How to Harness the Power of Water Magic

Water Magic Book Water is a powerful element that has fascinated humans for centuries. Its ability to flow, cleanse, and heal makes it a truly mystical force to be reckoned with. In literature and mythology, water often symbolizes purity, life, and change. Many stories and legends revolve around the use of water for magical purposes. The concept of a water magic book is enchanting and captivating. It is a book that explores the secrets and powers of water through spells, rituals, and ancient wisdom.

Scholars do however commonly claim that the celebration was held around the middle of January, centered in between the first day of winter and the first day of summer using the old Norse Calendar. On the prime staff, the 12th of January is marked with dots symbolizing snowflakes, and the tradition of Yule Ale and "drinking Jól" is further symbolized by a drinking horn on December 25th, with an upside-down drinking horn depicted on January 13th, symbolizing that the ale should be finished by then (8). According to Visted, Midwinter was on January 13-14th (9). Others have claimed that it was moveable and celebrated at the first new full moon after the solstice(10), that is, between January 5th and February 2nd, varying from year to year. In Heimskringla, Snorri Sturlusson writes that the old celebration started with Midwinters night or "Hökunótt", lasting for 3 days, and that king Aðalsteinsfóstri later had the celebration moved to coincide ith the Christian celebration (11).

Others have claimed that it was moveable and celebrated at the first new full moon after the solstice 10 , that is, between January 5th and February 2nd, varying from year to year. It was during these days that the 13 Icelandic Yule lads would come sneaking one by one each day, to put something nice in the shoe if I had been good - or a lame old potato if had had been mischievous.

It is a book that explores the secrets and powers of water through spells, rituals, and ancient wisdom. These books are believed to contain instructions on how to harness the energies of water and use them for various purposes. Water magic books often delve into the different properties of water and how they can be utilized for different purposes.

How Can a New Pagan Celebrate the Winter Solstice?

These are the darkest days of the year. Insofar as we today — and polytheists of the past — felt that it is important to celebrate the return of the sun, we have celebrated, feasted, and made offerings around this time.

The word solstice comes from the Latin words meaning “sun” and “to stand still” because the sun seems to stand still in the sky for a time on the Solstices. It is the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. As some food for thought, in New York City on the Winter Solstice, we get about 9 hours of daylight, compared to 15 hours of daylight on the Summer Solstice.

The time around the Winter Solstice was also a common time for important rituals and feasts in the polytheist cultures of Europe. The hearth cultures I’ll be discussing here are Germanic, Roman, Celtic, and Slavic.

Germanic Customs

Germanic pagans today celebrate Yule around the Winter Solstice, although not always on the solstice. There are only a few things we know for certain about how Norse and Anglo-Saxon polytheists celebrated midwinter, which I describe in more detail here. To sum up: we know there was a sacrificial boar, especially sacred oaths, three days of feasting and drinking, and probably rituals for the ancestors. Certainly ham and New Year’s resolutions are similar modern customs. Even Christmas trees originated from Germany.

Roman Customs

There are also several similarities between modern Christmastime traditions from the Roman polytheists. The Romans famously celebrated Saturnalia, which was celebrated on December 17th. It became one of the most important festivals of the year. Gambling was legal. Freemen served meals to their slaves. Overall everything was “topsy turvy.” Notably, gifts were given to children and between friends. It is likely this custom was the source of our Christmastime gift-giving. Saturnalia was very popular at the time the Roman Empire came under the control of Christian emperors. Several scholars argue that Saturnalia influenced early Christian practices.

The Romans also celebrated a “sun child” or the Sol Invictus. From 375 CE the celebratory date of Sol Invictus had been on December 25th. Unfortunately, scholars and pagans disagree about who Sol Invictus was and whether this holiday was the reason Christmas was set to December 25th.

Celtic Customs

And now I come to the Celts and Wiccans among us pagans. I do sympathize. The modern Wheel of the Year has very Celtic names and then all of a sudden…Yule. What? The problem is, we don’t seem to have a lot of information on how Celts celebrated midwinter.

Chris Godwin‘s article on the Celtic Winter Solstice is both insightful and useful. Some of the important themes of the winter and the Winter Solstice are similar to what we’ve already seen here. First, there was a midwinter feast. Second, the lore has a “battle” over the light half and dark half of the year. And finally, the lore also has a miraculous child that is attested in several Celtic cultures.

Slavic Customs

Slavic polytheism is difficult to find source material for in English, and Slavic is an umbrella term that encompasses a vast regional area. However, in an attempt to find some common Slavic traditions for the Winter Solstice, I have gathered this information.

Koliada is a common name for a midwinter festival in Slavic countries, which is still a part of modern Christmas traditions. The Eastern Orthodox calendar has their Christmas in January, and possibly Koliada was also celebrated after the Winter Solstice. Koliada is considered the beginning of the new year.

The holiday was possibly related to the god Koliada, who has an association with the sun. There is also the winter goddess Marzanna, who is banished after winter is over, similar to the Cailleach. There is also evidence that Slavic polytheists sacrificed horses, cows, bears, and other animals at this time, so possibly this holiday was associated with fertility like the Scandinavian Yule.

Other Slavic pagans focus on Veles during the winter, as he is considered a deity of the forests, animals (including cows and bears), death, and wintertime. Some also focus on their ancestors, which is a common Indo-European theme for a culture’s new year.

