Making Magickal Ink Recipes by Christine

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Making Magickal Ink: Recipes

Many witches and wiccans record their spells, and their results, or write in their Book Of Shadows with special ritual or magickal inks. These can be purchased at Wiccan supply shops or you can make them easily yourself.

You will need a fountain or calligraphy pen or something similar. To make a magickal ink, crush the herbs you are going to use and place them in a jar. You don’t have to use exact measurements. Add red wine or vodka to cover the herbs plus a bit over (about 1/3 inch). Red Wine will help to add to the colour of the ink. You may also add coffee and / or tea to add colour.

Cap the jar. If the lid is metal, place some plastic food wrap between the lid and the contents. Allow the jar to sit, covered, for about two weeks.

You can add food colouring to make coloured inks, and rose, lavender, jasmine or other floral water to make scented ink, or a few drops of essential oil if you wish.

When making inks, it isn’t necessary to add exact quantities; just estimate the amounts to use. Different quantities produce varied inks. You can record your favourite recipes in your Book Of Shadows. Use a large jar with a sealable lid, such as a mason jar for canning. To this add about 1/2 bottle of inexpensive red wine (The quality doesn’t matter for ink making). This does leave a wine smell, which you can leave, or cover up with floral water or essential oil if you like. However, it also adds a lovely red colour. Some people use vodka instead of wine, so that it doesn’t produce a reddish ink (If they want to make green or another colour) and because it doesn’t leave a red wine smell. I put about 1/8 cup of coffee grounds and about 1/8 of tea leaves in to help add colour. These will give a brown colour and also add to the smell. I then put about 2 crushed cinnamon sticks, about 1 tblsp of cloves, about 2 tsp of turmeric for a yellow colour), about a teaspoon of frankincense granules, about a teaspoon of ground dragon’s blood, about 1 tblsp of cracked black pepper, and any other herbs you want to add, either for their magickal properties, or for scent or colour. Leave this for about a week, stirring occasionally. Strain it into smaller jars and add different food colours to each jar. Store the ink in the fridge, to help preserve it.

The following are ingredients for the 3 most common magickal inks:

Bat’s Blood ink

Dragon’s blood resin;
Coffee grounds
Tea leaves
Myrrh
Cinnamon
Cloves
Scent - Lavender water
Colour - Blue

Dove’s blood Ink

Dragon’s blood resin
Coffee grounds
Tea leaves
Bay leaves
Cinnamon
Cloves
Scent - Lavender water or essential oil
Colour – purple: blue + red food dye

Dragon’s blood ink (1)

Dragon’s blood resin
Coffee grounds
Tea leaves
Cinnamon
Cloves
Scent - rose water or essential oil of rose or geranium
Colour - Red

Here is another traditional recipe, and my personal favourite, for Dragon's Blood Ink.

1 teaspoon Dragon's Blood Resin (powdered)
15 teaspoons alcohol or vodka
1 teaspoon gum arabic (ground)

Soak the powdered resin in the alcohol until dissolved, then add the ground gum arabic. Filter through a cloth and store in a dark bottle.

Another Dragon’s Blood Ink Recipe:

3-4 ounces of red or purple india ink
2 teaspoons Dragon's Blood Resin (powdered)
15 drops Dragon's blood oil

Blend thoroughly. Filter and store in a dark bottle.