and liked.

Then, we add the Curios. These are usually herbal, often mineral and very occasionally animal curios with specific mojo to them, added to the final bottle of anointing oil in order to impart it with the virtue of the curio in question.

Finally, I use a specific form of ritual prayer referred to as a Crossroads Sealing after each bottle of oil is made. Because I don't have bottles sitting around waiting to be sold, but instead make them as they are ordered, I often know who the oil is going to be used by. As a result, I can pray over that oil, augmenting the intent you'll be bringing to your work with it, and boosting your mojo with some of my own. Even those I've sold to a shop (like Phoenix & Dragon, here in Atlanta GA) to sell have each been invested, blessing whoever uses the oil.

And that's it! Thanks so much for reading. Pop back by tomorrow, when we look at Anointing Oils: How To Use Them, a look at the various ways in which conjure anointing oils can be put to work for you.