Chapter 5

ornament

The Element of Water
in Magic

Water manifests as an element in ourselves and also in our surroundings. It works in conjunction with the other elements of fire, air, and earth in a myriad of ways. Water combined with fire creates steam. Water combined with air creates vapor and humidity. Water combined with earth creates mud. Each of these has its own unique healing and transformational properties. Steam baths are a traditional healing process throughout many parts of the world, while vapor has been known as a medical treatment for disorders concerning breathing. Mud, too, is something that is a time-honored healing technique in the form of mud baths and treatments, which people pay dearly for in spas.

In magic, water is often marked by the following glyph, which is symbolic of the cup, chalice, or other container that would hold water: .

Honoring the Element

There are many simple things you can do both physically and spirituality to honor the element of water in and around you.

Water reminds us to keep moving forward—however, when assigned a direction in Witchcraft, water is usually associated with the west. It is represented by the colors blue and sometimes gray. In that direction cauldrons, mirrors, chalices, and actual water are used as tools of the element. In some traditions this is also the direction for the ancestors, the dead, and otherworldly beings. Because of this connection with those that have gone before, many Wiccan circles start their rituals with chants and calls to this element.

Water Altars and Shrines

Water altars and shrines can be general or specifically created to honor a particular god, goddess, or water entity. An altar is set up as a temporary space for a specific magical working, while a shrine is created to be a permanent place to worship and focus your spiritual energy. Think carefully about where your altar or shrine will be located, as it should be placed somewhere you can interact with it undisturbed from external influences. If there is not a permanent place for your altar or shrine, consider making a smaller, more portable one. This can be done in a small box or tin and then be closed and put away when not in use.

Customarily a general water altar or shrine would feature a blue altar cloth, which is representative of the element. I like to use a natural fabric like cotton or silk. If you are making one that is specific to a god or goddess, you may wish to incorporate fabric that uses some common motifs or symbols. For example, if you are setting up a space to honor a deity of the sea, there are fabrics that contain images of waves or sea birds that you can utilize. Whatever cloth you use will be the base of your altar or shrine. Next, you will begin to assemble your actual elemental items.

Clearly, the most important feature you include will be the actual water. This can be contained in a dish, bowl, chalice, bottle, or whatever else you wish. Choose your materials carefully; obviously a wood bowl will react differently than a glass or metal one. This vessel will hold your actual water. Many witches choose to include spring water, sacred water from a blessed river or well, ocean water, or any other type they find significant to them. You may also wish to consider adding a fountain. Several years ago, when I was going through a difficult time dealing with my emotions of grief and anger, I purchased a large fountain of malachite, turquoise, slate, and chrysocolla. It helped me to both explore and accept some of these feelings, and it certainly made the whole space much more pleasant. Falling water—as found in both waterfalls and fountains—is known to produce negative ions, which are said to provide both vitality and energy.

In order for your space to operate most effectively, you will need to also have the other elements represented. You can add a blue candle sitting in a candleholder filled with water, and you can even use candles that have water-themed herbs and oils added to the wax. If you are adding these items after the candle has already been created, please do so in moderation, as too much may cause the candle to smoke excessively or even become overly inflamed. You can use an incense blend dedicated to a water goddess or god, or just use some of these water herbs burned on a piece of charcoal to represent the air element. The element of earth can be present in this space in the form of sand or dirt from the shoreline. Alternatively, you could use a watery crystal such as turquoise or moonstone on the shrine. You are limited only by the extent of your imagination. I know one outdoor event space that features a water shrine made out of an upcycled rowboat painted in swirls of blue and decorated with starfish, shells, and other items from the sea.

Another valuable feature to consider adding is a water elemental figure or statue. This could be of the water goddess or god you are focusing on, a water-loving animal like dolphins or ducks, a mythic creature like a mermaid or a selkie, or just about anything else water related. When creating spaces like these, it is best to be guided both by your spiritual teachers and also your intuition. There have been instances when items literally fell into place right on or near my shrine as I was walking past. Alternatively, there have been other times when things have had a difficult time being included, and I found them being knocked over or misplaced. I received a good piece of advice many years ago when a friend told me to mark the exact location of your statues, as sometimes they may seem to move and shift without any outside help. There are many beautiful commercial statues and artwork available out there, or feel free to create your own piece of artwork. Just make sure it is something that will be able to command and focus your attention as you interact with it in your sacred space.

Please do your best to clean and maintain your sacred space on a regular basis. To achieve the best results, it should be treated with the utmost care and respect. It is always a good idea to use some of your magical waters as part of the regular cleaning and blessing of the space.

