Lavender Moon May, 2012

Essential Oils and Their Uses

Aromatherapy is a great abundance from the Earth. Most of us may not realize how versatile the oils can be. The term “Aromatherapy” comes from a French chemist who worked in his families perfumery business in 1928.

The oils themselves are extracted [taken from the desired plant material] in different ways. You have to be careful with what you decide to use…for example~ If you have hay fever, you might want to steer clear of flowery scents or If allergic to nuts, you will want to do the same with nut oils. As with many other things, the ancient peoples of the world once used essential oils. How great is it that we still use them today?!

Enough of the boring stuff though!

What can you do with essential oils? These days, there aren’t much things that do not contain essential oils. Don’t believe me? Check your products~ soaps, lip balms, liquid hand wash, dish soaps, foot sprays, gels, lotion, make up remover, bath bombs the list goes on!

You can come across the Latin terms of the oils, as that is what the product license gives to the product/company. So say you have a solid perfume for example and some of the ingredients are “ Benzyl Benzoate”= this occurs naturally in essential oils when the product is made; mainly found in Benzoin, Ylang Ylang, Rosewood and Cinnamon. Candellia wax, also know in Latin as Euphorbia cerifera is also found in some solid perfumes; which acts as a thickener instead of other thickener’s like Beeswax [which is usually used for lip balms].

Anyway, I digress.

Essential oils are great. If you have never used any before, it’s best to stick to the easy ones. These would be either Lavender or Tea Tree. Stick to one of them as a learning tool.

Lavender [Lavender Angustifolia] and Tea Tree [Melaleuca Alternifolia] are the only oils you can use safely without a carrier oil. Carrier oils are needed with essential oils, so they are safer to use and so you don’t burn your skin and to prevent a serious reaction.

I remember [when learning Aromatherapy] to test this theory we were made to place 1 drop of Peppermint oil onto some cotton wool and applied it to the back of the neck…within moments we could all feel it stinging, and then washed it off.

Many people use essential oils in;

The car

Hair care

Cosmetics and other products

Oil burners

Massages

Other ways to use them;

Furniture products

Laundry and ironing

Spells and rituals

Different blends for certain occasions

Perfumes

Cuticle oils, manicures and pedicures

Healing therapy

Self made products

Essential oils also have magical properties too. For example Lavender’s properties, magically are~ health, love, peace, celibacy and the conscious mind. It’s other correspondences are~ Mercury [planet] and Air [element]. This can come in very handy if your doing a communication spell and you may need Mercury’s influence or a peace spell and you may need Air’s influence.

Learning these gifts of the herbs and flowers is amazing and will expand your mind!

This month’s suggestion blend

This month it may be a personal opinion to create something naturally or you may not be able to afford some products. This month, I’ve decided to make a shaving oil and share it with you all. The whole point of using one in the first place is to heal the skin, softness of the skin, less redness and pain. DON’T USE AN ELECTRICAL SHAVER!

Shaving oils have been used in the past for men’s facial shaving. However, I used one on myself recently and have decided to write both a male and a female blend. Remember if you are unsure of use [because of allergies or anxiety] check the properties of the oils; in books or online. For these; mix them in a small bowl, dish, or small measuring tin then apply to the area and shave as usual.

Male shaving blend

Calendula or Jojoba Carrier oil x20ml

Lavender essential oil x7 drops

Sandalwood essential oil x5 drops

Vertiver essential oil x3 drops

Female shaving blend

Calendula Carrier oil x20ml

Lavender essential oil x6 drops

Rose essential oil x2 drops

Ylang Ylang essential oil x4 drops

The one I used left me feeling great. Usually I don’t use anything on my legs before I shave, but now I will incorporate it into a nice routine. I like the scent and Calendula as well as Jojoba acts as a moisturizer giving skin back what it usually lacks from shaving alone. You have a nourishing blend that anyone can try. If worried at first, as the concept may be a little weird by Western standards, try a small area first. If you have any kind of bad reaction; wash it off straight away. Your not likely to; but just in case ~ it is something you do need to know.