Some Final Thoughts for New Pagans

As a final note, however you want to practice, calendars have changed throughout time; polytheists have lived in different regions with different climate and environment; very little happened on the exact days of the neo pagan wheel of the year. Don’t stress about having to do it “right”, simply focus on the meaning of the season and the numinous beings – deities, spirits, and ancestors – who you want to honor/worship at this time of year.

There are two specifically modern ways to celebrate the Winter Solstice that I personally love. First, there is the heathen tradition of Sunwait. This is a take on the Christian Advent for us to wait for the Sun’s return. Every week up to Yule, you light six candles one at a time. It’s really a lovely tradition.

Secondly, there is a druid way to celebrate the coming of the Solstice, much like the Christmas Advent calendars people may be used to. Reverend Jan Avende wrote this book on Winter Solstice Spirals, sold at The Magical Druid. The intention is to light a candle in the three weeks prior to the Solstice, and there is a short ritual for each day’s candle. Many of the themes for each night revolve around Indo-European concepts that any pagan could adapt to a specific practice.

Sources

All websites accessed December 2020.

• “Christmas Tree.” Wikipedia.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree
• M. Sentia Figula “Calendar.” Roman Pagan.https://romanpagan.wordpress.com/calendar/
• R. M. Ogilvie. The Romans and Their Gods in the Age of Augustus. W. W. Norton and Company. 1969. Page 98.
• M. Sentia Figula. “The Invincible Sun.” neo polytheist.http://romanpagan.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-unconquered-sun-sol-invictus.html
• Gene Veith. “Christmas is NOT based on the feast of Sol Invictus.” Patheos. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2012/12/christmas-is-not-based-on-the-feast-of-sol-invictus/
• “Sol Invictus.” Wikipedia.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_Invictus
• “Saturnalia.” Wikipedia.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturnalia
• Chris Godwin. “22 Celtic Winter Solstice Customs and Traditions.” Patheos.https://www.patheos.com/blogs/fromacommonwell/2017/12/22-celtic-winter-solstice-customs-traditions/
• “Koliada.” Wikipedia.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koliada
• “Koliada (deity).” Wikipedia.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koliada_(deity)
• Emily. “Winter Gods.” The Slavic Polytheist.https://slavicpolytheist.wordpress.com/2018/04/19/winter-gods/
• Kseniia S. “Slavic Pagan Holidays Throughout The Year.” Slavorum.https://www.slavorum.org/slavic-pagan-holidays-throughout-the-year/
• “Velesa Den (Feb 12).” Solntsa Roshcha. https://solntsaroshcha.wordpress.com/velesa-den-feb-12/
• Rev. Jan Avende. “Winter Solstice Spiral: Overview.” Mist to Open. Mists to Bind.https://hellenicdruid.com/2017/11/29/winter-solstice-spiral-liturgy-overview/
• The Magical Druid Listing for The Spiraling Sun:https://www.magicaldruid.com/product/spiraling-sun-a-winter-solstice-liturgy-the/1500

As a final note, however you want to practice, calendars have changed throughout time; polytheists have lived in different regions with different climate and environment; very little happened on the exact days of the neo pagan wheel of the year. Don’t stress about having to do it “right”, simply focus on the meaning of the season and the numinous beings – deities, spirits, and ancestors – who you want to honor/worship at this time of year.

They may contain instructions on how to divine the future using water scrying, or how to perform rituals for purification and healing. Some books may also explore the connection between water and emotions, and how to use this connection for emotional healing and balance. One of the most famous water magic books is "The Water Witchcraft Book" by Annwyn Avalon. This book provides a guide to the practice of water magic, including rituals, spells, and meditations. It explores the spiritual and practical aspects of working with water and emphasizes the importance of developing a deep connection with this element. In addition to practical instructions, water magic books often contain mythology, folklore, and stories related to water and its magical properties. These stories add depth and context to the practice of water magic, allowing readers to understand the significance of water in different cultures and traditions. Overall, water magic books offer a fascinating insight into the mystical world of water. They provide guidance, wisdom, and inspiration for those seeking to explore the magical properties of this element. Whether you are interested in divination, healing, or simply connecting with the natural world, a water magic book can be a valuable resource on your journey..

Reviews for "The Spellbinding World of Water Magic"

- Jane - 1/5 stars - The "Watee magic book" was a huge disappointment for me. I found the story to be unoriginal and predictable, with cliché characters that lacked depth. The writing style was dull and lacked any form of creativity or imagination. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and unique story.

- John - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for the "Watee magic book," but it ultimately fell flat for me. The plot was confusing and hard to follow, with too many unnecessary subplots that distracted from the main storyline. The characters were forgettable, and I struggled to connect with any of them. Despite its promising premise, the execution was lacking, leaving me feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied.

- Sarah - 2/5 stars - I found the "Watee magic book" to be underwhelming and unengaging. The pacing was slow, and the overall story lacked excitement and suspense. The dialogue felt forced and unrealistic, making it difficult for me to stay invested in the characters' conversations. While the concept had potential, the execution left much to be desired. I would not recommend this book to those seeking a thrilling and captivating read.

- Michael - 1/5 stars - I regret every minute I spent reading the "Watee magic book." The writing was amateurish and filled with grammatical errors that were incredibly distracting. The plot was not well-developed, and the characters felt flat and one-dimensional. The book failed to captivate me from the beginning and only worsened as I continued reading. Save yourself the disappointment and steer clear of this book.

Exploring the Depths of Water Magic