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Another interesting topic HHW.

I can not say as to whether or not the potion actually works. But I do know that two of the herbs are used are poisonous to the human body and they can cause hullicenations (sp). Those herbs are hemlock and the belladonna or night shade. So I would think that it is possible that they were to a point dreaming or maybe on an astral plane of existence.

that is actually what alot of people i know in person say

it's probably just a recipe for an old-time drug that wore out in the later ages. it's probably just like an acid trip or something.

I would guess that this ointment due to its properties would cause many hallucinations. It’s the same ideal as shrooms. When one takes shrooms it is a poison that curses through your veins causing the hallucinations. If the witch did in fact apply an ointment to those watching her, it could easily be absorbed through there skin giving them the impression this witch did have some type of magic. Spooky stuff.

I'd have to agree with it just being hallucinations.

please note on the recipe listed above the following has been left out.

Cannibus, Belladonna, and Datura

These three ingredients are what gives the full effects to the recipe. Though not legal in any country, From the stories I have heard from people who used to and still mix this up using various opiates and what not, this is a most delightful topical way to get the most out of a psychotropic experience esp if they are led on a guided visualization while under the influences of this.

so you are saying that is not the full recipe, can you give us the appropriate recipe

I assume no responsibility for the application of this recipe in any context other then educational purposes as provided here in.

There is a very lovely online recipie at

https://www.sacred-texts.com/pag/wcwe/wcweapp5.htm


"THE three formulae for the 'flying' ointment used by witches are as follows:

1. Du persil, de l'eau de l'Aconite, des feuilles de Peuple, et de la suye.

2. De la Berle, de l'Acorum vulgaire, de la Quintefeuille, du sang de chauuesouris, de la Morelle endormante, et de l'huyle.

3. De graisse d'enfant, de suc d'Ache, d'Aconite, de Quintefeuille, de Morelle, et de suye.

These formulae may be translated as follows -

1. Parsley, water of aconite, poplar leaves, and soot.

2. Water parsnip, sweet flag, cinquefoil, bat's blood, deadly night. shade, and oil.

3. Baby's fat, juice of water parsnip, aconite, cinquefoil, deadly nightshade, and soot.

These prescriptions show that the society of witches had a very creditable knowledge of the art of poisoning: aconite and deadly nightshade or belladonna are two of the three most poisonous plants growing freely in Europe, the third is hemlock, and in all probability 'persil' refers to hemlock and not to the harmless parsley, which it resembles closely.

The other ingredients have no marked toxic action, unless 'berle' and 'ache' refer not to the harmless water parsnip but to the poisonous water hemlock or cowbane. The baby's fat and bat's blood would of course have no action.

Aconite was one of the best-known poisons in ancient times; indeed it was so extensively used by professional poisoners in Rome during the Empire that a law was passed making its cultivation a capital offence. Aconite root contains about 0.4 percent of alkaloid and one-fifteenth of a grain of the alkaloid is a lethal dose. The drug has little effect upon the consciousness, but produces slowing, irregularity, and finally arrest of the heart.

The use of belladonna as a poison was also known in classical times; fourteen of the berries have been known to produce death; a moderate dose will produce wild excitement and delirium.

Hemlock is also a well-known and ancient poison; the fruit may contain as much as 0.9 per cent. of alkaloid, and ¼ grain of the alkaloid may produce death. The action of hemlock usually is to produce a gradual motor paralysis, consciousness being unimpaired, and death being caused by paralysis of respiration, but sometimes hemlock may produce delirium and excitement.

There is no doubt, therefore, about the efficacy of these prescriptions and their ability to produce physiological effects. They were administered by being rubbed into the skin, which is not an efficient way of introducing most drugs into the body, indeed some have denied that alkaloids can be absorbed from the unbroken skin; but there is no doubt that alkaloids can be absorbed when rubbed into scratches or into the quick of the nails, and it must be remembered that an unbroken skin is only possessed by those who are free from vermin and who wash regularly, and neither of these conditions would be likely to apply to a mediaeval witch. Cases of poisoning associated with delirium have actually been recorded following the application of belladonna plasters to the skin.

Of the three prescriptions the first is a watery solution and would not be very efficacious when rubbed into the skin, but the second and third are ointments, and if they were rubbed into the skin in sufficient quantities definite physiological results would be produced.

