Water in Divination
and Dreams
Divination and dreams are inherently watery. They are deep, elusive, and mysterious. By calling on the elemental power of water, we can gain true insight and understanding. In dreams water can manifest in as many ways as it does in waking life. There can be rivers to cross, waterfalls to dance in, and oceans to sail. Each one tells us something different about the situations that are occurring in our lives. Water can also be used to help understand the messages that come through divination. There is water-based scrying such as well gazing, tools like tarot that feature watery imagery, and dowsing rods and pendulums that can be used to tell the future or find actual water.
Throughout almost eight thousand years of history, the dowsing rod has been used to find things, most specifically water. The process, called rhabdomancy, is unclear in its origins. However, it has been successfully used by empires, governments, and the military to find necessary water. The rods have been said to be symbolic of the Egyptian pharaoh’s scepter or even Poseidon’s trident, while phallic implications of power and sexuality are evident as well. Dowsing rods are said to have been used by the Queen of Sheba, King Solomon, Queen Cleopatra, and Marco Polo. In the nineteenth century, many people practiced dowsing for a variety of purposes. The common belief today, however, has classified dowsing as a psychic process that is not grounded in traditional science. Somewhere along the way dowsing became attached to magic. During the Spanish Inquisition dowsing was considered “water witching” and was punishable by death. The Catholic Church repeatedly denounced dowsing, and Martin Luther declared it a mortal sin. Despite this, the methods still live on today.
Water Symbolism in Dreams and Journey Work
Sometimes water has a message to tell us. One of the ways it does this is by appearing in our dreams or journey workings to help us find our way. Obviously, everyone’s dreams have their own personal significance, but there are some general guidelines for interpreting symbolism that one can follow.
Sigmund Freud in his Interpretation of Dreams (1913) wrote quite a bit about water both generally and specifically. Over a hundred years later, some of this seems a little basic. Yes, of course, if your blanket falls off in the middle of the night, you may feel like you are slipping into the water; if you are thirsty in real life, you may dream that this thirst is quenched; or water in a dream may simply represent that you need to go to the bathroom. Freud also asserts that dreams of floating or swimming through narrow passages may represent being in the womb or the birth process.44Alternatively, there are the conclusions of Carl Jung, whom I personally prefer to Freud, in his analysis of dream symbols and archetypal representations. For more than half his life, Jung lived on the water. Water, he believed, was the symbol of “the collective unconscious.” Jung aligned water in dreams with feminine energy.45
Pay special attention to how you are interacting and feeling about the water present in your dreams; this can unlock its unique message. Water is about potential, and how you react to this potential may give you insight.
Lakes: According to Zen Buddhism, lakes can symbolize meditation and the mind. In general, dreaming of lakes represents your life, specifically your emotional state. If the lake is calm, you are experiencing inner peace; if it is turbulent, there may be some issues or emotional disorder.
Ocean: In many ways, seeing or being near the ocean in your dreams can symbolize the unknown. Pay attention to the feeling you associate with this locale while you are dreaming; if it is tumultuous and you are feeling anxiety or fear, maybe there is something hidden that you are nervous about discovering.
Rain: Rain in your dream could be indicative of sadness or grieving. However, rain also is indicative of fertility, and it could mean new abundance and success coming into your life. A question to ask yourself is about the intensity of the rain in the dream. Are you caught in an extreme storm or is the rain just a subtle backdrop?
Rivers: Rivers can either be rough or calm. Depending on which one you are dealing with in your dreamspace, the messages can vary. In many ways, rivers are transportation routes, and seeing one in your dream could mean there is an upcoming move or some sort of travel down the road for you. If in the dream you remember crossing a river, this could mean that you are facing a challenge or a transition in your life that you will be able to navigate successfully. A river of clear water may be symbolic of happiness and satisfaction in your life, while a dry riverbed can mean that you are feeling unsatisfied or being deceived in some way. Freud equated rivers with the father figure in a person’s life. Jung believed that rivers in dreams could also represent the neverending journey of self-discovery and being at one with your destiny.
