During times of war, water is a vital resource that plays a crucial role in military strategy and operations. Traditionally, a water witcher, also known as a "dowser" or "water diviner," is a person who uses dowsing rods or other tools to locate underground water sources. In the context of warfare, a war water witch is someone who is skilled in finding and utilizing water sources for military purposes. In a war-torn environment, access to clean and reliable water becomes essential for both the military and civilian populations. A war water witch's role is to identify natural water sources such as rivers, lakes, or underground aquifers that can be utilized for drinking, irrigation, or even as a strategic advantage. By locating water sources, a war water witch helps to ensure the supply of water for troops and can also disrupt the enemy's water supply by targeting their water sources.
Witchery: How to Make Mars Water
Witches have many tools at their disposal for both light and dark purposes. One beneficial tool is Mars Water, also called War Water. Even though Mars Water/War Water sounds ominous to some non-witches, it has many helpful uses in protective magick as well as its darker side uses. Using it for protection, reversing curses, banishing negativity, and evil is common. Using it in placing curses, declaring war on an enemy, and causing harm is equally frequent. As with all magick, the intent behind the magick is where the shades of magick are determined. I consider them separate, when I use them, as there are very distinct variations between the two types of water in my household. The Mars Water is the base and when I choose to add intent and other items to the Mars Water, then, it becomes what I will refer to here as War Water.
A witch may create Mars Water in advance and keep it on hand for use in cases of emergency. Whereas War Water, is a more personal blend and needs personalized creation for individual use against a specific person who has wronged the witch and needs retribution. Starting with the Mars Water on hand is an excellent option for creating War Water. It simply needs the added intent of the witch, and any other ingredients the witch wants to add to strengthen the power of the War Water, itself.
Mars Water and War Water are both prepared on Tuesday to honor the God of War, Mars. The preparation for each is almost identical. In order to prepare War Water, the witch takes a few iron nails, and rainwater from a severe storm, the more strength and violence the storm shows, the better and combines them. The witch puts them in a clean glass jar and the open jar is set aside for a few hours to let these two become acquainted and adjust. The witch will then return to the jar and briskly stir it for a minute or so every 30 minutes. This continues for three hours, as the witch stirs and focuses their intent on instilling this water with the strength of their anger focusing on all the dire repercussions they want to befall their enemy. The stirring allows the oxygen to flow through the water and mix with their intent. After a few hours, the witch seals the jar and places in the refrigerator for one week untouched. Create Mars Water in the same manner of stirring briskly every 30 minutes, for three hours; however, in the case of Mars Water, the witch focuses their intent of the objective of instilling this water with the power, dignity, and strength of Mars himself. Male witches may instill the virility of Mars, as well. If you already have a relationship with Mars, ask him to bless the jars of War Water or Mars Water.
After a week, the witch will open the jar to allow more oxygen inside, stirring it again, and focusing their intent as before, details matter. As such, focus specifically on what you want to happen to your enemy. Do you want their car to break down in traffic, their job to become unbearable, trouble in their relationships, etc? Make the punishment fit to the transgressor’s crime against you for the best effect. When you have finished, close the jar and put it back into the fridge, again. For Mars Water, focus on the God’s attributes, again. This continues until three weeks have passed. On the Tuesday of that third “stirring” week, it should be sufficiently strong for the witch to use in spell work and rituals.
At this point, some witches will add additional ingredients, like graveyard dirt or black salt in order to strengthen the Mars Water or War Water. If you have either graveyard dirt or black salt, they are both great additions as they work for both light and dark spell work and rituals alike. In addition, the black salt helps to speed the oxidation process of the iron.
- Mars Water sprinkled around the perimeter of a witch’s home protects it from evil and negativity.
- While with a few modifications, the same War Water sprinkled around an enemy’s property will curse them and bring negativity and strife to the property.
- If a witch adds a few drops of Mars Water to cleansing baths, it can add additional protection while they perform their ritual cleansing bath.
- Using War Water with a go away spell will chase a person form your life.