Types of Water

Water is water—or is it? There is spring water, holy water, rainwater, river water, storm water, glacier water, ocean water, waterfall water, pond water, well water, and many more. It can be solid, liquid, or gas, changing its character frequently. Each one of these specific waters will create their own unique magical energy.

Note: No water is to be gathered without leaving some type of offering. Magic operates on a system of exchange, and you must give something in order to achieve something. When gathering waters I often will leave offerings of coins, spirits, food, flowers, or the like. It is best to gather your sacred water into a glass jar or bottle; be sure to label it with the type of water, the date, the moon phase, and the weather conditions (storm, snow, or whatever is appropriate).

Dew Water: While very difficult to collect, dew water is great to use in love magic or as an offering to the fey, or Faery world.

Glacier Water: Water from a glacier can be used to provide your magic with clarity and a connection to the ancients.

Hurricane Water: This is obviously a very specific type of storm water. It is one of extreme strength and power. Hurricanes bring quick and sudden change. The water gathered at this time can be used for change, too, in addition to justice and protection. In the religion of La Regla Lucumi, the hurricane is the domain of the orisha Oya.

Lake Water: This type of water is said to bring calm, peace, and joy. It is also useful for workings concerning self-reflection and self-assessment.

Ocean Water: Ocean water, like the other waters, takes on the local energy of the site. The Atlantic Ocean will have a very different vibration than the Pacific and other oceans. Obviously, it will be easiest to obtain water from a source close to you. Ocean water is a common offering in the religion of La Regla Lucumi for the orisha Yemaya.

Pond Water: This water is useful for creating opportunities, self-discovery, and relaxation.

Rainwater: This water is one of the best to use for your magic. Many witches believe that May rainwater is the best because when gathered at this time, it takes on the character of Beltane. This is a time when the earth is said to celebrate fertility, newness, rebirth, and success. This water can be utilized for blessings, cleansings, prosperity, love workings, and just about every other kind of magic.

Snow Water: Snow can represent purity and change, and the water from it can be used in magic for the same purpose. The Yule season is a wonderful time to collect snow as it will be full of the magical energy of that time of year.

Spring Water: Spring water is heavily influenced by the surrounding spirit of place. It will take on the unique character of where the spring is located, be it the mountains, the forest, or elsewhere. As a rule, however, spring water is associated with newness and bounty. There are many sacred springs such as the ones in Bath, Lourdes, and elsewhere throughout the globe.

Storm Water: Storm water hurls itself at us from the heavens with a powerful force. Many times it is accompanied by thunder, lightning, and fierce winds. Traditional Witchcraft tells us that this water can be used to strengthen spells and workings. It can also be used for protection, motivation, and rebirth. On a darker note, some individuals use this for hexing, cursing, and revenge work.

Swamp Water: Swamp water has a character all its own. Often mixed with algae, silt, and even mud, it can be fetid and funky. Magical practitioners often use this type of water for workings dealing with binding, banishing, hexes, curses, and magic involving revenge.

Urban Water: Urban water, like all waters, has a unique energy influenced by its environment, but that doesn’t mean it’s not magical. Traveling throughout the streets and tunnels of a city, urban water has a journey that is serpentine and purposeful. If you live in an urban environment, this water carries the energy of your spirit of place. Very often it comes from a major river or body of water near the city. The tap water in Paris is made up in part from the Seine River; the same is true for London, with a percentage of the tap water coming from the Thames. The unique character of these rivers will then lend their energetic influence to your spells and workings. Because urban tap water passes by rich and poor residents of the city, you can use it in magic both for success and prosperity and also for curses and hexes (while I don’t advocate for these types of spells, I certainly understand why individuals use them).

Waterfall Water: Water from a waterfall is rejuvenating. It creates a newness and an energy that is unlike any other.

Well Water: Well water is useful in magic for granting wishes, healing, and connection to otherworldly beings.

Sacred water holds a special place in many different cultures. In Southern Conjure water is a vehicle for travel and transformation. In Buddhism water is one of the four major elements, and it is used for cleansing, purification, and sacred offerings. It represents clarity and the flow of existence.

Water and Chakras

Water is associated with the sacral chakra, the second of the seven main chakras. This chakra is called Svadhisthana and is located in the lower belly. It is associated with your relationship with yourself and others; it is a seat of creativity and joy. Svadhisthana translates to “one’s own abode” or “the dwelling within.” Sexuality and pleasure are also governed by this chakra. The color of this chakra is orange, and meditating with candles of this color may help to activate and heal this chakra. The mantra for this chakra is the word vam. Chanting it is said to help one heal from a poor self-image or difficulties in relationships and sexual encounters.

