Types of Waters for Margickal Uses---Part 3---River and Lake and Ocean Waters~~~~

Dear Ms. Q,

In this section I will deal with River,  Lake and Ocean or Sea Waters~~~

Many Rivers around the world have a sacred connection, the Nile to Ancient Egyptians, The Jordan River to Christians, the Ganges to Hindu's,  as a matter of fact I have here a brief list of some of the better known rivers.

Aciravati,  Bhagirathi River, Brahmaputra River, Ganges River to Hindus,  Gowda Saraswat Brahmin, Indus River, Jordan River to Christians, Kaveri,  Manas River, Sarasvati River,  Triveni Sangam,  Turag River, Yamuna,  San Juan River and Little Colorado to the Navajo

Now in each area locally among the native people will know of other sacred rivers.  So what is important about River Water. 

First it is a moving body of water, a living water, it runs over the land and therefore either purifies it or fertilizes it such as the Nile, to Christians especially to be baptized in the waters of the River Jordan is to be cleansed of sins and to start life anew. 

The Ganges also holds that belief among the people of India.  As well as other places who have that same belief.

Because River water is moving it is considered highly energized, activating healthy negative ions, which many people who live near a moving river find refreshing to breathe, feel themselves energized.

River water is good for washing away negativity that may have been collected by just going out and dealing with people in general.

My Granny would mix Holy water from the church with River Water and put it in her Holy Water founts next to the inside of her Front Door as well as her back door. 

River Water is also used to make Peace Water or the 5 or 7 Holy Waters, which is a combination of different waters.   In some spell work River Water is used to banish negativity

One of Granny's Ladies in her group was a Mrs. Washington, she lived in Louisiana and learned a lot of what some people would call Hoodoo from a number of the practioners who lived around, some she traveled to, to learn things from and some she discovered were just down right frauds, but those that she learned from was, as we would say now a days, "The Real Deal".

She was very big on collecting River Water on St. John's Day in June (June 24th) she'd  collect river water and put it into a glass bottle, and bring it home,   June 24 is the Nativity of St. John the Baptist.

She told me that  ST. JOHN'S WATER is a wonderful extra protection for a person and their home.

She said it was a tradition, especially in (but not restricted to) the New Orleans area, to collect St. John's Water every year on St. John's Day. This water is protective; it wards off evil and keeps the one who collects and keeps it,  secure and safe from harm.

You take a clean  dark colored glass bottle with a lid, this is one of those times when a metal lid or cap its fine. Be sure to wash it first as you would with any of the bottles you'd use to hold your collected waters, and then let it dry so that the washing water will not "contaminate" the river water you collect.
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Carrying your bottle, go to a river in your area.  Rivers are the right body of water to use.  We are, dealing with St. John the Baptist, who baptized in the Jordan River.

You have to  recite prayers, first saying a prayer of contrition asking to be forgiven for your sins,  then say the traditional Lord's Prayer for the blessings for the year to come. 

Then ask St. John the Baptist for his help and blessings, he who was so intimately aware of the spiritual power of rivers.  Then fill your bottle, cap it, and take it home with you.

Set this bottle on it's side by the hinge side of your front door, so that it is a bit hidden from those who come to your door.  Make sure that the neck of the bottle is facing the door.  Keep the bottle in this position throughout the year.

If anyone comes to your door who you do not wish to deal with, anyone who may make life difficult for you  - or even if you are just worried that they may come to trouble you - simply roll that bottle with your foot. 

 Roll it back and forth on the floor, as you concentrate on exactly what you want especially what you want to say to the person to get them to leave. Then when they leave and you close the door roll the bottle right back into it's original position, where it will continue to guard and defend your home for the remainder of the year. 

Remember  when requesting the aid of any saint, including  St. John the Baptist be sure to thank him  for his assistance.

Just remember to renew this bottle of River Water every year on St. John's Day.


Lake Waters

Fresh water from a  lake is a collection of sustained energy. It provides a reservoir of creative energy. Think of it this way, these bodies of water provide life sustaining liquid to the animals that drink from it and the animals that live in it. This establishes the energy of Creation within its cells so to speak.  It is considered Living Water but water that awaits to be activated, the energy is far more quiet as oppose to River Water.

In many cases, it maybe used to call upon the Ancestors, especially if the Lake has a reputation of being a habitat of Ancestor spirits.

Collecting the waters from a Lake should be done only during the Full Moon never during the Dark Moon especially if you are dealing with spirits, because you may not know what spirit you will unleash.

This is a partial list and some of the legends surrounding some Lakes: 

Lake Bosumtwi,  The Ashanti consider Bosumtwi a sacred lake. According to traditional belief, the souls of the dead come here to bid farewell to the god Twi. Because of this, it is considered permissible to fish in the lake only from wooden planks.

Chagan Lake (China), Chicabal Lake, Crater Lake (Oregon USA), Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee is considered important  among Christians because many of Jesus’s miracles took place along the shores of the Sea, Ganga Chhu, Ganga Talao, Gosaikunda,  Grand Lake (Colorado) Grand Lake was named Spirit Lake by the Ute Tribe because they believed the lake's cold waters to be the dwelling place of departed souls.

Kaali crater,  Lac Ste. Anne (Alberta, Canada, Lake Saint Anne)  Lac Ste. Anne was first called Wakamne, or God's Lake by the Nakota Sioux, and Manitou Sakhahigan (Lake of the Spirit) by the Cree first nations before the arrival of the settlers.

The legend goes that the Indians hunted buffalo and fished in the lake called Manitou Sakhahigan. The legend told of a large monster that lived in the lake, and as it moved it would create dangerous and unpredictable currents, which could easily capsize a canoe. Very few people saw the monster but when the Hudson's Bay Company came they renamed the lake Devil's Lake, possibly in reference to the reported lake monster.

Elders of Alexis Reserve remember their grandparents telling of how as children they would go out on the lake and peer down through the then clear water to the lake bottom in search of the monster. They would hope and fear that they might actually see its legendary form.

"Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage is a site of national historic significance because as early as 1889, Aboriginal people, including Cree, Dene, Blackfoot and Métis, have been coming to Lac Ste. Anne to celebrate the Feast of Saint Anne. Saint Anne embodies, for many Aboriginal peoples, the traditional importance of the grandmother figure. For the Aboriginal people of Western and Northwestern Canada, the pilgrimage site is an important place of social, cultural and spiritual rejuvenation, which are important aspects of the traditional summer gathering."

Lake Guatavita, Lake Iguaque, Lake Nemi,  Lake Ronkonkoma (lake)  and the legend of the Lady of the Lake  I offer this to you to show how legend can form around Sacred lakes.

Supposedly a Native American woman committed suicide by drowning herself in the lake during the colonial era.  Variations of the legend indicate that her tribe was assaulted by European settlers, one among them being her lover. Betrayed, she drowned herself in grief.   Since then its said at least once a year she will claim a man to be her lover. But her claiming of men is out of love and need, for she does not understand that she is also condemning these individuals to death. Her loneliness overwhelms her and she reaches out to these men in desperation. Some men, likely in the mood to cause a stir, claim that when they swim beyond the boundaries of the designated swim area (marked typically by buoyed rope), they feel "cold fingers" touch and try to grasp at their ankles.[citation needed]

Rumored to have no bottom, Lake Ronkonkoma has deep depressions that seem to go on forever. Myths continue to persist of the "bottomless lake". Such rumors include the presence of a "whirlpool" in the dead center of the lake that drags people down into the bottomless hole where they drown and are never seen again. Similarly, it is said that the deepest depression forms an underground tunnel that empties out into Long Island Sound, and through this tunnel myriad creatures from the sea pour in. A popular rumor among wildly imaginative kids is that the depressions are gateways to Hell.

Lake Waiau, Lhamo La-tso, Lake Manassarovar, Nydam Mose, Sacred Cenote , Lake Sonfon, Taos Pueblo,   Yamdrok Lake (Tibet) --- Like mountains, lakes are considered sacred by Tibetan people, the principle being that they are the dwelling places of protective deities and therefore invested with special spiritual powers.

 And last but not least, Zuni Salt Lake.

Ocean or Sea Water

If you're lucky enough to live near the Ocean the energy from it is good for almost all magical workings with some exceptions , especially if rain fall does not come at a time when you need it.

But there are some limitations, primarily Sea water is best for exorcism and expelling evil spirits from a person, home, or piece of land  especially if it is collected at high noon.— “nothing evil ever came from the sea”.

In certain rituals  Sea water is not offered to the dead,  nor is it used for any Full moon collected rain water nor used in ancestral rites. Because Salt protects from and exorcises spirits,  so for banishing's or exorcisms, to cleans something of negativity it is excellent.  

Sea water is never used to bless land nor a woman who wants to conceive, as the focus of Sea or Ocean water is to rid evil, if there is land or a location that is negative then use the Ocean water for banishing, and once the area is cleared of negativity follow it with Rain Water for fertility.

Never harvest or collect Ocean or Sea water during the Dark Moon, collecting Ocean Water during the New Moon (when the barest sliver of moon is showing) is fine.

Sea or Ocean waters are used during spells or rituals when working with deities who are associated with the Ocean or spell work that would involve the Sea.

In my next post I will deal with Spring and Well Water, followed by Holy and Consecrated Waters and then Made Waters.

Blessings Ms. Q

 

A warning to those who read my Blog~~~

To All~~~

A few days ago my blog was hacked and a false posting was put in about weight loss.

It was not me and to those who may have read it I apologize. 

It has since been deleted and I am going to see about making some changes.

Those of you who know my writings---beware of such post that seem out of character for me.

I thank you.

Blessings

In regard to ritual Oils and their formula's~a short editorial~~~

Dear Ms. Q,

I can understand your desire for me to list all the ritual oils that is used in spell work and rituals and their formula's  but if I were to do that it would boggle the mind and possibly put a strain on my bandwidth.

The oldest oil formula that is known and easy to find is in the Bible, old Testament, in which God tells the priesthood, how to build and consecrate the Ark of the Covenant.   Some of the herbs that are mentioned,  current perfumers or makers of oils are not sure of, because of what the early writers would refer to as one herb may mean an entirely different herb.

But I have smelled an approximation of it and it is an aroma that is profoundly mind lifting.  And yet the apothecary who made it was still not sure that it was correct.

There are others that are listed in ancient texts from ancient Egypt, Sumer, and Babylon and I have heard of them, but I have never made them.  Again because of confusion as to the herbs mentioned, that in modern day we are not sure of.

Zora Neal Houston in her Book "Mules and Men" mention several types of oils, and her work I would trust but not Slatter's materials.

Anna Riva (pen name) printed a book that listed over 550 oils, and what their uses are, but not how to make them.  The booklets of Anna Riva are still in print today and are good basic materials.

The people that I knew in Granny's Group, would make their own oils using the herbs they grew in their garden and their knowledge of what those herbs could influence.  Most of the time they used pure olive oil as a base oil, sometimes they would get Almond oil from a druggist and use that as a base oil, and they would put the washed and dried herbs into a clean bottle and pour the oil over the herbs and then have the mixture sit all day in the sun, sometimes for as much as a week.  Shaking the mixture in the bottle from time to time during the day.

Then when they felt it was right would pour some of that mixture through a cheese cloth filter, into glass measuring cup and from that into a much smaller bottle.  They would keep the original bottle mixture in a dark cabinet, until it was used up, then all the herbs would be buried in the yard and start the process all over again.

Of late I've heard that there is nearly 2,000 ritual oil combinations, depending upon strength, availability of herbs, and intent of use.

Those formula's that I will post here especially in connection to a ritual,  are the one's I am most familiar with and have worked with.

Some of the other basic things such as "Made Waters" I will post those formula's as I know them to be.

In time you will build up your own book of recipes on these things.

Blessings Ms. Q

Types of Waters for Magickal Uses---Part 2---Rain Water~~~

Dear Ms. Q,

This post is about Rain Water and the types of Rain water that abounds, since this is a very long post, I would advise that you print it out and add it to your book of magickal workings.  That way you can refer to it without having to go on line.