Thanks for reading,

Blesse’d be

Tags: oils

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Rayneschild January, 2012

I’ve been interested in all type’s of crafting for quite a while, but what I’ve alway’s found the most enjoyable is anything to do with herbs.  Most people assume making bath salts is simply a matter of using Epsom or Sea salts, herbs, essential oil, and perhaps some color.  Actually the best bath salt recipe is equal amounts of Epsom salts, Sea salt, and Baking Soda.  Use a blender to grind the salts down to a fine consistency like the baking soda.  By using these 3 ingredients you’re actually accomplishing multiple objectives.  First baking soda softens the water, second Epsom Salts in and of themselves contain minerals and have a certain amount of healing properties, and last but not least the sea salt opens your pores allowing whatever benefit the herbs you’ve added to permeate the skin.

Of all the recipes I’ve done, my favorite and one of the simplest, is to add lavender buds into the blender with the salts and grind them into it.  It intensifies the smell incredibly, but even then I’m not above adding a drop or two of lavender essential oil on top of it, and then it’s off the charts!!

Another really easy thing you can do is pick up a clear bottle with a cork stopper, I get mine at thrift stores, it’s rare not to find one.  Make enough salts to completely fill the bottle, then separate it into 2 zip-lock bags, make sure they are definitely zipped!  Prior to closing the bags add a colorant to each, maybe something that matches the bathroom colors, and two nicely corresponding fragrances.  This is where surety of closure is a must, shake the bags really hard, until the color, and oil, is mixed in well.  Grab a funnel, and just like sand art, stack stripes of alternating color.  Get it close enough to the top of the bottle that when you push the cork in firmly, all the stripes are held in place.

I’ve added blanched almonds and oats, that have also been ground in the blender, with a dash of almond scent or even almond extract.  Vanilla extract makes a really nice simple bath as well.  Obviously you can add dried herbs with the essential oils and use a tea-ball, knee-hi stocking, or any other thing that wouls allow the salts out while holding the herb’s in.  I’ve had a good time with this project in the past trying to come up with better and better recipes, although sometimes it seems like a great idea in my mind, but my nose, and anyone else’s in smelling range tells a far different story.  But like any good craft project the failures can sometimes be more fun than the success!!!!

Tags: herbs, oils, salts

• Crafts

K. White Moon January, 2012

Creative Ways to Use Magickal Essential Oils

Essential oils have been used for centuries in medicine and magick.  Scent is one of our most powerful senses: it can trigger long forgotten memories, change our moods, uplift us or depress us, and even have physical effects on our health and wellbeing.

Essential oils are fairly easy to find and purchase at most health food stores or metaphysical shops.  When you are using them for magickal purposes, it is important to buy true essential oils derived from plants and resins, not synthetics or “fragrances” made from chemicals.  Synthetics carry no magickal properties whatsoever because they do not contain any of the actual plant properties.

You may be familiar with using magickal oils and already have some favourites.  You can use them blended together in a “perfume” for a magickal goal or one at a time.  Just for quick reference, here is a brief list of some magickal goals and my favourite oils that correspond with each, that I have found work well for me and smell nice too.

Money – Peppermint and cinnamon

Peace – Lavender

Love – Rosemary and Ylang-Ylang

Self Confidence – Ginger

Sex – Patchouli

Health – Sandalwood

Spirituality – Frankincense

Happiness – Orange

Protection – Clove

There are multitudes and fun ways to use magickal oils in our daily lives.  Here are some of my favourites.

-Put a small amount of the chosen oil on your fingertips, and then braid it into your hair.  As you do so, visualize your goal as if you already have it (money, relationship, etc.).  As you “bind” the oil into your hair, you are drawing to yourself the properties of the oil you have chosen.  Tie the braid with an elastic and leave in until it falls out on its own or you feel finished with it.

-Put a few drops of oil on the blades of your ceiling fan to spread the chosen energy throughout your home.

-Add some drops of oil to scentless body lotion, and wear daily.

-Dip a cotton ball in some oil and place it in the fan of your vacuum cleaner (the spot where you can feel the air blowing out) to spread the power of the oil all over your house.  I like lemon for this because it is spiritually cleansing.  If you are cleaning the house prior to hosting a get together or party, try using orange or lavender to promote feelings of contentedness in your guests.