Water and Feng Shui

Feng shui is the Chinese system of geomancy, which governs the placement of items to improve energy and success. The very words feng shui translate into “wind and water.” Water is one of the five sacred elements in feng shui. It will help to attract both freedom and flow into your space. Water is also said to govern status, wealth, and prosperity. Obviously you can represent water in your own environment by using actual water in the form of a fountain or bottle of water, by using the color blue, having fish, or displaying an artistic representation of water or marine animals. However, feng shui is all about balance, so if there are imbalances in your life, make sure water isn’t dominating that area in your home. The system of Kanyu is what informs feng shui. Kanyu is the name of the geomantic system that recognizes the natural energy of the environment. Kanyu recognizes placement of water not just inside your home but in the external surrounds as well. I have had several feng shui classes and consultations over the years, and I highly recommend learning from a professional if you want to seriously incorporate these practices in your own home.

Water in Astrology

The element of water is connected to the astrological water signs of Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. These people are said to possess a dreamy, fluid, and watery nature that can cause them to be led by their deep emotions and feelings. As sun rulers, the influence dates of each sign are approximately as follows:

Each one of the signs is associated with a different animal and a planetary ruler and has its own glyph. Cancer is considered the sign of the crab and is ruled by the planet Venus. Scorpio is often symbolized as the scorpion, lobster, or crawfish, and it is ruled by Mars. Finally, Pisces is the sign of the fish and is ruled by the planet Neptune; it is also often associated with the moon. In astrological writing, these signs are symbolized by the following glyphs:

The different associations reflect the different characteristics of each water sign. Here are the keywords associated to each sign:

Water in Tarot

When people think about elemental water magic, they will often think about tarot and the suit of cups. Cups are the tarot suit traditionally aligned with water. Most tarot scholars will tell you that cups are associated primarily with the emotions and love in particular. If one looks at the physical characteristics of this suit manifesting in the page, knight, queen, and king, these cards often represent people who have fairer skin and blond hair with blue or green eyes. In addition to the individual’s physical characteristics, these cards can simply represent the astrological sign of the person in question. For example, the Queen of Cups may represent a mature, fair-haired woman or a mature woman whose natal sun is in a water sign.

Ace of Cups

Like all the tarot suits, the cups begin with the ace. Numbered one, the Ace of Cups most often shows a single cup or chalice. This has been said to represent the Holy Grail. The grail, the most famous cup in Christianity, is said to have been the cup Jesus drank from at the Last Supper. It also features prominently in the legend of King Arthur. The cup is said to hold the keys to eternal youth and happiness. The Ace of Cups in many ways symbolizes this bountiful happiness and joy. The water it contains has been likened to the contents of the witch’s cauldron and the Fountain of Youth. The cup is said to hold boundless potential, just like the element of water itself.34

In addition to the cups cards, there are a few trumps (major arcana cards) that are associated with water. If one looks at the classic Rider-Waite deck, it is filled with the traditional symbols for the cards. These are echoed throughout many other decks and tarot interpretations. The element of water is a significant feature most notably in the Death, Temperance, Star, Moon, and Judgement cards.

Death

The Death card is numbered 13 and is certainly one of the most powerful cards in the deck. As a child I watched a lot of bad television; this card would always appear in scenes with a stereotypical psychic, and tragedy was sure to follow. In reality the Death card doesn’t necessarily mean actual death but instead complete transformation. The water seen in this card isn’t the prominent feature; it is featured in the distance. This makes it present but not an immediate issue. Many decks see this card as a movement away from difficulty, a change on every level. I have heard this card referred to as unwilling or unwelcome change. This is an interesting way of looking at it. Many of us fear change, even though it is the one constant in the universe. Ultimately all things die or are transformed, and, for better or worse, everyone must make their peace with it. Change cannot be stopped, and neither can the tides, or the currents of water here on earth.

Temperance

In the Rider-Waite deck, the Temperance card immediately follows the Death card and is numbered 14. It has water featured both in the form of a pond or pool literally front and center and being poured back and forth from the two chalices. Temperance is about balance, like the water that pours back and forth between the two cups. In the Thoth deck, Crowley talks about dissolving a pearl in wine as part of the meditative energy for this card. Sometimes this card is given the alternate name of Art.

The Star

The Star card, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful, both in its imagery and its meaning. It is said to represent destiny, hope, knowledge, vision, healing, calm, transcendence, transformation, and inspiration. The card can be seen as a guiding light in the universe that shows you the way to your dreams.

