Libations To Dionysus, Elixirs, Potions and Liqueurs, Oh My! Options

Greetings All!
I've been 'mulling' this over for awhile. In my enforced captivity I've started to renew my passion for chemistry of a more Esoteric nature!
Thinking that this topic should probably end up in Lifestyles, I've decided that we'll push it further, depending upon member interest.
What the hell...I'm interested and I hope that I can interest you as well!
I'll not bore you with the history of potions and elixirs, save where it is of vital importance to the recipe.
My goal will be almost blog-like but I'm also hoping that I can spark others to contribute to this thread! Who know? Maybe we can collectively publish this for giggles one day!
Please take some time after reading this prologue to shoot me some of your ideas and critiques....I'm open to suggestion!

Of late I've taken up the time honored tradition of making my own Liqueurs and Cordials. I don't really drink (because of my meds) but do, occasionally, enjoy a tipple or utilize an elixir to help facilitate a shamanic working. Since you are all a somewhat 'captive' audience, I thought that some of you may be interested. With the Potions Class in the Harry Potter movies/books I figure that some of you may like the idea of knowing how to compile various potions, elixirs and ...booze. *sigh* I will address some of the more interesting formulae that I've stumbled over in my years tenured on this rock. I beg your forgiveness prior to this embarking...I have an odd sense of humor and I sometimes utilize the pun for dramatic/nauseating effect. That's just too bad! *grin*

So...before I really get started....I'd like a show of interest and maybe some requests. I will not be getting into the hard science of distillation techniques. This is to keep the Feds from knocking at the door and also I'd like for the processes used to be available to most everyday kitchen. I will, however, give you information on where and how to purchase certain herbs, spices, incenses and oils...all for reasonable rates! The times are tough on the pocketbook. Some expenses (such as alcohol) will be necessary in order to complete the recipes. It will be CLEARLY NOTED if a recipe is unfit for human consumption!!! I will not take ANY responsibility for any personal ALLERGIES/DRUG SENSITIVITIES you may have!...nor will Sacred-Magick be held liable for said weaknesses/illnesses/allergies/sensitivities to ANY of the substances used! You will have to bear some of the burden concerned with this...sorry, but thems the rules!

Any thoughts? Ideas? Requests? I will wait one week from today, February 11th, before posting my first recipes/techniques. Remember, give me some input so I can satisfy your needs! Even tho' this is posted in the Witchcraft section, the formula will not be confined to Wiccan belief systems! They will be all-inclusive! This thread may be moved to an alternate area...but a link will be left for those who can't see in the dark! *grin*...and, yes, chocolate will be discussed! Yum! Now...TALK TO ME! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

It seems a shame this never took off so I will post one of my favorites now and another when I find the recipe.

Taoist Longevity Tonic
AKA: Nourish the Three Treasures Wine

Makes 2 liters of concentrate.

2 liters of vodka around 45-50 proof, preferably in a glass
3 oz Gou Qi (GoJi Berry or Wolfberry)
2 oz Wu Wei Zi (Chinese Schisandra Fruit or 'five flavor fruit')
2 oz Ren Shen (Red Ginseng)
1 oz Jie Geng (Platycondon Root)
1 oz Chin PI (Sun dried, aged tangerine peel)
1 oz He Shou Wu (Polygonum, Fleeceflower Root)
0.5 oz Da Zao (Hong Zao)
0.3 oz Fennel seed
0.8 oz Gan Cao Zhi (Honey Fried Licorice Root)
0.2 oz Chuan Xiong (loveage root)

Give the herbs a course chop and toss directly in the bottle of vodka if glass, or in to a large glass jug with said vodka if not. Store for 3-6 months in a cool dark place. Take a small amount - as in no more than 2 teaspoons - once a day by mixing with warm water during the winter months. I like mine from late October to mid March.

As a 'soup' you half everything and add 1oz (Lingzhi) Reishi Mushroom. Lingzhi responds poorly to wines.

Strongly nourishes the Jing, Qi, Shen, liver, lungs and kidneys, corrects and promotes qi circulation especially in the liver, moves blood, tones yin and essence, while providing a boost to energy.



Dream Wine or Tisane

Useful for prophetic dreams or beginning work with dream magick. Enhances intuitive and psychic powers, offers a little protection. The recipe below yields about three pints of mellow wine or 1.5 pints of strong tisane. Two notes: First, it is best if everything is fresh. Second, regarding Holly fruit, Common Holly is *slightly* toxic so Japanese Holly is best, but the Mate plant will do both for leaves and fruit if the Japanese verity is unavailable.

Fruity red wine 1 bottle
Wild berry Schnapps 3oz

Anise 1 part
Bay leaf ½ part
Blue Vervain leaf 2/3 part
Cinnamon ½ part
Heliotrope root ½ part
Holly leaves and fruit 1 part
Honeysuckle flowers 2 parts
Huckleberry fruit 3 part
Jasmine flowers 2 parts
Kava-Kave 2 part
Mugwort leaf 1 part
Peppermint leaf 1/8 parts (in tea bags)

Chop all herbs, grind all spices, juice fruits.
Boil Kava, Heliotrope root, Holly and Bay leaves in 10 times their volume of water. Remove from heat, add Vervain to steep for 1.5 min (any longer and it will taste like moldy socks), then strain. Add Mugwort, Cinnamon and Anise. Place back on heat and simmer for 5 min, strain. Cool covered until only warm then add peppermint in tea bag. Let cool completely before removing the peppermint bag. Mix with wine, schnapps, Holly fruit, Huckleberry and all flowers. Let stand for a few hours before drinking.


This post has been edited by fatherjhon: Oct 29 2012, 10:46 AM