A Writer's Guide to Potion and Spell Ingredients Used in Magic
A List of Potion and Spell Ingredients for Writers Using Magic in Their Story
The list of spell and potion ingredients found below is a "loose" collection brought together to be used by writers whose stories involve magic, witchcraft, voodoo, or alchemy. It is not meant to be 100% factual, though I have spent a good amount of time researching it, and many of the spell ingredients used by witches and people involved in such activities can be found below.
I made the list because I wanted my stories to stand out from others by not using terms such as "oil of boil" and "dead man's toes." I hope that other writers may find this list as useful as I did when researching it for my stories. Thank you for giving it a chance.
Magick or Magic?
The word "magick" is used quite often by practitioners as a way to differentiate the occult from ordinary stage magic. This spelling became more and more common after the English occultist and ceremonial magician Aleister Crowley began to use it while practicing the Thelema spiritual philosophy, which places "will" as one of the highest powers available to humans.
Potion Ingredients
Adder's Tongue
| Dandelion Leaf
| Thyme
|
Dandelion Root
| Cactus
| Laurel
|
Rose Petals
| Nettle
| Eyelashes
|
Black Sand
| Gum Arabic
| Anemone
|
Sparrow Entrails
| Graveyard Dirt
| Lemon
|
Coffin Nails
| Coltsfoot
| Lemon Balm
|
Hibiscus
| Goldenseal
| Lemon Zest
|
Oregano
| Scullcap
| Four-leaf Clover
|
Solomon's Seal
| Amethyst
| Dead Sea Salt
|
Grains of Paradise
| Mercury
| Feverfew
|
Lavender
| Tumbleweed
| Railroad Spike
|
Turtle Shell
| Hangman's Rope
| Skull
|
Areca (or Betel nut)
| Fingernails
| Toenails
|
Cow's Tongue
| Water Buffalo Tooth
| Peppermint
|
Campfire Ash
| Rose Geranium
| Truffle
|
Opah Fish
| Tadpoles
| Bamboo
|
Blackthorn
| Jack-O-Lantern
| Spearmint
|
Wishbone
| Chanterelle
| Beech
|
Hatched Eggshell Pieces
| Small Bell
| Bone (broken and whole)
|
Clay
| Moss
| Honey
|
Have you ever not followed recipes or directions when making something just to see what would happen?
Potion Making Can Yield All Kinds of Results
To me, it seems that the people who created the magic books above purposely left out certain things so young wizards and witches would learn from their mistakes. I'm sure that any field involving mixing ingredients can be a bit hit or miss and experience only comes by experimenting. With that being said, it's probably best to experiment with spells with less severe consequences rather than with potions called "Draught of Living Death".
Spell Ingredients
Honeycomb
| Lily of the Valley
| Echinacea
|
|---|---|---|
Osha Root
| Agrimony
| Glass Eye
|
Sandalwood
| Crocodile Tears
| Hemlock
|
Lime
| Carnation
| Dead Flesh
|
Bachelor's Button
| Hickory
| Murder Weapon
|
Gold Dust
| Epsom Salt
| Vampire Dust
|
Comfrey
| Venus Flytrap
| Bile
|
Lilac
| Allspice Berries
| High John
|
Orris Root
| St. John's Wort
| Human Seed
|
Clear Quartz
| Aconite
| White Sage
|
Hawk Beak
| Mint
| Hyssop
|
Blueberry
| Fairy Wings
| Cocoon
|
Cruel Man of the Woods
| Caterpillar Heads
| Rue
|
Angelica
| Boomslang Fang
| Apple
|
Dry Rot
| Red Cushion Hypoxylon
| Hen of the Woods
|
Yellow Tang
| Jellyfish Venom
| Firefly
|
Pumpkin Seeds
| Aspen
| Black Trumpet
|
Bitterling
| Arnica
| Chrysalis
|
Copper Wire
| Silver Pins
| Hummingbird Feather
|
Sumac Leaf
|
Adder Stone
A type of stone with a naturally occurring hole through it; it's actually quite rare. Also known as a Hag Stone, Odin Stone, and Witch Stone.
Alchemy Ingredients
Basil
| Cashew
| Salamander Feet
|
Myrrh
| Lotus
| Salamander Eyes
|
Wolfsbane
| Frankincense
| Alder
|
Cedar
| Copal Tree Resin
| Valerian
|
Maple Leaf
| Demon Flesh
| Marigold
|
Peony
| Eucalyptus
| Cypress
|
Holly
| Willow
| Fennel Seed
|
Hollyhock
| Willow Bark
| Birch Bark
|
Marjoram
| Sage
| Buckeye
|
Silver dust
| Alum
| Patchouli
|
Deer Antlers
| Heather
| Witch's Burr
|
Slippery Elm
| Rose Hips
| Coltsfoot
|
Jezebel Root
| Pennyroyal
| Sesame Seed
|
Blue Jay egg
| Primrose
| Coriander
|
Darkness
| Hawthorn Branch
| Trembling Merulius
|
Cicada Husk
| Luna Moth
| Oleander
|
Alligator Foot
| Perrywinkle
| Catfish Spine
|
Snake Skin
| Angel Flesh
| Pine Cone
|
Stonecat (a small fish)
|
Baculum
This is a penis bone that can be found animals such as rodents, bats, raccoons, and some primates.
