Keywords: ODD & OKAY WITH IT. WITCH. WILD. INNER ACCEPTANCE. ACQUIRED TASTE.
ESSENTIAL OIL OVERVIEW: This oil has a lavender feel to it with its sharper floral scent, but there is something juicier. It's hard to fully describe the scent and I think that’s exactly what Clary Sage wants: It does not want to be defined or perceived by you, haha. I loved the following Clary Sage fact I read in the Gritman Guide to Essential Oils by Margaret Shehad: “In the 1500’s [clary sage] was used for brewing ale with the hope that the ale would be more intoxicating.” I love that fact because I’ve also learned that femmes (ahem: witches) were the original beer brewers, mixing hops in their cauldrons. And I definitely get the vibe that Clary Sage is a distinctly witchy plant, one that is used to connect with your inner wild and magic. Clary Sage essential oil is extracted from the flowering part of the plant, after it has been dried. So, like Patchouli, Clary is another ~wise~ oil, in that it is from the aged form of the plant. Although it’s noted for being a calming plant, I think that simplifies it too much–I think it orients you and brings you peace around your inner wild and magic. It helps attune you to the chaos of the queer universe and empowers you to embrace the chaos. **Please note: Clary Sage could be potentially dangerous for those who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, or those with any estrogen issues/sensitivities.**
CLARY MAGIC: I have recently reconnected with Clary Sage and boy is this plant bringing magic into my life, both my waking life and my dream life. If you’re looking for guidance in your dream world, Clary Sage is an excellent ally. Keep a bottle under your pillow and let the plant know what it is you’re seeking guidance on. Then witness if anything helpful or significant appears in your dreams! Remember to keep a notebook handy in case you want to write something down in the middle of the night. I find that Clary is super supportive when you are feeling discouraged or lost. It’s not that it “makes you happy,” but it will usher in a sense of inner calm surrounding who you are and what you want to do and/or be. It also gives me the message, “you deserve it all,’ and helps me to interrupt my people-pleasing tendencies and patterns. More than that, it helps me explore WHY the people-pleasing exists, being an excellent plant guide when self-examining or connecting with ancestors. It’s honestly like the crone at the edge of the woods, who scares many people, but who helps those who are willing to face uncomfortable truths.
CLARY AFFIRMATIONS:
I PLEASE MYSELF FIRST.
I EXPLORE AND LEARN ALL ABOUT MYSELF.
MY LIFE IS AN EXPERIMENT.
I AM A WEIRDO.
I AM CLEAR ON WHO I AM AND WHERE I WANT TO GO.
IF YOU DON’T GET ME THAT IS FINE.
I AM A WILD WITCH.
I LET CHAOS PULL ME IN.
I DESERVE IT ALL.
PLANT AT THE PARTY: Clary is definitely the oddball at the party, but they don’t feel awkward about it, or isolate themselves. They always have their tarot deck with them because they intuit ahead of time that other plants will be seeking guidance from them. They are the witch at the party, for sure. Clary does not care what you think about them, and it’s obvious. They also have a wide smile and crow lines, a deep earthy chuckle. They will squeeze your hand as you naturally face some fears and tears, because they have led you to a self-truth you had totally forgotten, or pushed down deep in you. They are the truth themselves, staring back at you. They also love dessert and will return to the dessert table more than once. When they’re not reading cards for the other plants, you’ll find them hanging with Patchouli and Black Spruce, chatting about dream messages.
CLARY AND THE HOLY FAM: To me, Clary Sage is both Mary Magdalene and the Virgin Mary. Here is a sweet little clary-inspired fanfic snippet, featuring these two femmes.
In they walk to their local public pool wearing long black caftans, broad-brimmed black hats, and huge dark sunglasses. The chattering parents and screaming children playing sharks and minnows in the pool all go quiet as Mary Magdalene and the Virgin Mary pass and stride to the lounge chairs in the back corner. These chairs are under a huge oak tree, eliminating any opportunity to sun themselves, but that’s exactly how they prefer it…it’s as if the seats have remained clear just for them in this crowded place by magic. The two spritz themselves with sunscreen and roll clary sage oil on their wrists. They give each other poolside tarot readings and coo to the crows settling in the branches above them. At one point, the femmes have their heads thrown back in laughter about something Mary Mag said and as they wipe tears of joy from their eyes, they notice the little crowd of nervous people gathering round, in hopes of some guidance from these electric pool witches.
CLARY AND HAIL MARY PERFUMERY: At the moment, no perfumes/potions featuring Clary Sage. But maybe it’s an oil you’d like to explore in a signature scent, an offering coming soon from Hail Mary Perfumery!
HAIL CLARY!
Thanks for reading, loves. <3
Your Perfumer,
Mary Adelle