The Moon

In Tarot decks the Moon represents things that are unseen and hidden. Like water itself, it frequently represents deep emotions and feelings. Traditional imagery for this card usually features two dogs or jackals and a crab, crawfish, or lobster crawling out of the water. Some have theorized that the image of a dog contrasted with that of a wolf or a jackal are representative of both the tame and wild sides of our unconscious nature. Here one sees that all three watery zodiac signs are present in this card: the crab (Cancer), the crawfish or lobster (Scorpio), and the moon (Pisces).

In some decks this card features water falling from the sky. The water could be seen as rain or tears; some see it as the pull of the moon lifting water up out of the seas. The moon is known to control the tides and has a supremely powerful effect on water.

Judgement

Judgement is one of the last cards in the deck. It is numbered 20, and the idea of finality is highlighted here. It traditionally features an image of the angel Gabriel blowing his trumpet. He is said to help with communication and protection. The water in the card is calm and placid. It is known to represent return and renewal as well as regeneration on a deep level. There is a change here, too, but this time it is a complete and total new beginning based on your past deeds and works.

In a Word, Water

The following essay is from Alyson G. Eggleston, PhD, a linguist and writer living in Charleston, SC, with her two feline familiars. Fascinated with human language, much of her work focuses on the effects of language on our thinking and problem-solving abilities. She is also passionate about language as a tool of access and enjoys equipping young folks with the tools they need for success and discernment.

Water: life, motion, energy—if these are the concepts summoned to mind when you hear or say what was probably among the first words you spoke in your mother tongue, you’re right on track with the historical and linguistic roots of this precious, mysterious substance. Forms of the word from Early Old English (AD 600–1066) provide scholars with clues of its origins. Used mostly in compound phrases, the concept was rendered as uaeter or uuaeter35 until sound changes happening due to language contact and conflict in the southeast of what is now England resulted in the more familiar-looking Middle English forms: water and vater.

But this is only the story as it comes to us through the Germanic branch of the Indo-European family tree, a web of related languages that connects languages spoken in Europe, India, and parts of Central Asia to one single prehistoric parent language, Proto-Indo-European. Linguists and philologists like Sir William Jones and Franz Bopp36 were among the first voices to draw cohesive evidence that languages as disparate in place and time as Sanskrit, Hittite, Latin, Persian, German, Greek, and Irish are all, in fact, related. Here’s where it gets interesting: words that identify universal concepts that all cultures need or use are often linguists’ first targets when we investigate possible family connections between spoken languages37—and “water” fits that bill! A universal need and resource, “water” is among the Swadesh 100, a list of words American linguist Morris Swadesh curated as universal concepts during his fieldwork with North American indigenous languages and their speakers.

English “water” shares the same pan-Indo-European base as the Hittite uiten- and uitar,38 forming a family line that goes back at least 3,500 years in time and connects the northwestern fringe of Europe with the language of an Anatolian empire. Without detailing the sound change patterns over time, the Sanskrit udan, the Greek , the Old Church Slavonic vodan, and the Irish uisce are all daughters of the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European mother form *wódr.39 The Latin unda, meaning “wave,” is another related descendant form, but this one encodes the idea of water in motion. You may more easily recognize the unda root in a word like “undulate.”

Just as speakers can emphasize the motion and direction of water, they often encode references to water as an alcoholic spirit, and the Oxford English Dictionary reports this etymon pattern as widespread among the European languages. Uisce, from which we derive “whiskey,” vodan, root of “vodka,” and Latin aqua vitae, or “water of life,” are all Indo-European word forms for distilled alcohols.

So remember, when you purse your lips together as you ask for that thirst-quenching substance, your mouth is producing a sound pattern that has changed very little over thousands of years. Other Indo-European language speakers were making similar echoes as you are now, uttering the same word: water.

Alyson G. Eggleston

ornament

The element of water is vital for all living things. Magically it helps us heal, get in touch with our emotions and the emotions of others, travel, and transform. By fully exploring and understanding the element of water and all it is associated with, its true power and ultimate potential can be unlocked.

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34. Nichols, Jung and Tarot, 1–7.

35. “water, n.” OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2019, www.oed.com/view/Entry/226109. Accessed 6 January 2020.

36. B. W. Fortson, Indo-European Language and Culture: An Introduction. Wiley, 2011. Web. Blackwell Textbooks in Linguistics.

37. M. Swadesh, “Lexicostatistic Dating of Prehistoric Ethnic Contacts,” Proceedings American Philosophical Society 96, (1952), 452–463.

38. T. Olander, P. Widmer, and G. Keydana, “Indo-European Accent and Ablaut,” Museum Tusculanum Press, University of Copenhagen, 2013. Web. Copenhagen Studies in Indo-European.

39. When linguists propose reconstructed proto-forms of words and word-roots, the asterisk is used to distinguish the form from historically attested and written forms.