Herbal Salves & Ointments for Ritual Use: Flying Ointment & Healing Balms
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Long before pharmacies existed, the witch's apothecary was the community's medicine cabinet. Herbal salves and ointments — thick, fat-based preparations infused with the magical and medicinal properties of plants — were among the most prized tools in any cunning person's repertoire. From the legendary flying ointments of European witchcraft to the healing balms of folk healers worldwide, these preparations represent one of the oldest and most intimate forms of plant magic: medicine you wear on your skin.
Today, making herbal salves for ritual use is experiencing a powerful revival. Whether you're crafting a protection salve to anoint your body before ceremony, a healing balm to support recovery, or a visionary ointment to deepen trance states, the process of making these preparations is itself a profound magical act.
The History of Magical Ointments
The history of magical ointments is as old as witchcraft itself. Ancient Egyptian priests anointed statues of the gods with sacred oils and unguents. Greek and Roman priestesses used aromatic ointments in temple rituals. Medieval European witches were famously associated with flying ointments — preparations said to enable astral travel, shape-shifting, and attendance at the sabbath.
The infamous flying ointment recipes recorded in early modern witch trial transcripts and herbals typically contained psychoactive plants: belladonna, henbane, mandrake, and datura. These plants contain tropane alkaloids that are absorbed through the skin and can produce powerful altered states. Modern practitioners approach these ingredients with extreme caution — or avoid them entirely in favor of safer visionary herbs.
Beyond the dramatic flying ointment tradition, everyday folk magic relied heavily on herbal salves for protection, healing, love attraction, and prosperity. These were practical tools, made and used by ordinary people who understood that plants carry both physical and spiritual medicine.
Understanding the Base: Fats and Waxes
A salve or ointment is essentially an herbal-infused oil combined with a wax to create a solid or semi-solid consistency. The base you choose affects both the texture and the magical properties of your preparation.
Beeswax: The traditional choice. Beeswax creates a firm, protective salve with a beautiful golden color and subtle honey scent. Magically, beeswax carries solar energy, sweetness, community, and abundance. Use for protection, prosperity, and solar magic preparations.
Carnauba Wax (Vegan): A plant-derived wax from Brazilian palm leaves. Creates a harder, more protective finish. Carries earth and Venus energy.
Candelilla Wax (Vegan): Another plant wax, derived from a Mexican shrub. Creates a slightly softer salve than carnauba. Good all-purpose vegan alternative to beeswax.
Shea Butter: Creates a softer, creamier preparation. Carries Venus and Moon energy — excellent for love, beauty, and lunar magic salves. Deeply nourishing for skin.
Coconut Oil: Solid at room temperature, liquid when warm. Carries solar and purification energy. Excellent base for cleansing and protection preparations.
Olive Oil: The ancient sacred oil of the Mediterranean. Carries Athena/Minerva energy — wisdom, peace, victory, abundance. Traditional base for anointing oils and salves.
Carrier Oils for Herbal Infusion
Before combining with wax, you'll infuse your herbs into a carrier oil. Different oils carry different magical properties:
Jojoba Oil: Technically a liquid wax, extremely stable and long-lasting. Neutral magical energy — excellent for any purpose. Closest to the skin's natural sebum.
Sweet Almond Oil: Light, nourishing, Venus energy. Excellent for love and beauty preparations.
Castor Oil: Heavy, drawing energy. Traditional in hoodoo for drawing and binding work. Use in small amounts as it's very thick.
Sunflower Oil: Light, solar energy. Good for success, happiness, and solar magic preparations.
Rosehip Oil: Venus and Moon energy, regenerative. Excellent for healing and beauty salves.
Essential Tools
Double Boiler or Slow Cooker: For gently heating oil without burning herbs or destroying volatile compounds. Never use direct heat. Fine Mesh Strainer and Cheesecloth: For straining plant material from infused oil. Glass Measuring Cups: Heat-safe, for pouring hot salve. Small Tins or Dark Glass Jars: For storing finished salves. Metal tins are traditional; dark glass preserves potency. Labels: Always label with name, ingredients, date, and intention. Dedicated Equipment: Keep separate tools for magical preparations — don't use the same equipment for cooking.
Making Herb-Infused Oil: Two Methods
Slow Cold Infusion (Preferred for Magical Work)
Fill a clean glass jar loosely with dried herbs. Cover completely with carrier oil, leaving 1 inch of headspace. Seal and place in a warm, sunny window for 4-6 weeks, shaking daily. The slow infusion allows maximum transfer of both physical compounds and plant spirit energy. Strain through cheesecloth, pressing firmly to extract all oil. This method is ideal for magical work because the extended time allows you to work with the preparation energetically throughout the infusion period.
Quick Heat Infusion
Place herbs and oil in a double boiler or slow cooker on the lowest setting. Heat gently for 4-8 hours, keeping temperature below 60°C (140°F). Strain and cool. This method is faster but produces a less energetically rich preparation. Use when time is limited.
Basic Salve Formula
The standard ratio for a firm salve: 1 cup infused oil + 1 oz (28g) beeswax. For a softer salve: use ¾ oz beeswax. For a harder, more protective salve: use 1¼ oz beeswax. To test consistency: place a small amount on a cold plate. If too soft, add more melted wax. If too hard, add more oil. Pour into containers while still liquid and allow to cool completely before sealing.