- Adding Mars Water to your favorite floor wash will add additional protection to the wash
- Spilling some War Water in the house of an enemy will bring strife, negativity, and turmoil directly into their home or in their vehicle to bring them troubles on the road
- Wash your altar with Mars Water to erase any negativity left over from previous spell work.
- Sprinkle War Water onto a picture of your enemy when psychically attacking or freeze a picture of your enemy inside a cube of War Water to freeze them into bad luck, bad experiences.
- Use Mars Water in general spells for uncrossing and unhexing.
- Use War Water in general spells for crossing and hexing.
When preparing and using War Water in spells and rituals, witches should remember never, ever, to spill it inside their own home, vehicle or on their own property. Also, remember, that enhancing a spell is always possible. Witches may paint a reversed Algiz, rune of protection, on the container to strip away their enemies’ protection, craft and paint a personal sigil to bring a specific ill to their enemy. In addition, adding baneful herbs to the water, adding Goofer Dust, or adding graveyard dirt form a malevolent grave instead of a neutral or good grave will increase the potency of the spell. As always, the only limit to a witch’s magicks is the witch’s imagination. As such, go forth and imagine well, witches, that your strength be manifest in your magicks, so mote it be.
Blog Post 130 – War Water
In my Spelled Out section of Podcast 30, I gave the recipe and basic uses of a conjure formula called War Water. For those who didn’t have a pen handy, I thought now would be a good time to provide a little of the provenance, process, and practice surrounding this mixture.
War Water, which is also commonly called Mars Water or Iron Water, is in its most essential form, simply water in which iron has been allowed to rust. The presence of iron in the water gives it a reddish-brown hue, looking a bit like blood even in some cases. Draja Mickaharic makes a good case for why iron’s presence in the water empowers it:
“Iron is the metal of the planet Mars, the planet astrologers credit with ruling warfare and combat, as well as sex. Used either for defense or attack, war water is a strong carrier of the negative emotional energy used in magical battles” (Century of Spells, p. 27).
Mickaharic also points out that the formula was originally used to treat anemia (an iron deficiency in the blood), though far better treatments are now available. Cat Yronwode notes on her site that the Martian association indicates that it is not originally an African recipe: “Since the Roman god Mars was the god of war and his symbolic metal was iron, it seems pretty clear that War Water is a European contribution to hoodoo” (“War Water” par. 1). Despite its origins, however, this particular magical mixture is firmly planted in hoodoo and conjure practice now.
So how does a person make War Water? Almost every source—except one—agree that the basic recipe involves putting cut iron of some type into a container, covering it with a bit of water, and letting it rust. There are plenty of variations, sometimes depending on the intent, and sometimes just depending on who’s telling you how to make it. Judika Illes breaks down the formula by intent:
Protective War Water
- Iron nails (cut iron), ones that rust easily
- Enough water to cover nails in a mason jar
- Let rust for about 7-10 days (open periodically to allow oxidation)
- Keep adding water as the rust builds
- Strain and use as needed (but discard if bacteria form)
Malevolent War Water
- Thunderstorm water in a jar
- Rusty nails, sulfur, and urine
This formulation is essentially the same as the one found in Draja Mickaharic’s Century of Spells, though Mickaharic’s version is a bit looser, calling for about 3/4 pound of cut iron nails in a 2 quart bottle. These are covered with tap water and allowed to rust. After the rust begins, more water is added, and the bottle is covered (though occasionally uncovered for rusting purposes).
The alternative recipe comes from the normally quite reputable Zora Neale Hurston’s “Hoodoo in America,” in which she describes War Water as “Oil of Tar in water (filtered)” (p. 412). Oil of Tar is essentially a thick distillate of creosote or burned pine resin—which is carcinogenic and dangerous. A reasonable substitution for Oil of Tar would be turpentine, another pine distillate with slightly less caustic properties. However, almost every formulary I found other than Hurston’s had separate distinctions for War Water and a formula called “Tar Water,” which is much more like Hurston’s recipe and which is used to remove psychic sludge from one’s life. I would then conclude that Hurston recorded the Tar Water recipe as a War Water recipe in error, or quite possibly an editor inserted this formula without knowing the difference (which commonly happened to Hurston’s work).