Water, Any kind of water has a certain mystical attraction to us, it not only covers 70% of the Earth's surface, but over 90 percent of our bodies is composed of water; we are born from the waters that contain us within our mother’s womb, it’s no joke when an expecting woman cries out “My Water broke!!”  It is a sign that a new life is coming.

Water defines, creates, destroys in its own way, it gives life and in its most destructive mode, floods, tsunamis, boiling hot and even two inches of bath water, it can take away life.

The human body can go 7 days to almost a month without food, but it can only last 3 days without water, many elderly people and even healthy athletes, find themselves being rushed to the hospital because they are de-hydrated, because without water we die.

Water is more precious that oil or gold, because we need it to survive.

Water is a magical thing, it is a combination of two very flammable gases. It's somehow a liquid at room temperature and hard as stone when frozen. In all three states, it's colorless, but when sunlight shines through it, it refracts a brilliant, multi-colored rainbow that can be seen for miles.  It is the only element that shows the levels of energy in our universe.

There are three states that water can be found in, solid, liquid and gas, can be seen as symbols of the three Realms of Land, Sea and Sky for water is found flowing from all three of these areas, no other element can do that.  It is the most magical and mystical of all the elements.

And no matter what your belief system is water is important to ritual, you’ll find that baptism, holy water, and other ritual uses of water are a central component of religions and spiritual beliefs.  Even the simple ritual of a cup of tea can bring a moment of calm, meditation and grounding.

It is the great purifier. We wash away our sins, we cleanse our wounds, and our tears bring release.   It is the Great Beginning for one finds in various legends and in the Bible the importance of water, how it was the first element.

The Hopi creation myth starts, "In the beginning, the earth was nothing but water," and in the Bible's book of Genesis, you' will read that "The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters."

It is interesting to discover how central a role water plays in belief systems throughout the world, and yet we make it an object of personal taste, in the latest styles or flavors of bottled water.

 Many Native American belief systems see the sun as the immediate creator. However, they also believe that there is a greater power beyond the sun, a power "so big that it cannot be named."  Science has noted especially one William E. Marks said that….  “Our sun is basically a collection of energy waves, energy waves that have their source from the cosmic waters that created and permeate our universe. In fact, recent science tells us that a star like our sun cannot form or survive without water. Without water, our sun would overheat and expand into its basic elements."

Cosmic Waters….that is a bit mind boggling that beyond the clouds beyond our atmosphere there is Cosmic Waters.

Which is why in ritual and spell work water is a very important component.

Over the years, through experimentation done by my Grandmother, her Mother, her Mother before her, and also with the ladies of my Granny’s group as well as myself, I’ve discovered what waters work in what capacity and it’s interesting to see these same discoveries reflected in other area’s on the internet.

But with my continuing series of posts on Water I hope to be able to collect it all for you in one location instead of it being scattered.

So let us start with  the most obvious and most variable types of water, for this post

 Which is Rain Water----

Rain water is drawn from moisture in the ground, the oceans, the poles and through a remarkable process is elevated into the heavens until the cloud formations become so heavy with moisture that it begins to fall back to earth and the seas.  

But on the way down it collects energy and it is that energy that we are seeking in this mutable of elements.

As I said there are basic headings on the types of waters but with each type of water there are sub-categories, and in each category there is specific uses and rituals.

And Rain has the most.

Each type of Rain storm gathers together various fragments of energy that create the flow and function of the Rain water. And will impact the type of energy infused into the water.

Let us start with the most basic:

 Seasonal Rain Fall or Rain Fall of the Seasons

 

SEASONAL RAINS

Rains that happen on the Day and Night of the Equinox’s or the Solstices are especially powerful, it adds extra power to spell and ritual work, depending upon the type of work one is doing but if it happens to be the first rain just after the equinox or solstice it is just as good for spell work, because it is the closest to it.

Springtime

 Rain water collected in spring should be stored in a light green bottle. It’s energy  can be used for empowering new ventures. Such as a new relationship, new business ventures, a new job and so on. 

But rain water collected on the Spring Equinox or from the first rain after the Spring Equinox is good for empowering spells for relationships, business as well, in some cases it can help relationships.

Summertime

 Rain water collected in the summer should be stored in a sky blue bottle. It can be used to encourage growth, be it personal growth, spiritual growth or growth of a venture or relationship. It can also be used for rituals that are designed to overcome bad habits.

Rain collected on Mid-summer’s eve and Day is especially mystical, if one does a spell using this water to bless a Holy hole a rock with a natural see through hole one then can see the fairy folk, but to do this with care as they do not like to be spied upon.  With spells for romance or to bring a new love to you a dab of this water on your petition paper is good.

Also if you know it’s going to rain just in general during this time put any indoor plants outside to enjoy and absorb the rain, including any herbs you are growing indoors.

Fall time

Rain water collected during the fall equinox or the first rain after the fall equinox should be stored in an orange or other fall colored glass bottle. This should be used for giving thanks and showing gratitude for the abundance you have received during the year. 

Other rains collected during this time depending upon new or full moon are good for blessings of thanks

Wintertime

 Rain water collected during the winter solstice or the first rain after should be stored in a silver or iridescent glass bottle. Iridescent bottles can be any color but will sparkle with a rainbow of color when moved in the light. The best color of these bottles to store your winter Rain water is, gold, silver or blue.

Winter rain can be used for blessings a person, relationship, family or object. It can also be used for blessing an event such as a wedding, birth, business venture and so on.  For to be able to survive the hardship of winter so should one be able to survive the hardship of life.

 

MOON PHASE RAINS

One of the hardest types of rains to collect is during the time of the Full or New Moon, sometimes Mother Nature doesn’t want to cooperate.   Rain collected at those times of the Month is very powerful.

Dark Moon

Rain collected during the phase of the Dark Moon is good for banishings or to bring about difficulties to those who have troubled you.

New Moon

Some people have a hard time what is a dark moon and a new moon, for me a new moon is right when the barest sliver of the edge of the moon is showing, the dark moon is complete absence of moonlight

Rain collected at the New Moon is good for workings in which something needs to be brought in, or the starting of new projects.

