Here are some incenses and paraphernalia I discovered all around the place, even though they seem tough to make.

Insomnia salves

I'm sure all of you are familiar with insomnia. Now here's a few ways to get rid of it.
NOTE: Anything with valerian in it will knock you out fast (within an hour). Don't take the teas with valerian in it if you have to be doing anything that involves being awake later in the day or night.
Take the dry ingredients & steep in boiling water about 10 min. Strain. Add honey or a little sugar, if desired, & drink.

1. Tea- 2 parts chamomile; 1 part spearmint; 1 part valerian; 1 part kava 1 part lemon balm; 1 part passion flower; 1 part elder berries; 1 part St. John's Wort
2. Tea- Mix 2 tablespoons dried peppermint with 1 tablespoon each of rosemary and sage.
3. Valerian tea- Pour 1 pint boiling water over 1 teaspoon powdered valerian root. Cover and steep 10 minutes. Strain and sweeten. Add a pinch of mace as flavoring if desired. Drink warm.
4. Chamomile or limeflower tea - 1 teaspoon to 1 cup of boiling water.
5. Tea- 2 parts passionflower; 2 parts skullcap; 1 part valerian; 1 part hops; 2 teaspoons in 1 cup of boiling water; 1/2 part licorice; Infuse 2 teaspoons in 1 cup of boiling water and drink 1/2 hour before going to bed.
6. Tea- 1 part Valerian (Valeriana officinalis); 2 parts St John's Wort; 3 parts hops; 5 parts lavender flowers; 10 parts primrose flowers Steep 1 1/2 teaspoonfuls in 1/2 cup boiling water for 10 minutes. When cool enough to drink add 1 teaspoon of honey and drink at bedtime.
7. Tea- 3 parts hops; 2 parts Valerian root; Steep 1 teaspoon in 1/2 cup boiling water. Take 1/2 to 1 cup per day.
8. Finally from the Physicians of Myddfai, a ancient remedy which you shouldn't use! Boil a goat's horn in water; wash your head therewith when cold and you will sleep. You should also place the boiled horn under your pillow.

Arthritis salves

Hey! Don't laugh! It's a bad thing arthritis, you might need those in a handful of years, so pay attention...

1. Ingredients: 1-1/2 oz fresh Mint Leaf; 1-1/2 oz crushed fresh Eucalyptus Leaf; 1/4 oz crushed dried Bay Leaf; 1/2 oz crushed or powdered dried Goldenrod Seal Root; 1/2 LB vegetable shortening ( or lard for original recipe) (if fresh herbs can't be found, use dried)
Directions:
Mix all the herbs together. Melt the vegetable shortening in a pan on a low flame, adding a little at a time to speed up the melting process. When melted, remove from heat and slowly mix in the herbs. Pour the 'liquid' salve into a **glass** jar. Cap the jar and refrigerate until the salve has become solid again and is cold. This will keep for about one week.
To Use: Take a small amount and massage onto/into the afflicted area. Let set for at least one hour. Repeat as necessary.

2. poultice for swollen joints -6 parts Mullein leaves, 3 parts Lobelia, 9 parts Slippery elm bark, 1 part Cayenne
Add 3oz of the mixture to boiling-hot water to make a paste, spread on a cloth and apply to the affected area.

3. liniment: equal parts of Yerba santa and Wintergreen
Put any amount into enough olive oil to cover. Simmer for 30 to 60 minutes. Strain and apply to affected parts when cool.

4. Rub stimulating essential oils, such as mint, thyme, rosemary and eucalyptus, in a vegetable oil base, then onto inflamed joints.

Altar Incense

3 parts Frankincense - protection, exorcism, spirituality, love, consecration, honor male deities
2 parts Benzoin - purification, prosperity, increasing mental powers
1 part Myrrh - healing, protection, exorcism, peace, consecration,
meditation
1 part Sandalwood - protection, healing, exorcism, spirituality
1 part Rosemary - protection, exorcism, purification, healing, to bring
love, honor Goddess
1 part Lavender flowers - love, protection, purification, happiness, peace
5 or so drops Lavender oil
12 or so drops Sandalwood oil
It is best to make this incense during the waxing moon on a Sunday night.
Consecrate this mixture on the full moon.

Protection Incense

Will protect against psychic attack, astral "nastiness," and all sorts of negativity.
Crush the following ingredients with mortar and pestle; combine well. Burn on charcoal.
Pinch Anise
Pinch Fennel
Pinch Marjoram
6-7 Bay leaves
2 Tbs. Pine sawdust
1 heaping Tbs. Basil
1 Tbs. (slightly less) Sage
2 tsp. Yarrow
1-heaping tsp. Dragon's Blood
1 heaping tsp. Rosemary
1 heaping tsp. Cloves
1 tsp. Vervain
12 +/- drops Patchouli oil
6 +/- drops Cypress oil

General House purification Incense

Blend thoroughly with mortar and pestle; burn on charcoal.
1 tbs. Vervain
1 heaping tbs. Sage
1 tbs. Rosemary
1 tsp. Marjoram
1 tsp. Basil
1 tbs. Cloves
5-7 Rose petals
3-5 large Bay leaves
1 heaping Tbs. Sandalwood
6 drops Cedar oil

Cernunnos Incense

Cernunnos incense consists of powdered patchouli and powdered bay leaves, powdered pine needles, powdered wormwood stems and leaves, and powered vervain leaves. it is moistened with red wine ,pine oil, clove oil, ,and olive oils as well as honey, 3 drops of blood and 3 drops of urine, a dash of red pepper and a pinch of ginger are often added. this ritual was taken from one of my most treasured works!
peace and be well M

Paraphernalia: Brooms and Besoms

A broom is used by many Witches to cleanse an area of baneful* energies before a rite. They can represent the air or fire element, depending on each practitioner's tradition. The staff or handle is considered masculine, while the brush or broom part is considered feminine. This uniting and balancing of polarities makes the besom a natural choice for Handfasting rites. Brooms also represent purification, protection, fertility and prosperity. The classic images of Witches riding broomsticks may have originated from ancient fertility rites. People would jump high in the air on brooms to 'show' the crops how high to grow. This is a form of sympathetic magic.
There are many other myths and associations of Witches with brooms. In Ireland, the besom was sometimes called a "Faery's Horse". In medieval times, the besom was equated with marriages outside of the church. So much so, that it was recorded that weddings 'by the broom' were to be considered illegitimate.
The broom eventually became a symbol of antiestablishmentarianism and sensuality. This led at one time to the word 'besom' becoming a slang term for an easy woman. These associations may have been promoted by the church to discourage marriages outside of the church.

Paraphernalia: Meditation

First process involves relaxing the physical body... methods could be for example envisioning that one body part at a time like starting with your feet are engulfed with a white light, and you move this light up wards to each body part while imaging the tension from each part is gone, or you can actually tense each body part in turn, and then release them while releasing all tension in that area.
Next is to clear the mental mind... now this is where meditation can become frustrating... common problem being "mental chatter" during mediation. Be sure to not clench your jaw, or "mentally" talk while doing this.. when you talk in your mind, your tongue will actually move within your mouth. This takes some practice... but get a clear focus on what you are intending to do... but do not mentally talk.. if you being to mentally talk... refocus your intentions again on the original idea. Be sure that your breathing is regular, and relaxed.. go on to the meditation of your choice. Be sure to always end a meditation... whether you count backwards from 10 and "awake" back to life, or envision yourself being "zipped" up like a huge zipper or counting backwards from 10. Never just leave a meditation... be sure to end it.