The first preparation, which contains hemlock and aconite, would produce mental confusion, impaired movement, irregular action of the heart, dizziness and shortness of breath.

The belladonna in the second ointment would produce excitement which might pass into delirium.

The third ointment, containing both aconite and belladonna, would produce excitement and irregular action of the heart.

I cannot say whether any of these drugs would produce the impression of flying, but I consider the use of aconite interesting in this respect. Irregular action of the heart in a person falling asleep produces the well-known sensation of suddenly falling through space, and it seems quite possible that the combination of a delirifacient like belladonna with a drug producing irregular action of the heart like aconite might produce the sensation of flying."

A standard source remains with the New Moon Occult shop in the UK at : http://www.newmoon.uk.com/spells/49a.htm

here is what they have to say:

'Flying Ointment' or 'Sabat Unguent' Recipe

You will find that flying ointments all have similar ingredients but the all differ. This is because there are a limited number of herbs which actually cause any sort of relaxation of the body and heightening of the senses. Fewer are legal and available to non-herbalist practitioners. Scott Cunningham seems to be the root of many of today's flying ointments, having an excellent section on this in his book "Incense Oils and Brews" which does describe a base similar to the one used here. This is not the only way to make an ointment base - additional blends are provided after the recipe itself. Doreen Valiente also gives about 6 pages to flying ointments including recipes and potential origins and effects of said ointments. She, as does every other author, cautions against the use of flying ointments. This flying ointment has been created to help facilitate astral travel but alone it will not cause it. It uses a standard base modified from Scott Cunningham and herbs and essential oils which, in the author's opinion, will help facilitate the object of using a flying ointment. Cautions and further information follow the recipe.

Here's what you'll need (all herbs and oils used are available from New Moon and are legal in the UK) :

1 cup pure beeswax

2/3 cup of jojoba oil mixed with 1/4 cup of wheatgerm oil

9 drops of the pure essential oil of juniper berry

9 drops of the pure essential oil of bog myrtle

9 drops of the pure essential oil of mysore sandalwood

9 drops of the pure essential oil of yarrow

9mL total of a combination of the pure essential oils of matricaria chamomile, rose otto, jasmine

3 grams of poppy petals *do not crush or they won't strain*

3 grams of hops *do not crush or they won't strain*

3 grams of wormwood *do not crush or they won't strain*

3 grams of dittany of Crete *do not crush or they won't strain*

3 grams of passionflower *do not crush or they won't strain*

3 grams of skullcap *do not crush or they won't strain*

3 grams of lavender *do not crush or they won't strain*

In a glass double boiler (a pot used in making candles to melt the beeswax at a lower temperature and prevent wax fires) - do not use metal, melt the beeswax gently using as low a heat as possible. Once the beeswax has melted, mix in half of the jojoba/wheatgerm oil combination until it is smooth. Once the mix is smooth (you have just made the base) then add your herbs to this mixture. Once added, keep at as low a temperature as possible, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon putting your magickal intention into the mixture so as to charge it (or a very clean stick which you sanded and created just for this purpose. Doing this increases the magickal intent of the mixture and so helps give it a boost).

After 33 min, ensure that the beeswax is quite liquid and use a mesh strainer you don't intend to use again to strain out the herbs from the mixture of beeswax and jojoba oil and place the mix back into the glass double boiler. Don't worry if you still have some herb in it however the herb will decay and so this shortens the life of your mix.
By this time, if you have kept your mixture at a constant low temperature, you should notice that it has a slightly different consistency from cooling. Now combine the remaining jojoba oil and the wheatgerm oil with the mixture the flower based essential oils (jasmine, rose, etc) in a separate container. Before the beeswax and jojoba oil mix begins to harden and without adding more heat, add first the pure essential oils (bog myrtle, juniper berry, etc) then the essential oils and base oils mix . This needs to be done when the mixture is as cool as possible but still fluid as essential oils are volatile and lose potency when heated to too high a temperature.

Now that you have finished you can pour your mix into glass, heatproof jars (as it will still be warm) and let it cool. Cap only after it has cooled and store in a cool, dark place. I suggest storing it in the fridge with the jar tightly capped to avoid moisture getting in. Use within a month - this mixture is not suitable for long term storage but can last under perfect conditions for 2 - 3 months.