Waxing Moon---

Sometimes we are not lucky to get rain during the exact moon phase, but either waxing or waning the rains collected that time is good as well, Waxing is to bring in good things, blessings, the start of a project, a new beginning.

 

Full Moon

To collect Rain during the Full Moon is sacred waters to honor the Goddess.  A small shot glass of this water (properly filtered) can be added to one’s cleansing bath, or for blessing during a full moon ritual

Now some people will collect every rain water possible during a full moon but label it according to the season of the moon such as Wolf Moon,  Snow Moon to reflect the energy of that moon and month according to that time period of that quarterly season.

In other cases to collect rain water during the full moon but label it according the Solar Astrological sign we are in such as Aries, Libra, Scorpio, this is to work with the energy that is reflected in that sign.

Now that you have your Full Moon Water you can use it to clean  alter spaces and other things in your home by putting the water in your cleaning products. You can use 1 ounce (equal to 1 small shot glass or just a few drops). Its used to clean, bless and purify your alter supplies and items that sit on your alter.

Using herbs you can sprinkle the water on just about anything that you would like to be cleared of negativity. Often before a ritual you will see someone doing just this. Walking around the circle and sprinkling the ground with water. The Full Moon Water can also be used for divination, child blessings, pet blessings, and even a few drops in your bath water before an important event or ritual. I have also seen a few drops mixed with wine or mead in ritual. There are hundreds of uses for the Full Moon Water

Waning Moon-

Rain waters collected during this time is good for getting rid of things, banishings, purging of negativity.

Moon water has many purposes and uses.  It can be used like blessing oil. It can be used to enhance your spells and rituals; it can be added to your bath for relaxation, for clarity, to promote love or prepare for lunar rituals, to anoint money to increase wealth, and to anoint yourself to increase psychic awareness, among many other purposes or water your plants with it. It’s only water. It is largely dependent on your intent and often what zodiac sign the moon is in.

Water that is not rain water but bottled water from a natural filtration system can be made into Moon water to make tea with.   I will cover that in another post.

 The next set of Rain Waters deal with the Elements

ELEMENTAL RAINS

 Lightening Storm or Lightening Snow

I have always felt for the most powerful of waters the water collected during a lightning storm has the greatest energy. This is especially true for Lightening Snow storms, primarily because they are so rare. I never knew of Lightening Snow Stores but one of my Granny’s ladies lived back east and when she saw it for the first time, throwing on her coat and rain boots, she ran out with a huge bowl and collected it.

 

 

Her husband had to drag her indoors so she left her bowl out there to be filled to overflowing with this specially charged type of water

 With the water collected from a Snow lighting storm its best to store it in a white glass bottle, or a clear bottle covered with either white paper or the whitest cloth to be found.

With a powerful lighting storm one can store it in a black bottle or a dark brown bottle covered with black paper.

These types of waters can be used to empower any spell or prayer. Use it in a bath to re-energize your being, or to aid in a ritual for clearing and cleansing yourself, an area or any object.

The most powerful that I have ever collected was lighting storm on Samhain, you can imagine what uses one could do with that.

 

 Wind, Tornado, Hurricane Storm

 Water collected during a wind storm, especially a Tornado or Hurricane Storm, should be stored in a blue glass bottle. It can be used to empower spells for moving things forward. Such as letting go of the past and moving forward in your life.  Use it for getting out of a rut or changing a pattern you don’t like.  Or for helping a project move forward and get beyond any current blocks.

However if you are in the path of the Hurricane or Tornado, look for safe shelter. 

Rain & Sun Storm

 Rain collected when the sun is shining is a very rare thing, but it does happen.  I’ve had it happen on occasion during unexpected Summer storms with nary a cloud in the sky.

This water  can be used to balance energies when you’re feeling weighed down, or flighty and scattered in your thoughts. It should be stored in a dark green glass bottle.

 Rainbow Water---Aurora

This is very unusual, and it has only happened to me just once, it was one of those Summer storms where the Sun is shining which I thought was wonderful but just as I put my bowl out and collected a cup of water I saw that there was also a rainbow that lasted throughout the entire summer shower.

I used a few drops of this water to bless a baby, and she grew up to be a very artistically talented person; that was over 30 years ago, I decided to call this type of rain water Aurora water.

Hail Storm

I have mixed feelings on how to collect this type of water.  Some people say that Rain collected from a hail storm is the only time a metal bowl should be used, preferably an iron bowl should be used and the water should not stay in the bowl for longer than 3 to 6 hours.

 

But I have collected Hail in a glass bowl and other times in a white ceramic bowl and have not had problems, but that is because where I live when there’s hail it is the size of peas.  

Now unless the hail comes down the size of golf balls---THEN I’d recommend the Iron bowl, but usually most people don’t have that, but a clean cast iron skillet or Dutch oven works just as well.  I have one that has a crack in it that is no longer useful for cooking I cleaned it thoroughly and loaned it to a friend of mine who was going back east and while visiting friends there came down a hail storm, she put out the loaned pot because the hail stones were Huge.    She let the hail melt a bit at a time in the pot and poured it into dark brown clean beer bottles, and brought this bottled hail water home.

She has used it and I have too. 

Allow any hail collected to melt before storing. It should be stored in a black or very dark brown bottle. It can be used for dispelling psychic attacks or negative energies that have been sent to you from another. It is also the best form of rain to use for 'black' magik rituals designed to destroy your enemies or negative forces that stand in your way.

And if you have ever been hit by hail you know why it’s good for that.

 

Now the next part is collecting rain water from living things such as flowers and trees

The easiest waters to collect from a flower is collecting it from roses---

Now why roses---because roses are sacred to the female energy or as some people would say to the Goddess, if you are of Catholic beliefs or are a “Christian (catholic) Witch” you know that the Rose is sacred to Holy Mother Mary, because the rock rose is a 5 petaled flower, representing the 4 elements and spirit or will.  The Scent of Rose Water is also her sacred scent. 

Also Roses hold up well being shaken to release the rain water collected among its flowers and leaves.

