Charged and blessed waters can be an important part of any spiritual or ritual practices. Ritual water, magical water, blessed water, smokeless smudge, Florida water, whatever you wish to call it, has many uses. Magical waters are also fantastic for use by anyone who needs to clear or manipulate the energy in a room or space for any reason, when one cannot burn plant material or create smoke. Many people’s first thought is to grab an incense stick, sage bundle, or palo santo stick to clear space. A charged and blessed spray can do the trick just as well at times, and you can use them just like herbal smoke! I write about this subject in my Pagan Portals ‘Sage Advice, A Practical Guide To Energetic Smoke Cleansing and House Blessing’ in the chapter Smokeless Smudges, Music, Energy Clearing Through Alternative Means.

Reasons why you may consider a spray incense would be if you are expecting guests, have an office or a healing practice, the inside of your car, a child’s room, for folks with breathing issues, etc., essentially any time or anywhere you need a quick clearing without the hassle of excessive smoke or ashes when burnables may not be practical. Other uses for sprays can be altar and ritual waters to spray or asperge at your sacred space for invoking your deities or spirit helpers, during devotionals, during divinations, or to clear and refresh energy at your altar before or after a ritual. I, just like many of you, used the old tried and true Florida water available in most botanicas and metaphysical shops, but felt I wanted a more personal blend with my own energy and intentions added to it, so I decided to make my own. Especially since most mass-produced waters are now made with synthetic fragrances and colors, instead of being natural and plant-based. However, as we know, we can ensorcel and sway any item we wish to our own purposes, so even synthetic waters can be useful, though there is something so much “extra” in a bottle or jar of infused plant material or the essential oil mix that has some meaning for you and that you put your energy into.

Making smokeless sprays is really fun, in my opinion! Recently, I got an idea from a deity I have a relationship with to make their own separate blend of altar spray for use when working with them. I highly encourage you to do some divination and visualization with those you also have a relationship with to find out what they may like in a specific blend. Do a bit of research if you feel guided to, to find out what plants or herbs are sacred to your spirits or gods. If you purchase essential oils for this purpose, be sure they are from trusted sources, are genuine and not synthetic fragrance oils, or unadulterated in any way. Flower essences are also well-suited to this use. Hydrosols, the scented water left from steam distillation of essential oils, are absolutely perfect for this! If you use these waters, you don’t have to worry as much about dilution rates or shaking prior to use or to get the oils to blend prior to spraying, and no clogged sprayers! Do not feel as if you need an excessive amount of ingredients; sometimes, less is more with this type of work, and you can create a very effective water with just one or two ingredients. The main thing to remember is to trust yourself, your magic, and your spirit allies and know that you will create just the thing you need.

If you garden or have available pots, grow your own herbs for your magical purposes and craft magical water out of fresh or dried plant material. I do recommend holding your hands over them, speaking to and swaying your herbs as you harvest them, and telling them their purpose. Add the plant’s spirit to your blend. Use warmed distilled or purified water, add your herbs to this water, and infuse overnight. If you want to add moon energy, place this mix into a jar and leave it outside during a full moon. Strain this mixture and discard the plant material in your compost pile or leave it outside to naturally decompose. You can use your water as-is, or blend in some grain alcohol*, Himalayan or sea salt to help preserve and keep mould from growing. Salt is also an extra boost for clearing and protection if you are using it for this purpose. *NEVER use rubbing alcohol, or any other alcohol besides food-safe clear grain alcohol such as vodka or Everclear! 

What ingredients to choose? Magical folk may want to choose an appropriate number of ingredients for their purposes, for example: 3, 6, or 9 ingredients. Add in planetary correspondences and do this work in an appropriate hour. Consider moon phases and astrological alignments if needed. Gather your ingredients and tools, create your special blend at your altar, call in your spirit helpers, add your energy to it. Again, choose herbs or essential oils based on the energies you wish to impart to the water, for example: protection, spirit work and ritual or devotional work, love, money/prosperity, you get the idea. Add a charged and blessed small crystal to the bottle to amplify the energy. If you do this, be certain the crystal is impervious to water damage. As you add each ingredient, empower it, and ensorcel the mix. Craft a charm or mantra or speak one that is sacred to your spirit helpers and deities as you do your work. Regardless, anyone can make these blends with energy and intention anytime, anywhere.

Use a clean, new spray bottle, preferably glass, not plastic. I use it quite a lot, so I use 4 oz. bottles. An example of a basic essential oil super high vibe cleansing spray recipe that also has great spiritual protection properties, as well may consist of distilled water, rose water, grain alcohol, a chunk or large pinch of sea salt or Himalayan salt, and 30 to 40 drops total of your essential oils between 10 to 15 drops of each oil per 4 oz. bottle. Try palo santo, lavender, lemongrass, sage, and cedar. Shake well before spraying to blend with the medium, as this is a natural recipe and oils (if using) may separate. Some common cleansing and protective herbs and oils include, but are not limited to, sage, cedar, juniper, cypress, pine, lemon, clove, cinnamon, rose, frankincense, myrrh, palo santo, lavender, rosemary, peppermint, etc. There are many more one can choose from, and it is fun to do some research on the spiritual properties of these plants. I encourage you to create your very own unique blend, with the scent and vibration that pleases you and your spirit helpers!

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Dawn Leith Dougherty lives in the rolling hills of rural North Carolina, USA in the northern Piedmont region with her husband Ed “Greybeard”, and SpookyKat, a tiny fuzzy black cat who somehow lost her tail. Together with her husband Ed, a woodworker and gifted flute maker, they are owners of Tree Of Life Designs, a true backyard enterprise and labor of love. They sell their wares on the internet, as well as occasional music and craft festivals hither and yon, and generally making happy mischief!

Dawn is a Reiki Master-Teacher in the Usui System Of Natural Healing, an Ordained Priest in The Order Of Melchizidek, an Animist and Pagan, an early modern traditional Witch, a writer, a vocalist, musician, and performer in rock bands and stage productions, an amateur horticulturist, former florist, garden writer and assistant manager of a garden center, and was once a featured zombie in a B horror movie. Her love of plants, herbs, and pursuit of a magickal life led her to seek energetic cleansing herbs and resins and study as much as possible about this compelling subject. Her and Ed love good incense, and as a result have developed their own brand of Tree Of Life Incense loose herbal blends.