The Writing Blog of Joab Stieglitz
In The Old Man’s Request: Book One of The Utgarda Trilogy, the protagonists find that they need to create a magic powder:
“Composed of dragon blood, goat’s rue, and the roots of the Five-Leaved Flower of Light, this mixture provides the corrected emanation for spectral travel and communication. Mix these carefully and brew them well over a slow flame and chant the words that I here tell.
“Cthat illum ivarius teplar, Ibn-Gazi malidorum es tacitum hoc
Tempus maldictum Yog Sothoth nostphenarium est Nyarlathotep
Iluim Cthat illum ivarius ad antiquarium malidictus pro tempor
“Chant this thrice in unhallowed night, when the devil’s moon shines and all minds are free of moral restraints. Nay, the faithful wilt not endeavor such magics as this lest their mortal souls be lost forever to the dark one. Whence the incantation be done, the concoction be made. Cast it about ye unseen fiend and its hidden essence wilt be revealed.”
Excerpt From: Stieglitz, Joab. “The Old Man’s Request: Book One of the Utgarda Trilogy.” Lulu.com, 2016-12-01.
These ingredients seem daunting at first until Anna recognizes that they are references to plants.
In reality, many “magic potions” throughout history had terrestrial origins. Most of these were combinations of organic materials available in the region the specific tradition originated from. Peyote, for example, is associated with the American west, while hashish, opium, and the like are associated with the Far East.
Just as these drugs were sought after for their “spiritual” qualities, other natural compounds were granted mystical powers. Some of these have been distilled into medicines over the centuries.