Rain water collected from roses can be collected directly into a bowl. Simply shake the water from the roses over the vessel of your choosing for collection.

So now what does the energy of each type of rose impart to the water.

RAIN WATER COLLECTED FROM ROSES

Black Roses

 While black roses aren’t truly black, remember that the intent is what generates energy. Hybrid roses that marketed as “black” carry with them the intent of being a live black variation of the rose.

Look for roses to plant in your garden that are of very dark hue or use the word black in its description

Rain water from black roses should be stored in a black or very dark red bottle. It can be used for  warding off negative energies, overcoming hatred,  depression and miserly. If used in a ritual for undoing, you can create energies to reverse these emotions.

 

Pink Roses

Rain water from pink roses should be stored in a dark pink bottle. It can be used for matters of protection and compassion.

 Purple Roses

Rain water from purple roses should be stored in a dark purple bottle. It can be used for matters of divination. Such as working to identify your psychic ability, developing your talent and learning the wisdom of divination.

You might even like to sprinkle a little on your table used for divination to enhance your connection to the tool being used and the topic or client you’re performing the reading for.

Red Roses

Rain water from red roses should be stored in a red bottle. It can be used for matters of love and commitment.

 White Roses

Rain water from white roses should be stored in a white bottle. It can be used for protection and any general spiritual matter. Such as communicating with spirit, working on raising energies for meditation or bringing a greater sense of Divinity into your being.

 Yellow Roses

 Rain water from yellow roses should be stored in a yellow bottle. It can be used for bringing success to any kind of venture. Such as a court case, a new business plan, looking for a job and so on.

Multi-colored Roses

 Rain water from multi-colored roses take on the properties of both colors. For instance, a white rose with dark red trim, would infuse both the essence of communication from spirit with the love and commitment.  Those with the combination of red or white with orange for success, look at the color listings on my pages links and you will see what color combinations that can be developed for these types of waters.

Dew, Rain or Snow from Trees

Rain collected from a tree is similar to collecting from a rose. Depending on the energy of the tree, will depend on what the rain is used for in rituals.  In general, a bottle in any variation of green can be used

for storing Rain water from trees. But you can also use a color that distinguishes the tree itself, such as a white bottle for birch trees, or greenish-blue for a Blue Spruce and so on.

If you do not want to go that far in collecting bottles you can tie a ribbon to the neck of the bottle, but the easiest is to simply label your bottle.

Ash Trees

 The Ash represents balance, spiritual knowledge and wisdom. The ash is a strong wood, and even its most slender limbs are hard to break. As such it also represents strength, endurance and getting back on your feet.

Birch Trees

The birch tree is a totem tree of Celtic shamans. It is seen as the “World Tree,” the axis upon which the universe spins upon. Rain water collected from a Birch tree can be used for fertility, inception, conception, cleansing, purification, birth and rebirth.

Elder Trees

The Elder tree represents death and regeneration, the Mother phase of the Goddess and wisdom. Rain water from an Elder tree can be used for transformation, change, communication with spirits. It also represents Gods rebirth and can be used for regeneration or starting over.

Holly Trees

Holly trees represent the physical world, authority, courage, soldiers/warriors, male sexuality and energy. Rain water from Holly Trees can be used to improve physical energy, provide support for taking on tasks as a leader or in positions of authority.

 Oak Trees

The oak tree is seen as the “door” between the light and dark halves of the year. It is the door of protection between the physical and spiritual worlds, as well as, between home and the outside world. A view that is still practiced today. Rain water from Oak trees can be used for protection, setting shields around yourself, home or a circle for spiritual work.

This short list gives you an idea, there are many more which I will list on a separate post about the uses of trees in magic. 

So if you know what type of tree you are near that is covered with rain or snow, gather its waters and put it into a green bottle until you’ve had a chance to see what its magical properties are.

 RAIN WATER FROM THE GROUND

The next part is about collecting Rain Water from the ground, now the reason for this is sometimes because of work or other events that keep you indoors you may not have a chance to go out and collect

water from a bountiful rain fall.  Or there is a type of rain water that you seek for a special use.  In that case you are looking at collecting rain water from the ground.

Rain water collected from the ground can also provide varying forms of energy. Strong rain storms that generate a flow of water down a driveway, road, or yard will pick up additional energy from that area. For instance water from a flow of rain through a yard will pick up energy from the grass and soil as well.

But you are cautioned to remember that whatever was on the ground will also be in the water you collect. This is the one time that I strongly suggest filtering your collection before you store it. And because this is from unusual circumstances you can use a plastic bottle or small jug.

Concrete Driveways

 Rain water collected from a concrete driveway should be stored in a sand colored bottle or crock. It can be used to bind things together. Such as binding yourself to a job. Or binding a family together.

Asphalt Roads or Parking Lots

 Rain water collected from asphalt should be stored in a gray bottle. It can be used to remove negative energies. Or sending negative energies back from where they came. Remember there will be motor oil in these areas DO NOT DRINK!

Dirt Roads

 Rain water from a dirt road should be stored in a brown bottle and can be used to promote a sense of “getting back to nature”. It can be used to promote travel and to create energy for a safe trip.

When I see rain water from a dirt road I’m reminded of that song “Take Me Home, Country Roads, Where I Belong….” 

 Grass Lawns/Fields

 Rain water collected from a grassy area should be stored in a green bottle and can be used to promote physical healing of the body.

 Dew, Rain or Snow From the Beach

Rain water falling at the beach has always had a sense of purity to it. It can often feel refreshing, cleansing and re-energizing. There’s nothing like a lightning storm at the beach. And all this promotes an additional element of energy in the rain. . Whither it's collected directly from the sky, a flow  of rain water from the sand, or directly from the edge of the surf.

Collecting it from a hotel or motel balcony or patio won’t do. You’ll need to be at the beach itself.

Now I know why would I want to collect rain water that is falling at a beach?  There is plenty of Ocean water---that is true but the combination of energies of the two types of water is very heady and it can vary depending on where you are in the world. It can be used to for clearing, cleansing and re-energizing your overall physical, emotional and spiritual being. It promotes a sense of serenity and relaxation.

