Recently, there seems to be quite a bit of interest in flying ointments. As a Witch who works with Saturnian herbs and formulates flying ointment, here is a brief historical and personal perspective. Hopefully, this essay will offer useful information and clear up some misconceptions.
Flying Ointments in History
Although many accounts of flying witches exist in folklore and legend, some written accounts also exist. One, which Doreen Valiente mentions, is from the work entitled The Book of Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, written by Abraham the Jew in 1458. Abraham writes of a woman who gave him an unguent, which he rubbed on his pulse points and soon, thereafter, he was flying in the air.
Other similar accounts exist, including the documentation by German Professor Dr. Will-Erich Peuckert who mixed a flying ointment using Datura, Henbane, Belladonna, Wild Celery (Apium graveolens) and Parsley mixed with lard. After using the ointment, he and his colleague fell into a 24 hour sleep and dreamed of flying, strange rituals, monsters, frenzied dancing and orgies. What is equally strange is that he claimed he and his colleague had identical dream experiences!
I would be remiss to not mention the examples of Flying Witches depicted in medieval woodcuts, along with other artistic works spanning centuries. One such artist is Goya (1746-1828), who as a deaf, aging man, produced frightening depictions of witches, old women, nightmares and monsters. Historians argue whether he actually created these works from reality, or if they were hallucinations or personal nightmares that engulfed him as he faced his own death. He wrote in a letter to a friend, “I’m not afraid of witches, hobgoblins, apparitions, boastful giants, knaves or varlets, etc., nor indeed any kind of beings except human beings.” Whatever their source, his depictions of flying witches and witches’ sabbats are masterpieces.
Many antique manuscripts, herbals and Materia Medica include hallucinatory plants, along with those which had magickal properties. For example, many antique herbals give instructions for harvesting the magickal Mandrake root.
The Ebers Papyrus was written circa 1500 BC (written in Hieratic Egyptian), but it is believed to have been copied from earlier texts, now lost, dating back further in time by 500 to 2000 years. It is among the oldest preserved medical documents and contains many incantations meant to turn away disease-causing demons.
For instance, it states that garlic “rids [the] body of ‘spirits’.”
Fairy tales, myths and legends tell of flying witches, poison spells, curses, shape-shifting and spells of enchantment. The beautiful, red Fly Agaric Mushroom (Amanita muscaria) is often depicted in old fairy tale illustrations and has a long association with flying, including the levitation of Santa Claus and his reindeer! Can one really dismiss folklore and legend, without wondering if perhaps there are grains of truth woven into these tales of old?
Three Stages of Trance
estimated to be 9,000 years old
In the marvelous book, The Shamans of Prehistory, written by the renowned archeologists, Jean Clottes and David Lewis-Williams, the authors explore the stages of trance. They begin their discussion of trance by stating that many conditions such as epilepsy, migraines and schizophrenia are noted causes of hallucinations. In fact, some scholars believe that many shamans may have illnesses which they have learned to use to their advantage. Most shamans lead perfectly normal, functional lives apart from their ritual work.
Altered states can be induced in people without pre-existing conditions, by the use of psychoactive substances, also known as entheogens. An entheogen (/en·the·o·gen/) originates from the Greek language, literally meaning “generating the divine within” and is a substance which induces a spiritual experience for the purpose of spiritual development. Entheogens have been used in ritual context for thousands of years.
Many archaeologists have cited archaeological examples of the cultural use of entheogens from various indigenous groups of people. Examples include the San Pedro Cactus which has been used in South America for 3,000 years, the Peruvian Torch Cactus used in the pre-Inca rituals in Peru and the use of the Fly Agaric Mushroom by Siberian Shamans.
Many native cultures view the cosmos as multi-layered – sometimes referred to as the lower, middle and upper worlds. These worlds exist as parallel dimensions in which different spiritual beings and deities live. In Shamanism, non-human spirits inhabit all three worlds and entheogens are often used to assist shamans on journeys to these parallel dimensions.
Authors Clottes and Williams define three stages of altered consciousness in which a person may pass as they go deeper into trance, until finally reaching the hallucinatory state (see Stages of Trance diagram).
Stage One: is defined by visions of neon and brightly-colored, pulsating geometric shapes (zig-zags, grids, pointed star shapes, etc.) which swirl and move.