Springs: Springs can symbolize newness and opportunity in your dreams. Alternatively, there could be an issue with your bladder. Dreams can be quite literal sometimes.
Storms: Dreaming of storms can mean that you are having difficulties expressing your emotions. They can also mean obstacles or delays in your path.
Swamps: The swamp is a place of in-between. Most often swamps are characterized by stagnant water. Dreaming of yourself in the swamp could mean that you are stuck in your current situation. Stagnant water can also signify insincerity in your feelings and actions.
Waterfalls: Waterfalls in dreams are said to represent great joy, abundance, and vitality. They can also be symbolic of the need to rest and recharge, perhaps even take a vacation.
Dowsing Rods
Dowsing rods aren’t just for finding water; they are also very useful for divination. They allow you to become aware of different energies and currents in the atmosphere. Functioning as a conduit for psychic energy, they work very well for some people. You can use one rod or two for divination. Traditionally they were made out of sticks of hazel or willow trees, while today it is common to use copper. It is interesting to note that both copper and willow have been associated specifically with the element of water. These materials will allow the psychic energy to flow most excellently.
My best advice for using the rods is to begin by setting up your ritual altar or working area. Be sure to include ritual items to represent each of the elements. Hold the rods gently in your hands. Sometimes it helps if you shake your hands vigorously before you begin. Next, do your best to clear your mind of extraneous thoughts. This can be helped by burning sandalwood or other incense used for focus and meditation. Then proceed by speaking aloud your intentions. You can ask the rods to show you what a yes response from them will look like. The rods may come together, move apart, spin around quickly, or stay still. Pay close attention to the clues the dowsing rods give you.
Next, ask the dowsing rods to show you what a no answer will look like. Again, pay close attention to their movements. When you have observed these two hopefully different states, you are now ready to begin. Ask the rods if they are able to give you answers to your questions at this time. If the answer is no, put the rods away and try again later. If yes, you can ask your first question aloud. This should be a simple question that can be answered easily with a yes or no response.
Pendulums
Dowsing can also be done with a pendulum. If you are just beginning, try both methods out and see which works best for you. Both pendulums and rods can be made with a variety of materials. It may be that you prefer a particular material or method over the others. It could also be that certain methods are more successful for you. When starting out I recommend using them on a regular basis to ask simple questions like “Will I get rained on today?” to test out your success rate with dowsing. This will help you have a better idea of what is going on when you use this method for more serious questions.
Wax and Water Scrying
Water can conform to the shape of whatever vessel you put it into. This makes it uniquely suited for divination and scrying. Scrying is a form of divination; also called “peeping,” it allows the mind to see messages and information through shapes and symbols. Water scrying is a form of hydromancy, or divination with water. You can also divine with water by throwing offerings in it. Traditionally it was thought that if your offering sank to the bottom of the water, your wishes would be granted.
The fact that water can reveal things to us may be seen throughout both history and folklore. Even ancient sites like Bath were used as a place to communicate with the dead and the otherworld. In ancient Greece there was a shrine to Demeter where visitors would lower a mirror down into the springs to determine the health of a sick person. The mirror was said to show the person either alive or dead. Aristotle wrote about a fountain in Sicily where visitors threw notes into the water. If the notes floated on top of the water, they were said to come true.
In many ways water can function as a mirror both literally and figuratively. For better or worse, water provides a reflection—albeit a distorted one. It allows us to see things and feel things one would not otherwise have access to. The magic of transformation may be seen in these reflections. A mirror is a portal, just like the water. One can find their way to mysterious places where things are not always exactly as they seem.
The easiest way to water scry is to obtain a dark-colored bowl or container and fill it with water. Most often people use spring water, but feel free to use tap water, ocean water, river water, or whatever you feel drawn to using. It may help to charge your water overnight with the energy of the moon. You can even purchase special black water for this process, which gets its dark color from fulvic acid produced by the biodegration of dead organic matter. It contains extra minerals and electrolytes. The bottom line is that you can use many different things for scrying. I know some people who use plain water with the addition of ink, and even one hairdresser friend who will tell the future from your shampoo bubbles.