And if you have the extra kick of a lighting storm it can be very powerful in dealing with the sea Goddesses.   Another thing to take into consideration is the mood of the Ocean when it is raining, is it violent, re-energizing, invigorating, moody this also needs to be taken into consideration when collecting this rain water, meditate, reach out and feel the mood, and add that to the label on the bottle

The Rain water should be stored in a sea colored bottle

Dew, Rain or Snow from A Building or Object

 Collecting Rain water from a building can be tricky. Try looking for a place where the building has a seam of some kind. It’s usually one of the easiest places where you can get a bottle or collector that will allow rain to pour directly into your container. Buildings also have edges or rough profiles where snow can stick to the building.

It’s hard to place a container next to the building and collect the Rain water. Because of this, you can use a tool to collect rain. Try using a funnel to place against the building and funnel the flow into your bottle. Finding a place that ‘drips’ is also good. But try not to take drippings from a roof you don’t want to fall and hurt yourself. The best and safest way to collect snow from a building is to brush it off a window ledge.

Or during a rain storm if you have a chance, see what would be the best way to collect the water, sometimes one gets lucky and a nice puddle forms on the ground that the building is built upon, so water can be collected from that.

 Professional Buildings

 Rain water collected from a business building should be stored in a bottle that matches the color of the building. It can be used to empower a ritual or spell designed to match the purpose of the business. For instance, collecting rain from your bank can be used to promote financial abundance. From a court house, it can be used to promote success in a legal matter. From a hospital to promote healing

I know of one practioner who collected rain water from the Coroner’s office (this was done at night), she used it for some negative magic, but I warned her that she could have a back lash, she did but was prepared for it. And she managed to collect rain water from a Police Station, she sat outside and told anyone who asked she was waiting for someone to pick her up, she had a small plastic bowl which she manage to collect 4 ounces of water.

Monuments

 Rain water collected from a monument, such as a historical site; should be stored in a copper colored  bottle. Copper green can also be used, this is that natural color copper turns to when it ages. It can be used for rituals of remembrance.

Gravestones

 

Rain water collected from a gravestone or mausoleum, should be stored in a black glass bottle. Most people think of this as a negative collection; but a gravestone is erected to remember a loved one. So this Rain water can be used to ease a loss, to put things to rest, to bury a long held emotional hurt or to bury feelings that one desires to let go.

House

 Rain water collected from a home should be stored in a blue bottle. It can be used to create a sense of security, safety and harmony. If you’re hoping to buy a new home, and have an opportunity to collect Rain water from that home, it can be used to promote a connection to the space and set an energy of possession over the property. An “it’s my new home” type of connection to promote the purchase of the home. Of course you’ll want to get permission from the current resident.  Or you can go to a building development where they are building new homes and collect the ground rain water from that area, if this is where you want to live.

 FINAL NOTE ON RAIN WATER----First this is by no means a definitive list, I’m sure you think of other types of rain water or where to be collected from.

Now if you’ve noticed I’ve included snow in some cases as a substitute for rain, this is because in many areas it gets so cold it doesn’t rain it snows---so snow should be equated as rain water as well, with the exception of Hail, that type of water has an entirely different energy.

And no matter what, do not drink this water, it is not for any brew or potion to be drunk, and no matter what all rain water should be filtered as a precaution.

Now there are other types of waters which I also call “Made Waters” and I will include that in my list of waters.

In my next few posts  I will talk about "Collected Waters" which are River Water, Lake Water, Ocean water,  Spring water, as well as  "Made Waters", and how to create "Moon Water" when there are no rains for that phase of the Moon and I will finish with what you can do with these waters depending upon your magickal intent.

Blessings Ms. Q

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Types of Waters for Magickal Uses Part 1---How to collect and Process~~~~

Dear Ms. Q,

We will start in earnest about the processing of Sacred, Holy Waters for Magickal Uses----

WATERS PART 1

THE COLLECTING AND PROCESSING OF WATER

Before you begin to collect water for magickal use, any kind of water its best to know what to collect it with and in and how to process it and store it. 

Although I’ve mentioned it briefly in the INTRODUCTION blog, I’m going to repeat it and in more depth in this section.

FIRST---if at all possible collect your water in a clear glass bowl or glass jar or in a white ceramic bowl or cup (a glass cup is fine too).

Now there is a sort of common rule of thumb depending upon the tradition that one practices in the collection and storage of Nature’s waters. The item you use to collect the water should be clear, non-colored glass or a container that is plain white, for either a bowl, cup or jar that doesn’t matter. One thing it should never be is crystal, most crystal items have Lead in it and that affects and discharges the energy of the water and even if you were able to find a natural crystal bowl (very, Very expensive) depending upon the conditions the water was collected especially Rain water, that could permanently affect the energy of the bowl so that all waters will have the same energy, when you really need the different energies from different conditions for different rituals, potions etc. So using regular everyday glass or a plain white ceramic item is the best collector.

The extra advantage to using that is that it can be washed with Lemon dishwashing soap to clear off the energies from the water collected, so that it will be energetically clear for the next “harvesting”.

There are those practioners who believe it should only be collected in natural metals (copper, silver, gold, etc.), because glass is a processed object, however that is incorrect, at least according to what I was taught and what I have discovered through the process of experimenting  with the waters to see what effects it does have and I’ve discovered that because a metal bowl is also processed it is not natural also that metals can adversely affect the waters, just like a natural crystal bowl. 

Now some people can be lucky in finding a large stone that has a natural depression usually caused by the wearing of river water, and this makes a completely natural bowl avoiding any concept of something being processed, and it too can be cleaned by washing it with lemon juice and flushing it with plain tap water which is a Non-living water.

I do know of several practioners who have gone to a rock quarry that carries rocks for gardens and such and look for a large natural rock whose energies in general feel good and with asking permission of the rock for that particular purpose will buy it then have it manually ground down into a gentle bowl and consecrate it to that use of collecting Rain Water and maintain it the same way, and it seems to work well for them.

