A Druid's Handbook to the Spiritual Power of Plants: Spagyrics in Magical and Sexual Rituals - Jon G. Hughes 2014

Mediums for The Ingestion of Complexes
Mediums to Carry The Complex
Workings and Rituals

Again, within the Welsh Druidic tradition these come in four different forms: syrups (triagl in Welsh); tinctures (lliw in Welsh); infusions (hydreiddiad in Welsh); and libations (llymaid in Welsh).

Syrups are used for ingesting the cardinal in order to benefit from its physical and/or spiritual/magical attributes. Usually taken in small quantities, syrups provide a pleasant means of assimilating the cardinal into the body’s system.

Tinctures are a means of creating a concentrated solution, and in fact all cardinals are, by definition, tinctures. Usually formed by macerating the desired plant material in alcohol, the tincture is then further diluted before ingestion. Tinctures work entirely on the physical plane, while complexes have the additional benefit of being spiritually and magically energized and may work on both the physical and spiritual/ magical aspects of the particular challenge.

Infusions are basically teas. Herbs or other plant materials are infused in hot water to extract their physical benefits. Again, like tinctures, infusions act only on the physical plane.

Libations are intended to work on the spiritual/magical plane only. They are always drunk during rituals and provide a means both of involving the participant in the social activity of the Gathering and of ingesting any cardinals or other potions that may be beneficial to the ritual.

Crafting and Using Mediums for Ingestion

Once again, the work of crafting all of these mediums is usually done in the comfort and convenience of the Druid’s workshop. All the tasks are simple and do not require the facilitation of a ritual working.

Syrups are crafted by dissolving the desired complex in honey. They provide a pleasant means of ingesting the complex, especially suitable for children or those people who find it off-putting to take medicines in any other forms. Some complexes have a bitter, unpleasant taste, which may be disguised by taking them as a syrup. For the greater part, syrups are used when we are intending to employ the physical benefits of a complex.

To craft a syrup, we will need:

· A small saucepan, in which to heat the honey.

· A wooden mixing spoon, to stir the syrup.

· A storage bottle with an airtight screw top, to store the crafted syrup.

· 200 ml of organic honey, preferably from a known source.

· 100 ml of the desired complex.

Caution! Raising the temperature of any liquid containing alcohol produces flammable vapors. Do not expose mixtures to unprotected flames or any other heat source likely to ignite such vapors.

Begin by gently heating the honey in the saucepan over very low heat. As the honey becomes warm, about body temperature, add the complex a little at a time, stirring constantly to combine the mixture. Do not allow the honey to become too hot, as the complex will evaporate and lose its potency. Once the entire complex has been absorbed into the honey, remove the saucepan from the heat and allow it to cool.

Once cold, pour into the storage bottle and label it. The syrup is now ready for immediate use or may be stored for up to two weeks. To use the syrup, take one teaspoon as required.

Tinctures are very similar to complexes, inasmuch as both are alcohols that have been infused with the desired herbal or plant matter. Complexes are never mixed again with alcohol to produce a tincture; however, complexes may be used as tinctures, but to much greater effect.

To use a complex as a tincture, simply add two or three drops to a cup of springwater and drink as required.

Infusions are created by steeping herbs or other plant material in hot water. Their properties then become infused into the water, which is then ingested. The role of the complex in infusions is to fortify and complement the already created herbal potion. This is necessary because infusions work only on the physical plane, so if the infusion’s physical properties need to be reinforced through a spiritual/magical dimension, a suitable complex is added to the infusion just before it is drunk.

To add a complementary complex to an infusion, simply place a single teaspoon of the complex in the hot infusion before drinking it. If the infusion is to be taken cold, add the same amount of complex to the cold infusion just before it is consumed.

Libations are intended to work on the spiritual/magical plane only. They are therefore drunk only during rituals or at times when a spiritual/magical influence is needed to fulfill an intention. Many libations, such as some mulled beers, mulled cider, and Druidic metheglin (a Welsh Druidic mixture), will already contain herbs, flowers, or other plant material designed to influence those who take it. Any complexes added to these “charged” libations would be superfluous, as they already contain the required energies and attributes; in fact, by adding certain complexes, we could confuse or even negate the effects we intend.

If we are to use a complex in this situation, we must craft a “neutral” libation first and then, just before it is taken, add the complex as the only other ingredient.

In most cases, a simple mulled beer, cider, or wine is created by heating the liquid with a red-hot mulling iron or poker. Once the liquid is warm, the desired complex is added in the proportion of 1 part complex to 10 parts beer, cider, or wine. A typical libation for a small Gathering would consist of one liter (1.75 UK pints) of beer with 100 ml (0.20 UK pints) of the desired complex. Because most of the beers, ciders, and wine we use will have been manufactured through industrial processes, their original energies and attributes will have been lost or diluted to such an extent as to be rendered ineffectual. We can therefore use them as a carrier in the sure knowledge that the only energies and attributes within the libation will be those of the complex we add to it.

As this is a spiritual/magical potion, the liquid is mulled and the complex added during the ritual for which it is to be used. The libation is immediately distributed among the Gathering and drunk while it is still warm.

In general terms, it is best to craft a carrying medium containing a complex only as and when it is needed. Most of the mediums mentioned above will lose their potency after a few weeks or even days. In some cases, they must be used immediately following their crafting or they will become ineffective.