This great name of thin[e] is upon me, O self-begotten perfect one,
who art not outside me…I shall declare thy glory truly, for I have
comprehended thee,…O Aeon, O God of silence, I honor thee
completely. Thou art my place of rest, O son…the formless one
who exists in the formless ones, who exists, raising up the man
in whome though wilt purify me into thy life, according to theine
imperishable name. Therefore the incense of life is in me.
I mixed it with water…”
–Gospel of the Egyptians (120-150AD)
Historical Origins
Historically, rituals focused around water have been such a vital part of all cultures around the world. Without water there is no life. It can be assumed that purification ceremonies involving water sprung out of a necessity for cleanliness. Furthermore, before the notions of disease were known, the unforeseen relationship between cleanliness and sickness may have paved way to superstitious thought. Cleanliness through water was almost a necessity for early man. As they started to form cultural traditions perhaps that is when the notion of ceremonial purification arose in hopes of ridding the body and abode from such malicious/superstitious intent.
Some of the earliest rituals involving water were those of the Egyptians whereby they would pour water over an individuals head as a sign of purification. A sole surviving Eighteenth Dynasty illustration depicts water being used as a means to purify a priest and priestess before conducting temple services. Sprinkling or washing was a such common practice among the Egyptians that others began to label them as ‘the washed ones’ in their native language. The level symbolic cleanliness through this ritualistic washing, specifically the Isis-Serapis cult, was to later become adopted by the Greeks and Romans. One such example is that of the Eleusinian mysteries (mid-fourth century BC) which were heavily influenced by these rites of purification brought over from Egypt. Several mystery traditions throughout the old world perpetuated the idea of purification through the act of sprinkling water or by bathing.
These rituals later influenced Judaism (e.g., Mikveh) and later early Christianity. The act of baptism or ritual washing was seen as a symbolic way of getting rid of sin and transforming oneself into an elevated state or status. The concept was later adopted by early Catholicism, in contrast to the Jewish Mikveh (ritualistic immersion), that once the water was purified it could then be used as a way of not only cleansing but as well as a means of protection against malicious forces. These Roman Catholic traditions later had a key role in mixing with various spiritual beliefs after making its way to the Americas and completely transformed the rituals and usage.
Latin Ritual
The act of blessing holy water is one held only by priests and bishops and co-insides with the rituals of exorcism. There are several variations of Roman Catholic holy water used for specific rituals such as with baptismal water and Gregorian waters, the intended purpose and use of each varies and sometimes salt or oil may be added to the water after its consecration.
Exorcising and blessing the water:
Exorcizo te, creatura aquæ, in nomine Dei Patris omnipotentis, et in nomine Jesu Christi, Filii ejus Domini nostri, et in virtute Spiritus Sancti: ut fias aqua exorcizata ad effugandam omnem potestatem inimici, et ipsum inimicum eradicare et explantare valeas cum angelis suis apostaticis, per virtutem ejusdem Domini nostri Jesu Christ: qui venturus est judicare vivos et mortuos et sæculum per ignem.
(I exorcise thee in the name of God the Father almighty, and in the name of Jesus Christ His Son, our Lord, and in the power of the Holy Ghost, that you may be able to put to flight all the power of the enemy, and be able to root out and supplant that enemy and his apostate angels; through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will come to judge the living and the dead and the world by fire.)
Deus, qui ad salutem humani generis maxima quæque sacramenta in aquarum substantia condidisti: adesto propitius invocationibus nostris, et elemento huic, multimodis purificationibus præparato, virtutem tuæ benedictionis infunde; ut creatura tua, mysteriis tuis serviens, ad abigendos dæmones morbosque pellendos divinæ gratiæ sumat effectum; ut quidquid in domibus vel in locis fidelium hæc unda resperserit careat omni immunditia, liberetur a noxa. Non illic resideat spiritus pestilens, non aura corrumpens: discedant omnes insidiæ latentis inimici; et si quid est quod aut incolumitati habitantium invidet aut quieti, aspersione hujus aquæ effugiat: ut salubritas, per invocationem sancti tui nominis expetita, ab omnibus sit impugnationibus defensa. Per Dominum.
(God, who for the salvation of mankind has built your greatest mysteries upon this substance, in your kindness hear our prayers and pour down the power of your blessing into this element, prepared by many purifications. May this your creation be a vessel of divine grace to dispel demons and sicknesses, so that everything that it is sprinkled on in the homes and buildings of the faithful will be rid of all unclean and harmful things. Let no pestilent spirit, no corrupting atmosphere, remain in those places: may all the schemes of the hidden enemy be dispelled. Let whatever might trouble the safety and peace of those who live here be put to flight by this water, so that health, gotten by calling Your holy name, may be made secure against all attacks. Through our Lord.)
