The Evil Eye

Over the last 6 months, I have recently found myself telling my students over and over, "It sounds like you need an evil eye talisman." I have said this so much that

I have started to see my Roses (aka students of various mediums) regurgitating the same information back to others, implementing it into their own work, and actively shielding against it! “Well”, I said to myself, “If you keep saying this so much, perhaps it is you that needs the talisman.” So I set to work making some!

 If you have ever visited my home and paid close attention, you will see various sizes shapes and placements of different evil eye talisman, including a dinner plate sized one that faces the front door. With the recent move to Portland, we have put much of our stuff in storage while we find our forever home. With the exception of the dinner plate evil eye and one other small glass eye, they are all packed away. Recently I have begun to wear a wonderful glass eye ring that was bought in the Istanbul Grand Bazaar years ago by a wonderful and very talented dance student of mine from Japan and so I thought it was time to write about protecting yourself from the evil eye with different types of talismans, including designs made with henna on the skin, and reversing the effects via two older spells from England.

In the end, we will discuss how to use water to help cleanse your body of these negative energies, but first a little history and cultural information!

The curse of the evil eye is a cross cultural belief that has a deep and culturally diverse background that ranges from protection and incorporation in henna designs to reversing the effects of the curse. Now, let’s explore protecting yourself from the evil eye with a talisman, reversing the effects via a spell recorded by Charles Godfrey Leland and lastly how to make water to help cleanse your body of these energies, but first a little history and cultural information! The evil eye curse, or a malevolent stare, which does produce curse energy can easily be reversed and protected against using a talisman or other methods. It is believed in, used, and actively protected against in countries such as Brazil, Spain, Portugal, India, Italy, Greece, Morocco, Africa, The UK, Turkey, and most of the Arabic speaking countries. It is present in Folk beliefs of the Berbers, Witchcraft, Islam and Judaism, and is even mentioned in Greek, Roman and Biblical texts. The Evil Eye, simply put, is a jealous or evil gaze from someone who is envious. This belief is so wide that it is hard to ignore! In fact, there is quite a bit of weight to the belief. The Evil Eye is a curse; it is often unconsciously projected from a jealous person to the victim who is typically the one they are jealous of. It is the same exact thing as the “stink eye”.

We’ve all done it and we all have even had it done to us! It is when this “stink eye” is projected onto the recipient over and over that a curse takes hold. It is important to note that most often, when people feel they are truly cursed (rather than just unbalanced paranoia) it comes from the evil eye. There are those rare times when an actual Witch sends a malevolent curse to another practitioner or person; however those seem to be the exception and not the rule.

These take much more to undo than the evil eye curse.

However, the evil eye or a malevolent stare, which does produce curse energy, can easily be reversed and protected against.

There is a long folk history of using spit to help reverse the effects of an ill placed glare or compliment on a child, however the most common evil eye talisman are usually a blue glass eye, seen below, is often used to protect against this evil glare. The classic evil eye motif that most of us are familiar with uses 4 layers of blue and white to create the bull’s eye design. Other designs include the hamsa or Hand of Fatima containing an eye or eye motif and five fingers, sea horses and the very popular Peacock eye or the eye of a peacock’s feather. The hamsa is both a protection amulet and a symbol of God. It can be traced back all the way to Mesopotamia, but is used by Arabic and Berber cultures to protect against the evil eye. Specifically it is a right or a symmetrical five fingered hand that is created with the eye motif in the center to help protect from, reverse, or ward off the malevolent glare of others. In addition, raising the right hand with the fingers slightly apart can help to break or stop the curse. Today it is sold on jewelry, wall hangings and in henna art as both protection and luck bringing.

