Rain Water

Rain Water is an extremely powerful element, as it has been charged with the energy and momentum of this massive storm that just continues to grow larger and larger. This is based on the belief that the rain/storm water is symbolic of a powerful force and has probably even inherited some, if not a lot, of the storms natural energy.

This makes it the perfect ingredient for several different types of magical work that needs to produce strong, pronounced results.

So, How Do You Use Storm Water In Your Magical Work?

Storm water can be used in an endless amount of ways. It can be used to do everything from simply giving more power to any given work, all the way to the more extreme stuff, such as revenge spells and stuff like War Water (a subject I will be covering later, in its own article). But keep in mind that, ultimately, you are dealing with a very wild, raw, chaotic energy when you use storm water in your work. Because of this reason, you need to make sure that whatever work you are doing, and remain focused on your goal while working with it.

Not all storm waters are created equal, though. Some storms ravage and completely destroy all in their path, while others are calm and bring much-needed rainfall to dry lands. Storms, like everything else in nature, are balanced due to their duality. Therefore, what storm water you need will depend entirely on what you are trying to achieve with your magickal work.

To break it down a bit and make it easier to digest, we’ve outlined a few of the more common or basic ways that storm water of various kinds can be used:

Calm Storm– Water collected from light or calmer storms is best used for magical work focused on easing emotional issues, encouraging peaceful sleep, and anything that requires calming energy to be used.

Thunderstorm – Water collected during a thunderstorm is good as an all-around power booster. It can be added to just about any kind of work you are doing, as it is of a fairly neutral energy. When your work simply needs to pack a punch, this will get the job done.Also, one of my favorites as an additive to protection work.

Hurricane / Tornado – Water collected during a hurricane or a tornado is best used in darker magic. Its energy is more in line with works that are focused on things like revenge, manipulation, control, and confusion.

Remember, these are just a few of the more common purposes that you can use certain kinds of storm water for but it is by no means the only ways to use it. But these should be enough food for thought to help you get inventive and start testing the waters, so to speak.

Having an overabundance of storm water should never be a problem. You don’t need to keep gallons of it on hand. As a matter of fact, I only keep a couple of mason jars of storm water on my shelf. You can store your water in any container you prefer. It does not have to be a mason jar, that’s just what I like to keep mine in. And how much you collect and store is also completely up to you and your needs.

Here is where things get really neat…

Storm water can be seen as being drops of raw, condensed, energy infused water. What this means is that you have a highly concentrated ingredient that you can now dilute into much larger containers of water, thereby transferring some of that energy to the rest of the water in the jar. Theoretically, just a few drops could be all you would ever need.

Keep in mind, the more you dilute the water, the more you decrease the potency.

The Magic of Snow and Ice

If we're going to use snow, or ice, in magic, it's important to consider some of the symbolism and associations of these items. After all, if everything in nature has its own correspondences, then first we have to think about what snow is associated with, right?

First of all, snow is water. It's cold and it's frozen, but it's water nonetheless. Water is a feminine energy and highly connected with the aspects of the Goddess. Used for healing, cleansing, and purification, Water is related to the West, and associated with passion and emotion. You can gather snow and use it for different purposes–for instance, wet, sticky snow gathered during a raging blizzard might be used in workings related to high energy and power. A jar full of light fluffy snow collected during a soft, quiet snowfall could be incorporated into a ritual for peacefulness and tranquility.

Madame Pamita of Parlour of Wonders has some great ideas for using snow in divination, and also suggests using it in love spells. She says,

"Wintertime is the perfect time for doing magic and snow is a beautiful medium for doing this magic. Winter is a time for reflecting and going inward, and this snow spell is beautiful way for us to be mindful that not all spellwork is about instant results, but that there is great power in setting long-term intentions in winter and seeing them manifest in the spring."

There are also a number of deities associated with snow, ice, and winter storms. The Japanese Yuki Onna is a spirit of winter storms who dwells in the mountains and preys upon lone travelers. There is a famous legend of two woodcutters, Mosaku and Minokichi, which tells of the woman in white, whose "breath was like a bright white smoke."

The Norse goddess Frau Holle is associated with snowfall, and archaeologist Marija Gimbutas said, in her groundbreaking work Civilization of the Goddess,

Holle holds dominion over death, the cold darkness of winter, caves, graves and tombs in the earth….but also receives the fertile seed, the light of midwinter, the fertilized egg, which transforms the tomb into a womb for the gestation of new life."In other words, Frau Holle is tied to the cycle of death and eventual rebirth, as new life springs forth.

Using Snow in Spell work

Think about, just for starters, some of snow's physical characteristics. The most obvious one is that it's cold. It's also white. Sometimes it's light and powdery, other times it may be heavy and wet. How can you incorporate these into your magical workings?

If you're a fan of candles, gather some ice from outdoors and make ice candles–they're are a lot of fun and easy to make during the winter months.

Build a snowman and use him — or her — as a very large magical poppet. Assign a snowman, or a whole group of snowmen, the magical task of being a guardian at the entrance to your property.

Got a bad habit you need to get rid of? Form that bad habit into snowballs, and throw them as far away from you as you can.

Snow quartz crystals are often associated with fulfillment of hopes and dreams. Use actual snow instead of crystals in workings related to wishes and goals.

If someone is bothering you and won't leave you alone, try this simple bit of magic. Write their name on a slip of paper, and pack it in snow in a jar or bowl. Place the bag in your freezer, and leave it there until the person "chills out."

Shadow of Shadow's Magic Place recommends using ice in beauty spells, and says, "Make an infusion of... Lemon balm, Rosemary and Basil. Pour into an ice tray and use the ice when the moon is waxing or better yet full, either in bath, or rubbed over parts of the body you wish to make more beautiful, if you can stand it."

Freeze some snow in a bag or jar for use later on in the year, when fresh snow isn't available.

Go for a walk in the woods on a day that it's snowing. Enjoy the silence, and the magic of the snowfall–some people report that they have experienced messages from the Divine as they walk on a snowy day. Perhaps it's because we're better able to hear the gods when it's quiet!'

Collecting rain water is illegal in some states, so be sure to check your local laws before collecting!