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Ink
Hey, you've probably read or know of recipes for ink, and maybe you already make your own. Great. You should have made a post about it maybe, because now I'm doing it. So. Inks. Usually these consist of three ingredients:
water
one (or several) coloring materials
a thickening agent
If you're not like that other guy, haven't done it before and think making your own batch sounds like fun but also like a lot of (or too much) work then this is the post for you.
I am going to make this as simple as possible, and some of you will smirk and point out that what I'll write down here isn't a way to make ink at all. Fine. Maybe it's a tincture, or aquarell paint, or a disgusting tea. Doesn't really matter, it is a liquid that can be used to make (for example) your seals.
One of the classical ingredients that is used to create a dark brownish ink is walnut. And what you then really need is the softer “fruit like” shell that will go from green to black. If you can find that: great.
Other plant material works too. I made a small amount using only a handful of young acorns this week.
This is a natural liquid, and that means that it will eventually go off / start to grow a mold etc. So you shouldn't really make 5 liters at a time. Once you have made a batch, using the amounts I mention, you will see how easy it is, and you might want to make it specifically for 1 occasion, and throw away what remains (simply in the yard or wherever – it's all natural) so that the whole thing and act becomes a part of the spell you are casting.
The color of the finished product will always be on the brownish spectrum, don't expect a bright green or nice blue. What does (or could) matter is the correspondence / the lore of the plant. So if you are going to make an (t)ink(ture) for protection you could use ash or rowan, for banishing nettle, for wealth basil, for love rose etc.
For +/- 10 ml you will need:
a handful of plant material (shells, twigs, berries, leafs..)
a cup of water
Now let this simmer in a pot until almost all the water has evaporated. Then add another cup of water. Repeat this for as long as you wish (but at least 5 to 7 times) until you think the color is dark enough. The water will become darker every time, because the plant material softens up more and releases more of its coloring.
Then turn up the heat and let it boil up until there's just a tiny bit of liquid left.
Pour this in a small bottle (without the big chunks of plant..) and say “voila”.
You don't have to strain it.
After some hours the liquid will start to separate as the sludge forms on the bottom. That's fine, but when you are going to use it to write then give it a good shake to make it an even color again.
(I predict someone will say you can just as well use coffee – and that's true)
The writing
A reason why real ink needs a thickening agent, like arabic gum, is for the liquid to somewhat stick together when using a fountain pen. That way you don't have to dip the pen into the ink between every single letter as it forms a small drop at the base of the crown.
What I suggest (and do myself) is to use the bottom of a match instead. Simply dip the (wooden and not covered end of the) match in the ink and then write or draw. You will need to “refill” your match with ink between every letter, and because the ink can be lighter than you expected you might have to retrace a letter or part of a letter sometimes. But this also means that you are really paying attention to what you are doing, and are very careful and precise.
When you have finished your seal ( / etc) then let it dry and keep the match for later. Then use the seal / sigil in whatever way you normally would.
Afterwards, if you want to burn your spell paper:
Again use the back of the same match to apply some (home made..) oil to the center and then roll up the paper tightly around your match. Strike the match, hold it upside down a couple of seconds until the paper really catches fire, and drop it in your metal cup / glass and it will burn up entirely.
Oil
Just like the ink, a home made witchy oil is a liquid that has become infused with parts of plants that have been chosen for their (assumed / experienced / made up yesterday) powers. Very recently I have come to see oils as vessels for a servitor / familiar / elemental etc. after reading a bit about the nganga pots in ATR and a compound cursing oil I made and that has been growing the past couple of months. A very brief explanation of the nganga (that somebody probably will want to correct me on) is that it houses a spirit that is fed through the liquid that it contains. If this liquid has dead parts in it, the souls of these become submissive to / a part of the hive / legion / egregore of the nganga. That is my very superficial understanding of the theory.
If this idea is translated into an oil, then the liquid itself becomes the body or house of the servitor, and it can (or should) be fed by adding new material to it, and in return it can be used by applying it to for example an item or candle or whatever.
That's it friends and other people. Hope this inspires some of you.