I have been working with evil eyes since I first started learning belly dance in the very early 2000s. One of the most important things about learning something new is to show its culture proper respect. To do this, I immersed myself in the Middle Eastern Dance culture. After art school my interest in henna began to grow and I began to study different aspects of henna culture and again a very important thing about being a henna artist is knowing the right design to place on the right client. What is culturally acceptable in India may not be in the Middle East and the designs will be much different than those in Morocco and the Sudan. In Morocco and Turkey, the use of a realistic eye is often incorporated into henna, jewelry and other artistic designs, but in other countries these types of symbols are forbidden. In Morocco women use henna and/or tattoo around their ears, nose, eyes, and mouth to protect from the evil eye or a malevolent spirit. In addition, Moroccan Henna art specifically uses the eye, or eye like designs featured below, in their henna designs to ward off the evil eye. However the evil eye is not exclusive to the Eastern cultures, Europe and the UK have a long history of magic and folklore surrounding the evil eye curse.

In Europe, we see that water plays a large factor in helping to both protect and reverse the effects of the evil eye. In England, a sea horse is often used as a protection against the evil eye.

“Seahorses; those strange and beautiful creatures, Otherworldly in their movements, would, in their appearance, be at home amongst the wonderful and bizarre entries in a medieval magical bestiary. They seem to have been employed in many parts of the world as charms and amulets against the evil- eye. Dried specimens might be carried, or hung within the home, sometimes with the incorporation of tiny glass beads. Which have their own tradition of use in the averting of evil. The image of the seahorse, made from glass might also be employed in this manner, as would images of fishes, also in glass or mother of pearl.” (Gary .84)

In Scotland “silvered water” was often used by a Faery doctor to cure the curse of the evil eye. “Silvered water was water into which silver coins had dropped; and it was prepared in a special way.” (McArthur. 119) The water was taken from a liminal place and the silver dropped in the water. After which the one afflicted with the curse would drink 3 sips of the water and then the faery doctor would sprinkle the rest around the person while reciting incantations, perhaps like the one below, thus the person was healed of the evil eyes curse. If you choose to perform a similar spell you may choose to add a bit of your own spit as both a means of curing the curse and as a taglock. Another such way to cure the curse of the evil eye is outlined by Charles Godfrey Leland below.

An eye covered thee,

A mouth spoke thee,

A heart envied thee,

A mind desired thee

(McNeill. 165)

To reverse the effects of the evil eye curse Leland recorded a spell in his work

Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling. In this work he suggests that one

go to a sacred water source, river or stream. They collect the water with the current rather than against it. Then they combine in a pot or cauldron over a flame, 7 cloves of garlic, 7 coals and 7 hands full of meal. The 7 seas can be represented here with the repetition of the number 7. The pot is then heated and stirred with a three forked twig while the incantation below is recited. This connects us directly to the trident and Neptune, though there is no mention of any trident connected to this spell. The three pronged twig, much like the stang, is a representation of witchcraft and specifically sea witchcraft. So what next? Sarah Lawless suggest simmering the mixture down and adding it to a cloth which is sew in into a talisman

here.

However, you can simmer the mixture down and bottle what is left in a jar with sacred or holy water, be sure to seal it tight and place it close to where you spend most of your time. You may choose to use a blue jar or even paint one with an evil eye. Or you can add a small portion of the liquid mixture into a seahorse bottle like below. If this is too complicated, and you prefer to simply work with water, you can make an evil Eye reversing water by adding special items to prepare and charge your water with the effects of evil eye reversal.

"Evil eyes look on thee,

May they here extinguished be

And then seven ravens

Pluck out the evil eyes

Evil eyes (now) look on thee.

May they soon extinguished be!

Much dust in the eyes,

Thence may they become blind,

Evil eyes now look on thee;

May they soon extinguished be!

May they burn, may they burn

In the fire of God!"

I have modified the above incantation for use by the Sea or Water Witch it goes as follows…

Evil eyes look on thee/me*

May they here dissolved be

And then seven ravens

Pluck out the evil eyes

Evil eyes (now) look on thee.

May they soon dissolved be!

Much salt and sand in the eyes,

Thence may they become blind,

Evil eyes now look on thee;

May they soon extinguished be!

