L’l’th/Gamaliel Incense

Description

One of eleven incense blends designed for working with the rulers of the qliphoth. The incense is dedicated to Gamaliel and the dark goddess Lilith. It contains flowers, herbs and resins connected to the black moon and honors the dark goddess, queen of the night side and ruler of the qliphah Gamaliel. This incense is used for veneration of the dark goddess Lilith, ie in combination with a black mirror and scrying bowls and for astral workings that aim at manifestations.

L’l’th is associated with seductions and sexual perversions. According to Proverbs 2:18-19

“Her house sinks down to Death,
And her course leads to the shades.
All who go to her cannot return
And find again the paths of life.”

Within the qliphotic working context L’l’th is the ruler of the qliphah Gamaliel, which translates as “reward of god”, but is also referred to as “obscene ones”. Gamaliel is seen opposite the sephirah yesod on the tree of life, which is associated with the planetary influence of the moon – the unconscious in which the other spheres are present yet dormant, like a lake filled with emotions and fluctuating reflections, situated in between the higher planes and the physical plane of manifestation. Therefore Gamaliel is connected to an inversion of these lunar currents, the dark of the moon, and may be envisioned as a lake filled with black water or “soul matter”.

The absence of the sun’s reflected light facilitates recreation and healing, calm, meditation, genuine inspiration and independent creativity. It is also a period, during which the influence of the mundane and ordered world is weakened. A time of silence and looking inward or it may mark the beginning of a journey on a less traveled road… Ventures undertaken during the dark of the new moon are out of sight and safe from the light of the world. Hence it is also a time beneficial for criminals and unlawful acts.

In the darkness of a new moon strange and fantastic flowers can blossom; in the redness of the eclipsed moon the flow of life’s currents may be turned, facilitating the occurrence of manifestations or incarnations from the other side.

Of L’l’th is also said she is a mother of demons and rules over 480 legions of shadows. Among these ‘shadows’ are the souls of the children that have died as infants, in childbirth or due to abortion. In this context L’l’th is envisioned as a demon who “snatches away the souls” of these children and she is portrayed with bird talons or referred to as “screech owl”. Hence amulets against L’l’th were hung above cradles for protecting the infant from the grip of Her talons.

Mugwort and Wormwood are two herbs that act potentially abortive, but they are also employed in oneiric workings, for protection, purification and divination. Besides these, the blend contains Jasmine, Lilac, Lily, Lotus and Rose. Sweet lilac covers the stench of death. The lily is not only evocative in name but also an iconic funeral flower and its sweet scent (particularly of white regal lily) can sometimes be smelled from afar when passing the grave of a recently deceased. Lotus represents female divinity and bears links to the realm of death, rebirth and resurrection. The water lily in turn is connected to nymphs. The rose, both white and red, is traditionally used in the worship of L’l’th, and represents both mystery and sacredness. Rose, like jasmine, are also used for oneiromancy.

Further ingredients are myrrh, Siam benzoin, dammar resin, as well as a small amount of natural camphor. Colored frankincense in red, black and silver – red for blood, the red moon and gehinnom, silver for the astral and black for the goddess veiled in darkness. Calamus root and musk seed address the seductress and dominatrix. Star anise is a spicy agent with oneirogenic properties and Cassia lends some fire to the blend. Orris root is a mildly aromatic binding agent also employed in dream work. White sandalwood adds a warm balmy scent and is traditionally employed in pleasing the souls of the dead.

Willow bark is associated with ‘female problems’ and facilitates the blood flow. The bark in this blend is harvested from an old hollow willow tree, for it was in the trunk of the ‘huluppu’ tree that the Sumerian demon ‘ki-sikil-lil-la-ke’ had made its nest. The demon in the tree is generally thought to be L’l’th. L’l’th is also described as forming the branches of such tree and more demons forming other parts.

Scent: camphorous, floral sweet, slightly morbid

Edition specifics: The first 11 jars came numbered and with a red flyer, which was stained with black cat ink. The first edition sold out over night. All further jars come without extras and are not numbered.