Van Van by Seeker

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Van Van is an old hoodoo formula for oil, incense, sachet powders, and washing products that are intended to get rid of evil, provide magical defense, change bad luck to good, as well as strengthening other charms. It is the most popular of the New Orleans hoodoo recipes. As a good luck enhancer, it is closely associated with both the rabbit foot and the lodestone.

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Van-Van Annointing Oil

At one time, it is said, a person could not walk down a street in the Algiers district without smelling the scent of Van Van oil. Prepared from aromatic Oriental grasses, all-purpose Van Van is favoured for dressing Amulets and Charms and is reputed to Clear Evil from the Door-Step, Change Bad Luck to Good, and Open the Way to New Opportunities. Here's a simple recipe:

3 oz sweet almond oil
4 drops lemon grass oil and/or lemon verbena oil

This oil can be used to anoint or dress candles. The traditional method of dressing or annointing a candle required that one began by applying the scented oil in the center of the candle. Stroke up from the middle to the top, and then down to the base.

If you plan to carve sigils, runes, designs, or letters into the candle, these should to be carved into the wax before annointing the candle.

Most magical herb practitioners insist an essential oil should be "cut" or diluted with a base oil, like olive, almond, sesame, etc. Essential oils are highly concentrated and some, like clove, can irritate the skin if not washed off immediately.

Some recipes for van-van oil contain citronella, palmarosa, and ginger grass, as well as the primary ingredient, lemon grass. Yet, some only contain lemon grass (Cymbopogon citrus) and some contain lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora).

Both lemon grass and lemon verbena have a distinctive citrus scent. Lemon grass was said to enhance intuitive clarity. Intuition, of course, is under the domination of the moon. Lemon verbena, which is sacred to Diana, was believed to have the ability to strengthen magical endeavors. As such, it was sacred to Aradia, la prima strega della mondo, first among witches.