May they drown, may they drown

In the depth of Neptune’s grave…

*Use “thee” when working for a friend or loved one and “me” when working for yourself.

 Working with water is also a good way to cleanse yourself from the evil eye. You can gather water from your sacred source and place it in a bottle (like the seahorse one below) and employ it to protect you against the evil eye. You can create an evil eye cleansing water with sacred water made of silver and set out under the full moon. Then add a clean glass evil eye to the water and let it soak in the energies, or even place a photo of the evil eye like the blue bulls eye in the picture above underneath the glass bowl. Be sure to spell or charge your water with the intent of cleansing and protecting from the evil eye, and employ your symbols through sympathetic magic to do the same. If you would like to make your own talisman you can follow the tutorial

here

and work in a similar fashion as I have outlined here.

You can buy glass evil eye beads online and they do very well if they are charged properly, but there is no reason to break the bank or even wait for a paycheck and shipping because you can start your own collection now by making your own.

I happen to also believe that the more you put into something the stronger it is, so if you buy one be sure to charge it well. I am a big fan of natural fibers, but I also am a dancer, so I love just a tiny bit of metallic fibers as well! I chose to use the fibers to “trap” the energy. I selected the traditional blue and white bulls eye pattern, and 3 sticks rather than 2 sticks when creating the “gods eye” I chose three because of the 3 colors used, and to align myself with the magical number 9 which is a theme that runs in Avalonian lore and the 9 maidens, 9 waves, 9 priestess etc. After I finished making these, I took them to the Pacific Ocean and performed a ritual to cleanse, consecrate and bring life it to these protective talismans. It is important to note that really anything that resembles an eye can be employed in the same fashion; snail shells, cowrie shells and other eye like stones will have similar results.

To dispose of them you can burn flammable talisman, bury glass or other talisman that cannot be disposed of in fire or cast them into the ocean. Please note to only send shells, stones and other natural talisman back into the ocean. Do not pollute our land or ocean! 

Belief in the evil eye, while not a worldwide belief does spans multiple cultures and countries. Each country has its own belief system that is similar but different surrounding this curse. From the traditional bull’s eye and mystical Hamsa to spit, water and a few coals, many Witches and folk healers have been working with this curse, successfully breaking it and restoring ones energy back to normal. Much of the lore about the evil eye is about actively protecting yourself before it takes hold. Don’t wait till you think you have received this malevolent glare, grab your tools and start crafting! Choose your method based on what resonates with you and don’t forget to charge your talisman with intent!

Click

here

to visit the etsy shop and buy one of your own blessed in the waters of the Pacific Ocean!

Sources:

• http://www.livescience.com/40633-evil-eye.html

• Whist Waters- Gemma Gary

• Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling- Charles Godfrey Leland

• Faery Healing the lore and the legacy- Margie McArthur

• The Silver Bough – F. Marian McNeill

Pearl Magic

Behold we arise with the dawn of time from the grey and misty sea,
And with the dusk we sink in the western ocean
And the lives of a man are strung like pearls on the thread of his spirit;
And never in all his journey goes he alone,
For that which is solitary is barren.
~Dion Fortune~

Pearls are some of the most beautiful creations on this planet. While they are incredibly beautiful they are actually formed from one tiny imperfection and the mollusks ability to heal itself. This process produces one of the most sought after gems. Pearls come in just about every color, shape and size and have been prized in many cultures across the world in antiquity. They are the birth stone for those born in June and are also associated with the astrological sign Cancer. Those born under this sign are often called moon children. For the Water or Sea Witch, the pearl can be used in many ways from an offering to a talisman. 

Pearls come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. Their usual colors range from cream to black but they can occur in almost every shade and color. Pearls are not limited to forming inside oysters. They can actually be made from any mollusk including the most amazing, highly prized and beautiful Conch Pearl! Pearls have been cultivated by man since the late 1800s and possibly even before. They have been highly prized as a symbol of wisdom and royalty since antiquity with the Romans and Egyptians prizing pearls above all other gems. In addition, the first use of pearl material was used as far back as 4200 B.C.E. Pearls are split into several different categories which include freshwater, and the very popular Akoya cultured pearls. While we are used to seeing the prized Akoya pearls as well as fresh water pearls, every type of mollusk can produce a pearl. In fact abalone, conch, and the bailer shell all produce beautiful and prized pearls. To learn more about the many different varieties of pearls click here.