Then, when you are ready, do your best to clear your mind, enter a meditative state, and gaze at the water. Some prefer to focus on the bottom of the bowl, while others say messages come from just below the surface. Try both and see what method works the best for you. The symbols you see can be interpreted using the same methods as tea leaf reading or dream interpretation, but ultimately you are in charge of what those images mean to you.
If you are having difficulty, it may help to dim the lights or perform some journey work beforehand. Do not try to rush the process; most worthwhile endeavors take time and effort. In any case, be sure to take note of what you see, as the meanings may not be immediately clear but instead may choose to unfold in the coming days or weeks. Water can be used as a scrying or divination tool all on its own or with the addition of wax or even metal.
Amethyst Scrying Bowl
Amethyst is one of the stones that is most often used for psychic power and connection. This makes it a natural choice for use in your water scrying bowl.
ingredients:
Black natural fabric cloth (preferably silk or cotton)
1 small black or dark blue ceramic or glass bowl
4 small white candles with candleholders
4 drops sandalwood oil
1 small mirror
1 small amethyst crystal
1 cup spring or well water
Matches or a lighter
Prepare a special place to do your scrying and begin by making sure your area is clean before you lay the cloth out. Place the bowl directly in the center of your cloth. Place the candles in their holders in each of the four directions, representing earth, air, fire, and water. On each candle place a drop of the sandalwood oil. In the bottom of the bowl place the mirror, and then put the amethyst on top of the mirror. Close the curtains or shades and turn out the lights. Darkness will help the process; some people even choose to wear a veil to help with prophetic messages. Light the candles. Slowly pour the water into the bowl. Now do your best to clear your mind. You may wish to say a prayer, a blessing, or a statement of your intent. Then gaze into the water.
Wax Scrying
People also perform divination in water using wax to gain answers and insight. It is another type of scrying where you will get information from what you see in the wax. If you would like to try this yourself, here are some basic instructions.
ingredients:
Dark-colored shallow scrying bowl (glass or ceramic)
1 cup water (moon, well, and river water work well)
1 white taper candle
Matches
Paper
Fireproof bowl, ashtray, or dish
Dim the lights and draw the curtains in your room. Gather all items together on your altar or shrine. Place the bowl in the center of your space. Write down all your questions on the paper. Light the candle and very carefully drip the wax into the water as you state your question or focus on it silently (try not to burn yourself or anything else with the flame and wax). Let the candle drip into the water until it begins to form a shape or shapes. Then snuff the candle out and rest it in the fireproof dish. Next, take as much time as you need to meditate and study the shapes that have formed, recording your impressions on the paper. If you would like to ask additional questions, remove the wax shapes that have materialized in the water and begin the process over again. Make sure you have taken notes on all the questions and the responses you have received, then dispose of all the leftover wax in the trash and pour the remaining water out underneath a large tree. If you need more information on the shapes you are finding, consider consulting a book about dream symbolism or tea leaf reading; the interpretation of the signs and shapes you find there will be helpful in your process.
Tea Leaf Reading
Tasseomancy, more commonly known as tea leaf reading, is another way of using water in connection with divination. It is an ancient art that grew out of scrying practices that began in the Middle Ages. Similar to scrying, the future is told by reading the shapes and symbols that are left in the cup after drinking some tea. The practice can also be done with coffee, but it is less popular. For best results, you must start with a teapot and some loose tea. The tea must be stirred, steeped, and then poured out into the cups. The questioner can ask to find out information about a specific issue or to just generally know what the future looks like via the leaves. While drinking, the seeker can focus on the nature of water.
In Tea & Tasseomancy by K. Henriott-Jauw, she talks about drinking in waves, writing, “It was flowing into my mouth like the currents of the sea. I thought of the ocean and her connection to all shores.”46 When you are done drinking the tea, turn the cup upside down onto the saucer. Then turn the cup three times in a clockwise motion. Lift up the cup—now you are ready to scry what you see there. Any shapes, figures, or symbols you see will be relevant to your question. You must do your best to open your mind and allow the messages to make themselves known. Like any good divination system, if you are ready to begin working with this, you must practice. Experiment with different tea blends and cups to see which ones provide the most effective results.