This ointment is potent. Use it carefully and treat it with respect as you should all herbs and essential oils. Just because they are herbs, doesn't mean they are safe. To use, apply first a small amount to the inside of your elbow to check for reactions. Then if it is safe, apply a small amount in a thin coating to the inside of your wrist and a small amount to your temples. For faster absorption, spread a thin coating on the soles of your feet. While books which talk about flying ointments suggest smearing it all over your body, I do not recommend this approach.

Keep this mix away from your eyes nose, mouth and other sensitive areas of your body. Contrary to what you may have read on the web, this should *not* be placed in the genital area of the body. Do *not* ingest this mixture. As this mixture contains oils with contraindications, I suggest that you avoid using this mix if you: are pregnant, have high blood pressure, have a history of mental illness, or if you are suffering from prolonged insomnia.

Alternate base combinations - these vary in room temperature state from quite solid to quite liquid. You can vary the firmness of the mixture you need by altering the amount of beeswax or oil used - more beeswax for a firmer mix, more oil or a softer mix. Recipes for bases are guidelines only and after adding herbs or oils, you may feel the need to adjust the firmness. I suggest placing a teaspoon of the mix in the freezer to check for firmness before adding more wax or oil. There is no need for tincture of benzoin as is so popular with some recipes as this tincture is used for mixtures containing a shortening or fatty base where the fat is solid at room temperature.

8 parts beeswax to 1 part vegetable oil
2 parts beeswax to 1 part lanoline and 1 part almond oil
5 parts beeswax to 1 part base oil
3 parts beeswax to 1 part jojoba oil
1 part beeswax to 1 part almond oil
3 parts almond oil to 1 part beeswax
4 parts oil to 1 part beeswax
8 parts olive oil to one part beeswax


Doreen Valiente asserts that of the several existing possible translations of the original Latin recipe, all contain herbs which are poisonous but which may bring on a common experience which is what has been described as the Witch's Sabat. A combination of the deadly thornapple, henbane, deadly nightshade, wild celery and parsley (presumably to combat that horrible 'morning after the sabat before' breath) were used in a base of hog's fat and this was applied to two participants who had no notion of what it would do, what witches apparently did or any knowledge of flying ointments. They both described similar visions of orgiastic rites performed by demons which begs the question of whether this particular poisonous combination taps our collective unconsious or a race memory. We may never know as those are so deadly, it is unlikely research could possibly proceed.

Some sources:
"An ABC of Witchcraft Past and Present" by Doreen Valiente
"How Do Witches Fly?" by Dr. Alexander Kuklin
"Witch Hill" by Marion Zimmer Bradley
"Magical Herbalism" and "Incense, Oils and Brews" both by S Cunningham
"Wicca Craft" by Gerina Dunwich
"Hallucinogens and Shamanism", edited by Michael Harner
"The Encyclopaedia of Essential Oils" By Julia Lawless
"The Herb Book" by John Lust
"A Modern Herbal" by Mrs. M. Grieve
"The Master Book of Herbalism" by Paul Beyerl
"Magical Aromatherapy" by S Cunningham
Wylundt's Book of Incense" by Wylundt


This recipe was contributed by Straif Blackthorn, a professional aromatherapist and witch of over 15 years. She has combined her knowledge of plants and essential oils plus her techniques for making pure skin care products to bring you this recipe. The books sited above represent only a small number of those which have served Straif Blackthorn well in the creation of the blending of herbs and the search for legal alternatives to henbane, datura, monkshood, cowbane, mandrake, and other reputed ingredients of the ancient flying ointments. You may copy this to your website provided all the information is left in tack and a link to the originating website is maintained.

Copyright remains with the original author.


The recpies here should suffice. If you would have a most accurate one then refer to the Grimoire of Lady Sheba. I lost my copy to time a few years ago, so i am unable to recall the proper mixtures containing the cannibus, belladona, aconite, and datura mix.

I would think that this ointment had a hallucinogenic ( i think I spelled that right) effect upon the person using it. As far as all seeing the same thing at that time, they could have very well all applied it at the same time. Who really knows.