 

Pearls are actually formed from flaws. When a tiny parasite, piece of sand or other foreign object is introduced to the oysters shell the oyster begins to secrete a smooth hard substance called nacre. This nacre begins to form a layer around this foreign object in a defensive manner. Soon layer upon layer is secreted and the pearl is formed. One of the most beautiful and prized jewels around the world is formed from a tiny foreign object in the mollusk. To learn more about how pearls are formed click here here

 

“Oysters open completely when the moon is full; and when the crab sees one it throws a piece of stone or seaweed into it and the oyster cannot close again so that it serves the crab for meat. Such is the fate of him who opens his mouth too much and thereby puts himself at the mercy of the listener.”

―Leonardo da Vinci

Pearls are intimately connected to the moon in that not only do they resemble the moon in shape, luster and color but their feeding cycle is also effected by the moon and tidal cycles. As such, pearls have long been associated with the moon and therefore can be associated with Selene, Luna and any other goddess who embodies the full moon. They were also found in Aphrodite’s temple and were considered sacred to her. The pearl has long been associated with moon magic and can be used as a representation of the moon, can be made into pearl essences and you can charge them with specific intent. You can give them as offerings to spirits, goddesses and the sea. They can be use in moon or wisdom magic and any magic associated with Cancer, the moon or crabs. I often give a pearl as an offering during my birthday as I am born in June. Finally the pearl can be used in transformation magic through sympathetic association to the prized gem created from a tiny flaw.

Pearls are versatile and can range in color, shape, size and even value. Some pearls such as fresh water pearls are very common and others like the pink conch pearl are extremely pricy and rare. Pearls can be used in many ways and for many reasons. They are most commonly associated with wisdom. You may have heard the quote "Pearls of Wisdom" before. They come in just about every color and so they can be selected for your magical purpose through color association. They can be found on strings or even still inside the oyster at popular sea side destinations. They are ritually opened in a small welcoming ceremony when the new owner taps them 3 times and yells “ALOHA!” to welcome it into the world. These are incredibly prized magically and can become a powerful tool for the water witch. They can be worn as jewelry and charged with protection, much like the intricate layers of the pearl. They can be used in moon magic and are sacred to Aphrodite and can be used in love magic as well. The pearl, like the moon presents endless possibilities!

Horseshoe Crab Magic

Horseshoe Crabs are some of the most amazing sea creatures we water witches have to work with. While they resemble a crustacean and are called crabs, they are actually part of the Chelicerata classification which is a subphylum of the Arthropoda family and are very close to arachnids. Their name "Chelicerata" means claw horn. They have segmented and jointed bodies and do have small pincher claws that are used to feed rather than defend.
The Horseshoe crab is ancient; it is one of the most ancient living fossils on record. They are estimated to be at least 450 million years old. (That is before the dinosaurs!) They are truly animal ancestors and an ancestral race that dates to before history! They are probably the oldest living species on earth. They were widely used by First Nation tribes along the east coast of the United States. Their spiny tails were used as spears, their head shells used as a water vessel or scoop and they ate the flesh of the crab for sustenance. However they are not limited to the eastern coast of the United States. They can also be found in the Gulf of Mexico and South East Asia. In Japan, folklorists believe that when warriors die in battle they are reincarnated into Horseshoe crabs, their head shape being similar to a helmet worn by Japanese samurai.