Stage Two: the pulsating, neon, colored geometric shapes may morph into discernible objects or faces. The images seen may relate to the emotional state of the person i.e., if the person is angry, faces may appear hideous or as monsters. Another example, if the person is afraid of snakes, the neon shapes might morph into snakes.
Stage Three: the person may feel themselves drawn into a tunnel or vortex with a bright light at the center of the tunnel. This tunnel may be composed of the neon light grid from Stage One. As the person travels through the tunnel, coming out on the other side, they find themselves in an altered reality composed of bizarre animals, beings or monsters. Inanimate objects may become alive. The person may experience flying over and into “unreal” landscapes, or they may morph into an animal with human characteristics.
Entheogenic Substances
The list of entheogenic substances is varied and includes animal, plant and fungi. Some examples include the Colorado River Toad, Bullet Ants, Acacia, Ayahuasca, Blue Lotus, Bolivian Torch Cactus, Belladonna, San Pedro Cactus, Peruvian Torch Cactus, Peyote, Cannabis, Henbane, Morning Glory, Datura, Mandrake, Fly Agaric Mushrooms and Psilocybin
Mushrooms, among others.
Many plants belonging to the Solanaceae family are known to be poisonous, yet they have long been associated with indigenous cultures, magick, witches and wortcunning. They contain alkaloids which are powerful narcotics. These plants include Mandrakes, Belladonna, Henbane, Datura and Tobacco. Even the lovely wild Petunia ( Petunia violacea) is a member of the Solanaceae family and is reputed to give the sensation of flying when smoked. This family is informally referred to as the “potato family” and includes edible plants such as potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants and peppers. The variety of plants in the Solanaceae family range, from benign, edible plants to those which contain toxic alkaloids, which can kill you!
In many cases the Solanaceae plants with a bad (i.e. poisonous) rap can be fatal if ingest or used in the wrong way. Here are some examples.
Datura (also called Jimson Weed and Thornapple) contains tropanes will cause permanent heart damage if smoked or ingested frequently. The body builds up a tolerance to the tropanes in the parasympathetic system, thus requiring more Datura to achieve the same results. However, the heart does not build up this tolerance and over time the tropanes can weaken the heart severely. That is why Datura should NEVER be ingested and only smoked infrequently. Overdoses from ingesting Datura are usually fatal. Instead, Datura is relatively safe if made into an infusion and used as a foot-soak (as used by the Curanderos and Curanderas, the healers of Mexico) or used as an ingredient in ointment which is absorbed transdermally (i.e., application and absorption of a substance through the skin).
Belladonna or Deadly Nightshade can also produce dire consequences if ingested. When I was a young teenage hippie in 1969, my first herbal was Herbs & Things, Jeanne Rose’s Herbal. It is a marvelous book which still has an honored place in my bookcase. In her book, she describes a friend who ate Belladonna berries and had to hospitalized. She goes on to describe the symptoms of Belladonna poisoning by ingestion as: dryness of mouth, burning throat, dilated pupils, double vision, burning in stomach, hallucinations and feeble, rapid pulse, among others. She recommends medical attention immediately, and lists the antidotes in her book. However, Belladonna is relatively safe when used as an ingredient in an ointment. Of course, this plant should be used with the utmost respect. It should not be used frequently or in large doses.
Tobacco is another misunderstood plant from the Solanaceae family. It is used in various ways in Indigenous cultures, which differ from the abuse of Tobacco in modern society. The Native Americans did smoke Tobacco in their pipes, however, they did not inhale! It was also used in the making of their prayer bundles, which are given as offerings of gratitude to the spirits. In the southern latitudes of the Americas fresh Tobacco leaves are soaked in cold water to make an infusion, which is then snorted up the nostrils by the men and drunk by the women. I have drunk the Tobacco cold-water infusion prior to Spirit Walks – and can testify that it is extremely powerful, with results lasting well over 24 hours!