Flying but still lying in bed during the event...that sounds to me like Astral Projection. No I do not believe they actually did fly. I believe it could have been a hullicination or it could have been astral projection. It sounds to me like Astral projection because their body's never left their beds, but they did see things right? And it could just as easily have been a hallucination brought on by the flying ointment it's self.

I go with the hallucinagenic route:

Traditionally, flying ointment was a hallucinogenic preparation of herbs mixed with fat and applied to the skin in preparation for the witches' sabbat. In the testimony of numerous witches, this ointment was prepared in order to enable witches to "fly" to the sabbats; in reality, the sabbats were products of the hallucinatory properties of ingredients such as henbane, belladonna, and mandrake. (In many cases, users of flying ointments were aware they were not truly flying, describing their attendance at sabbats in 'spirit.')

Below are three examples of the use of Flying Ointments from classical sources followed by a modern day version in the Addendum. Flying Ointment is typically an oily or greasy concoction of herbs and other materials combined together and said, when rubbed all over one's body, to contribute toward one's ability to fly. Early recipes always included some ingredients that were either socially unacceptable, "off limits," difficult to obtain, or were obscure or unclear in what was actually intended. Modern recipes use a variety of substitute materials, hence rendering the ointment ineffective for all practical purposes. In both cases, however, some ingredients remain downright toxic, poisonous and lethal, especially if consumed in quanities unmetered by someone not versed in their safe administration.

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Giovan Battista Della Porta. From De Miraculis Rerum Naturalium, Book II, Chapter XXVI (1558 AD)

Lamiarum Unguenta (Witches Unguent):

"Although they mix in a great deal of superstition, it is apparent nonetheless to the observer that these things can result from a natural force. I shall repeat what I have been told by them. By boiling (certain fat) in a copper vessel, they get rid of its water, thickening what is left after boiling and remains last. Then they store it, and afterwards boil it again before use: with this, they mix celery, aconite, poplar leaves and soot. Or, in alternative: sium, acorus, cinquefoil, the blood of a bat, nightshade (Solanum) and oil; and if they mix in other substances they don’t differ from these very much. Then they smear all the parts of the body, first rubbing them to make them ruddy and warm and to rarify whatever had been condensed because of cold. When the flesh is relaxed and the pores opened up, they add the fat (or the oil that is substituted for it) - so that the power of the juices can penetrate further and become stronger and more active, no doubt. And so they think that they are borne through the air on a moonlit night to banquets, music, dances and the embrace of handsome young men of their choice."

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Lucius Apuleius. From Golden Ass, Book III, Chapter Sixteen (160 AD):

"On a day Fotis came running to me in great fear, and said that her mistress, to work her sorceries on such as she loved, intended the night following to transform herself into a bird, and to fly whither she pleased. Wherefore she willed me privily to prepare myself to see the same. And when midnight came she led me softly into a high chamber, and bid me look through the chink of a door: where first I saw how she put off all her garments, and took out of a certain coffer sundry kinds of boxes, of the which she opened one, and tempered the ointment therein with her fingers, and then rubbed her body therewith from the sole of the foot to the crown of the head, and when she had spoken privily with her self, having the candle in her hand, she shaked parts of her body, and behold, I perceived a plume of feathers did burgen out, her nose waxed crooked and hard, her nails turned into claws, and so she became an owl. Then she cried and screeched like a bird of that kind, and willing to prove her force, moved her self from the ground by little and little, til at last she flew quite away."

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Abramelin The Mage. From The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin The Mage (1458 AD)

The First Book of Holy Magic, Chapter VI:

"She then gave unto me an unguent..." (Flying Ointment)

"At Lintz I worked with a young woman, who one evening invited me to go with her, assuring me that without any risk she would conduct me to a place where I greatly desired to find myself. I allowed myself to be persuaded by her promises. She then gave unto me an unguent, with which I rubbed the principal pulses of my feet and hands; the which she did also; and at first it appeared to me that I was flying in the air in the place which I wished, and which I had in no way mentioned to her.

