The Birch Water Charm

The Birch Water Charm Lustral water, or water used for purification purposes, is best made from steeping the bark of a Birch tree in pure water for a space of nine minutes. The purification sought from Birch water is brought about through the traditional association of the Birch tree with renewal and newness. But the otherworldly nature of the Birch is likewise revealed by its fair white color. To bathe one's skin in its water, or besprinkle a place with it is to make one's person (or that place) a measure more "other." Unlike the purification granted by metaphysically fiery substances, which spiritually or symbolically burn impurities away, the Birch water symbolically restores a person or thing that it touches to a fresh state, a state previous to contact with forces or powers that might bring some element of hindrance or spiritual blockage. And whatever is done symbolically here, becomes a full reality in the Unseen. Thus, the extraordinary aspect of the person or thing is made "new" by the Birch, just as its ordinary aspect is cleansed to some extent by the water. The whiteness of the Birch likewise gives an otherworldly hue to the man or woman touched by it, almost as though they have become partly like the dead. They are thus free, symbolically, of issues or powers that hinder them in the mortal state. For this working, you will need at least three good handfuls of Birch bark from a living tree. The paper-thin bark will be easy to remove from the tree if you approach it at the right time. One should only take bark that comes away from the tree easily, and as you strip it away from the trunk, only ever peel it around the trunk in a circle, never up and down vertically. Several green leaves can be taken from the tree, too, and a few brown twigs. But the bark is the central substance to be sought. Spring and summer are the best times to collect the bark. In Autumn and Winter, the power of the tree is withdrawing to its interior and to its roots, and thus the collected portions will have less power. The water can be made with thus the collected portions will have less power. The water can be made with parts collected at those times, but the ideal is a Spring or Summer collectiontime. When the potential tree is located, it must be approached respectfully and the Herb Swaying Charm is performed before it. A gift of honey, tobacco, whole cream, or droplets of one's own blood should be given to it. Do not let the parts (the bark, leaves, etc) collected from the tree touch the ground after you have taken them. Take them carefully and respectfully, without disturbing or harming the tree. When you are ready to create the Birch water, place all the parts in a wood, glass, stone, or earthenware bowl or a large cup of similar materials, and pour boiling water over them. Fill it up well. This cup or bowl should be in a triangle made of branches, or in a triangle drawn or made around it with pebbles, chalk, sand, flour, on the table or ground (or wherever it is sitting.) As the steam rises from the vessel in which the steeping is occurring, place your hands over the mouth of the vessel, in "triangled" shape- your hands spread out flat, and your thumbs and forefingers touching, leaving a triangle-shaped opening. The rising steam should pass through this opening between your hands. Speak the following words over your hands and the vessel. The point of these words is to bring an element of formal communication to the spirit of the Birch during this event, who will have donated power to your efforts here if you asked properly for its bark and leaves (with the Herb Swaying Charm.) In the Good Queen's fair name and beautiful white shape, The Indwelling Mother of every growing thing, And in the name of the Leader of the Ghostly Hunt, Keeper of forest and given ground Power of the Birch here, Bestir yourself into a water of cleansing And give renewal to every person, place, or thing Upon which you fall. By the powerful words SATOR AREPO TENET OPERA ROTAS So this Birch and water join together Fulfilling all I have said and done. Hy bennath dhys bys vynytha, Birch; Y vennath dhys bys vynytha. After the nine minutes or so has passed, pour the water from the bowl or cup into the container you will be keeping the Birch water in. It should be strained the container you will be keeping the Birch water in. It should be strained through several layers of cheesecloth as you pour, and a funnel will make this task easier. If you are keeping the Birch water in a glass container, it should be dark glass, green or amber or some other color. This is to prevent outside light from affecting the potency of the water inside. It's not completely necessary, but it helps. Store it in a dark place. A small quantity of strong, clear grain alcohol or vodka- a few tablespoonscan be added to the water after it is strained and in the storage container; this addition of "spirit" to the fluid brings an extra force to it and helps preserve the water. The Cornish phrase Hy bennath dhys bys vynytha is pronounced "hee BENuth this buzz vuh-NEETH-uh." It means "Her blessing to thee forever." Y vennath dhys bys vynytha is pronounced "ee VEN-uth this buzz vuh-NEETHuh." It means "His blessing to thee forever." You can say these lines in English if you prefer; I find (as always) that the mysterious sounds of the foreign tongue conjure a powerful spiritual reaction in me and in the working. The Birch Water creation work does not require you to perform a Breaching charm before you perform it.