The Raven's Crucible

Category: Practical Magic

  • Spagyric Alchemy II: The Selection of Ingredients

    In last week’s post, we talked about the general theory of alchemy – solve et coagula – and how it relates to the vegetable kingdom in the form of spagyric alchemy. We covered a number of different theoretical frameworks for how alchemical separation can be effected, but stopped short of actually delving into the specifics…

  • Spagyric Alchemy I: Theory of Herbal Transformation

    For centuries, alchemy has been seen as a transformative art – a mystical science wherein base lead is turned into gold, the mundane elevated into the extraordinary. While the scope of alchemy as a whole is huge and sprawling, many texts recommend students start first with spagyric alchemy: the application of alchemical principles to extract…

  • Materia: Lemon Balm – Melissa Officinalis

    Overview Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is an herb of gentle power, offering profound rejuvenation to body and spirit alike. Its cooling, drying energetics, combined with its uplifting nervine properties, make it a soothing remedy in times of turbulence. It calms the anxious mind, brightens melancholy, and eases digestive discomfort born of stress, embodying the nurturing…

  • On Ink and Ink Making

    In a previous post I wrote about my fascination with writing as it pertains to magic. An important part of this practice is the creation and use of magical inks. Up to this point, that has involved taking commercial inks and adding my own materia and consecrations to them as appropriate.1 But recently I’ve gotten…

  • Materia: Garlic – Allium Sativum

    Overview Garlic is pure Mars. Its essence is one of violent, transformative fire – a potent force that cleanses body and spirit alike. This humble bulb hides within it a warrior’s heart, driving out corruption and restoring vitality. Medicinally, garlic is a protector, its antimicrobial action expelling parasites and infections, invigorating the blood, and dissolving…

  • Invocation to the Creative Genius

    Since I started the Raven’s Crucible, I’ve been spending a lot more time writing, which has given me more of a chance to observe my own creative process. The more time I spend with it, the less credit I feel I can take. The ancient Romans had the concept of a personal Genius – a…

  • Glossary of Herbal Preparations

    This post is a counterpart to the Glossary of Herbal Actions, found here. In a previous post, we covered herbal actions, this one covers standard herbal preparations. These herbal preparations offer a range of methods for using plants to support health and magical practice. Just as different herbs hold unique properties, the ways we prepare…

  • Glossary of Herbal Actions

    This post is a counterpart to the Glossary of Herbal Preparations, found here. In addition to my work with magic, I’ve spent some time studying herbalism – a practice I find complements natural magic wonderfully. Herbs not only provide a source for a wide range of medicinal remedies, they also have a long history of…

  • Into That Darkling Fire

    I’m about fifteen years too late to start a magical blog. A quick perusal of any list of blogs that once covered magic and occult topics – such as those that participated in Deb Castellano’s New Year, New You project – reveals a collection of dead links, abandoned spaces, and dried-up husks of forgotten passions,…