I pass over in silence and out of respect, that which I saw, which was admirable, and appearing to myself to have remained there a long while, I felt as if I were just awakening from a profound sleep, and I had great pain in my head and deep melancholy. I turned round and saw that she was seated at my side. She began to recount to me what she had seen, but that which I had seen was entirely different. I was, however, much astonished, because it appeared to me as if I had been really and corporeally in the place, and there in reality to have seen that which had happened."

astral projection seems to be a popular response or sort

any type of shock can cause astral projection so if you drug the body beyond what the mind can take, you will force yourself to astral project.

Using the ointment is a vulgar way to do this.

As with any type of hallucination; one must be very careful; keep in mind to cause this effect one is poisoning the body, and the effects could be deadly. For those who are reading this post keep that in mind, safety first curiosity second. We don’t want anyone getting harmed introducing toxins to the body.

Back in my college days I did an in dept research paper on the Salem witch trials. I have to agree with those who believe the "flying ointment" cause hallucinations. The "witches" also ingested tainted bread which caused ergo poisoning.

I'm glad there's a safer version because the original one is loaded with deadly poisons. However either way, basically it seems like something you would use to get a high off, for that, "Wee I'm flying!" feeling. I'm personally not going to try it and I'm not sure anyone else should either! :p Well I don't think that anything that makes you feel that out of it can be good for you. Stick to traditional astral projection etc. if that's the effect you're after *thumbs up*.

People with under lying mental conditions, are likely to react intensely, and deeper then others to such use of sensory manipulation.. if not immediately after or during the experience. An escapist and a realist are likely to have very distinct experiences, this would be in the realm of dealing with peyote, if not prepared right, and done in context of ritual.. one is bound to roam unintended into ones unexpected mind.. without that touch assurance one is likely to panic, I would want others that have experience, that comes with third party reference , a coven that practices this rite is , I hope not mishandling the severity of potential reactions, informing through craft the entire flight experience.

or the sense of touch receptors are altered, so it is a sense restricted trip, Hallucinating, nitrous oxide does it from the inside.. Novocaine, is used by weight lifters to bypass strain, if one already has a poison in ones body it is likely to interact with such a mix of substance, mixed with such an absorbent catalyst.

Wow, that is really intresting

I personally think that by combining these ingredients together, some sort of hallucigen took affect over the brain, almost as a drug would, such as acid when entering the blood stream.

Of course it would be nice if we could fly, but lets face it we cant, and no lotion is going to change that. However, the feeling of being able to fly may bring the world closer to altering humans to fly. So the ointment is somewhat beneficial.

i agree i wouldnt try it either,, id have to be much stronger into that before doing something i dont know what im doing at all. make sense?

Im thinking there is a big difference on how different drug and poisons affect you.
Personally I know and yes the original flying ointment recipe is as real as buying a bag of weed and finding it to be oregano lol
Kids please if you haven’t studied herbs and understand the ying and the yang of the herb world … get ready for a heart stopping mistake… literally.
The lard is used as a base so you absorb the poison slowly enough not to kill you out right.
Wash your hand after making it, don’t eat snakes… are you understanding kids what this is?


Now as for the witches hammer where women sliped out as ghost beings and there bodys still in bed…. It was just rubbish made up by some very sexually repressed individuals in Germany, nothing more.

Judging by some of the contents in the recipe, I'm sure it's hallucinations.

Using any potions, ointments, or other means to cast a "flying spell", may cause astral travel, thus the so called "witches" did not leave their husbands sides.

Side effects, may also cause the hallucinatory effects if used improperly. Ahh, to the mind games, ode to the effects of going insane.

The feeling of flying that they have was their body's way of coping and flushing out the toxins, from what I remember - I watched a program in which it was featured.

I can't really remember but I think that they would also sweat and appear to have some sort of fever - the sweating would cause the toxins to be washed away out of the skin...

Eventually it stopped and they were fine again >.>
Gee it sounds like fun lol NOT

I dont think they could fly...perhaps traveling using their minds eye..

Well the properties listed are and can be deadly, lets hope they are not ingested LOL..

yet I feel if they were used then it would be like a topical drug that cause you to feel like your flying or just imagine it LOl very interesting, I myself do not plan on flying so .. good luck to anyone whom may try this ...

I myself would not use this. Not that this is not a interesting topic for it is, to see other's reactions to it.

But sometimes the internet even tho full of information, some could be misleading.