Magical Salve Recipes
Protection Salve
Infused Oil Base: Rosemary, black pepper, frankincense resin, juniper berries in olive oil (slow infusion, 4 weeks). Wax: Beeswax (firm formula). Essential Oils Added at Pouring: 10 drops frankincense, 5 drops black pepper, 5 drops cedarwood. Magical Timing: Make on a Tuesday (Mars day) during the waxing moon. Use: Anoint pulse points, doorways, and thresholds before ritual or when protection is needed. Rub a small amount on the soles of your feet before entering challenging situations.
Healing Balm
Infused Oil Base: Calendula flowers, comfrey leaf, lavender, plantain leaf in sunflower oil (slow infusion, 6 weeks). Wax: Beeswax with shea butter (equal parts, soft formula). Essential Oils: 10 drops lavender, 5 drops tea tree, 5 drops helichrysum. Magical Timing: Make on a Sunday (Sun day) or Monday (Moon day) during the waxing moon. Use: Apply to wounds, irritated skin, and areas of physical pain. Also use to anoint the body during healing rituals, or to mark healing sigils on the skin.
Dream & Vision Ointment
Infused Oil Base: Mugwort, lavender, blue lotus flowers, passionflower in jojoba oil (slow infusion, 4 weeks). Wax: Beeswax (soft formula). Essential Oils: 10 drops lavender, 5 drops clary sage, 3 drops sandalwood. Magical Timing: Make on a Monday (Moon day) during the full moon. Use: Apply to temples, third eye, and wrists before sleep or meditation. This is a safe, non-psychoactive alternative to traditional flying ointments that supports vivid dreaming and psychic receptivity.
Love & Beauty Salve
Infused Oil Base: Rose petals, jasmine flowers, hibiscus, damiana in sweet almond oil (slow infusion, 4 weeks). Wax: Shea butter and beeswax blend (soft formula). Essential Oils: 10 drops rose absolute, 5 drops ylang ylang, 3 drops jasmine. Magical Timing: Make on a Friday (Venus day) during the waxing moon. Use: Apply to pulse points as a magical perfume. Use in self-love rituals. Anoint rose quartz and other love crystals.
Prosperity Salve
Infused Oil Base: Basil, cinnamon chips, bay leaf, patchouli in olive oil (slow infusion, 4 weeks). Wax: Beeswax (firm formula). Essential Oils: 8 drops patchouli, 5 drops cinnamon (use carefully — can irritate skin), 5 drops bergamot. Magical Timing: Make on a Thursday (Jupiter day) during the waxing moon. Use: Anoint hands before business dealings, job interviews, or financial decisions. Rub on wallet or purse. Apply to green candles for money magic.
The Flying Ointment Tradition: A Modern Approach
The legendary flying ointment of European witchcraft traditionally contained plants from the nightshade family — belladonna, henbane, mandrake, and datura — all of which contain tropane alkaloids that can cause hallucinations, delirium, and in sufficient doses, death. These plants were used by experienced practitioners who understood their extreme danger.
Modern practitioners who wish to work with visionary ointments have two options: work with a qualified herbalist who has deep experience with these plants and their safe use, or create safer alternatives using non-toxic visionary herbs. The Dream & Vision Ointment recipe above represents the latter approach — using mugwort, blue lotus, and passionflower to support altered states without the serious risks of nightshade alkaloids.
If you are drawn to work with the traditional nightshade plants, approach this path with profound respect, extensive study, and ideally, guidance from an experienced practitioner. These are not plants to experiment with casually.
Charging and Consecrating Your Salves
The physical preparation of your salve is only half the work. Charging it with magical intention transforms a useful herbal preparation into a genuine magical tool.
As you infuse your oil, speak to the herbs daily. Tell them your intention. Thank them for their medicine. As you melt your wax and combine your ingredients, hold your purpose clearly in mind. When you pour your salve into containers, speak a blessing or charging prayer over each one. Leave finished salves in moonlight or sunlight for additional charging. Some practitioners bury their salves briefly in earth to ground and stabilize the energy.
Storage and Shelf Life
Properly made salves stored in cool, dark conditions will last 1-2 years. Signs of spoilage include rancid smell, mold, or significant color change. Adding a small amount of vitamin E oil (a natural antioxidant) to your formula extends shelf life. Always use clean, dry hands or a small spatula to scoop salve — introducing water or bacteria shortens shelf life significantly.
Building Your Salve Practice
Begin with one simple recipe — the healing balm or protection salve — and work with it through a full lunar cycle before making another. Notice how the salve feels on your skin, how it smells, how it affects your energy and mood. This intimate, embodied relationship with your preparations is the foundation of genuine herbal magic. The plants are not just ingredients — they are allies, teachers, and healers. When you make a salve with care and intention, you are entering into relationship with them. That relationship, more than any recipe or formula, is the true source of the magic. For deepening this connection, the Emotional Filter Ritual Kit offers a structured way to clear energetic residue before crafting, while the Sacred Space Cleanse helps prepare your workspace for the sacred act of infusion. The 13 New Moon Rituals guide provides timely intentions to align your salve-making with lunar phases, and the Cosmic Alignment Ritual Kit can harmonize your practice with celestial rhythms. For those drawn to the visionary aspects, the Void Whisper Audio supports the trance states that dream ointments are meant to enhance.
