The Lightning Flash Working (2026)

[Stephanie Hairston]

Hi all,

I am sorry I could not fully attend Lodge live today which was in part due to my scent offering to Keter being a little late in arriving. I wanted to share my research with you.

I have been getting into resin incense and decided to use that as my scent offering for each sphere. Most of the scents listed in 777 for each sphere are resins and I am mostly sticking with the ones listed in 777.

I went down a fun rabbit hole reading about Ambergris for Keter. Feel free to do the same if you want to get in touch with your inner Ahab. I was honestly surprised to read about how this material, which comes from a whale’s intestines, literally smells like shit when it is fresh, but develops a complex, beautiful scent profile after it is washed in the ocean for an extended period of time.

It is rare, difficult to come by, and expensive – and honestly, felt a little weird to even try to source it. I did some research to see if I could come up with an alternative that felt right and was happy to land on Agarwood, also known as Aloeswood or Oud. It has some appropriate associations as a heavenly scent but what struck me most is that it has some parallels with Ambergris in how it is formed.

Ambergris is formed when a sperm whale’s gut forms a protective coating around a squid’s beak so it does not damage the intestine. Agarwood is formed when an Aquilaria tree is damaged and infected with mold or bacteria. It forms inside the spaces in the tree created by the damage; the compounds the tree exudes to protect itself are full of fragrant chemicals. This makes me think of Spirit moving through things and generating transformation and healing.

Agarwood is not quite as rare and hard to come by as Ambergris but it is rare enough. I was able to source a small sample from a seller on Etsy based in Kentucky (Zarqa Naturals). I have not burned it yet but I can tell you it already smells divine!

For Chokmah, the traditional scent is Musk, which was traditionally obtained through animal sources. I was able to find an alternative in musk root (ferula sumbul), a plant root with an unusual chemical profile which is said to strongly resemble the scent of deer musk. I was able to find musk root resin “tears” through a Canadian source called Apothecary’s Garden.

The rest of my associations are fairly straightforward. I used Dragons Blood resin for Gevurah instead of tobacco or olibanum and camphor for Yesod instead of jasmine. I am still figuring if I want to source Dittany of Crete for Malkuth or substitute with a resin or wood. Here is my list:

1. Keter: Agarwood (Oud) Chips
2. Chokmah: Musk Root Resin
3. Binah: Myrrh Resin
4. Chesed: Cedar Wood Chips
5. Gevurah: Dragons Blood Resin
6. Tiferet: Olibanum (Frankincense) Resin
7. Netzach: Benzoin Resin
8. Hod: Storax Resin
9. Yesod: Camphor Resin
10. Malkhut: ? (Maybe Guggul Resin?)

[Noel Strong]

Hi Stephanie! Thanks for sharing your research. It’s so interesting how perceived corruption or aspects which naturally disgust us can actually transform into beauty or substances of merit, just as individuals who are struggling with vices can overcome them and find peace. There’s always light to be found in darkness.

I’ve never smelled Storax, I’d be interested in hearing your take on it when we get there! Excited to be exploring the Spheres alongside you.

Edit: Realized I made a separate post instead of replying, forgive me, it’s been years since I was on an actual forum!

[Paula]

Thanks for kicking this off Stephanie! Your research is so interesting. I just used what i had which was Copal for purification.

I had this ready on Sunday (after lodge):
Hello arborists,

What a beautiful session this morning working with Keter.

Thought I’d share a message I received. As we were finishing up, I closed my eyes again to have a final moment with Keter and I got an image imprinted in my mind, I feel as part of my altar work or perhaps it was a gift, feel free to be inspiredl. The image was Bread!

I guess like communion or at seasonal festivities bread is made and shared. I do remember many years back in a Pagan group I was in we would share food at the end of our ritual. I also recalled in grade 3 preparing for my holy communion my little group made bread it was so yummy and I was disappointed that I lost the recipe.

