Patchouli: Fortune or Bad Luck?
Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 7:38 pm
I wanted to see how much information I could gather from the community regarding Patchouli and it's true properties.
I would like to reference two of my favorite authors in regards to Magick: Basil E. Crouch and Scott Cunningham. Granted one is Wiccan and the other considers himself more of a High Magician than anything it seems, but I respect both their perspectives equally, and figured I would see if the community could help me come to a conclusion.
In Scott Cunningham's book Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (as well as in others), Scotts suggests that Patchouli's properties are Money, Fertility, Lust.
Pg. 195 "Patchouly smells like rich earth, and so has been used in money and prosperity mixtures and spells. It is sprinkled onto money, added to purses and wallets, and placed around the base of green candles. Also, owing to its earthiness, patchouly is used in fertility talismans, and is also substituted for "graveyard dust" where it is called for. Patchouly is added to love sachets and baths. Although in contemporary American voodoo-based herbal magic patchouly is used for "separation," this is a modern concept that has no long tradition. In point of fact, patchouly is actually used to attract people and to promote lust. This points to differences in herb magic practices."
In Basil E. Crouch's book The Darkside of the Moon, Basil states that Patchouli is actually holds properties of bad luck.
Pg. 73 "The following scents also bring bad luck: Trefle. Incarnat. Bergamot. Musk. Patchouli. Ylang-ylang."
It seems Cunningham explains himself, pointing out how a more modern form of American voodoo-based herbal magic believes that patchouli has the properties of "separation," thus it seems quite apparent that with Basil's voodoo and Gypsy magick background he would hold a similar belief of "separation" and/or "misfortune."
I respect both of their takes equally, and the only thing that has me on the fence, even after weighing "tradition" on Cunningham's side, is the fact that every witch and/or woman that I've known (since the age of 11) who has used patchouli regularly as a perfume or incense has rarely drawn much money or much love into their lives. Ironically enough, most of them lead a lives of constant misfortunes (ie. financially struggling, constant fighting with mothers, constant fighting with daughters, and it was rare that they would experience moments of powerful, intimate love).
Tradition + Cunningham VS. Personal Experience + Crouch
Any opinions or information that could shine light in this area are greatly appreciated.
I would like to reference two of my favorite authors in regards to Magick: Basil E. Crouch and Scott Cunningham. Granted one is Wiccan and the other considers himself more of a High Magician than anything it seems, but I respect both their perspectives equally, and figured I would see if the community could help me come to a conclusion.
In Scott Cunningham's book Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (as well as in others), Scotts suggests that Patchouli's properties are Money, Fertility, Lust.
Pg. 195 "Patchouly smells like rich earth, and so has been used in money and prosperity mixtures and spells. It is sprinkled onto money, added to purses and wallets, and placed around the base of green candles. Also, owing to its earthiness, patchouly is used in fertility talismans, and is also substituted for "graveyard dust" where it is called for. Patchouly is added to love sachets and baths. Although in contemporary American voodoo-based herbal magic patchouly is used for "separation," this is a modern concept that has no long tradition. In point of fact, patchouly is actually used to attract people and to promote lust. This points to differences in herb magic practices."
In Basil E. Crouch's book The Darkside of the Moon, Basil states that Patchouli is actually holds properties of bad luck.
Pg. 73 "The following scents also bring bad luck: Trefle. Incarnat. Bergamot. Musk. Patchouli. Ylang-ylang."
It seems Cunningham explains himself, pointing out how a more modern form of American voodoo-based herbal magic believes that patchouli has the properties of "separation," thus it seems quite apparent that with Basil's voodoo and Gypsy magick background he would hold a similar belief of "separation" and/or "misfortune."
I respect both of their takes equally, and the only thing that has me on the fence, even after weighing "tradition" on Cunningham's side, is the fact that every witch and/or woman that I've known (since the age of 11) who has used patchouli regularly as a perfume or incense has rarely drawn much money or much love into their lives. Ironically enough, most of them lead a lives of constant misfortunes (ie. financially struggling, constant fighting with mothers, constant fighting with daughters, and it was rare that they would experience moments of powerful, intimate love).
Tradition + Cunningham VS. Personal Experience + Crouch
Any opinions or information that could shine light in this area are greatly appreciated.