Abramelin Oil

Abramelin oil, also called Oil of Abramelin, is a ceremonial magical oil blended from aromatic plant materials. Its name came about due to its having been described in a medieval grimoire called The Book of Abramelin written by Abraham of Worms. The recipe is adapted from the Jewish Holy Oil of the Tanakh, which is described in the Book of Exodus attributed to Moses.

There has been much written about this oil. In the Jewish tradition, from whence came the original Biblical recipe upon which Abramelin Oil is based, the Olive is a symbol of domestic felicity and stability, Myrrh is believed to be sacred to the Lord, Calamus is known for its sweetness and phalliform fruiting body and represents male sexuality and love, while Cinnamon is favored for its warming ability.

Crowley also had a symbolic view of the ingredients that he found in the Mathers translation:

This oil is compounded of four substances. The basis of all is the oil of the olive. The olive is, traditionally, the gift of Minerva, the Wisdom of God, the Logos. In this are dissolved three other oils; oil of myrrh, oil of cinnamon, oil of galangal. The Myrrh is attributed to Binah, the Great Mother, who is both the understanding of the Magician and that sorrow and compassion which results from the contemplation of the Universe. The Cinnamon represents Tiphereth, the Sun -- the Son, in whom Glory and Suffering are identical. The Galangal represents both Kether and Malkuth, the First and the Last, the One and the Many, since in this Oil they are One. [...] These oils taken together represent therefore the whole Tree of Life. The ten Sephiroth are blended into the perfect gold.

In hoodoo folk magic, these symbolisms are somewhat changed: Myrrh and Olive remain the same, but Cinnamon is for money, good fortune in business, and luck, and Calamus is used to break jinxes, control others, and luck. Galangal root is employed in protective work, especially that involving court cases.

Here are a couple of recipes for making Abramelin oil. The first employs the maceration (crushing and soaking) of herbs and the second employs the blending of essential oils. Which recipe you choose is purely a matter of personal preference.

A recipe for macerated Abramelin oil is as follows:

4 parts powdered Cinnamon bark

2 parts finely ground Myrrh resin

1 part Calamus chopped root, reduced to powder

7 parts Olive oil

The mixture is macerated for one month, then decanted and bottled for use, producing a fragranced oil suitable for anointing any portion of the body, and will not burn the skin. It may be applied liberally, after the manner of traditional Jewish Holy Oils, such as the one which was poured on Aaron's head until it ran down his beard. It is not, however, made "according unto the art of the apothecary", since it is not distilled after the maceration but decanted into bottles.

A recipe for Abramelin oil using essential oils is as follows:

half part Cinnamon essential oil

1 parts Myrrh essential oil

1 part Calamus essential oil

1 part Cassia essential oil

7 parts Olive oil

Keep it in a clean container until you need it. This oil should be stored under the altar. This is highly fragranced oil that may be applied to the skin in more liberal amounts; it is a close, modern approximation of the oil described by Abramelin to Abraham of Worms.

Another recipe for Abramelin oil substitutes galangal root for Calamus root.

4 parts Cinnamon bark quills, reduced to powder

2 parts Myrrh resin tears, finely ground

1 part Galangal sliced root, reduced to powder

7 parts Olive oil

This mixture is macerated for one month, and then strained through cheesecloth and bottled for use. The result is a fragranced oil suitable for anointing any portion of the body, and it will not burn the skin.