Water is an important tool for magical 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 to purify, scrutinize and even start wars. Considering that most of the time H2O is not the only element that a spirit seeker needs, water can go through a special transformation that requires flowers, herbs, sticks and other natural resources to become colognes / perfumes or waters spiritual.
Some of the spirit waters as we know them now were commercially born as colonies. Since all colognes / perfumes possess herbal bases, they quickly gained special symbolism in the spirit world and in spell crafting that some of them are sometimes referred to as spirit waters.
These products are widely used in rituals for home protection and spiritual cleansing. Spiritual waters are used to “work” the soul and mind, and are so common in the eyes of Afro / Latinos that they can be carried on top of the person, placed on the altar as offerings, or scattered around the premises as needed. . Commonly, they are used by men as spirit waters, fragrances, and as an aftershave in many cases, while women spray them as an attractive fragrance that is accompanied by protective powers.
These colonies or spiritual waters are cheap and easy to find in the main pharmacies, esoteric stores, botanicals and magic shops in many cities, but having the option of being made 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 a colony that is used for spiritual services, purification, cleansing, healing, breaking the hex, 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 bath water that combines a variety of floral essential oils in a water and alcohol base. The name refers to the legendary Fountain of Youth that is said to be located in Florida.
I prefer to buy the ones from the stores, not to mention a specific brand. But I did find a formula to prepare this spirit water from “Fortunes in Home, Farm and Workshop Formulas” edited by Garner D. Hiscox, ME and Prof. T. O’Conner Sloane, AB, AM, Em., Ph.D. (The Norman B. Henley Publishing Company, 1937):
– Bergamot oil 3 fl oz
– Lavender oil 1 fl oz
– 1 fl oz lemon oil
– Clove oil 1 1/4 drams of liquid
– Cinnamon oil 2 1/2 fluid drachmas
– Neroli oil 1/2 fluid drachmas
– Jasmine Essence 6 fl oz
– Musk Essence 2 fl oz
– Alcohol 8 pints
– 1 pint of rose water
Mix and pass through a soft filter.
Kananga water
Also a 19th century eau de toilette, Kananga Water is used for the psyche, purification, and dealing with the dead. In Jamaica and the Caribbean, Kananga water is known after the British colony established the huge commercial Kananga plantations during the 19th century.
Kananga water is based on a base of essential oil from Cananga Odorata, also known as Ylang Ylang. Its flowers consist of six narrow, twisted, and dangling petals 3 to 4 “long. And the orange color of this spirit water comes from its greenish-yellow and orange petals.
The homemade formula for this spiritual water comes from the same lines of the author above:
– Ylang Ylang Oil 45 minimum
– Rose oil 15 min
– Cassie Oil Minimum 5
– Almond oil 1/2 minimum
– Lily rhizome tincture 1 fl oz
– Storax tincture 3 fluid drams
– Musk grain 3 grains
– 1 grain stew
– 3 tonka beans (chopped)
– Alcohol (90%) 9 fluid ounces
Mix and let it rest for a month, then filter.