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Biblical Holy Anointing Oil, Oil of Abramelin and Crowleys Holy Oil of Aspiration By Denise Alvarado

Holy Anointing Oils

According to scripture, the Holy Anointing Oil described in Exodus 30 is not a general purpose anointing oil or perfume. Rather, it is for consecration and sanctification purposes only. Thus, it is used to anoint altars and objects in order to make them holy and pure, as stated in the Old Testament scripture references: Exodus 28:41, 29:7, 29:36, 30:26, 30:30, 40:9, 40:10, 40:11, 40:13, 40:14. Interpreting scripture is a very personal thing. Some interpret it literally, others interpret it metaphorically, and others dont interpret it at all and blindly accept the interpretation handed to them by their spiritual leaders. Still, others let the Divine speak to them and come to their own conclusion. How one interprets the bible is also dependent upon the translation. For the purpose of exploring the actual formula for biblical Holy Anointing Oil, I am using the King James Version of the Bible as the source of information for this article.

Who Made the Holy Anointing Oil in Exodus 30?


Holy Anointing Oil is said to be made according to the true art of apothecary. God spoke to Moses about the specific ingredients to be used to create it and Holy Incense. He called two individuals by name: Bezaleel and Aholiab, to build the tabernacle; its furniture, mercy seat, incense altar, candlestick, laver, garments for the priests, anointing oil and incense. These two individuals were filled with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge,

and in all manner of workmanship to complete the tasks as described in Exodus 31.1 Bezaleel did not have any previous training in the making the Holy Anointing Oil and it is commonly assumed that he acquired the knowledge directly from the Spirit of God. The quality of the workmanship was the same as though he had been a master of the trade, and confirmed by apothecary standards.2

Who Can Use The Holy Anointing Oil?


Some people subscribe to the belief that only certain people are allowed to make and use Holy Anointing Oil. According to the Old Testament, Holy Anointing Oil was forbidden to be used on the body of a common person and was reserved for use by the priesthood, tabernacle articles, and prophets. In addition, the children of Israel were forbidden to create anything that resembled it for their use. However, these instructions were imparted during the times of the Old Testament covenant. Technically, the Old Testament covenant is no longer applicable because of the crucifixion of Jesus. It is a widely held belief among Christians that if you are not saved, you cannot use Holy Anointing oil. If you are a homosexual you cannot use Holy Anointing Oil. I personally do not believe this to be the case. I believe everyone is divine and sacred and everyone has the right to make and use Holy Anointing oil. This is my personal belief, and I know I am not alone. Abraham of Worms and Aleister Crowley have written about the use of Holy Oil with their own interpretations of the formula and as a result, it has become widely used among practitioners of folk magick and ceremonial magick. So, who is allowed to make and use Holy Anointing Oil? I think there are a number of things to consider when answering this question. Ultimately, it is a question you need to ask yourself. If you are unsure or have any doubts, then sitting in mindful prayer and meditation can help you come to the right answer.

Holy Anointing Oil Formula


Exodus 30:22-33 22 Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 23 Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, 24 And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: 25 And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. 26 And thou shalt
1 2

http://www.victorie-inc.us/holy_anointing_oil.html

ibid

anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, 27 And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense, 28 And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. 29 And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. 30 And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office. 31 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations. 32 Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you. 33 Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people. KJV Thus, the formula for Holy Anointing Oil contains: Myrrh Cinnamon Calamus Cassia Olive Oil

The precise method and amounts of each are said to be bestowed upon a person directly from the Divine. However, we can take a look at what a shekel and a hin are and make an educated guess as to the quantities and ratios of the ingredients.

What Is A Shekel?
The shekel was used as a measure of money and weight. The exact weight amount is uncertain, however, one source indicates it is approximately .4 ounce. Thus, 500 shekels would be equivalent to approximately 200 ounces or 12.5 pounds. 250 shekels would be equivalent to approximately 100 ounces or 6 .25 pounds.

