Gem Elixirs
While this is not a recipe for food, it is a great recipe that will is useful for bringing all types of energy into your life and one that you can use time and time again. I am talking about Gem Elixirs. (Also known as Gem Essences)
Gem elixirs can be used to treat many ailments and are believed to treat the root of the problem not just the symptoms. They also help to remove any blockages in energy flow in the body allowing the healing to be more efficient. (As always, please consult a doctor/physician before treating any diseases and let them know what alternative healing methods you intend to employ).
The gems used in making the elixirs must be washed in hot soapy water, cleansed and charged prior to use. The liquid absorbs the gem’s energy infusing it into the water so this is the most important step. I will outline the basic ritual here.
The most simple way of cleansing a stone to suit our purposes here, is to physically clean the stone (do a good job as you will be ingesting the liquid with many of these formulas) get out the dish soap and give them a scrub. (Please note you cannot get stones that contain any metal such as copper or lead wet as they can be toxic, this information will be available at the end if this post.)
Once the stone is clean hold it under running water (termination point down should it have one), and visualize the water removing any negative energy. You may wish to say it out loud as well as the water runs. When you feel it is cleansed then you may dry it and set it on a clean towel. If you’re new to the craft and are still learning how to sense energy, I suggest leaving it under the water for at least 1 minute and use this opportunity to gain as much experience sensing energy as possible.
To charge the stone hold it in your dominant hand and visualize the white light and your intent flowing into the stone. When you feel the energy is right, this is often felt as a pulse in the stone and the stone warming up, place it back on the clean towel.
Here is an example for a lunar elixir I made with amethyst to promote spirituality:
For this recipe you will need a piece of amethyst. We are using amethyst in this elixir as it has long been purported to have strong psychic and spiritual energy.
You will also need a preservative. I prefer to use brandy; however you can substitute the brandy for apple cider. Those with an alcohol problem or taking certain medication should not use brandy. Many medications have adverse side effects, even death and coma when mixed with alcohol. Please check with your doctor or qualified pharmacist before using alcohol.) Keep in mind you will only be using a few drops at a time.
Gem elixirs are best made during the new or full moon. Depending on the intent, solar or lunar energy must be chosen. I am using lunar energy as it is connected with psychism and spirituality.
This particular elixir will be made at night as it needs to absorb lunar energies. The old recipes called for the gem to be left all night but not touch the light of the sun. As well as, the other way around, if it’s to absorb the solar rays, you must leave it from sunrise to sunset and not let the rays of the moon touch it. This is very difficult for many of us to follow. Not to mention, those in apartments rarely have the sunlight hitting their properties for the whole day. Since we are nothing but adaptable, instead I choose a number based on its magical correspondence. For this elixir, the number 5 has been chosen for spirituality.
You will need spring water. At the very least you should use distilled water, the purer the water the better.
You will also need a sterilized jar with a sterilized lid. To sterilize the jar and lid place it in boiling water for 15 minutes. Please be careful around boiling water and use long tongs to add and take out the jars and lids. Both the jar you are making the gem water in and the dark jar you’re mixing the brandy into and storing it in must both be sterilized. Do not used jars made of plastic or those that contain droppers.
Fill the sterilized jar with the spring water and put in the cleansed stone. Close the lid tightly and leave out in the moonlight. If you’re up to doing the whole night, then you need to look up the local sunrise time for your area. If not, place it in the moonlight for 5 hours. Fill the sterilized jar with the spring water and put in the cleansed stone. We are using lunar energy for this elixir as the moon is associated with our emotional and spiritual connections. Focus on these energies as you place it outside. Close the lid tightly and leave out in the moonlight.
Once your elixir has absorbed the moon’s rays, you need to store it in a dark glass, sterilized bottle with a tight fitting sterilized lid. Always store in a cool, dry, dark place. Remember to label the bottle with the recipe, including the gem used and the date. That way you know what you have and when things need to be replaced you know exactly what to keep and what not. Gem essences should be replaced every few months.
Fill the bottle with equal parts gem water and brandy (or apple cider).
At this point, you can determine how many times you will take the elixir. Usually a drop or two is placed under the tongue. All you need is a drop or two. Many people find divination helpful to determine dosage, but for this recipe I would use one drop a day 3 times a day for as long as necessary.
Before each use shake the bottle for a minute or two to reactivate the energy while visualizing your goal.
There are other ways to use the elixirs as well. Adding 25 drops to bath water, a few drops into body lotion or massage oil, floor washing water, candles etc. anything that makes sense for your purpose.
You could add to mop water to mop the room where you will be doing most of your spiritual practices, or add to ritual bath before you begin ritual, anoint ritual candles with it, anoint your third eye with a few drops before you do any spiritual work, etc. There are many applications, so use your imagination and find what works for you.
Stones that should be NOT used in elixirs Ever!!!
(This isn’t a total and complete list. I’m sure there are other stones that contain metals and acids that I haven’t found in my own research. Please research from reputable sources any stone you intend to use in elixirs. When it doubt, substitute for another stone you know to be safe. Many stones have folk-names so be sure to research all stones to make sure you know exactly what they are. Also, according to Gerina Dunwich, “many blue and green stones – especially those that are brightly colored – contain varying amounts of copper.”)
Amazonite (copper)
Atacamite (copper)
Auricalcite (zinc and copper)
Azurite (copper)
Boji-stones (sulfur)
Bronchantite (copper)
Chalcantite (copper)
Chalcopyrite (copper and sulfur)
Cinnabar (mercury)
Conicalcite (copper)
Crysocolla (copper)
Cuprite (copper)
Dioptase (copper)
Gem silica (copper)
Galena/galentite (almost 90% lead)
Hematite (will rust when placed in water. No amount of time is safe)
Lapis lazuli (contains pyrite which contains sulfur)
Magnetite (will rust when placed in water. No amount of time is safe)
Malachite (copper)
Markasite (sulfur)
Mohawkite (copper and arsenic)
Psiomelan (barium)
Pyrite (also known as fool’s gold) (sulfur)
Realgar (sulfur and arsenic)
Stibnite (zinc and copper)
Smithsonite (zinc and copper)
Vandanite (lead)
Wulfenite (lead and molybdenum)
Blessings,
Sway
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Sources
Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic (Scott Cunningham)
Dunwich’s Guide to Gemstone Sorcery (Gerina Dunwich)
Healing Crstyals and Gemstones (Dr. Flora Peschek-Böhmer, Gisela Schriber)
Scott Cunningham’s Wicca in the Kitchen
(Some of my information has been passed down orally so I have no reference, as well as there is a lot of information that has been stored in my head over the years, though I have forgotten where I learned them from.)