However in some situations glass or white ceramic may not be the best material to use for fear of it breaking, this is true where you go to areas outside of your home, such as the parks, beach, monuments, rivers, lakes.  Then you will be forced to have to use plastic, I’ve found that the plastic bottles for holy water (commercially available) work very well, as well as the bottles and jugs for Distilled water that one uses for baby formulas, irons or vaporizers (this can be purchased in any grocery store), and works well for transporting home to be decanted and processed into glass bottles.

So when you are collecting water from rivers, lakes, oceans or anywhere outside your home use those bottles that are non-breakable and then as soon as possible decant them.

Now as I said you should be collecting glass bottles of every color possible, some you will use right away, some may take a while because the collecting of certain types of water, especially certain types of rain water has to take place under certain conditions----You cannot say that rain water is Thunderstorm water if there was no thunderstorm for example.

Now in the collecting of Lake, River, Ocean water, these too need to be collected during certain conditions, but if an opportunity arises and you have a chance to go to any one of those areas, make a note of the Astrological conditions, say you go on a Friday when Venus is in a good planetary arrangement, then the water you collect that day would be good for Love.

If you have an opportunity to collect River water on St. John’s day (June 24) that water would be good for home protection.

If you have a chance to go to the beach, collect the water especially if you plan to do a ritual to an ocean goddess.

No matter what if you have an opportunity to go somewhere with water present be sure to take your water jug or bottle (plastic in this case) and take advantage of it---make a note of the day, date and time when you do it and then check your Astrological calendar to see what planets were in what signs and go from there.

I knew of one elderly practioner who didn’t drive a car, most of the time she took a bus to go to certain places but if one of her friends or family members were going and she was invited she’d leap at the opportunity and then check her Astro calendar to see what she had in essence “Captured”.  She never had a problem with her workings, even though she was hindered by her lack of transportation.

One time she went to this park where there was a natural creek running through it and collected the water, a park ranger asked what she was doing and being a quick thinker even though she was elderly, she told the Ranger that she had a microscope at home and would use it to amuse her grandchildren to see what tiny “bugs” could be found in the water.  The Ranger found that a logical explanation and just warned her to be careful among the slippery rocks.

THE PROCESSING----

The processing of your water, no matter what type is relatively easy, you have to take into consideration debris and tiny wiggly things, so you need to filter your water.  So using a glass bowl or jar, fit over it using either rubber band or string a coffee filter, make sure it has a depression to collect the water and hold it while it drips down into the bowl.

Slowly and carefully pour your collected water through the filter, allowing to stop from time to time so it can perk through the filter.  

Once your water has been filtered, throw the filter way, then pour the water into the appropriate bottle, cork it, and label it.

At this time the energy of the water is inert, not activated. 

When you are ready to use some of that water for you ritual, pour it out from that bottle into the appropriate container small bowl/cup/chalice and then consecrate it to your will.

There are some exceptions---the water collected during violent storms, such as Thunderstorms, hurricanes etc.  are always active, it just then depends on what use you will direct it towards.

Also waters that are collected on certain times of the year such as the Equinoxes, All hallows, Yule, Mid-summer etc. or on special Christian Holy Days, such as St. John’s Day, the Day of the Ascension those have certain active properties.

Only by studying folk lore, Tradition and by observation will you have an idea how they will work.

But in the meantime after you have poured the water into the appropriate bottle but before you use it, label the bottle with the type of water, condition or time it was collected and date.

For Example :

 River water 

St. John’s Day

6/24/14       

 Or  Thunderstorm

       Dark Moon

        3/30/14

Or:    Spring Equinox

          Waning Moon

          3/21/14

Or    Rain Water

         Full Moon

         4/13/14

Other examples are:   Ocean Water—Samhain---Waxing Moon —10/31/14

Recently I was lucky I was able to collect Rain Water during a Thunderstorm at when a lighting strike occurred at 1:23 p.m. during a New Moon  So it was labeled : Thunderstorm w/lighting strike 1:23 p.m., New Moon and the date.  

The strike occurred just 6 blocks from where I was, and I was lucky to collect the wood from the blasted Tree, one long enough to eventually make into a wand, the other pieces will come in handy.

So in labeling always remember this:

1. The date and time it was collected. I know people who also add the phase the moon was in at the time of collection.

2. Where the collection took place.

3. What you collected. Is this rain from a lightning storm, melted snow, hail, ocean? Give it a description.

SPECIAL NOTE:   Do not use wood, leather or other natural materials because the water will have a tendency to absorb the minerals and energies of the container. This will alter its composition and change the energy you wanted to collect for your workings.

BOTTLES

As I said about the bottles, they can come from different types of uses, whiskey, beer, bottled water, vodka, or other liquid glass containers that never held anything poisonous; some men’s cologne bottles work just as well. 

Before you use them they must be washed with Lemon dishwashing soap and any paper labels soaked off.  Some practioners will add a pinch of Sea Salt for extra purification during the soaking process.

Plastic bottles or jugs used to transport waters should be purified in the same manner. 

Except for the plastic twist on tops on plastic containers all bottles should be plugged with cork stoppers, you can find them either at a hardware store or craft store, measure the inside diameter of the bottle by measuring across the lip of the bottle, this will help to insert the cork into the mouth of the bottle.  No metal caps should be used as this will discharge the energy of the water.

Now if you are a bit shaky about pouring the water into the bottle, you can use a plastic funnel to help pour it and avoid spillage.

And as I said if the label on the bottle is not paper but more permanent, you can cover it with an appropriate color paper, just leave enough on the side of the bottle so you can see how much you have remaining after each use.

Keep your bottles in a special cabinet to avoid Sun light, to prevent the Sun’s energy changing the energy within the bottle and to slow down any evaporation.

HOW LONG TO KEEP

The average amount of time to keep Sacred waters that you’ve collected is anywhere between 6 months to a year, but on an average a year at least.

And to wait to replace them until you’ve collected your next year’s batch in approximately the same or nearly the same conditions.

The exception I’ve discovered is those water’s collected under exceptional conditions, keep those until they are gone, even if it may be more than a year,  sometimes exceptional conditions only come just a few times in one’s life time, so it is worth holding on to.