Magic Spells Can Be Intense
This scene does a good job at relaying the intensity you can go through when casting certain magics. For people who have never experienced making contact with otherworldly powers, it can be quite a shock at how your emotions can breakdown so quickly (fear being the major one in most cases). The Craft still holds up fairly well even today and should be watched by everyone who has an interest in magic or horror movies in general.
Magical Ingredients
Aloe
| Jujube thorns
| Wheat
|
Tansy
| Chewing John
| Devil's Shoestring
|
Mandrake
| Figwort
| Tears of Sadness
|
Anise
| Dying Breath
| Irish Moss
|
Belladonna
| Lobelia
| Orange Peel
|
Lacewing Flies
| Arrowroot
| Queen of the Meadow
|
Benzoin
| White Snakeroot
| Cleaver's Herb
|
Pansy
| Starfish
| Black Cat Bone
|
Rose Buds
| Blackberry leaf
| Passion Flower
|
Elderberry
| Meadowsweet
| Morning Dew
|
Crow's Feet
| Crow Feathers
| Brick Dust
|
Hyacinth
| Baby Teeth
| Candles (for candle magic)
|
Butterfly wings
| Pine Needles
| Horehound
|
Crab Claw
| Chicken Feet
| Black Salt
|
Rosewood
| Cherry
| Phoenix Feather
|
Werewolf Fur
| Death's-head Moth
| Red Clay
|
Monkey's Paw
| Elder Flower
| Diamond Dust
|
Poison Ivy
| Poison Oak
| Poison Sumac
|
Iron Filings
|
Dark Heart
From someone who is evil and done many evil acts; not just a single act that can be viewed as bad or good (a big difference). For example, killing someone to save a life is very different from killing someone for petty reasons or no reason at all. The more evil acts done, the less regret felt, the darker the heart.
Another Batch of Ingredients Used by Wizards, Witches, and Practitioners of Voodoo
Ectoplasm
| Cherry Bark
| Foxglove
|
Marshmallow Root
| Agueweed
| Unicorn Blood
|
Alfalfa
| Bladderwrack
| Unicorn Horn
|
Gardenia
| Bay Leaf
| Quartz Cluster
|
Holy Water
| Bayberry
| Monkshood
|
Rosemary
| Saffron
| Daffodil
|
Honeysuckle
| Yarrow
| Bloodroot
|
Coconuts
| Vervain
| Morning Glory
|
Poppy Seeds
| Calamus Root
| Knotweed
|
Lemon Verbena
| Poke Weed
| Brimstone (Sulphur)
|
Wormwood
| Rose of Jericho
| Blood
|
Lodestone
| Burdock Root
| Living Flesh
|
Absinthe
| Asafoetida
| Mustard Seed
|
Fennel Leaf
| Scorpion Tail
| Black Pepper
|
Walnut
| Dogwood Twigs
| Mahogany
|
Bird's Nest
| Unicorn Hair
| Bezoar
|
Parsnip
| Poppy Seeds
| Citronella
|
Ladybug
| Meal Worms
| Snail Shells
|
Parchment
|
Thieves Oil
An essential oil blend consisting of clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, rosemary, and lemon. This blend is inspired by the legend of a group of 15th Century thieves that were consistently robbing bubonic plague victims without contracting it themselves.
Magic Spells Can Often Go Very Wrong (Especially Love Spells)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 2, Episode 16 (Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered) is but one of the many great episodes where we see magical incantations gone wrong. Xander casts a love spell on Cordelia, only to find that every woman in Sunnydale has a thing for him. Hilarious!
I've often wondered how far love spells like these really reach. I mean, did women hundreds miles away suddenly feel the need to make their way towards Sunnydale?
Even More Supplies to Make Those Brews and Concoctions
Chili Pepper
| Wasp Abdomens (with stingers)
| Ginger
|
Giant's Toe
| Jasmine
| Myrtle
|
Mullein
| Yew
| Almond Oil
|
Beeswax
| Porcupine Quill
| Juniper
|
Clove
| Bergamot
| Ginseng
|
Sea Salt
| Cinnamon
| Snapdragon
|
Daisy
| Pearl
| Mistletoe
|
Mugwort
| Ivy
| Camphor
|
Yucca
| Nutmeg
| Salt Peter
|
Calendula
| Cockle Shells
| Acorn
|
Amber
| Chicory
| Dragon Blood
|
Licorice Root
| Bear Claws
| Catnip
|
Magnolia
| Hydrangea
| Xanthan Gum
|
Pomegranate
| Garlic
| Chrysanthemum
|
Elm
| Pear
| Archerfish
|
Sheet Moss
| Beehive Husk
| Brazilian Wandering Spider's Leg
|
Chives
| Poppy
| Chamomile
|
Hellgrammite
| Rib Bone
| Bloody Rags
|
Sliver of Mirror
| Fur of Bat
| Wisp of Smoke
|
Wisher's Coin
|
Glass Jars and Bottles
While not technically an ingredient, you will need many of them in many different shapes and sizes. If you don't have lids, cork can always be shaped to improvise a lid, while hand drawn labels can create an interesting finished product.
© 2019 Don