What Is A Hin?
A hin is a liquid measure of weight, equivalent to approximately one gallon or 128 ounces.

Significance of the Ingredients


The original biblical recipe contains olive oil, calamus (sweet flag), cassia, cinnamon and myrrh. Olives are one of the seven native fruits with which the land of Israel is blessed.3 In the Jewish tradition, the olive is a symbol of peace, hope and steadfastness. The word "calamus" in Hebrew is Qaneh, which means "a stalk or aromatic reed." Calamus is sweet smelling herb that is associated with moral uprightness and humility in the Bible. Magickally speaking, it is often associated with male fertility and virility because of its phallic shape. Cinnamon
3

Rabbi Jo David (1999-2002) Gems in Israel, Yael (Zisling) Adar . Retrieved January 9, 2011 from www.GemsinIsrael.com.

is known as exceptionally fragrant and aromatic and is favored for its warming ability. From a biblical perspective, cinnamon is akin to joy in the midst of trials and tribulations. Cassia has purple flowers and speaks to the royalty and dignity of Christ, and of victory in living above worldly things. Biblically speaking, myrrh symbolizes luxury and beauty, equal in weight value to gold. It is associated with love and the death of Christ, embalming and anointing the dead, and was used as a perfume, cosmetic and medicine (King & Stager, 2001). The Hebrew word for Myrrh is Mowr, meaning distilled, and comes from the root word Marar which means bitterness. Myrrh is extracted by piercing the tree's heartwood and allowing the gum to trickle out and harden into bitter, aromatic red droplets called, "tears." Thus, myrrh tears are also associated with the suffering of Christ.4 Interestingly enough, myrrh essential oil contains a high amount of sesquiterpenes, organic compounds that directly affect the parts of the brain (hypothalamus, pituitary, and amygdale) considered to be the seat of our emotions. The symbolism of the four spices is a bit different when viewed from a hoodoo perspective. Myrrhs correspondences are similar to its biblical correspondences in that it is associated with love and is considered holy. It is also used to create an atmosphere of peace and serenity and is often mixed with other resins for specific purposes. Olive is used as a carrier oil for many conjure oils because of its pure nature. Cinnamon is used for money, good fortune in business, luck in games of chance, and is used to heat up spell works. Calamus is used for uncrossing and breaking jinxes, as well as dominating and controlling others.

Oil of Abramelin
Abramelin oil, also called Oil of Abramelin, is a ceremonial magical oil blended from aromatic plant materials. Abramelin oil became popular in the Western esoteric tradition in the 20th century after its description in a medieval grimoire called The Book of Abramelin written by Abraham of Worms, a fifteenth century Jewish Kabbalist. The recipe is adapted from the Jewish Holy Oil of the Tanakh, which is described in the Book of Exodus attributed to Moses.5 The four ingredients listed by Mathers in his translation of The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage are myrrh, cinnamon, galangal, and olive oil. The word that he translated from the French as "galangal" is actually the word "calamus." Other existing manuscripts list calamus as the ingredient. In hoodoo, galangal root is used in protective work, especially work involving court cases. Following are several recipes for making Abramelin oil. One method employs the maceration (crushing and soaking) of herbs and another employs the blending of essential oils. Which recipe and method you choose is purely a matter of personal preference.
4

From Rebecca Park Totilo Spiritual Significance of Myrrh in the Bible. Retrieved January 9, 2011 from http://searchwarp.com/swa478654-Spiritual-Significance-Of-Myrrh-In-The-Bible.htm
5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abramelin_oil

Macerated Abramelin oil


4 2 1 7 parts powdered Cinnamon bark parts finely ground Myrrh resin part Calamus chopped root, reduced to powder parts Olive oil

The resins and spices are gently macerated with a mortar and pestle, covered with olive oil and allowed to sit for a month. It is then transferred to a bottle. This method produces a fragrant oil suitable for use as an anointing oil on any portion of the body, and will not burn the skin. It may be applied liberally, after the manner of traditional Jewish Holy Oils, such as the one which was poured on Aaron's head until it ran down his beard. 6 This oil should be stored under the altar.