-Put some drops of oil onto ordinary paper.  When it dries it will leave a scent.  Rub it onto letters and resumes (love letters can be scented with Rosemary or Ylang-Ylang, resumes and job applications with cinnamon and cloves).

-Add a couple of drops to your dish water, so the energy can absorb into your skin while you work.

-A few drops in your laundry will infuse your clothes with your chosen intent.  When you wear those clothes the oil can work its magick whether it is to draw something to you or to keep something away.

-For Protection, draw a pentacle on your windows with your finger and some clove oil.  Leave it for three days and three nights, then wipe clean.

-Douse a cotton ball with ginger oil, and keep it in a little airtight jar that can fit in your bag.  As needed, discreetly sniff it when you need a little confidence or courage.

- Before going out on the town, put a drop of Ylang-Ylang oil in each shoe to attract a mate (just a little!  It can be sticky!).  Likewise you can do this before work with money attracting oil to ensure you earn lots of cash.

-Put some on the threshold of the entry to your home to attract any of the aforementioned energies into your home.

Enjoy and Blessed Be!

K. White Moon

www.WhiteMoonWitchcraft.etsy.com

http://whitemoonwitchcraft.blogspot.com

Tags: oils

• Articles , Spells & Rituals

Peter Bouchard October, 2010

Tags: how to, incense, oils

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Kerry Morgan July, 2010

Healing recipes

(please note that many of these recipes come from the book Incense Oils and Brews by Scott Cunningham. Also everyone is welcome to share their own recipes in the comment section…) Please feel free to contact me, or leave a comment/question below!

This month we will focus on healing blends.  Always remember first off, that each person will smell the fragrance differently. To some it might make a headache go away and leave them feeling euphoric. For others the scent could give them that headache if they might be allergic to it. Always go with what works for you, or the person in question. Don’t make yourself go through a headache when there are so many other things to try out there.

There are oils for everything. But let’s just “say” that you have insomnia and you know that chamomile really helps. The problem is that, you can only find the herb, not the oil. Go ahead and create a tea using the little flowers to use in conjunction with your oil scent. Also remember, if you are using an oil to help you sleep, don’t use burning as your way to get the scent. We wouldn’t want to leave a tea lite candle burning as we slept right?

A recipe for healing that you could wear or bathe in: (herbs or oils would work)

3 parts Rosemary

2 parts Lavender

2 parts Rose

1 part Peppermint

1 part Cinnamon

Here is a recipe for insomnia that you can anoint your body with to help you sleep;

2 drops Rose

1 drop Mace

Or

2 drops Rose

1 drop Jasmine

1 drop Chamomile

More Healing recipes (this first one is a favorite)

#1)

4 drops Rosemary

2 drops Juniper

1 drop Sandalwood

#2)

3 drops Eucalyptus

1 drop Niaouli

1 drop Palmarosa

1 drop Spearmint

Tags: aromatherapy, oils

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Kerry Morgan May, 2010

Now we are going to have a little fun with some recipes. Most of the ones we will discuss  were discovered or created by Scott Cunningham in his book titled Incense, Oils & Brews. I have always found this book to be a priceless tool when trying to figure out what to blend with what and by how much technically. Though I always go by what my intuition tells me, Mr. Cunningham gives me an excellent base to start off with.

Many of his scents or recipes for scents have worked really well for just about every person I have ever spoken with about it. They say this book is “the” book, so if you have a limited budget and would like a great book that covers almost everything, grab this one.

So okay, I didn’t receive any recipes form readers who were in love with their results, however, I have one for prosperity that I creates and love, and I will include one from the book.

The first is a ritual oil I rub on a candle for spells designed to bring prosperity.

Prosperity Ritual Oil
(Kerry A Morgan)
You really don’t need a ton of this but I do not measure things traditionally. I use my nose and intuition to know if I should add more or less of something and you should do the same when working with oils. It IS for you, whatever it is you’ve decided you need the oil for, so it should speak to you. Using your own senses for this is always best.