Holey Stones
Holey stones are rocks that have been worn down by the water, slowly creating a hole. While tradition says you are supposed to randomly find the stone in order for the magic to work, there are several places to look that will improve your odds. The rocks occur naturally in southern England, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, the USA, and even in Egypt.
Also referred to as hag stones, witch stones, Odin stones, adder stones, fairy stones, and other names, they are said to carry special powers. Long used in folk magic and Hoodoo, they are employed in a whole host of situations.
Holey stones are commonly used in magic and workings about ancestors and the dead. They can be used to keep away unwanted energies from beyond. You can do this by placing a hag stone in your pocket, hanging one by your bed, or tucking one beneath your threshold. If you are going to be using them for an extended period of time, make sure to rinse them in spring water periodically (during the full moon if at all possible) to make sure they retain their maximum effectiveness. You can also leave them as offerings on your ancestor altar to make sure only the most helpful dead come and take advantage of the space.
These stones have their own folklore throughout the world. Some traditions see them as viewfinders into the other realms. They can be used for scrying either on their own or when placed into a bowl of water.
These stones can be worn directly on your person or hung in the doorways and windows to help ward off negativity and the evil eye. In some places these were even known as hex stones that would work to catch or trap any hex sent your way. Consequently, this kind of protection magic wasn’t just used for people, but for animals such as livestock, buildings, and even boats facing danger on the sea.
One of the most famous holey stones is the Tolmen Stone. Located in Dartmoor National Park in England, the stone is the stuff of many legends. The very word breaks down in the Celtic language to tol, which means “hole,” and maen, “stone.” It lies near the edge of the North Teign River. Early Druids are said to have used the stone for purifications and water blessings. The stone features an opening of approximately 40 inches, and anyone who passes through it is said to be cured of rheumatic disorders like arthritis and gout. Coincidentally or not, this area of the United Kingdom is one of my favorite places in the world. I was fortunate enough to experience its magic as a young child and have been enchanted ever since. If you have the opportunity to visit here, I highly recommend it.
In Scotland on Orkney Island there are also some famous holey stones known as the Orkney Standing Stones. It is in one of these large holey stones that lovers are said to reach their hands through and pledge devotion, love, and fidelity in traditional handfasting or marriage ceremonies. If they break these promises, they are said to face retribution from this world and the next.
It isn’t just Celtic folklore that features these holey treasures; they are also said to hold a special significance in Italian magic. In this area these are also seen as gateways to the Faery realms and are said to attract fairies and get them to do your bidding. In Italy these sacred stones are said to be a favorite of the goddess Diana.
The fact that these marvels are also called adder stones points to another part of the mythology surrounding them. Some people believe that the holes in these stones were not caused by water but instead by snakes. There are legends that say this was created by the bite of a snake, while others claim it was done by a group of snakes banding together. The latter theory is furthered by the Welsh Gaelic name for these rocks, Glain Neidr, which simultaneously means serpent’s stone, serpent’s glass, and Druid’s egg. On the high holiday of Beltane, snakes were said to gather and form a ball with a hole in the center. Even Pliny, the ancient historian, mentioned these serpent eggs in his Natural History, saying:
The Druids tell us, that the serpents eject these eggs into the air by their hissing…and that a person must be ready to catch them in a cloak, so as not to let them touch the ground; they say also that he must instantly take to flight on horseback, as the serpents will be sure to pursue him, until some intervening river has placed a barrier between them. The test of its genuineness, they say, is its floating against the curent of a stream, even though it be set in gold. But, as it is the way with magicians to be dexterious and cunning in casting a veil about their frauds, they pretend that these eggs can only be taken on a certain day of the moon; as though, forsooth, it depended entirely upon the human will to make the moon and the serpents accord as to the moment of this operation.47
Whichever way you choose to use holey stones, it is clear that they are deeply and literally influenced by the water that creates them. It is as if the water has created a portal where magic can happen.