Table of Common Entheogens Used in Flying Ointment
| Plant | Principle Agent | Suggested Use & Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Belladonna (Atropa belladonna) | Atropine, Scopolomine | Ointment only, Strong Hallucinogen |
| Datura (Datura stramonium) | Atropine, Scopolomine | Foot Soak or Ointment, Strong Hallucinogen |
| Fly Agaric Mushroom (Amanita muscaria) | Muscimole, muscarine | Eaten or Ointment, Strong Hallucinogen |
| Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) | Atropine, Scopolomine | Ointment, Hallucinogen |
| Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum) | Scopolomine | Ointment, Hallucinogen |
| Poppy (Papaver somniferum) | Opium | Ointment, Hypnotic & Sedative |
There are other ingredients that were historically used in flying ointments, some of which were benign, while others were dangerous poisons, which should be avoided. Here’s a listing of some benign ingredients and those which are extremely poisonous.
Benign
Cinquefoil (Potentilla tormentilla): Also called Fivefinger Grass. Contains tannins, resins, starches, glycine, tormentol, and choline. The five points of the leaves represent love, money, health, power and wisdom and the herb bestows these attributes. Useful hung for protection, or placed in pillows for dreams. Added to any magickal operation to strengthen it.
Balm of Gilead (Populus candicans): Also called Poplar Buds. Contains glycosides and esters yielding salicylic acid. The Poplar has long been associated with protection, materializations, healing and recovery from grief. It is used to attract spirits.
Mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris): Contains volatile oil sesquiterpene, lactone, flavonoids, coumarin derivatives and triterpenes. An astral projection and dreaming herb par excellence. Heightens psychic ability.
Poison
It would be foolhardy to use flying ointments with any of the following ingredients. They are extremely toxic, even in miniscule doses. This is no joke; avoid bad advice! Avoid ointments which contain the following:
Aconitum (Aconitum napellus): Also called Monkshood and Wolfbane. Contains Atropine, Scopolomine. There is conflicting folklore concerning this plant as some sources state it was used to cure werewolves and others say, when mixed with Henbane, Belladonna and Mandrake it “makes a man act like a beast”, which may be one of the origins of Lycanthropy. This confusion may stem from the plants unreliable, unpredictable nature. It was used on the tips of poison arrows and is one of the most poisonous of the Solanaceae family. Legends tell of its use to kill vampires. It is not an herb to be foolish with, as it depresses cardiac, respiratory and circulatory functions. Aconitum has a history of use as a substance used for euthanasia. It causes strange hallucinations. Interestingly, Aconitium is an important homeopathic remedy (as is Belladonna), however, homeopathy is an energy medicine which does not contain any molecular structure of the original plant material. My advice is to only use Aconitum as a homeopathic remedy, but do not ingest the plant or use it in ointment.
Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum): Also called Poison Parsley. Contains the alkaloid Coniine, among others. This is another plant that should be avoided in any form. It has a history of use as a suicide plant and was used in execution to poison criminals. Reports of campers eating Water Hemlock, thinking it was wild carrot, resulted in death. In my area it grows wild, found along railroad tracks and ditches, with an abundance of plants clumped together. It suppresses respiratory function, leading to death by asphyxiation.
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea): Contains glycosides digitalin and digitoxin, from which the drug digitalis was obtained. A most useful heart stimulant in minute doses. However, it has a cumulative effect and small doses, taken frequently, act as a poison.
How to Use Flying Ointments
Flying ointments (like all herbal ointments) are composed of oil (or fat) in which herbs are macerated (or steeped) for a period of time. Usually before the mixture is put into containers, a thickener, such as beeswax or cocoa butter are added. Two years is the estimated shelf life, but ointments should last longer if refrigerated.
Preparation for Journey
Partaking of an entheogen, including flying ointment should be approached as a sacred or spiritual ritual. In our modern society, many individuals are simply looking to get “high” anyway they can. Smoking marijuana is one example. If you smoke a joint only occasionally, it becomes a spiritual experience, where you can access higher inspiration, instruction and creativity. If you use marijuana for a frequent recreational high, you’re likely to just become a demotivated stoner. Aiming for a recreational high really doesn’t mix with the use of entheogens. One practitioner described his experience with psilocybin mushrooms, which he ate with his friend. His friend just “wanted to get high” and ended up with a “bad trip” stating in the middle of the experience that “he wanted out”. He swore to never do it again.
If you are having your experience in a group setting, choose your companions carefully. If going it alone, you might want to have a close friend or partner on stand-by, if you need assistance.
