This funny looking thing is a picture of the salts from my sun tincture. I'm afraid I didn't do the best job photographing the plate-there is a deep green tablecloth under the clear plate and salts. But just imagine...
My notes read: regularly shaped crystals, oval to rectangle, spread evenly over the entire surface of the plate. The color is nearly clear, with the faintest orange tinge. The "during the process" notes state that I dissolved and reformed the crystals three times. Each time I added the distilled water, the resultant liquid turned nearly black. I would then wash the plate in yet more distilled water, filter the menstruum and pour it back into the plate for the crystals to form. Each time, the crystals would be nearly clear. Why did I then re-dissolve them? I don't really know, other than I felt that I ought to. And then finally, I didn't feel that need.
The tincture, in a glass of water is red/orange/gold, with a scent that is (so says my notes) Awakening! Refreshing! But the effect of drinking it was like drinking the rising winter sun. I didn't notice much of anything when taking the tincture earlier in the Fall. But now that it is cold and dark and winter approaches? There is a definite sense of slowly increasing warmth and brightness after I've taken it. It will be most interesting to see if this continues into the Spring.
In terms of both effect, and taste, this is my second favorite of the planetary tinctures; my favorite is still Mars/Tuesday/Ginger. Despite my exclamation points, the Sun tincture is far less aggressive and "in your face" than the Mars. I want it, and enjoy it, but do not get the same sense of "I need this" that I get when taking the Mars tincture. Which brings up another interesting point, in terms of elemental attributes, they are both fire. While this series was planned as a planetary one and the ingredients were chosen by their planetary attributes, it appears that the effects on me are elemental. Which, in a way, does make a great deal of sense, as it is through the elements that we experience those things outside of ourselves. Which would also explain why these two tinctures appeal to me so much more than the ones relating to the other elements, I've felt for some time that I could use just a bit more elemental fire in my personal mix. These tinctures could be my favorites simply because I need what they contain more than I need what is contained in the others.
This project took me far longer than I thought it would (especially the write-ups. Mea Culpa). I've learned quite abit about myself, listening to, and paying attention to the personalities involved in my projects, and the grains of salt I must add to some of my learning experiences with humans. I will probably do something similar in the future. Just not right away.
To recap, these are the tinctures:
Sun-Orange
Moon-Camphor
Mars-Ginger
Mercury-Oregano
Jupiter-Lemon Balm
Venus-Rose
Saturn-Comfrey
(for whatever reason, Google spell check doesn't like "comfrey," it would prefer "comfier?")
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5 comments:
This sounds really interesting. I'm going to have to go back and read more about these tinctures. Congratulations on finishing the project!
Thank you. Between one thing and another, it took several years. But if you are interested, I believe I did label all the posts about it.
I also extend congratulations on completing the project. These things seem so simply and do-able when we (dare) start them, and then one delay leads to another and unanticipated problems creep in... and.. and...
It took me nearly a year to evoke all seven Olympick Spirits, counting from initial research all the way to the final write-up of the experiment.
I also aspire to making tinctures some day, not in small part due to your fine example. I still haven't figured out how to solve the problem of burning the excrementum because we live in adown-town apartment. And pure alcohol is really hard to come by in Hungary. I'll have to find a private brandy distiller (one can distil for personal use in Hungary) who is willing to sell me some of the undiluted distillate. That might be pricey, but isn't that often the case with magic?
Lananah,
It's so good to hear from you again. I've missed your posts. Congrats on your tincture project. I'm glad it turned out so well.
I can't wait until I can afford all the equipment to do the work as outlined by John Reid. Soon...
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