For me- Patchouli Oil works wonders in the money department. So I use this as my main scent. Using an amber colored bottle to keep it safe from the sun, I fill it with at least 1/3 of your basic, but good quality patchouli oil. The next scent that I add is chamomile by adding an actual little crushed budded flower. Depending on how the scent works at the time, I add 1/3. Then I top off the bottle with one of two scents. Either a mint/peppermint, or I’ll use cedar wood. Sometimes the chamomile doesn’t want to work under my nose so to speak, so I’ll use basil oil instead, but even if it squinches my nose a bit, I try to stick with chamomile. I try to do this close to a full moon so it can set overnight, then I use the oil on a green candle to ritualize it before burning it. To bring money quickly to you, rub in a twisting motion, the candle from the bottom – upwards in a clockwise motion, until it feels like it is ready. Then light and let burn until all gone in a safe environment.

The recipe for fast money inside S.C.’s book is this;

Seven drops of patchouli, 5 drops of cedar wood, four drops of vetivert, and two drops of ginger, again in a dark colored bottle. Wear, rub on your hands, on ritualize a green candle with this recipe. Also bless and anoint any money you receive to ensure its quick return.

Tags: oils, scents

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Kerry Morgan April, 2010

Oils and Spells

Oils can be extremely useful for spells. It is actually one of my personal favorite ways to include the power of the scent or plant, in the working. Some would say that an Essential oil works better for magical purposes. I will agree to some extent. If you are using the power of Rose the flower, the scent, the color, everything about “Rose” then you will probably want the actual essence of rose. Blends and synthetics are good for their purposes as well but they are created by taking other scents and a base oil being mixed together so there would technically be other vibrations mixed in with your rose scent.

Essentials should be diluted if you plan to wear it on your person as they tend to be extremely strong. Other ways of using an oil in spell work might be, drawing a ritual bath, and using a drop or two of your essential there. That would count as diluting the oil obviously. Other times the practitioner will rub the oil on a candle. This is called ritualizing the candle.

Other times an oil will be used to consecrate a magical tool, or alter piece. By rubbing the piece with the oil, the magical properties of the plant used in the oil, will fuse with the tool, thus giving it the vibration and other metaphysical properties to the tool. This action would be repeated for continued use or need of the plant, or changed by using a different oil the next time, depending on the work being done.

Oil burned can give the same qualities to the air thus within you by breathing in the scent. If you are doing meditation or transcendental work, burning the scent can be extremely helpful in reaching the most relaxed state for visualization or enlightenment.

The next few articles will include different scents for different spells. If you have a favorite oil for working a certain type of spell, I would love to read about it, and will include your recipe with the others, giving you credit for your recipe/blend. Sends suggestions to km@kerryamorgan.com with “oil blend” in the subject line.

Tags: magic, magick, oils, spells

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Kerry Morgan March, 2010

Well, I thought we would start things off with Oils. But as we discuss this wonderful art of making, using, as well as the different ingredients that can be used; we are also going to delve into why these things can be used to truly help lift our spirits, bring us money, open our heart to love and magic and a whole bunch of other wonderful things. Oils are not “just” scents, they truly can change and help our “sensibilities” to keep us grounded and happy.

I will be using a number of different references but I’d like to make it clear right off, that other than the internet, and the years of personal experience I’ve had with creating specialty oils, I will also be utilizing many of the recipes and techniques from Scott Cunningham’s book titled, Incense, Oils and Brews.  The man was a genius and not to take advantage of the information he left us would be a great folly.

So to start things off, let’s put ourselves inside a store in front of endless rows of little amber bottles. Some say, blend. Some say essential, some are called an essence. What’s the difference and why does it matter? There is a difference (obviously or there wouldn’t be different titles) and we are going to discuss those.

We are going to start with blends. A blend is pretty self explanatory. It means the creator of the oil took several different scents and mixed them together to create the scent you are inhaling when you pop the cap. Personally, I absolutely adore blends and it is one of my highest selling products on my online store. Highest selling because you can personalize a blend for a person. To create a blend there are a couple of things you have to have. The first being a base. Usually a light base such as almond oil is excellent because it is light enough to not stain materials but it also mixes well with other oils. Corn, vegetable, or better yet, olive oil works as a base as well.

