Colophony is tremendously useful, and is has a wide range of applications within the fields of music, dance, construction, visual art, electronics, medicine, cosmetics, and prestidigitation.

It is an effective tool in the Art of War. Roger Bacon provides instructions for creating Flying Fire with colophony:
Flying Fire (ignis volatilis in aere) may be obtained in the following manner: take one part of colophony, the same of sulphur, and two parts saltpeter.

A fourteenth century recipe for Greek fire called for a mixture containing colophony, sulphur, and Roman glassa to be distilled in an alembic. Bombax was then soaked in the mixture, and the resulting missile was hurled from ballista.

Conversely, it is also a tool in the Art of Healing:

A remedy for scratches taught me by the Herald to the King of France. 4 ounces of virgin wax, 4 ounces of colophony, 2 ounces of incense. Keep each thing separate; and melt the wax, and then put the incense and then the colophony, make a mixture of it and put it onto the sore place.
– Leonardo DaVinci

It can be used for dressing blisters, in drawing salves, and as a balm for bleeding piles.

Its volatile nature and its applications in warfare have scooted colophony into Fire’s jurisdiction, ruled by Mars, though some hold that it is governed by the Sol and Air.

The scent is resinous (surprise!), though a bit green.

Colophony has been known to cause contact dermatitis, and burning this resin in excess may cause occupational asthma. According to the 1888 edition of the American Journal of Pharmacy, powdered colophony may spontaneously combust. Please use caution.

Disclaimer Time! Also, please don’t try to make Greek fire or flying fire or anything else nutty with this info. I don’t want anyone using information that I provide for horrible, horrible crazytimes. I also can’t be responsible for Leonardo DaVinci’s questionable medical advice.

Carnations from the TAL garden. It corresponds to Sol and used in works of protection, love, pleasure, joy, friendship, healing, and strength.

Licorice from the TAL garden. Groovy-lookin’ plant, and it smells amazing. Most will agree that licorice is the province of Venus, but some feel it should be attributed to Jupiter or Mercury. Licorice is used in works of fidelity, loyalty, passion, pleasure, youthfulness, reconciliation, and friendship. It is used extensively in love philters.

A tea of licorice root that stimulates the libido and binds love through friendship and mutual delight:

1 tsp licorice root
1 tsp fennel
½ tsp anise
½ tsp orange peel
Half a stick of cinnamon

Caveat: TAL and I are not responsible for any averse reactions you may have if you put info that I’ve presented here to use. It is presented as lore. Please exercise caution and prudence.

Heliotrope from the TAL garden. It is a Sol plant – as you may have guessed by the name – and is used in works of healing, wealth, prophecy, and protection.

Lemon blossom from the TAL garden. Depending on who you’re speaking to, lemon is considered either a plant of Sol or Luna. Lemon blossoms, lemon peel, and lemon juice are all used in works of purification, longevity, friendship, joy, and clarity.

Groovy-lookin’ plant, and it smells amazing. Most will agree that licorice is the province of Venus, but some feel it should be attributed to Jupiter or Mercury. Licorice is used in works of fidelity, loyalty, passion, pleasure, youthfulness, reconciliation, and friendship. It is used extensively in love philters.

A tea of licorice root that stimulates the libido and binds love through friendship and mutual delight:

1 tsp licorice root
1 tsp fennel
½ tsp anise
½ tsp orange peel
Half a stick of cinnamon

Caveat: TAL and I are not responsible for any averse reactions you may have if you put info that I’ve presented here to use. It is presented as lore. Please exercise caution and prudence.

DISCLAIMER TIME!

An image from the TAL mossery. Many types of moss are used in magick, predominantly under the auspices of Earth. Moss of all shapes and sizes can be used to strengthen one’s foundation and sense of purpose, augment fertility, and in works of abundance, stability, growth, nurturing, and wisdom.

I received two samples of steam-distilled Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) last week, one from Peru and one from Ecuador, and I finally had a chance to test them today. The quality of both samples is unsurpassed. The scent of Palo Santo is distinctive, complex, and unique: rich, woody, almost anise-like in a way, with a pungent citrus top due to the high content of limonene present in the oil. It is of the utmost importance to Black Phoenix that none of the components that we utilize in our products negatively impact the environment. Both of the oils that we received have been sustainably harvested, one under the supervision of the Peruvian government, and the other by ecologically minded local distillers that collect the wood from the Parque Nacional Machalilla. The palo santo trees drop their branches, and the oil is harvested from this gathered wood. Oil can be harvested from saplings, but the highest quality oil comes from the heartwood.

Palo Santo belongs to Bursera family, and shares some of the qualities of its cousins, frankincense and myrrh, both spiritually and medicinally. Palo Santo has been widely used in spiritual practices and folk remedies throughout history. The wood is considered a boon of good fortune, and is believed to banish misfortune and negativity. In aromatherapy, Palo Santo is used to induce a meditative state, help control panic attacks and anxiety, and to arouse creativity and spark inspiration. Medicinally, Palo Santo has been utilized for hormone regulation, as a respiratory remedy, to speed the healing of musculoskeletal injuries, and to break fevers and fight infections. Palo Santo oil also possesses tremendously high levels of D-Limonene and Monotropenes, which may prove to be chemopreventive and effective in treating some forms of cancer. Palo Santo is a fascinating, multi-faceted plant, and I look forward to working with it more often in the future.

In other news, I read a nifty article today in my Reuters feed: Victorian-Era pressed flowers are helping scientists study climate change.

(As always, the Disclaimer. Has to be said; we don’t want any drama.)