As with all magickal operations, personal intent is paramount. If your intent is for spiritual guidance, instruction and enlightenment and you approach the use of entheogens as a ritual, you will set yourself up for success.
Here are some steps to help you with the journey (henceforth, I will refer to the entheogen experience as “the journey”):
1. If you have an understanding of ritual work and can cast a magick circle, by all means go ahead and put the Flying Ointment within the circle. This way you can consecrate it and align it with your purpose (i.e. to meet your spirit animal, receive an answer to a problem, etc.) All of my Corvus Greenwood Flying Ointment has been blessed and consecrated within the magick circle. But it is recommended that you also do this to align the ointment with your own request(s). As you consecrate the ointment, speak to it and ask it to assist you. Be as specific as you can.
2. Simple Consecration Ritual: If you cannot cast a magick circle, and do not possess the tools of the craft, don’t worry. You can still consecrate (i.e. to make sacred, to cleanse and charge or to infuse with intent) the ointment and align it with your purpose, by following this simple procedure.
Assemble a jar of rain water, spring water or ocean water and pour in a small bowl. Also assemble a small bowl of sea salt, a candle and incense (cone or stick) or smudge stick on a small, clean table which will serve as your makeshift altar.
Determine the four directions and place the incense in the position of East – to correspond with the element air, on the table. Place the candle in the position of South for the element fire and place the water in the position of West for the element water. Lastly, place the small bowl of sea salt in the position of North for the element Earth. Place the Flying Ointment in the center of the Altar.
You can use whatever names you wish to call in the spirits which will assist with the consecration. Examples are: the Lord and Lady, God and Goddess (including your own patron Gods or Goddesses), the four Archangels which correspond to the four directions, or use whatever names you are comfortable with.
First create your sacred space and invoke your protective deities. For example, say: “Lord and Lady please be with me during this magick rite. Protect and guide me with your love, wisdom and light.”
Hold your bowl of water and envision a glowing, blue-white light surrounding the water as you say: “I exorcise Thee O Creature of Water of all impurities and negativity. I bless Thee in the name of the Lord and Lady.”
Now, take the bowl of salt, envision the glowing blue-white light and say: “Blessings upon Thee, O Creature of Salt. Let all negativity pass henceforth and let all goodness enter in. I bless Thee in the name of the Lord and Lady.”
Take three pinches of salt and add it to the bowl of water, stir the mixture clockwise with your finger, saying: “Water and Earth where thou art cast, Let no negative purpose last, Let all be in accordance with me and as my words, So Mote It Be.”
Take the blessed salt water and sprinkle each item, traveling clockwise, starting in the east.
Light the incense, envision the glowing, blue-white light and say, “Blessing upon this Creature of Air in the name of the Lord and the Lady.”
Light the candle, envision a glowing blue-white light emanating out from the flame and say, “O Creature of Fire, Hear this charge I say, let no negativity in Thy presence stay, Not in complete accordance with me and as my words, So Mote It Be.”
Take the ointment, envision it glowing with white-blue light and sprinkle it with the blessed saltwater, saying: “Bless this instrument of astral travel and visions, so that it may work no hindrance or evil unto those who use it.”
Take the ointment and pass it through the smoke of the incense, once again envisioning the glowing, white-blue light and say: “May the ‘powers that be’ bless this Flying Ointment. Let all magick contained here within, be for the greater good of my (our) body, mind and spirit. As my will, so Mote it Be!”
To conclude the rite, say: “I thank Thee, the Lord and Lady for witnessing my magick rite, I bid Thee farewell with Love, Peace and Blessings. Use a candle snuffer (do not blow out!) to extinguish the candle flame. Your magickal consecration and charging of the Flying Ointment is complete.
3. Be aware that your emotional and physical state will affect your experience. The rules for all ritual apply here. Do not attempt the journey if you are depressed, angry, frightened, stressed or emotionally upset in any way. Abstain from junk food and try to either fast or eat lightly the day of the journey. It is interesting to note that Native Americans often fast for several days or longer, during their spiritual rituals. Postpone the journey if you feel tired, overworked or physically drained for any reason. You want to be at your best, both emotionally and physically before you begin.
