The Magick of Linseed Oil

 

bout a week ago, our town came through to “oil” the roads. I’m not sure what they use, but it smells like linseed oil, and I love the smell.

I’m familiar with linseed oil because of Earl. It’s an oil used in woodworking to help preserve things. For instance, we have a wooden swing out next to our pond, which he uses linseed oil on each year to help extend the life of the bench. If you have wooden objects outside or crafts, it’s a great way to help extend their life, and it smells incredible! You will have to let me know what you think if you use it!  I know people will use it for wooden cutting boards. If you do this, you need to make sure that you have food-safe linseed oil.

Linseed oil is made from the seeds of the flax plant. You may also see it called flaxseed oil for this reason.  I think the flax plant has the most beautiful flowers.  While they are often blue, there are also varieties of the plant that have white, yellow, or red flowers, depending on the variety of flax.  You can see an example of the flowers in the picture I chose for the article. The seeds from the flax plant are pressed to make a liquid oil that can be clear to pale yellow in color.

Linseed oil has a long, rich history of being used in a variety of ways.  If you enjoy oil painting, linseed oil is often used as the carrier oil for your paints. The seeds from the flax plant that make the linseed oil can also be used to make linen, and you may find that the canvas you use to paint is made from the flax plant as well.  Egyptians used it linseed oil for embalming and the linen to wrap their mummies.  They found flax seeds near Otzi the The Ice Man.

Flax has been associated with healing and protective energy. Some believe it can help improve your intuition and spiritual awareness.  Being that it has a long and rich history you may also find that it can help you to connect with your ancestors.

Have an amazingly magickal day!

Much Love and Many Blessings,

Jasmeine Moonsong