Well,so is smokin crack or eating shrooms.But peeps do it anyway.Hmm flight by osmosis,how interesting.I guess some will try anything in order to obtain certain states of mind and body. But as far as for any magical practice,I believe it only works to a point.

No thanks.

out side of doing it for a Rite is one thing, consider your reasons for doing it? The reason those who you do it with give you? To have a shared common experiance, as with proper use of Shrooms, and other concoctions.. and substances. Especially ones with actual poison included in the mix.

Personally,it wouldnt do me a bit of good.I dont have a problem with AP or anything else,so,its just not something I would be interested in.I would think,that if one were going to even do something along the line pf AP or anything magical,one would at least attempt to learn how to do it without aid of anykind.

Sadly those that claim extraordinairy things are likely to diminish the subtle experiences of others, those that hear those claims are likely to feel inferiour to others, when a way to increase that experience is offered they are self pressured to do it.. increase sensation, to eliviate spititual doubt.. how long until the dependency builds?

I guess youre right about that in a way Dabbler.Too bad too,that someone whould go on what another says as opposed to what they learn and proove themselves.

Not sure if someone else suggested this yet. But perhaps they could use magic to create an "out of body experience."


Ya think?

See there lies the craft, the effects of poisons in the potion/oinment is responsible for the magic.. have people not figured out that craft is used to perform magic the illusion is created through interpitating the illusion.. Crafted magic uses material things to create the appearance of.. unmaterial things apperaing.. thats it.. if you expect more then you buy what you are shown, you seek not to learn, but to be astonished.

I don't believe humans can really fly, I am going to have to go with hallucinations on this one. The ingredients as someone else pointed out can cause hallucinations. So that right there helps maybe shed some light..

Interesting read here on this.

On top of the poisons in the original recipe, you all did realize that it had cannibus in it...Just because your not smoking it, does not mean your not going to get the effects of the THC. Think of the Indians and what they used those drugs for. Astrial Projection?...Feeling of flying...Seeing things that weren't really there...Talking to the dead.....Then you combine it with the other ingrediants and Wow!!...You get a real zinger there....lol....

I too would sway from attempting to try this...You never know with herbs what kind of reaction your going to have...Would hate to see someone have a bad allergic reaction....

Be safe friends....

there is space between particles

particles are in constant motion

nothing really touches anything

(Example: our feet aren't touching our shoes or ground)

The belladonna contains Atropine, Scopolamine, and Hyoscyamine. Datura (another member of the nightshade family) was used similarly in other flying ointments by native americans. They produce hallucinations that are similar to the effects described above.

Look into tropane alkaloids to see what I'm talking about.

If it contains belladonna, they were probably hallucinating. It's weird that they had the same stories about their surroundings though.

To obtain the igrediants is hard, and in some states illegal, so that must also be taken into account, there are also things that people are likely to substituite to get around those ingredients, as is clear by the variations here.

I just want to say that this is a great post, but people must be very very very careful if you don't have vast knowledge of the herbs listed dont even chance it.
As for the datura that is not illegal you can order the seeds from many places as i grow them for the beautiful scent they give in my garden. Back a few years ago someone decied to ingest the seeds given from this flower it also is not one to mess with. Ther person ended up in the psych ward for a while .

As for the flying ointments, no one actually flew it is just the trip from the poison no different from eaching shrooms just a more intense trip so to speak.

I would serioulsy hope that someone is not foolish enough to try and concoct the recipe with out vast knowledge.

Boy oh boy the propaganda of old has truly stained the future.
Yes flying ointment is a poisonous trip into the other world.
Witches flying on brooms is propaganda and for films

about a year ago i read this book on a simular subject... it talked about having an out of body experience... and my mom being a fan of the stranger part of life decided to try this kind of metation were you could disconnect your soal from your body and "fly around" though your still attcahed to your body in a way that was decribed to me by my mom as a cord... but any ways at first she had trouble slowing her mind and body down enough to medatate... so my cousin who owns a herb shop gave my mom this drug that slow her body and mind down enough to levatate out of her body... though it also gave her slight hallucinations so maybe the witches took a simular drug. my mom later stoped taking the drug and was able to medatate on her own :)