Once you have your base, as well as an amber bottle to put your blend in, start smelling. Depending on your need, or the need of your client in my case, find other scents that promote that. Say your client or self, needs more prosperity in their lives and by wearing the scent it will help create a state of mind that will open the doors to accept money. Fill your amber bottle 1/3 with your base oil. (Let’s note this is my recipe which has proven itself by sales.) Just pour it into your bottle.

I would be amiss if I didn’t say that of course you can do this by magical times, say maybe under a full moon, or facing north, or whatever ritual you want to attach to the creating of the oil as there are some great ones out there. But for right now, we are just talking about creating a blend without the tradition that might be behind it. After you have your base, connect to your client, or self through touch or other means, and then start smelling other scents conducive to bringing money into your life. Some of these scents might be,  another blend for Prosperity previously made, it could include Tonka, Patchouli, Basil, Heliotrope, even Honey Suckle. There are a whole host of scents just for prosperity.

Take some of these scents and choose one to add to your base as the second base. This will be the scent that is underneath the others. Smell your bottle and continue to add by your own sense of smell what needs to be added. When the bottle is pretty full, say a chant or prayer of blessing over the scented blend you’ve created, label it, and there you have your own blend of prosperity oil designed by you, for you, using your own magical abilities as well as those vibrations inherent in the oil to bring a person, wealth.

Enjoy your project. Smell it often and trust yourself. Know that your nose will tell you what scents you need in your blend. Smell the scent you want to add then smell your blend. Add more as needed because your intuition knows what you need and will tell you which scents to add to your blend by how it makes you feel when you smell it. If you cringe that’s not going to put you in the state of mind to accept wealth into your life. If you smell your blend and it makes you hmmm in anticipation of wearing or burning it, you are on the right track.

Tags: oils

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IndigoRainbow January, 2009

Merry Meet and welcome to The Witch’s Cupboard. For the next year we will learn both medical and magical uses of herbs and oils we might find in our ‘cupboards’. We will also discuss naturopathic issues that are affecting our lives.

In our rich past, each town and village had its own “medicine lady”, shaman, or healer. At the time when these individuals walked our Earth, they were revered and respected for their knowledge, gifts, and abilities to save lives and cure aliments.  From their cupboards they would bring out herbs, fruits, oils, and creams to aide in things such as easing pain, setting bones, and helping during child birth. Most were followers of the Old Ways and Old Religion and their knowledge came from teachings gathered and passed down from many generations.

But with the passing of time, much of their knowledge has been lost. The knowledge was lost partly because of the spread of newer religious beliefs and philosophies throughout the land, and also from “modernization”.  Many of the medicine women and healers were killed during the spread of Christianity. Those who were not killed, were forced to either assimilate themselves into the new religion, stop practicing, or hide in the countryside. Many of our Pagan Brothers and Sisters who continued to practice the Old Ways of Healing were put on trial and sentenced as Witches.

The few that survived and continued to pass their knowledge on generation by generation, soon fell out of fashion with the introduction of what we consider “Modern Medicine” and drugs in the form of pharmaceuticals.

Many of you probably know of some type of home remedy that your Grandmother told you, or perhaps even used on you when you were a kid. Even though your grandmother was most likely of Christian faith, her home remedy, passed on from her Grandmother, came from the Old Ways and Religion.

In recent years more and more people have started looking beyond Modern medicines and drugs for alternative methods. Many with chronic or severe illnesses are seeing the limitations of drugs, while others find themselves becoming sicker. We are given one drug to ‘cure’ one aliment, only to be given another to counter the damage done by the previous drug. The surge to find alternative methods and remedies has recently increased as a realization, even by some of us in the medical community, that many of the drugs on the market do not work and are harmful. By turning to Herbology and Naturopathic studies, we can once again embrace the methods of our ancestors and use the wealth provided by our Mother Earth to live healthier lives.

As we forge ahead into the New Year, we are in the middle of the Flu/Cold season. Some very simple things that we can make to help ward off a cold or flu or even help shorten its duration are herbal teas.

Herbal

• WiseWoman Traditions

teas are easily made from herbs within our cupboard by simply brewing in hot or boiling water. They help soothe sore throats, stifle coughs, and aid in internal healing.

One effective tea that can be made is a mixture of ½ ounce crushed peppermint leaves, ½ elder flower, and 1 ½ boiling distilled water. Allow the mixture to steep on your stove for about 20 minutes, then strain. A wonderful sweetener would be to add honey to your tea.

