Abramelin oil, also called Oil of Abramelin, is a ceremonial magical oil blended from aromatic plant materials. Abramelin oil became popular in the Western esoteric tradition in the 20th century after its description in a medieval grimoire called The Book of Abramelin written by Abraham of Worms, a fifteenth century Jewish Kabbalist. The recipe is adapted from the Jewish Holy Oil of the Tanakh, which is described in the Book of Exodus attributed to Moses. Abramelin Oil may be used in any sort of ceremony or ritual aimed at a white magical goal. Use to anoint white candles. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abramelin_oil, n.d.).
The four ingredients listed by Mathers in his translation of The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage are myrrh, cinnamon, galangal, and olive oil. The word that he translated from the French as "galangal" is actually the word "calamus." Other existing manuscripts list calamus as the ingredient.
In hoodoo, galangal root is used in protective work, especially work involving court cases.
Following are several recipes for making Oil of Abramelin according to the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, Mathers and Crowley. All are similar to the other though there are some slight differences which are discussed. Two methods for making the oil are employed: maceration (crushing and soaking) of herbs and blending of essential oils. Which recipe and method you choose is purely a matter of personal preference.
Macerated Abramelin Oil
- 4 parts powdered Cinnamon bark
- 2 parts finely ground Myrrh resin
- 1 part Calamus chopped root, reduced to powder
- 7 parts Olive oil
The resins and spices are gently macerated with a mortar and pestle, covered with olive oil and allowed to sit for a month. It is then transferred to a bottle. This method produces a fragrant oil suitable for use as an anointing oil on 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 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abramelin_oil, n.d.). This oil should be stored under the altar.
Mathers’ Macerated Abramelin Oil
The following 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 strain through cheesecloth and bottled for use.
The result is fragranced oil suitable for anointing any portion of the body, and it will not burn the skin. This oil should be stored under the altar.
Abramelin Oil Made with Essential Oils
- 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 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. This oil should be stored on or under the altar.
Crowley’s Holy Oil of Aspiration (Oil of Abramelin)
British occultist Aleister Crowley had a different symbolic view of the ingredients that he found in the Mathers translation. According to Crowley:
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. (Crowley, 1997, p.60).
Crowley’s recipe is as follows:
- 8 parts Cinnamon essential oil
- 4 parts Myrrh essential oil
- 2 parts Galangal essential oil
- 7 parts Olive oil
Crowley’s recipe has a much higher concentration of cinnamon than the Mathers version. Since cinnamon can be a skin irritant in high concentrations, this recipe is not for liberal use on the skin. Rather, it is designed for the consecration of ritual tools.
According to the Ordo Templi Orientis, Crowley’s Holy Oil of Aspiration should undergo a special consecration. The ideal time for a consecration ceremony is during the Equinox (Apiryon, 1997).
Purchase Oil of Abramelin at Creole Moon.