Horseshoe crabs have pretty bad eye sight, though their optic cones are larger than humans and any other animal. They technically have 10 eyes to help them see at different stages of life. They are located in various parts of the body including the tail, head and by the mouth just to name a few. For this reason they can be used to aid in second sight, seeing in the darkness, and divination.
Horseshoe crabs do not have the clotting agent hemoglobin in their blood. Instead they have hemocyanin which contains copper and because of this they have blue blood. Humans have harvested the blood of this animal for medical purposes and research. Because of their blue blood, those of you that might work with the Chakra system may find value in working with this animal and the throat and 3rd eye chakras. The added blue color of the crabs blood also aligns with the magical purposes of divination and second sight.
The Horsehoe crab lays about 60,000 to 120,000 eggs. Many of these are eaten by birds and other prey before they are hatched. Again this brings us back to magic surrounding survival, beating the odds and even luck. It is an interesting fact that the Horseshoe crab resembles a horseshoe which is used traditionally in luck spells and charms. Likewise, the Horseshoe crab’s head can be used in this same way.
Their tails can be used as wands (I often use them for this reason) they can be used to direct energy, cast circles, or even "pierce" an enemy. While they are not necessarily aggressive animals and they do not sting, stepping on a raised tail will surely hurt! They are closely related to scorpions and therefore can be used in lesser spells of banishment. (If you need a good banishing ally try the shark!)
Horseshoe crabs eat just about anything and everything they can get their claws on from algae to worms and from clams to marine animals. They also molt and many of the skeletons found on the beach are actually molts, though often you will find a whole body. If you come across a still living Horseshoe crab who is stranded on shore, make sure to quickly bring it back to the water. Then perhaps, evaluate your own life and see if you are indeed "stuck" in any old pattern that may no longer be good for you. Make sure to "carry yourself” back to the water’s edge to free yourself from the sandy bonds of the land. 
Their magic is all about survival, adaptation and evolution. They connect us to the ancient world that was untouched by humans, they speak of ancient waters and earth. They teach us how to wear armor as well as how to shield properly. They are excellent allies for survival and shielding. They align with the color blue of the 3rd eye chakra, the ocean, and second sight. They can teach us how to camouflage ourselves, and how to adapt. Their tails can be used to direct energy, create sigils in the sand as a passive form of protection.

Horseshoe Crab spell for Luck and Longevity
You will need:

• Horseshoe crab shell or photo
• Sacred space cleansed and clean
• A green candle
• Sea weed or a Luck/Longevity herb (Sea Lavender is a good choice here since it is an everlasting)

1) Start your spell by clearing your space, ground and center. Then cast a circle if you use one.

2) Place your Horseshoe crab in the center of your working space

3) Place your candle directly in front of the Crab

4) Carve your intent or sigils into the green candle and place it on the altar

5) Sprinkle your sea weed or herb in a circle around both the candle and crab

6) Light your candle and chant the words below till you are satisfied (7 times is a good amount and aligns with the seven seas) 

7)When you are finished, focus your intent and blow over the crab with your breath giving the spell life

8) If you need added luck or for a longer period of time, use a larger green candle that can be burned over several days and make sure to repeat this process every morning/evening till the candle is completely burned down. 

9) When the spell work is complete dispose of your old wax and gather up the sea weed and/or herb and bring it to the ocean and scatter it in the water. It is really important that ONLY the plant be scattered into the ocean. Putting the wax in the ocean is not helpful and very bad for our environment.

Horseshoe crab so old and wise

Turn my life away from demise

Bless me with Luck, Love, and Life

and protect me from demise and strife.

With the Blessings of the Seven Seas

This is my will So mote it be! 

Sea Charm for Protection

Last month I was out of town much of the month. Part of my travel was to San Francisco for a lovely well needed vacation. The second part was to attend my 2nd year at Pantheacon. It was a fantastic time, and I will be blogging about some of the things I learned very soon. However this blog is all about a Sea Charm for protection.
I was very excited to attend Pantheacon this year, a good friend was planning on going and I was looking forward to seeing her. She mentioned that she sensed something was "off" and her intuition was telling her to be cautious. Well it would have been foolish to ignore such a warning! I still wanted to go and have a great time however I was very cautious. With my energy very scattered and preoccupied with vacation fun I thought I better be careful and add some extra protection oomph. I am on my second read through of Whisht Waters and had remembered Gemma Gary had mentioned that sea horses are traditionally used for protection against the evil eye. I immediately knew what to do, I saw a charm in my mind...