Peppermint is often used in healing and purification workings. It can be burned or rubbed against objects to clear them of negative energies, or consumed as an elixir or tea to bring about healing.

Elder flowers are traditionally used to treat influenza, colds, mucus, sinusitis, feverish illnesses and other upper respiratory tract problems, as well as hay fever. The leaves and raw berries contain toxic cyanogenic glycosides and are poisonous. Care must be taken when using this plant for herbal remedies. Throughout Europe, it was widely believed that burning elder wood brings bad luck, but that elder sprigs hung in houses provide protection from witches.

One of the more effective remedies for colds/flu and its symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and sore throat is an herbal tea made from Red Raspberry leaves. It is simply a tea made from steeping the leaves. As a tea use 2-3 tsp of dried or chopped leaves in 5 -8oz of boiling water for 5 min, discarding solid particles. Red raspberry leaves have been used for centuries to aid in everything from the flu to wounds to ulcers to pregnancy. The branches of red raspberry were hung up at doors and windows for protection. This is also done when a death had occurred, so that the flu spirit would not reenter the house once it had left. Raspberry was served as a love inducing food, and the leaves were carried by pregnant women to alleviate the pain of pregnancy and childbirth.

There are many other herbal remedies that can be used to fight the flu and cold, but the main defense against the flu season is good nutrition throughout the year.

With this being my first column for PaganPages, I only did an ‘introduction’ to the future topics within ‘The Witch’s Cupboard’. I write professionally for

Herbal

• WiseWoman Traditions

and Naturopathic magazines and would like to cater this column more towards our readers. I welcome your comments and feedback. I would like to incorporate in the coming months our Holidays and what herbs are related to each. Would you like me to go more in depth on certain herbs? Would you like me to add scientific information about the herbs I mention? Ideal conditions for growing/harvesting? Are there certain illnesses you would like to learn possible herbal remedies for?

Recipes

• Airmid’s Cauldron

? Or herbs used in Spell work?

I look forward to hearing from and “meeting” many of you.

Namaste Iammu

Disclaimer:

Please note that we are not advocating that people stop using their normal medication, but would like to make people aware that some alternative therapies can be very effective to help treat problems and create a healthier, younger and more vital you. Also, it is not recommended to use most herbal supplements during pregnancy, or during breast feeding, or for small children. But then again, although these warnings must be provided, we must ask if the warnings come from experiences using herbs or from a medical community which is afraid we will cure ourselves.

Tags: healing, herbs, holistic, magic, medicine, nature, oils, organic, teas

• Articles

Administrator August, 2006

Oil for Love

2 lavandar

1 mint

1 thyme

1 jasmine

1 rosemary

Mix essential oils in 1/2 Ounce carrier oil (Almond, Grapeseed, Safflower, Olive, etc)

Wear when you want to attract love, or do the candle meditation below…

Meditation for Love

*While doing this meditation keep in mind the concequences of affecting someone’s free will. This should be used in general, to attract love, with a current partner, or used to attract someone with certain qualities that you’re looking for.

Select a small pink candle, or a color that says "love" to you. (Or use white for all purpose)

Anoint the candle with the oil, working towards you (drawing love to you) with one or both hands.

You can also lightly anoint yourself if you desire.

While anointing your candle, state your purpose, mentally or out loud. Examples… "I charge this candle to provide love in my relationship!" or "I charge this candle to attract someone with these qualities…(add qualities here)".

Place the candle in the holder and light it.

Sit in a comfortable position where you can view the candle.

As you watch the candle, think about the kind of love you want to attract.

You can either close your eyes or watch the candle and meditate on love, envisioning the qualities you’re looking for in a mate.

Do this for 15 min. or longer if you wish.

You can snuff the candle out when you’re finished, or let it burn out on it’s own.

*For safety purposes, never leave candle burning unattended*

***

author bio:

My craft name is Sunny. I am a 35 yr. old single mother of two and live in Pennsylvania.

I like scrapbooking, reading, crafting and enjoying the beauty of nature.

Sunnybeach7@Comcast.net

Tags: meditation, oils, sunny

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