Water is an important tool for magic rituals in many religions
and spiritual beliefs. Although it sounds redundant, most cults,
sects or spiritual beliefs use it to represent the cosmic
element of water for purifying, scrying, and even starting wars.
Considering that most of the time H20 is not the only element a
spirit seeker needs, the water may go through a bit of a special
transformation that requires flowers, herbs, sticks, and other
natural resources to become colognes/perfumes or spiritual
waters.
Some of the spiritual waters as we know it now were born
commercially as colognes. Since all colognes/perfumes possess
herbal bases, they rapidly gained a special symbolism in the
spiritual world and spell-craft sometimes referring to some of
them as spiritual waters.
These products are widely used in rituals of home protection,
and spiritual cleaning. Spiritual waters are used to “work” the
soul and mind, and they are so common to the eyes of
Afro/Latinos that they may be worn on the person, placed on the
altar as offerings, or sprinkled around the premises as needed.
Commonly, men wear them as spiritual waters, scents, and as
after shaves in many cases whilst women sprinkle them on
theirselves as an attractive scent that comes along with
protective powers. These colognes or spiritual waters are
inexpensive and easy to get in major pharmacies, esoteric shops,
botanic and magic shops in many cities, but having the option of
being done at home if the spirit seeker has the correct formula.
Florida Water
Florida Water is a staple for many of the religious ceremonies
of Afro/Latino religious expressions or sects. Basically, it is
cologne used for spiritual services, purification, cleansing,
healing, jinx-breaking, protection from enemies, tranquility,
peaceful home, dealing with the dead, safe travel, and psychism.
Florida Water is a 19th century formula for a
commercially-prepared eau de toilet that blends an array of
floral essential oils in a water-alcohol base. The name refers
to the fabled Fountain of Youth said to have been located in
Florida.
I prefer to buy the ones at stores, without saying a specific
brand. But I found a formula to prepare this spiritual water
from “Fortunes in Formulas For Home, Farm, and Workshop” edited
by Garner D. Hiscox, M.E. and Prof. T. O’Conner Sloane, A.B.,
A.M., Em., Ph.D. (The Norman B. Henley Publishing Company, 1937):
- Oil of bergamot 3 fluid ounces – Oil of lavender 1 fluid ounce
- Oil of lemon 1 fluid ounce – Oil of cloves 1 1/4 fluid drachms
- Oil of cinnamon 2 1/2 fluid drachms – Oil of neroli 1/2 fluid
drachms – Essence of jasmine 6 fluid ounces – Essence of musk 2
fluid ounces – Alcohol 8 pints – Rose water 1 pint
Mix and pass it through a soft filter.
Kananga Water
Also a 19th century eau de toilet, Kananga Water is used for
psychism, purification, and dealing with the dead. In Jamaica
and the Caribbean, the Kananga water is known after the huge
commercial Kananga plantations were established during the 19th
century by the British colony. The Kananga Water is built upon a
foundation of essential oil of Cananga Odorata, also known as
Ylang Ylang. It flowers consist of six narrow, twisted, drooping
3 – 4″ long petals. And the orange color of this spiritual water
comes from its greenish yellow and orange petals.
The home made formula for this spiritual water comes from the
same author lines above:
- Ylang Ylang oil 45 minims – Rose oil 15 minims – Cassie oil 5
minims – Almond oil 1/2 minims – Tincture of orris rhizome 1
fluid ounce – Tincture of storax 3 fluid drachms – Grain musk 3
grains – Civet 1 grain – Tonka beans 3 (chopped) – Alcohol (90%)
9 fluid ounces
Mix, and let sit for one month, then filter.