Mathers Macerated Abramelin Oil


The following recipe for Abramelin oil substitutes galangal root for Calamus root. 4 2 1 7 parts Cinnamon bark quills, reduced to powder parts Myrrh resin tears, finely ground part Galangal sliced root, reduced to powder parts Olive oil

This mixture is macerated for one month, and then strained through cheesecloth and bottled for use. The result is fragranced oil suitable for anointing any portion of the body, and it will not burn the skin. This oil should be stored under the altar.

Abramelin Oil Made with Essential Oils


half part Cinnamon essential oil 1 parts Myrrh essential oil 1 part Calamus essential oil 1 part Cassia essential oil 7 parts Olive oil

Keep it in a clean container until you need it. This is highly fragranced oil that may be applied to the skin in more liberal amounts; it is a close, modern approximation of the oil described by Abramelin to Abraham of Worms. This oil should be stored on or under the altar.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abramelin_oil

Crowleys Holy Oil of Aspiration (Oil of Abramelin)


British occultist Aleister Crowley had a different symbolic view of the ingredients that he found in the Mathers translation.7 According to Crowley: This oil is compounded of four substances. The basis of all is the oil of the olive. The olive is, traditionally, the gift of Minerva, the Wisdom of God, the Logos. In this are dissolved three other oils; oil of myrrh, oil of cinnamon, oil of galangal. The Myrrh is attributed to Binah, the Great Mother, who is both the understanding of the Magician and that sorrow and compassion which results from the contemplation of the Universe. The Cinnamon represents Tiphereth, the Sun -- the Son, in whom Glory and Suffering are identical. The Galangal represents both Kether and Malkuth, the First and the Last, the One and the Many, since in this Oil they are One. [...] These oils taken together represent therefore the whole Tree of Life. The ten Sephiroth are blended into the perfect gold. (Crowley, p.60) Crowleys recipe is as follows: 8 4 2 7 parts Cinnamon essential oil parts Myrrh essential oil parts Galangal essential oil parts Olive oil

Crowleys recipe has a much higher concentration of cinnamon than the Mathers version. Since cinnamon can be a skin irritant in high concentrations, this recipe is not for liberal use on the skin. Rather, it is designed for the consecration of ritual tools. According to the Ordo Templi Orientis, Crowleys Holy Oil of Aspiration should undergo a special consecration. The ideal time for a consecration ceremony is during the Equinox. It may also be consecrated with the following suggested ceremony: Place the vial of oil on the Altar between the symbols of the four elements. Banish. Purify the oil with water and salt. Sanctify the oil with fire and air. Circumambulate deosil thrice, reciting: "O Lion and O Serpent, etc." At altar, invoke with the first section of the Anthem. Raise the vial of oil to the Stele in the East and say: Thou that art One, our Lord in the Universe the Sun, our Lord in ourselves whose
7

Crowley, A. (1997). Magick : Liber ABA, Book Four, Parts I-IV. York Beach, ME : S. Weiser.

name is Mystery of Mystery, uttermost being whose radiance enlightening the worlds is also the breath that maketh every God even and Death totremble before thee -- by the Sign of Light appear thou glorious upon the throne of the Sun. Make open the path of creation and of intelligence between us and our minds. Enlighten our understanding. Encourage our hearts. Let thy light crystallize itself in this oil, for the accomplishment of Thy Will, which is mine. A ka dua Tuf ur biu Bi a'a chefu Dudu nur af an nuteru! Pause in silence. Replace the vial on the altar. Banish.8

Consecration of the Oil, Prepared for the use of E.G.C. clergy by T. Apiryon (1997) Ordo Templi Orientis retrieved http://hermetic.com/sabazius/oil.htm

This article is Copyright 2011 Denise Alvarado, All rights reserved.

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