Hanging Holey Stone Charm: In almost all the areas they are found, holey stones are used to make protective charms and amulets. The most common one involves the use of a key. If you would like to create one for yourself, the instructions follow. Traditionally this was done with nine holey stones, but you can use fewer if necessary. As I mentioned, the stones that are randomly found hold the most power. Do your best to find as many as you can. A charm similar to this one dating from the 1800s is housed in the Natural History Museum in London, England.
items:
1 antique key
1 or more holey stones
1 cup spring water
1 cup ocean water
1 yard of red cord or ribbon
This working is best done outside or over your sink. Begin by holding the key and the stone in your left hand. Pour the waters over the key and the stone. Next, make a loop in the top of the ribbon and tie it. Then wrap the other end of the ribbon around the stone, going through the hole at least three times. Then knot the ribbon. Repeat with the other holey stones if you have them, then tie the key to the ribbon and cut off any excess ribbon. Now the charm is ready to hang up near your doorway or window to help protect and purify your home.
Crystal Grids with Water
Crystal grids have become very popular of late. You can use the grid to charge up your sacred waters and blends. You may also choose to create a crystal grid with water-influenced crystals.
Water Crystal Grid
If you like, you can make a basic crystal grid to spiritually charge your tarot cards, runes, dowsing rods, or other divination tools.
items:
Quartz crystal gem elixir
Blue or white natural fabric cloth
Glass candleholder
Small blue candle
Matches or a lighter
Divination tools (tarot cards, runes, dowsing rods, or similar)
2 blue kyanite points
2 pieces azurite
Lightly wipe down the space where you will be doing the working with some of the gem elixir. Cover the space with your cloth. Place the candleholder in the center of your cloth. Pour a few drops of the gem elixir in the bottom of the holder, then place the candle on top. Light it. Put your cards, runes, or other divination tool in the place between you and the candle. At the top of the cloth, in line with the candle and your tools, place one of the kyanite points. Directly opposite it, in front of you on the cloth, place the other kyanite point facing the other one. In the far left and right corners of the cloth, forming a 4-point cross, you will place the two pieces of azurite. While the candle burns, sit in front of the space and focus your energy on your divination tools. If you like, you may recite a power chant or mantra. Stay until the candle has burned out. When this is done, your divination tools will be recharged and ready to use again. You may repeat this grid whenever you feel the need.
Tarot
While I don’t recommend actually getting your deck wet, you can use a tarot deck in many ways when doing different kinds of water divination magic. As I outlined in Chapter 5, the suit of cups, along with other individual cards such as the Moon, is significant for this type of elemental work and is associated to water. Here are a few examples:
Tarot cards that represent your genuine desires can be used as part of your altar or shrine for the water element. You can use a reproduction, one of your actual cards, or an old card. When I have a deck that has been well used, I often retire it and break up the cards to utilize in this way.
You can place a significant cups card under your pillow at night to receive insight in your dreams. This could be a card that has been coming up repeatedly in your readings or one that represents the situations that you wish to receive in your life. Be sure to have a notepad and pen ready when you wake up so you can make note of what you learned. This is a great exercise to do on a regular basis, especially if you are just beginning to work with tarot.
Oils and herbs representing the tarot card you are focusing on can be made into an incense blend or oil. You can then wear this to attune with the energy throughout your day. There are several recipes for oils that evoke water’s energy throughout this book. I was recently sorting through my magical drawers and found an old package of Ten of Cups incense. This can be burned to bring about great joy, happiness, and success in the home, representing all of the benefits this card stands for. This could also be done for the Ace of Cups, the Two of Cups, or any of the other cups cards you are trying to connect to. If you can’t find these blends ready-made, consider substituting rose or jasmine incense.
Water can play a powerful part in divination and dreams. It can give us a better understanding of ourselves and the complex situations being navigated throughout existence. When water is present in dreams, it is almost as if a subtle puzzle is being presented to our unconscious selves. When decoded, these messages can give great insight to what is going on in our waking lives. The same can hold true for divination with water and things like tarot or dowsing rods.