4. Take a salt or apple cider vinegar bath before you begin.
5. After you are cleansed by your salt bath, light a candle and assemble your items of power. These could be sacred items from your altar or special items given to you by your beloved. Put on your protection amulets. Smudge the area where the journey will take place, with incense or a smudge stick. The location could be a setting at an outdoor bonfire or in the safe confines of your own home. Night is the preferred time for journey work.
6. If you are able, spend some time drumming or shaking the rattle, as you pray, chant and meditate on the purpose of your journey. This will further cleanse your sacred space and call in your spirit helpers.
7. Dosage: Entheogens affect each individual differently, so it impossible to determine a specific dose. Start out with a small amount, the size of a pea and do a patch test, waiting 30 minutes to one hour to make sure you are not allergic. Apply the amount of ointment to your skin which you are comfortable with. Some may only wish to apply 1/8 teaspoon, while others may wish to apply 1 teaspoon or more. Proceed slowly, with your first experience. You can always fine-tune things next time. Too frequent applications or over-dosing will lead to the dangerous symptoms covered earlier in this essay. If during the experience, you feel poisoned – seek medical attention.
Take the ointment and rub it into your pulse points: forehead temples, third eye, under the jaw near the carotid artery, under arms, wrists, ankles and bottoms of feet. You can chant or pray as you do this. It is not necessary to apply ointment to all of these areas – choose what works for you.
8. Effects: As stated, each person is different. Effects will vary with each individual. You may feel lightheaded, sleepy, as if you are floating and vision may be distorted. You may have a dry mouth and an increased pulse. In my experience, the documentation we examined earlier by German Professor Dr. Will-Erich Peuckert is what most people can expect on a journey. The effects will last anywhere from one to six or eight hours. As you begin to feel back to normal, it is a good idea to eat a light meal and drink plenty of fluids, to help ground you back into reality.
You may experience the Three Stages of Trance. I have seen the electric, colored neon, pulsating lights, before falling into a deep sleep filled with strange and bizarre dreams.
With the use of my Flying Ointment, I have been awaken in the middle of the night by the brilliance of pulsating, neon lights in the form of starbursts in the colors of bright orange, yellow and red. In one instance, these lights eventually gave way to the image of a door opening, which led to a journey in Siberia, where I was in a supermarket with a huge Siberian Wolf who was biting everyone who approached him. I yelled at the people for trying to pet him and scurried about until I found a bag of rawhide dog treats. I ripped open the bag and reached out to the Wolf, offering him a treat. My hand was shaking and everyone in the supermarket was motionless, waiting to see what would happen. The Wolf snatched the treat from my hand with the snap of his powerful jaws and stood staring at me with luminescent, yellow eyes – as he crunched on the rawhide. I knew he would follow me out of the store if I kept feeding him. His face and eyes were otherworldly and unforgettable.
In another experience, I began to morph into one of the big cats (Black Panther is one of my spirit animal helpers). My face went numb and I couldn’t feel my nose, yet I felt as if my face was growing or changing shape. Next, I felt cat whiskers sprouting out of my upper lip, around my mouth!
It is also interesting to note, that all entheogens have their own intelligence and will influence the journey. Each plant (fungi, etc.) is governed by its own spiritual elemental entity which is why it is so important to align your energy and purpose with the plants contained within the ointment. I know this may sound strange, but it is why some people have nightmarish experiences and others don’t.
help prepare you for an entheogenic journey
A personal example is my experience with the Fly Agaric Mushroom. I had harvested the mushrooms in a sacred manner and had taken all the necessary steps during the preparation for my journey. As the effect of the mushrooms began to take hold, I realized I was dealing with a very strong plant spirit or elemental presence, which definitely had its own ideas of what I needed to work on spiritually. I began to ask questions about specific people and problems, when a voice – that I interpreted as that of the mushroom – told me that I wasn’t going to focus or talk about that. The voice then proceeded to tell me that I had to relive the death of my beloved horse, Atticus (he had died a year earlier and it had been very traumatic for me). I then experienced every emotion connected to my horse dying, as if I was watching it happen all over again, second by second. Perhaps, this is why people are afraid of the Fly Agaric Mushroom. But, for me it was a very cathartic experience. I have great respect for this mushroom as an extremely evolved elemental entity, teacher and healer.
Blessed Be – Lady Demeter