Abramelin oil
This article is about a Thelema topic
Abramelin oil, also known as oil of Abramelin, is an anointing oil utilized in Western esotericism, particularly in ceremonial magic. It is made by blending aromatic plant materials. Its name originates from its description in a medieval grimoire titled The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage (1897), written by Abraham the Jew, who is believed to have lived from around 1362 to 1458. The recipe is adapted from that of the biblical holy anointing oil, as outlined in the Book of Exodus (30:22-25) and attributed to Moses. In the English translation, The Book of Abramelin: A New Translation (2006) by Steven Guth, which was compiled from all known German manuscript sources, the formula is presented as follows:
- Take one part of the best myrrh, half a part of cinnamon, one part of cassia, one part galangal root, and a quarter of the total weight of good, fresh olive oil. Combine these into an ointment or oil as chemists do. Store it in a clean container until it is needed. Place the container with the other supplies in the cupboard beneath the altar.
In the first printed edition, Peter Hammer, 1725, the recipe reads:
- Nimm Myrrhen des besten 1 Theil, Zimmt 1/2 Theil, soviel des Calmus als Zimmet, Cassien soviel als der Myrrhen im Gewicht und gutes frisches Baumöl..." (Take 1 part of the best myrrh, 1/2 part cinnamon, as much calamus as cinnamon, of cassia as much as the myrrh in weight and good fresh tree oil...)
Note that the proportions in this edition conform with the recipe for holy anointing oil from the Bible (Exodus 30:22-25).[67]
The original popularity of Abramelin oil rested on the importance magicians place upon Jewish traditions of holy oils and, more recently, upon S. L. MacGregor Mathers' translation of The Book of Abramelin and the resurgence of 20th-century occultism, such as found in the works of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and Aleister Crowley, the founder of Thelema, who used a similar version of the oil in his system of Magick, and has since spread into other modern occult traditions. There are multiple recipes in use today.
This oil is currently used in several ceremonies of the Thelemic church, Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, including the rites of confirmation and ordination. It is also commonly used to consecrate magical implements and temple furniture. The eucharistic host of the Gnostic Mass—called the Cake of Light—includes this oil as an important ingredient.
- More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Holy anointing oil ]
Recipes
Samuel Mathers' recipe
According to the S. L. MacGregor Mathers English translation from 1897, which derives from an incomplete French manuscript copy of The Book of Abramelin, the recipe is:
- You shall prepare the sacred oil in this manner: Take of myrrh in tears, one part; of fine cinnamon, two parts; of galangal half a part; and the half of the total weight of these drugs of the best oil olive. The which aromatics you shall mix together according unto the art of the apothecary, and shall make thereof a balsam, the which you shall keep in a glass vial which you shall put within the cupboard (formed by the interior) of the altar.
Crowley's recipe using essential oils
- Early in the 20th century, Aleister Crowley created his own version of Abramelin oil, which is called "oil of Abramelin" in The Book of the Law. It was based on S. L. MacGregor Mathers' substitution of galangal for calamus. Crowley also abandoned the book's method of preparation—which specifies blending myrrh "tears" (resin) and "fine" (finely ground) cinnamon—instead opting for using distilled essential oils in a base of olive oil. His recipe (from his commentary to The Book of the Law) reads as follows:
- 8 parts cinnamon essential oil
- 4 parts myrrh essential oil
- 2 parts galangal essential oil
- 7 parts olive oil
Crowley measured his proportions of essential oils according to the recipe outlined in Mathers' translation for weighing raw materials. The outcome is designed to give the cinnamon a strong presence, ensuring that when applied to the skin, "it should burn and thrill through the body with an intensity akin to fire." This formula differs from the grimoire recipe and cannot be used for practices requiring oil pouring over the head. Instead, Crowley intended it to be applied in small amounts, typically on the top of the head or the forehead, and to be used for anointing magical equipment as an act of consecration.
Symbolism
Oil of Abramelin was considered extremely important by Crowley, who used his version of it throughout his life. In Crowley's magical system, the oil symbolized the aspiration towards what he referred to as the Great Work—"The oil consecrates everything it touches; it represents his aspiration; all acts performed in accordance with it are holy." Crowley further stated:
- The Holy Oil is the Aspiration of the Magician; it consecrates him to the performance of the Great Work, and its efficacy is such that it also consecrates all the furnishings of the Temple and their instruments. It represents grace or chrism; for this aspiration is not ambition; it is a quality bestowed from above. For this reason, the Magician will first anoint the top of his head before proceeding to consecrate the lower centers in turn (...) It is the pure light expressed in terms of desire. It is not the Will of the Magician, the desire of the lower to reach the higher; rather, it is that spark of the higher within the Magician that seeks to unite the lower with itself.
Crowley also had a symbolic view of the ingredients:
- This oil is made up of four substances. The foundation of all is olive oil. Traditionally, the olive is considered the gift of Minerva, the Wisdom of God, the Logos. Dissolved in this are three other oils: myrrh, cinnamon, and galangal. Myrrh is attributed to Binah, the Great Mother, who embodies both the understanding of the Magician and the sorrow and compassion that arise from contemplating the Universe. Cinnamon represents Tiphereth, the Sun -- the Son, in whom Glory and Suffering are the same. Galangal symbolizes both Kether and Malkuth, the First and the Last, the One and the Many, since in this Oil, they are unified. [...] Together, these oils represent the entirety of the Tree of Life. The ten Sephiroth are blended into perfect gold.
Effects
Mathers' use of the ingredient galangal instead of calamus and/or Crowley's innovative use of essential oils rather than raw ingredients has resulted in some changes from the original recipe:
Symbolism: In Jewish, Greek, and European magical botanic symbolism, the ascription given to sweet flag or calamus generally signifies fertility due to the shape of the plant's fruiting body. Crowley provided the following Qabalistic meaning for galangal: "Galangal represents both Kether and Malkuth, the First and the Last, the One and the Many." Thus, Crowley's substitution shifts the symbolism to microcosm/macrocosm unity, reflecting Thelema's mystical aim—the union of the adept with the Absolute.
Skin sensation: The original recipe for Abramelin oil does not irritate the skin and can be applied according to traditional Jewish and Christian religious and magical practices. In contrast, Crowley's recipe has a much higher concentration of cinnamon than the original. This results in an oil that can feel noticeably hot on the skin and may cause skin rashes if applied too liberally.
Digestive toxicity: Galangal is edible, and calamus is not, as it has some toxicity. This is certainly relevant to those who use Crowley's oil of Abramelin as a core ingredient for the eucharistic Cake of Light, giving it a mild opiated taste (from the myrrh) and a spicy tang (from the cinnamon and the ginger-like galangal). Heavy use of calamus in such a recipe would render the host inedible.
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- More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Abramelin_oil ]
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