With those exceptional waters you may have to check to see if anything is growing in them, when that happens filter the water again, clean out the bottle it was stored in (again with lemon soap) and then re-cork.

These instructions will get you started so now start collecting your equipment to put together your Sacred Waters.

My Next blog on Waters will be about Rain Water, the types of Rain water etc. 

Blessings Ms. Q

Types of Waters for Magickal Uses INTRODUCTION~~~~

Dear Ms. Q,

So you've collected your first batch of rain water, and it happens to be that first rain after the Spring (or if you live down under) Fall Solstice.

Now you want to know what types of Rainwater there are and their magical uses as well as other types of water, how to collect it, how to filter it, how to store it and what are their individual purposes.

Well remember how I told you about all the different kinds of Graveyard Dirt and how to collect it, classify it, even how to do substitutions if going to a graveyard or cemetery was not easy?

Well it’s the same thing with WATER----there is all kinds of Waters and believe it or not there are sub-headings for a number of those waters.

The General Headings are these:

Rain Water

Spring Water

Well Water

Ocean or Sea Water

Lake Water

River Water

Holy Water or Consecrated Water (yes there are two different types)

Snow (yes Snow)

Hail (yes Hail)

And Made Waters--- I’ll explain that later

Trust me the types of Waters, their combinations, how to collect and store them, their uses would take a book.

So I will have to post it under separate headings, and also have to deal with different living conditions, such as City, Country, Desert, Forest, Ocean side, not Ocean side.

How you will collect each type of water will be covered in each section.

It’s what you’re going to do with each batch that’s important after you collect them.

And you are going to need bottles, bottles of different colors if possible, and this is where you become a repurposing practioner----Say you have a neighbor who LOVES Vodka, and he gets the Vodka that comes in dark Blue Bottles---ask him to set those bottles aside for you, Bombay Gin and some Saki comes in pale blue bottles and one brand of Sake comes in pale pink bottles, certain types of sparking waters (for drinking) come in blue and green bottles, also look for bottles that are black, red, purple, yellow, look for any unusual color bottle.  Brown beer bottles are also good as well but don’t overdo them.

Then you are going to need corks that will fit the open neck of the bottle, and this will mean different size corks, no you cannot use the metal twist on tops, metal takes away the energy.

Now after you have a supply of bottles Wash them with lemon dishwashing soap and if they have paper labels remove them, so it will mean soaking those bottles to remove the labels, if the label is permanent to the bottle cover it with an appropriate color paper and either glue it to the bottle or tape it, but leave a side edge open so you can see how much water you have in that bottle----it will tell you when to replenish your supply.

Eventually over time you can get fancy with your bottles in designs, as you do that it will make them more connected to you and the type of workings you will be doing with each type of water.

COLLECTING----as I said each type of water has their own way of being collected, no matter what  when you collect your waters use only either glass bottles or glass or ceramic bowls, or cups, those too need to be pre-washed with lemon dish soap, now in the case of transporting the bottles if they have plastic twist on tops that is fine, and if the area is dangerous to walk in then use plastic bottles for safety  to collect the water but then transfer to glass bottles as soon as possible.

All Waters that are collected should be filtered afterwards at your home,  use paper filters like for coffee making to remove debris and particles.  My Granny in her day use to use clean white cotton cloth or muslin or several layers of cheese cloth, if you have a plastic funnel that is a good holder for the filter.

SUPPLIES LIST---

So the supplies you will need are:

 bottles in both clear and color,

corks in different sizes,

 a collecting bottle,

 a collecting bowl,

filters and funnels (remember all this should NOT be metal),

color papers in case,

label papers,

water proof pens with water proof inks. 

A map to show where you can freely collect waters that is not rain water,

A list of locations where you can carefully collect specialized waters,

And a link to your local weather station to see what kind of conditions for rain.

Now in my next set of postings for Waters you will see how all of this comes into play.   And I will use the Key Tag word Water for your Searches

Blessings Ms. Q

The First Rain after the Spring Equinox or Rain Water~~~

Dear Ms. Q,

I am planning to address the subject of Waters in greater depth at a later posting, but for now I want to let you know something that is very important.

I only just came across it from my Granny's notes, I had almost forgotten it because we are experiencing a drought where I'm at.

It is important to listen to weather reports espeically about when rain is coming,  certain rain waters have certain magikal uses or properties, rain water in general is good for making holy water, but rain waters gathered or collected at certain times or under certain conditions are exceptionally important.

Right now I'm just going to tell you what kinds of Rain Water.

Rain Water is concidered one of the types of "Living Waters" that is important for magikal workings, there are others such as River, Ocean, Bay, Spring water (at the source), natural glacial water, snow, stream, creek, Lake (but not pond).  Water from the Tap or made ice cubes are not "Living Water".

Rain water in general is good for making Holy Water and can be collected any time it rains, but these next 3 types of waters listed are very important and should be bottled and labeled separately---

The first rain water after the Spring Equinox....

Rain Water collected during a thunderstorm or (if possible) a hurricane...

Rain Water that falls at night during the full moon...

The last three are espeically important

Now where I'm at we've had the Spring Equinox but no rain although rain is predicted in the next few days, I will put out a large glass jar or ceramic bowl to collect the water, then over another glass jar I will strech a large piece of natural muslin over the mouth of a glass jar and tie it down with string, slowly pour the water onto the muslin to allow it to drip into the 2nd bowl while filtering out any debris, the
jar then will be sealed and labeled as to what it is and when it was collected and under what conditions.

If you are not sure how to lable it it can be like this ---Rain Water  1st Rain after Spring Equinox 03/22/14

Or Thunderstorm Rain Water 3/22/14   or Full Moon Rain Water 3/22/14    and then there's the plain Rain Water 3/22/14   This way you'll know what kind of water it is and under what conditions it was collected and When.

Now I was told some years ago if the water collected the previous year was not used to pour it into the ground after you've collected replacement water under the same conditions.   It is possible that it could lose its potency, but I've not had that happen as yet, but this year where I'm at it being unusually dry I may find out.  Which means I may have to use other Living waters in spell work.

Although this is a short post consider it an important one.

Blessings Ms. Q