I haven’t really made bread since then 😆 but I am keen to give it a go and it will be part of Assiah and earth element to commune with divinity and guides at the end of ritual.

I started researching sacred bread making, is that a thing? Do I look up church bread, then I went down a little hole and found that in ancient Kemet they made ‘Spiral’ bread! So fitting after our Keter working…looks like it took me to it eventually.

I will attempt to make a spiral-ly bread for next week.

[Noel Strong]

Wow Paula, what a great message to receive! And very apt for us gathered as a Lodge and community. Please share the results of your spiral bread making! I’ve been living gluten free for about a year and a half due to an intolerance and boy do I miss good, real bread. Simple things like that really do become sacred when you lose access to them.

In my moment with Keter, I saw white light, and I felt a sense of peace and freedom from everything more than I’ve ever felt before. I’ve been thinking about it since and how to get closer to that feeling and to not worry about everything so much. Additionally, when we were tracing spirals over the Aces, it seemed to me as if the imagery on the cards came to life and expanded, as if I could see into them. Brought me to tears! But many things I’ve experienced so far with 22 Teachings have done that. Constantly in awe and amazed by what is possible to experience. Looking forward to the many journeys ahead and knowledge to gain here over the years. Also when Naha was talking about the future of the Lodge, my High Priestess card jumped a little on my desk. Great sign for the future!

[Paula]

Hey Noel, not sure where reply went….what a beautiful 3D experience you had! And the HP looks like it’s welcoming you behind the veil, at minimum we get to draw the curtain of Paroket every week.

I have a slight intolerance to gluten so I don’t have bread alot. I actually found a simple recipe I’m going to try and found gf flour today. It may be blasphemous it’s two ingredients!

https://hungryhappens.net/easy-2-ingredient-sourdough-bread-rolls-kefir-rolls/

[Noel Strong]

That’s a great way to see it! I’m glad to be welcomed.

Well done on finding the recipe! I hope it turns out well! And condolences to you for your gluten intolerance too. We are sisters in food issues 😂<3

[Miranda Rose]

Hello, I’m loving hearing your experiences! I also had a profound experience with Keter. I won’t describe all of it except to say there was abundant love and light. But one moment stood out – a moment where I was feeling slightly trepidatious to go deeper, and I reached out to everyone in the circle, above and below, and we pull ourselves tighter together as if we became one, and went through to pure light.

[Paula]

Beautiful Miranda, just like your profile pic being pulled up and elevated. Thank you for sharing 🙂

[Noel Strong]

Hi all! Another great session of Lodge and more things of interest to note. I was actually recovering from food poisoning today and admittedly feeling very depleted, but I wanted to show up for Lodge today anyway and see if the magic could meet me at my level, and it did. My experience with Chokmah was not as strong as my experience with Keter, probably due to feeling poorly, but no less interesting.

While meditating I could see a massive beacon of energy barreling downwards, like a thick pillar of light, and on the outmost layer of the pillar energy seemed to spiral. The part that seemed a little funny to me afterwards but intriguing in the moment was that once this pillar crashed down into the earth, I could see a vision of a bowling ball hitting the alley floor and rolling forward with force. The sound of the impact was particularly important, and reminded me of a thunder crash accompanying a lighting bolt, which seemed appropriate for the Lightning Flash. I suppose we’re really getting the ball rolling now 😛

[Paula]

Wow Noel you have such vivid images and experiences, this is wonderful to hear!

Hope you are feeling better.

[Noel Strong]

I’ve been lucky enough to get vivid images most of my life, especially coming into contact with different spirits, and it’s an ability I’m looking to hone even further over time. I think it could be very useful!

And thanks, I’m doing better, and will hopefully be at 100% again for this coming weekend 🙂 Hope you have an amazing rest of your week!

[Dodie]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your experiences too. I was wondering our talismans. I made mine and placed it on my altar. Any other suggestions or ideas I can do with it.

Dodie

[Author]

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