There are also additional ingredients that you can add to the water to help “flavor” it for your magical purposes. One of the most common additions is Spanish moss, a dense vegetal beard which covers trees in the Deep South. Once it begins to rot in the liquid, it turns the mixture black and gives it a decaying scent. Adding sulphur or gunpowder would also give it a powerfully aggressive and dangerous vibe. My teacher, Stephanie Palm, makes a formula that basically takes Mississippi River water and turns it into War Water with these sorts of additions in it, which she calls “Swamp Water.”
Once you have War Water, how do you use it? There are several methods for deploying this water, depending on just what your final intent might be. If you only intend to use the most basic rust-water formula for protective purposes, here are some ways you might apply it:
- As an addition to a spiritual bath
- As a wash for the outside of your home or business
- As a sprinkle for any letters or papers you might be sending out to someone hostile to you (such as legal papers)
The most common use of War Water, however, is as a component of psychic warfare. Cat Yronwode says of it:
“To use it, you shake a bottle up and hurl it at the doorstep of your enemy, where it should break, leaving a rusty, dangerously sharp mess for him or her to step in. When i was a young woman coming up in the East Bay in the 1960s, War Water was used by fractious root workers to declare occult war on each other. Since these folks were already at odds to the extent that they could not simply walk into each other’s yards and smash the glass bottle on the doorstep, they would make “drive by” attacks, rumbling through the residential streets of Oakland in the midnight hour and tossing bottles of War Water into the yards of their enemies, like occult Molotov cocktails. Ah, those were the days …” (“War Water” par. 4).
In Jim Haskins’ Voodoo & Hoodoo, he says that to use War Water you should “obtain the nest of a dirt dauber, break it apart and mix it with graveyard dirt. Put the mixture in a bottle with War Water and shake it up. Smash it on the person’s walkway” (p. 130). Hurston does not mention smashing the bottle, but she does call for sprinkling it in front of an enemy’s house. She also provides a secondary method which requires that you “take a fresh black hen’s egg, make a hole big enough to get the egg out and take the names, pepper sauce and mustard and fill the egg up and soak it in War Water for nine days and throw ito ver the house, and it will cross the house and they will have to move away” (“Hoodoo in America,” p. 375).
As a final note, if you are considering starting a psychic war, Draja Mickaharic makes a good case for having sturdy defenses in place before beginning any attack:
“If you are going to declare psychic war on someone you should mop your stairs, porch, doorway, and any outside surfaces of your home on which anything can be cast or thrown before you begin the war. This ensures that you will be protected when the other person’s inevitable counterattack comes. In most cases War Water will cause any spell which is placed on your doorstep to rebound instantly to the sender.” (Century of Spells, p. 28)
So that’s War Water. My own personal inclinations with this water would be to use a railroad spike, coffin nails, and urine in a jar for defensive and protective magic, while perhaps using coffin nails, goofer dust, red pepper, sulphur/gunpowder, and Spanish moss for a more aggressive formula. But that’s just me, and quite frankly I have yet to need either of these formulas. My only real experience with War Water thusfar is as a spiritual bath for protection, and in that case only in it’s iron-and-water form. It seemed to work fine, so unless the need for a more advanced concoction presents itself, that’s probably as far as I’d take it.
If you have used this formula or one like it and want to share, please do.
How To Cast A Counterspell When You’ve Been Cursed With War Water
Nobody wants to end up in a situation where they need to learn how to break a curse, but the truth is, curse-breaking is a vitally important part of any witchcraft education. You don’t even have to be a witch to need a curse-breaking! Unsuspecting people wind up running afoul of curses every single day, whether they’ve upset a touchy neighbor who happens to practice, ended up on the wrong end of the evil eye, or simply stumbled into a malicious spell unwittingly.