I keep stock piles of shells, bugs, salts, strings, bones, beads and other things used for magic. I selected a small oyster shell to keep me hidden and safe, black salt for protection, the traditionally used sea horse, and finally 9 pieces of garnet which is also traditionally used for protection when traveling. I bound them tightly and sealed them with breath, incantations, and knot work. I am back from my trip and I have to say it worked brilliantly! If you want to make your own follow the directions below...

You will need...

•  A clam that fits nicely together and will hold your sea horse
• A dried sea horse, these can be found at many beaches such as Sanibel Island and some online stores (you can also substitute this with an evil eye or a drawing of a sea horse depending on your intent, if you are purchasing it, please find a beach comber on Etsy, someone who can verify they found the seahorse and do NOT buy them from places like craft stores or online stores. Vintage seahorses are also a good option)
• Black cotton or wool string (I am a stickler for the natural fibers)
• A few pinches of black salt
• 9 pieces of garnet

Once you have gathered all your ingredients, create your sacred space in your usual fashion. Add the ingredients into your shell and close it tightly. Bind the string around the clam shell until you are satisfied, I tied 9 knots into mine to match the number of garnet beads inside. However if you use a specific number you can substitute that as well. Once it is bound focus your intent and breathe your intent into the charm by blowing over it softly (or fiercely if needed) Tuck it away or carry it with you!

Sea Spell for Prosperity

Here is a little Sea Spell for Prosperity!

Recently a fellow Witch sent me a box which contained many watery things, there were shells, feathers, mermaid's purse(s) and other things. With the arrival of the new mermaid's purse, I decided to use some of my smaller ones for some magic! A Mermaid's purse is shark and/or sting ray egg pouches. They are also called Devil's purses which hints at its powerful nature. You can find them on the shore of almost any beach. They are usually found by the surf mixed in with washed up seaweed. Using the casing that once held a baby string ray or shark that was birthed into the sea for spell work is incredibly powerful. They are also the perfect vessel for magic that involves growth, prosperity, birth, and renewal.

I recently came across the Janarric Runes. Raven Grimassi has written about them. He believes that they are runes used by Witches in an Italian coastal town. So, in a way they are associated with the sea and water witchcraft. I decided to use three of the runes in bind rune fashion. I worked them together until I was happy. The result is below. I had just picked up some new paint and decided to use it on the egg pouch. I also wrote my spell on paper and placed it inside the pouch. Once the paper was safely inside, and the paint dry, I said my incantations and finished my spell. The mermaid's purse speaks of birth, growth renewal, and bounty, these energies along with the fierceness of the animal, the sigil, the spell, and symbolism of the egg pouch. All these combine together with the spoken incantations, makes one power packed charm! Below are some helpful hints so you can make your own.

• Find a hatched mermaid purse on a near by beach. Clean it up and let it dry. 
• Prepare your sigil and intent. Paint or draw it on. 
• Prepare your spell and any incantations you may have.
• Gently roll up the spell
• Find the opening of the pouch and gently push in the rolled up paper containing your spell and/or sigil
• Whisper your incantations and then seal it by anointing it with sea water and leave on the altar until it is finished. 

Also Mermaids purse's and various sigils can be used in protection charms as well. Using the egg pouch to call upon the spirits associated with these powerful animals.

