Still Water Mirror Spell For Reflection

Last week, I discussed how to embrace stillness and silence in your practice through tea, meditation, and shadow work journaling. In a world that tells us to be constantly loud and moving, it is a spiritual act of resistance to do the opposite. Winter reminds us to take time to rest and rejuvenate. During this time, the darkness reflects the shadow we harbor inside ourselves, making it the perfect time for reflection. Today's spell builds upon embracing stillness as a magical act through the use of a "mirror" to help you find calm, clarity, and connection to the unseen.

What You'll Need

• Small bowl of water
• White or black candle
• Match or lighter
• Pinch of salt
• Isa, Laguz, and Perthro runes

What to Do

This spell is best performed on Sunday or during the new or dark moon. Begin by cleansing your tools and work space using your preferred methods. Follow this with grounding and centering and inviting any of your spiritual guides to join you.

Place the bowl of water in the center of your workspace with the candle behind it so that the flame will reflect on the water's surface. Place the runes to the right, left, and in front of the water bowl.

Light your candle and sit in the quiet, dimly lit space. Breathe deeply until your body softens. Take time to relax and feel the tension leave your body. 

When ready, sprinkle the salt into the bowl of water and stir clockwise three times, saying: “As this water stills, so shall my mind. In the silent stillness, wisdom I find.” 

Gaze into the surface of the water, watching the flame flicker in the surface's reflection. Don’t force any visions. Instead, let your awareness expand outward and inward at once, opening your mind to the mysteries and fates. If your mind begins to drift, gently return to your breath and refocus on the water's surface.

Continue breathing deeply, allowing messages to flow freely through you as you watch the flame flicker across the water's calm surface. End when you feel full, calm, gently altered, and when the messages stop.

If needed, snuff out the candle and dispose of the water outdoors as an offering to the spirits.

Warnings/Modifications/Alternatives:

• Altering your breathing can cause a reduction in blood pressure, which can cause you to pass out. It can also trigger seizures in some people and PTSD in others. If you are worried about passing out, begin this exercise by lying down. I also suggest practicing with a friend to ensure your safety.
• The water's surface acts as a mirror in which messages can be received, much like a crystal ball. Generally, these messages are visual symbols, pictures, and images, but they can also be feelings, smells, sounds, or a sense of knowing. Trust in your intuition to guide you.
• If you are unable to light candles, consider a faux candle that flickers as a substitute.
• Do not leave a lit candle unattended, and always have water or another fire extinguisher nearby.
• If you do not have runes and prefer to use tarot, The Hermit, Four of Swords, and the High Priestess represent introspection, needed rest, and inner wisdom, similar to that of the runes I chose for this spell. 
  
  

Why You Did It

Understanding the whys of a spell (or ritual or recipe) is just as important as performing it. It helps you understand the process so you can modify the spell or ritual to suit your needs, and it helps guide you in writing your own. It's my intention to provide these explanations so that you can build a better understanding of how spells are written and executed, so you can modify and build your own spells (the goal of my Spellcrafting Series).

Because this spell is designed for stillness and reflection, Sunday or the new/dark moon is best because they too are associated with stillness and reflection. Sunday is often viewed as a day of rest and relaxation, making it the perfect time to invite quiet stillness into your life and practice. The new and dark moon have similar correspondences, although I much prefer the use of the dark moon over the new moon. The dark moon is the complete absence of the moon, the ultimate symbol of rest and reflection. The new moon, however, is more aligned with new beginnings, but is still a great time to set goals for the future and garner insight from beyond.

A bowl of water with a pinch of salt is used during this spell to act as a sort of scrying mirror, helping to open your mind to the messages from the beyond. Water is also associated with calm, healing, silence, and emotions, while the salt helps to purify and remove any blockages that may be preventing you from achieving stillness. The salt was stirred into the water clockwise to invite or draw messages toward you, as well as manifesting your intention of receiving visions.

The black or white candle was lit to connect you and your intention to the Otherworld. Furthermore, the flame was viewed as a reflection in the water's surface. This was done to help quiet your mind and help entice visions from the Otherworld to rise to the surface. Watching the flickering flame helps reduce your heart rate, relax your muscles, and induce an altered state of consciousness, opening you to embracing quiet stillness in your life and to the messages the spirits wish to share with you. White or black is chosen here for their connection to shadow work (black) or stillness (white; think snow).

Isa, Laguz, and Perthro runes were used to strengthen your intention and invite the desired outcome. Isa represents ice and therefore corresponds to stillness, quiet, and reflection. Laguz, however, is the rune of water and represents flow, intuition, emotion, and the subconscious. Perthro is the rune of mystery and the unknown, connected to fate and the divine. Each of these runes invites us to be still and open ourselves up to the will of the fates.

Finally, the water was disposed of outside with gratitude as an offering to the spirits who aided in your spell, whether through guidance or messages. 

Want to break this spell? Because the nature of the spell is to receive insight and guidance, there isn't a way to break it.

Remember to record this spell in your Book of Shadows or use my Spell/Ritual Worksheet for reference later.

***

After everything that has happened in the past year, I find myself turning toward this time of year wanting to learn more about myself and the lessons I have been dealt. Between the election results a year ago, the loss of someone very close to me, a health diagnosis, and a marriage, things have been far from "settled." While there have been plenty of wonderful things that have happened over the last year, there have also been some trials that have tested me. Having spells and rituals centered around peace, reflection, and healing has certainly helped me process everything that has occurred, leaving me well and able to plan for the future. I hope they offer you the same solace.

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