think woman being interrogated by authorities, being suspected of witchcraft would agree to anything suggested by the interrigator. This has been suggested by those who have reviewed the transcripts recorded at the time. That there was an ointment used for coating the skin may have only been bacon fat to keep the body warm while unclothed. The broom riding is a simple sympathetic magick ritual involving sexual and reproductive potency. All that was needed was one witch to describe a sabbat, drawing on her memory and wanting to confess to a fantasy suggested by the interrogater, to introduce what was recorded as the truth. Naturally this became the official version of the sabbat. That these same woman never left their husbands side may be a significant indication that some or all the descriptions of the satanic rite were created by the officials of the church and/or the state. Although the ingredients of the flying ointment will alter consciousness, it may have only been used by witches subsequent to publication of the ingredients. The astral travel concept may be easily attributed to the effect of the ointment, but not without assuming the husbands of these woman would not notice a foul smelling greasy substance covering their wives.

Well I think they were flying high alright by some of the stuff in the reciepe but just not physical I think they were on almighty trip

I think the "ointment" was more some sort of product helping th eperson to go in transe to then be able to do OBE. I beleive it might have affect the psychic part of the brain to trigger the action.

Doing this in knowledgable company is best, perhaps even a coven setting. But like I stated above, take into account the people you are around, are they a good mix of people you would want to drink around? yet alone share a sensory hallutionation with?

I agree that people cannot actually fly. But as mentioned, taking drugs, ingesting mushrooms, and what not would give the sense that one if "flying."

I had a friend once who said that people in Africa do fly somehow. He was a priest of some African culture. We had a major discussion about this. I have a hard time with it still. I told him to provide pictures and he got offended.

I'll be the first to admit that I am woefully ignorant when it comes to forms of witchcraft proper but, I do have an opinion :)

As many have said it seems to be a matter of psychotropic effects. I do know a good deal about herbs, drugs and other body/mind altering substances and from the ingredients provided you could do the same thing with any number of substances, legal or otherwise.

Since "witches" were, in past, the equivalent of a chemist I see how what we would consider "medically understood effects" could be misunderstood as supernatural.

There is a fine line between being tweaked out of your mind and actually using a deeper form of consciousness.

I have actually had someone try an ointment liek that but they just got sick.

i am sure that the getting sick is common

astral project yes i think that could be something that may be reachable but not on this physical body.

Well possibly. There is astral projection, bilocation, dreamwalking and remote viewing as they call it in modern times. Sounds like whatever was in the potions gave them a push sort of like shamanistic practices. I have read that witches who deal in this type of thing are called Hedge witches.

it would b e interesting to learn more about these hedgewitches..i think that the oil itself could also be used as a mental to to possibly help in astral travel just like a wand would help in casting spells or even a candle.

I have seen that long article that was posted before. I wouldn't necessarily take it too seriously because they use the term Warlock which is a good clue they took things from superstition or someone who saw one too many movies. Warlock means a betrayer of the coven. It is not a male witch either in Wicca nor Witchcraft.

Personally,I think anyone who would try,not to even mention, believeing in something like this is rather foolish .

I feel that there is a lot of misconception on this. For many they think of flying as like a bird, thats just foolishness. They flying being that of the astral plane is how it needs to be looked at.

i everyone when you first say fly they asume physically fly,i know i did but in reality i think the term astral travel/projection helps one to more understand what is being talked about..atleast for me.

I would agree..But even so,if one needs to use something to get a result in astral travel,maybe they shouldnt be doing it in the first place.

yeah..well in the past i have had succes in stral projection and the only thing i used was chakra meditation and visualization techniques and it eventually worked fine,i think some want a quick fix if you will and not take the time to understand and know what it is to work for the experience.

never done the astral travel OBE..... not that i can think of .. unless it was on accident, is that possible

I went to the Big Book of Trips and it is agreed that alter states can be reached while intoxicated via' pores.. DMT, being a delievry agent. what is warned is that short cuts to this are likely to be tried by unstudied people or persons. One would be best to have solid people around ones self, and not place to much expectation, or invest to much into the experience. Like all things that could produce altered euforia, they can also trigger, other hidden quirks as well. A Bad Trip..

damn, a bad trip like going into NYC during rush hour

with a guy that speaks no English.

yes dabbler that would make it worse

or Spanglish

I am sure that this thread has served its purpose for now.