Water Witchcraft

Most people are familiar with sea witches and sea witchcraft. It seems as if, like the village witch, the sea witch has been recognized as a solitary powerful path by the general community. Of course sea witchcraft is not limited to solitary practitioners, as I know of a few sea witch covens around the globe, but often times sea witches are inclined to carve their own path, similar to the way a river might carve it's own path through stones. Water witches, like the Sea Witch, are drawn to the water. Water witches are drawn not only to the ocean, but they feel and must answer the call of river water, lake water, canals and even the rain. Like the sea, these bodies of water are seductresses. They pull at our heart strings and torture our spirit; pining and raging like an ocean in a storm. I have heard whispers of those that say they have Mermaid or Selkie blood and also of those that have had past lives as such creatures; perhaps they are true and perhaps it is just the seduction of the mysterious waters. What is known, is that the water calls to us, it pulls us in and we feel empty and lost with out it.

A water witch is simply one that works witchcraft with water. Over the years I have found some that are skeptical, and others that deeply understand my words. It is very interesting that Sea Witches seem to be accepted by the pagan world, but Water Witches are not. However, with the recent publishing of Whist Waters by Gemma Gary, it seems as if the Witchcraft community is finally interested in accepting Water Witchcraft as well. It makes sense; water is everywhere. It is not just the ocean or large lakes, it is the rain, the swamps, large rivers and seasonal streams etc. Water is essential to our life; we cannot go without water for longer than a few days without death. Our bodies are made up of a considerable portion of water. We know from Dr Masaru Emoto's work with water (which I will discuss below) that even the slightest word can create a change in water, and how that word is spoken influences the outcome of that change. When we put these thoughts about water and change together with the definition of magic...

Magic is...

"the science and art of causing Change to occur in conformity with will" 
~Aleister Crowley~

"the art of changing consciousness in accordance with will"
~Doreen Valiente~

We end up with a very clear picture of how powerful water magic can be. In short, since we know that words and intent influence the structure of a water molecule and that magic is change according to will and will and intent are almost synonymous then we have a basic formula for Water magic. Intent + water = a visual change. In a way, we can even see the magic take place!

Before I continue I want to share some of Dr. Masaru Emoto's work. I am a big fan, and I am absolutely thrilled that we have scientific evidence that thoughts, spoken and written word, music, and environment effect the way that water forms crystals. This short video on youtube gives a very quick overview of all his work. Dr. Emoto began photographing water crystals and comparing how they looked. He found that polluted water and natural spring water were incredibly different. He then took it a steps further and played music for several hours to distilled water. The results were astounding. Classical music formed beautiful snowflake like crystals while heavy metal produced scrambled molecules. He then took it even further and began speaking single words to the water and watching how it changed. Positive words created beautiful patterns while negative words did not. You can see in the video below some of these images and how they are compared. Dr. Emoto's work is widely known and in the past few years has gained much popularity and respect world wide.

When we look at Water Magic as a practice, utilizing it in either small (rain, wells, etc) or large quantities (lakes, ocean etc), it is very clear that chanting, spells, incantations, sigils, and many more magical practices can be incorporated and the result is incredibly powerful. For hundreds of years Holy Wells have been revered for their powers of both cursing and healing. Such bodies of water include the famous hot springs at Bath. The hot baths, shrines and a temple dedicated to Sulis, the Goddess that presides over the hot springs, are  known to heal, but are also known for its curse tablets, where over 300 were found. Many bodies of water like the Glastonbury red and white wells contain their own properties which are enhanced by the calcium and iron deposits. For hundreds of years Clootie have been hung over sacred wells in the UK. This was practiced widely from Wales to Scottland and still is today. The famous Mother Shipton, witch and oracle, lived by a sacred spring and can still be visited today. Not suprisingly her name is Ursula Southeil (interesting connection to Disney's little mermaid!) As you can see both Folklore and Science support the idea of water magic.

