Hey guys, I am preparing a course/workshop for my own local/geographic Pagan community on a fascet of Witchcraft that is very near-and-dear to me, as a Witch: Potion-Crafting! My impetus, of course, is because it seems like a relatively "dying" Art amid contemporary Witches, as though they could somehow care less! I certainly don't note any Witches admitting to brewing their own potions; rather, they rely on another's formula, as if it's better than anything they could ever formulate! ("Bullocks," I say!) Hell, some so-called "Witches" have absolutely no desire to brew any Potions, while others seem to bastardize the important epithet of "Witch" by differentiating between the Witch that employs Magick, and those that do not: More and more I meet so-called "Witches" who have no problem employing this descriptor, but...they reject Magick, and state, "I'm not that kind of 'Witch'"! WTF?!
Anyhoo...I was hoping to create an open dialogue between myself and any Witches/Pagans that have either taught, or attended, any classes and workshops specifically on the crafting of Potions. I'd like to know what was taught, or what assignments tendered, etc. While I have several ideas for my own lesson plans and syllibus, I don't want to short-change my students in any way, and want to ensure that my course be as exhaustive as possible, and that I not accidentally forget to cover anything. Ya' know what I mean? (I'm very exhaustive whenever I write and research something. ) Although, one concern of mine, is not enough stove-space when brewig Potions during class... I was hoping to model it, in part, after my high school Home Ec. class and give various research assignments, etc., etc.
Now, I am aware that many teaching Pagans and Witches that are educators guard their knowledge anbd course-teachings jealously, I rather subscribe to the view that educators can learn from, and aid each other.
Although, speaking of Root Work, one facet I really want to investigate, hopefully at an ethnographic level, herbs and offerings, and other "correspondences" that are dedicated to the Lwa/Orishas. For example, I keep hearing that bail and cardamom seds is dedicated to Erzulie-Freda, but not why. Now, if I state that sandalwood is associated with ganesha, and someone were to ask me why, I would point them to the appropriate academic or source material after saying that it was his mother, Parvati, who first formed the god from sandalwood paste.
All my best,
Wade MacMorrighan
Anyhoo...I was hoping to create an open dialogue between myself and any Witches/Pagans that have either taught, or attended, any classes and workshops specifically on the crafting of Potions. I'd like to know what was taught, or what assignments tendered, etc. While I have several ideas for my own lesson plans and syllibus, I don't want to short-change my students in any way, and want to ensure that my course be as exhaustive as possible, and that I not accidentally forget to cover anything. Ya' know what I mean? (I'm very exhaustive whenever I write and research something. ) Although, one concern of mine, is not enough stove-space when brewig Potions during class... I was hoping to model it, in part, after my high school Home Ec. class and give various research assignments, etc., etc.
Now, I am aware that many teaching Pagans and Witches that are educators guard their knowledge anbd course-teachings jealously, I rather subscribe to the view that educators can learn from, and aid each other.
Although, speaking of Root Work, one facet I really want to investigate, hopefully at an ethnographic level, herbs and offerings, and other "correspondences" that are dedicated to the Lwa/Orishas. For example, I keep hearing that bail and cardamom seds is dedicated to Erzulie-Freda, but not why. Now, if I state that sandalwood is associated with ganesha, and someone were to ask me why, I would point them to the appropriate academic or source material after saying that it was his mother, Parvati, who first formed the god from sandalwood paste.
All my best,
Wade MacMorrighan
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Iowa
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Re: Potion-Crafting
Fri, April 18, 2008 - 6:58 PMIf you are trying to find out why certain herbs or products are used in African Traditional Religions for specific deities I doubt you are going to get more of an answer than what you already have, owing to the fact that you are dealing with oral initiatory traditions. Or it may simply be that a specific being requests something like Florida Water or champagne or basil.. and there you have the beginning of a tradition.
It sounds like you have been very very exhaustive already. Do you really need more suggestions? I think you are ready to go teach it already. Good Luck. -
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Re: Potion-Crafting
Fri, April 18, 2008 - 10:05 PMWell, I am aware of one book called Voodou Mythology, or something like that, but it's written in French, and published in haiti, so I don't know if there's an English trans. available. Moreover, if there is an established lore detailing that such-and-such an herb is dedicated to an Orisha/Lwa, there must certainly exist some insider ethnographical academic studies about them and their gods that have recoded oral lore or teachings, or even the mythology that ultimately describes why herb X was dedicated or deemed Holy by so-and-so.
>>>It sounds like you have been very very exhaustive already. Do you really need more suggestions? I think you are ready to go teach it already. Good Luck. <<<
Thank you, James! And, yes, I am almost ready to teach, but...one fascet I still want to research, for a cotinuous lecture, is about the History of Potions, even (hopefully) at a pan-global level. ;o) -
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Re: Potion-Crafting
Sat, April 19, 2008 - 10:16 AMTwo fascets (including one question) that I hope to tackle is a global examination about how other cultures brew heir respective potions, and if the ultimate origins of the potion as a medium for Magick can be traced to shamanism, or even to hallucinogenic brews. Sadly, I haven't found any research about that question, yet.
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