During the act of sprinkling the holy water:
Asperges me, Domine, hyssopo et mundabor,
Lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.
(Thou wilt sprinkle me, O Lord, with hyssop and I shall be cleansed
Thou wilt wash me, and I shall be washed whiter than snow.)
Influence on the New World
Beyond mere ritualistic bathing, ideas of sprinkling water were later adopted by many indigenous cultures in the Americas. The incoming influx of African traditions also intermixed with those already preexisting and along with Catholicism completely reshaped the landscape.
Runaway Cuban slave, Esteban Montejo, once said, “the Lucumi liked rising early with the strength of the morning and looking up into the sky and saying prayers and sprinkling water on the ground.” The Lucumi maintain their own version of Santeria and language. Santeria maintains its own mythology influenced by those brought over from Africa, much like voodoo, and is practiced specifically around the Caribbean. The emphasis being on the worship of saints much like religious deified god-saints, who are able to perform miracles and carry out specific tasks. Several liquids, such as holy water, rum or colognes are used as a means of purifying and appeasing the saints or spirits in which they plan on working with. Some variations of the ritual consist of placing holy water in a cup or bowl on top of an altar or shrine. A item of a deceased relative or ancestor is placed inside, while photographic decorations surround the bowl or cup. By gazing into the water and reciting certain prayers the individual may become possessed by that individual.
As a substitute to holy water, practitioners of Santeria and curanderismo (a form of native healing rooted in indigenous cultures) may also use Agua de Florida (Florida Water). While some believe that Agua de Florida is used only for ritualistic bathing others believe the sprinkling of Agua de Florida both purifies an area and appeases spirits. Agua de Florida, as much as it is used throughout the Americas for ceremonial purposes, has its origins in the United States in the early 1800’s when it was developed as a unisex cologne consisting of flowery and spicy fragrances. While Santeria practitioners (based in African traditions) still prefer rum and holy water, a vast majority of curanderos (healers based in indigenous traditions) prefer holy water and Agua de Florida. Used in much the same way, it is sprayed on items, people and even left as offerings for spirits (or in some rare instances gods). It is believed that in cases of malicious or evil intent, this water may be used to ward off superstitious occurrences while purifying oneself.
Magnetizing Water Technique
The following technique as far as I can tell has been used by Rosicrucian students and is supposedly rooted in Alchemical and Hermetic traditions. The earliest source that I could find was written by J. H. Strasser in 1900. I have seen several variations of this practice being used by not only curanderos but also by people in Mexico as a folk remedy.
*Doing this twice a day will greatly improve your energy or help with aliments within the body. Be sure to try this technique upon waking up and another before going to sleep.
1. Put yourself in a state of deep meditation or relaxation.
2. Place a glass of cool water in your hands several inches away from your Solar Plexus (abdomen) making sure that your fingers are interlaced.
3. Take in a slow deep breath, hold, and then release. Repeat the breathing several times. Slowly imagine that which each breathe a bluish white light slowly starts to illuminate the glass of water. The energy is slowly being pulled down from the inside of your body through the arms and into the glass forming an illuminated ball of powerful light that is charging the water with energy.
4. Depending on what type of energy you would like to perpetuate through the water, focus on a word, emotion or color that intensifies with each breathe. Gazing into the water maintain ‘the image’ for several minutes and slowly change your attention to only your breathing and the water itself.
5. After several minutes of gazing, drink the water quickly while visualizing it being absorbed and replenishing your system.
There are plenty of variations for step 3. The focus can be instead substituted for a vowel sound or even a specific purpose such as to help treat diabetes and so forth. It is easy to imagine how powerful this technique can be. One can also observe the people who have drinking problems, as they mope around while contemplating their grievances all the while holding an ice cold beer in their hands. Dwelling too much on negativity is one thing, but dwelling on negativity while drinking may lead to an eventual perpetuation of unwanted or unnecessary building of energy.
References:
Water in the Cultic Worship of Isis and Sarapis by Robert A. Wild
Saint Andrew Daily Missal
Santeria from Africa to the New World: The Dead Sell Memories by George Brandon
Santeria: The Beliefs and Rituals of a Growing Religion in America by Miguel A. De La Torre pg 173-4
Curanderismo: Mexican American Folk Healing by Robert T. Trotter & Juan Antonio Chavira pg 84-86
Curandero Conversations: El Niño Fidencio, Shamanism and Healing Traditions of the Borderlands by Antonio Zavaleta & Alberto Salinas Jr.
Initiation into Hermetics by Franz Bordon
The Path of Alchemy by Mark Stavish
The Key to Magnetic Healing by J. H. Strasser
Cleansing and purifying water: rituals and ceremonies celebrating the Epiphany 1