Water Witchcraft, as I stated before, is very similar to Sea Magic and Sea Witchcraft. Sea Witches usually stick to the sea shore, however water witches will be found just about everywhere. Near lakes, rivers, holy wells etc. Tools are usually gathered from the shoreline and oftentimes shells, driftwood, and plants are their tools of choice. Water Witches will most often blend Sea magic with their craft. Focusing on tides, moon cycles, and so much more. Since there is no specific Water Tradition (with one exception) you will find that most sea/water witches practice very differently. Some incorporate water and sea spirits, fae or deity into their practice, while others believe that there is no religion associated with their practice at all. These topics are very popular in the pagan community and chat boards, and though they do influence water/sea magic, they are not a topic I am going to discuss here and for one very simple reason; No one will ever agree! Water witches will also find that they differ in their beliefs, the one thing that binds us together is Water in her many forms. For me, a Water witch's practice can be defined by Magic that is focused around water, water creatures living and dead, spirits that are associated with water, and if one wishes Goddess and Gods associated with Water.

** The one exception in tradition I mention above is The Water Witches in the UK. There is very limited information on them however. They are part of a group of people that were very much like gypsies, but their homes were floating barges. There is no particular tradition and with limited information it is hard to say how they practiced. However what we do know is they were wandering people of the industrial revolution that lived on the water canals in the UK. Many people still live this way today, but I am not sure if they exist in the same manner.  I call this a tradition because it was a group of people that practiced for years in a similar way, and many were family. You can read about my own adventures on these mysterious canals here.

There are many different types of water; fresh water lakes and the ocean are not the only types and many hold as much power and mystery such as the muddy waters of the Uk Canals, sacred wells, and swamps. Many sea witches work with brackish water and so do water witches. There is so much magic in the brackish waters of the Calvert cliffs. Large Megolodon teeth can be found on the shores, and stingrays swim circles in the early morning on the calm glassy surface of the pale blue and gold water with the sun rising in the east. The shores are full of healing and death, with yarrow growing among the poison  hemlock on the banks of the shore speaking of balance and bane. Large predators once roamed the waters and the stings of the jellyfish are fierce. Oh how glorious to watch the storm come across the waters...

Swamp water is also full of mystery and poison. Toads, snakes and spiders lurk with in the grooves of a hollowed cypress tree, tall nubs of the cypress trees roots peek above the surface of the waters. Swamp waters can be found all over the world. Most commonly known would be the Florida Everglades and the Bayou of Louisiana. Any type of magic you can imagine can be practiced in this type of water, from natural magic to voodoo. However I will say, I do not think that ceremonial magic would be suited for this type of environment

Lakes and Fountains hold so much mystery and mythology. The Lady of the lake has to be the most famous account of water magic taking place in a lake. There are several tales of Ladies of the Fountain and Lake Ladies and their magical gardens, healing powers, and bargains.

Rain, Snow, Hail and storm energy in general is very interesting to work with as well. I personally collect water everywhere I go. Often times I label and date it with what type of storm it was. As you can imagine, a summer sun shower would be beautiful warm energy, and hail and a lightning storm pack a VERY powerful punch and can be incorporated into magical workings that need the extra push or used to curse. There is nothing like sitting on the banks of a large body of water, watching a terrible storm roll in. Many water witches enjoy this type of weather, and pull energy from the storm as well as send spells out and let the roaring winds and waters weave the magic.

Types of water you can work with include, sea, brackish, lakes, rivers, distilled, hydrosol, swamps, snow, hail, rain, ponds, canals, seasonal creeks, sacred wells and other bodies of water. Really there is no limit to how you can use water magic! I find that Water Witches are attracted to bottles, bowls, and other vessels. They are often found beach combing or searching the banks of rivers and lakes. Many I have spoken with are drawn to some sort of mythological water spirit or creature such as Mermaids, Selkie, and Lake Ladies. Many love to swim, boat, and are often found in the bath. Interestingly, astrological charts seem to indicate a strong lean towards water, often times having a Water rising sign as well as a Watery moon. However this is not a hard fast rule and it does vary. Often times, Water witches are very good at water scrying, divination with shells or bones found along the shoreline. Almost every Sea/Water witch I have met is a bit of a magpie and will collect shells, wood, glass etc from the water and create shrines or water based altars. Many work with tea, sacred baths, healing waters, holy wells, hydrosols, and water based sprays. I will blog more about how to work with different bodies of water and how to work with them in the future.