Magic is everywhere and we can’t assume that all of that magic is friendly! One of the most common curses out there is War Water, also known as Water of Mars. This curse can cause serious issues in your life, your health, and your career. It’s no joke! If you suspect that someone has used war water against you, you need to act to break the curse and FAST. Today we’re going to be talking about this very old and well-known form of cursing and how you can go about breaking this curse if you find yourself on the receiving end of it.
By locating water sources, a war water witch helps to ensure the supply of water for troops and can also disrupt the enemy's water supply by targeting their water sources. War water witches possess a unique skill set that combines practical knowledge of hydrology and an understanding of the local geography and geology. They often use dowsing rods, which are usually Y- or L-shaped metal rods or wooden sticks, to locate underground water sources.
What Is War Water?
War water is a type of spell that is used for both cursing and offensive protection in magic. You’re most likely to find this spell in the south of the US, but in recent decades the use of the spell has found its way into almost any region where you find witchcraft thanks to the rapid spread of information. Many modern-day witches are aware of war water as a cursing agent, but it can actually be used in a wide variety of magical applications. It can be sprinkled around your home or property to create a magical barrier against spirits and magic sent against you, it can be used to nullify curses and hexes, it can be used to render an adversary powerless to prevent them from harming you, and it makes an excellent addition to witch bottles, talismans, and other forms of spell work.
As with many forms of folk magic, war water does not have a single agreed-upon recipe. Rather, recipes tend to vary widely depending on the region, the individual practitioner, and the intent behind the war water. The one thing almost all war water has in common is rusting iron. War water universally contains something like a railroad spike, iron nails, or iron pins that will rust when left in water. It may also contain ingredients such as spanish moss, vinegar, salt, and pepper. These are generally left in a jar with water and allowed to ferment and rust together for a month or more until you have a dark brown, almost black concoction.
The water witch holds the rods parallel to each other and walks slowly over the ground. When the rods cross over an underground water vein, they will move or vibrate, indicating the presence of water. The use of war water witches dates back centuries, with their skills being utilized in various conflicts throughout history. In World War II, for example, war water witches played a significant role in supporting military operations, including locating water reserves in desert areas. During the Vietnam War, war water witches were employed to find water sources for troops in the dense jungles. War water witches are not only responsible for locating water sources but also for assessing the sustainability and quality of the water. They analyze factors such as water table levels, underground rock formations, and water quality to determine the suitability of a water source for military use. This information is crucial in choosing the most strategic and reliable water sources for military operations. In modern warfare, war water witches continue to play a role in ensuring the availability and security of water supplies. Their skills are particularly valuable in arid or hostile environments where water scarcity poses a significant risk to military operations. Through their expertise, war water witches contribute to the overall effectiveness and success of military missions by providing essential water resources..
Reviews for "War Water Witch: A Powerful Tool in Spiritual Cleansing"
1. Emily - 2/5 stars - "I was really disappointed with 'War Water Witch'. The plot was confusing, with too many characters and storylines that were difficult to follow. It felt like the author was trying to do too much and it ultimately made the story convoluted and lacking depth. Additionally, the writing style was dry and unengaging, making it difficult to stay interested in the story. Overall, I found this book to be a forgettable read."
2. John - 1/5 stars - "'War Water Witch' was a complete waste of time in my opinion. The characters were poorly developed and their actions often seemed arbitrary and illogical. The pacing was also incredibly slow, with little to no action or excitement throughout the book. I found myself skipping pages just to get to something interesting, but unfortunately, that never happened. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and well-written story."
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - "I struggled to enjoy 'War Water Witch' due to the excessive amount of grammatical errors and typos throughout the book. It was distracting and made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, further distancing me from the characters and their experiences. While the concept of the story had potential, the execution fell flat, leaving me unsatisfied and disappointed."
4. David - 2/5 stars - "I had high hopes for 'War Water Witch', but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The world-building felt inconsistent and lacked detail, making it difficult to fully understand and visualize the setting. The romance subplot was also underdeveloped and felt shoehorned into the story without much depth or purpose. Overall, I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the book and ultimately felt let down by its lackluster execution."