Conjuring gains

What: Witch Works, a company selling oils and potions to improve health, love life and monetary gains.

Where: Jacqui Elliott, proprietor, works out of her home in Royal Oak creating the product, maintaining the Web site and shipping to retailers and customers across the country. Contact: (248) 542-3113 or www.witchworks.com

Royal Oak -- Look out Muggles, Jacqui Elliott is the real deal. Unlike the fantasy people in Harry Potter novels, Elliott, 45, was born the day before Halloween and makes her living selling essential oils prepared by moon cycles and blessed on an altar. Elliott retails Faerie Nectar, Lady's Medicine Potion, Love Potion, Higher Magick and Stress Ease, but the best seller on her Web site, www.witchworks.com, is Fast Money Potion.

"The ladies come from all over looking for the fast money oil. They all have stories on how it works for them," said Yvonne Burnham, owner of Yvonne's Mystic Boutique in Lewiston, New York. "Once you spread it around your desk and your wallet be prepared. You'll be swamped with business."

Elliott couldn't validate most of the money success claims found in the brochure she distributes at psychic fairs and health expos around Michigan. The notion of people winning big at Bingo, landing a giant account from an automaker or magnetizing a company bonus might seem far-fetched. Elliott says believers visualize their success and bring it into fruition.

"It worked once, but I never tried it again," said Patrice Taylor,who staffed a cosmetic booth next to Elliott at the Health and Fitness Expo last winter in Novi. "My booth was really quiet so I checked out Witch Works. Within an hour of applying this oil a woman came up and bought $175 worth of product from me."

She grows an herb garden all summer and orders other herbs from a range of international suppliers. Potions get made on an upstairs altar surrounded by imperial topaz and crystals. She burns sage and chants her intention to transform the herbs into magic essences. Prices range from $9 for one dram to $40 for a special concoction designed for an individual.

Elliott alternates careers between selling essential oils and potions under the Witch Works name and selling oil paintings. She has a fine arts degree from Michigan State University. When she solicits customers at trade shows she tells people she's a witch and proud of it.

"Witches are healers like midwives, shamans and medicine men. When people hurt, they come to you for healing," Elliott said.

The demand for flower essences and aromatherapy products has been helped nationally by talk show hosts like Oprah who invite authors to speak on ways the oils relieve stress and pain. Retailers from Bed Bath and Beyond to Kmart sell lavender oil and comfrey tea. Elliott claims each potion she makes is individually prepared. "It's not just a product it's higher magic -- it's alchemy," she said. Maureen McDonald is a Metro Detroit free-lance writer.

• New!Shaman's Secret alcohol~free flower essences
• Testimonials
• Other Links
• Webrings
• Order Information and Retail Locations
• Preparation Information
• Back to Home Page

Most recent update 2/10/2002