Hey, you've probably read or know of recipes for ink, and maybe you already make your own. Great. You should have made a post about it maybe, because now I'm doing it. So. Inks. Usually these consist of three ingredients:
water
one (or several) coloring materials
a thickening agent
If you're not like that other guy, haven't done it before and think making your own batch sounds like fun but also like a lot of (or too much) work then this is the post for you.
I am going to make this as simple as possible, and some of you will smirk and point out that what I'll write down here isn't a way to make ink at all. Fine. Maybe it's a tincture, or aquarell paint, or a disgusting tea. Doesn't really matter, it is a liquid that can be used to make (for example) your seals.
One of the classical ingredients that is used to create a dark brownish ink is walnut. And what you then really need is the softer “fruit like” shell that will go from green to black. If you can find that: great.
Other plant material works too. I made a small amount using only a handful of young acorns this week.
This is a natural liquid, and that means that it will eventually go off / start to grow a mold etc. So you shouldn't really make 5 liters at a time. Once you have made a batch, using the amounts I mention, you will see how easy it is, and you might want to make it specifically for 1 occasion, and throw away what remains (simply in the yard or wherever – it's all natural) so that the whole thing and act becomes a part of the spell you are casting.
The color of the finished product will always be on the brownish spectrum, don't expect a bright green or nice blue. What does (or could) matter is the correspondence / the lore of the plant. So if you are going to make an (t)ink(ture) for protection you could use ash or rowan, for banishing nettle, for wealth basil, for love rose etc.
For +/- 10 ml you will need:
a handful of plant material (shells, twigs, berries, leafs..)
a cup of water
Now let this simmer in a pot until almost all the water has evaporated. Then add another cup of water. Repeat this for as long as you wish (but at least 5 to 7 times) until you think the color is dark enough. The water will become darker every time, because the plant material softens up more and releases more of its coloring.
Then turn up the heat and let it boil up until there's just a tiny bit of liquid left.
Pour this in a small bottle (without the big chunks of plant..) and say “voila”.
You don't have to strain it.
After some hours the liquid will start to separate as the sludge forms on the bottom. That's fine, but when you are going to use it to write then give it a good shake to make it an even color again.
(I predict someone will say you can just as well use coffee – and that's true)
The writing
A reason why real ink needs a thickening agent, like arabic gum, is for the liquid to somewhat stick together when using a fountain pen. That way you don't have to dip the pen into the ink between every single letter as it forms a small drop at the base of the crown.
What I suggest (and do myself) is to use the bottom of a match instead. Simply dip the (wooden and not covered end of the) match in the ink and then write or draw. You will need to “refill” your match with ink between every letter, and because the ink can be lighter than you expected you might have to retrace a letter or part of a letter sometimes. But this also means that you are really paying attention to what you are doing, and are very careful and precise.
When you have finished your seal ( / etc) then let it dry and keep the match for later. Then use the seal / sigil in whatever way you normally would.
Afterwards, if you want to burn your spell paper:
Again use the back of the same match to apply some (home made..) oil to the center and then roll up the paper tightly around your match. Strike the match, hold it upside down a couple of seconds until the paper really catches fire, and drop it in your metal cup / glass and it will burn up entirely.
Oil
Just like the ink, a home made witchy oil is a liquid that has become infused with parts of plants that have been chosen for their (assumed / experienced / made up yesterday) powers. Very recently I have come to see oils as vessels for a servitor / familiar / elemental etc. after reading a bit about the nganga pots in ATR and a compound cursing oil I made and that has been growing the past couple of months. A very brief explanation of the nganga (that somebody probably will want to correct me on) is that it houses a spirit that is fed through the liquid that it contains. If this liquid has dead parts in it, the souls of these become submissive to / a part of the hive / legion / egregore of the nganga. That is my very superficial understanding of the theory.
If this idea is translated into an oil, then the liquid itself becomes the body or house of the servitor, and it can (or should) be fed by adding new material to it, and in return it can be used by applying it to for example an item or candle or whatever.
That's it friends and other people. Hope this inspires some of you.