Water is – in essence – life, and has no shortage of uses in
the Craft. Given its fluid nature, it is often likened to the realm of emotion
which, like an ocean, is vast, changing and unpredictable. While not often thought
of as so, water can be extremely volatile in its capacity for change and
motion. It’s this volatility that makes it a perfect conductor for spirit. I’ve
said it once and I’ll say it again, all water is connected. It dwells in pools,
constitutes the body of all living organisms and even occupies the air and
atmosphere. All water that is has been – in a constant state of physical
flux since the earth was yet new.

This “ritual” (more a procedure, really) allows for a vast
range of applications – though despite the title, there is no actual walking on
water for we humans. Instead, we might use water as a medium – one that will
free us (if only temporarily) from the solid physicality we know. I have used this procedure for a few different purposes, including channeling,
astral travel, “time travelling,” spiritual communion, oracular visions, subconscious
exploration, and descension (that’s right, Orpheus, I’m coming for your crown). In
a sense, is promotes a sort of trance-like state for those not innately gifted
with the capacity for such. As I said, it loosens the ties to this plane –
allowing the spirit to more easily traverse unencumbered.

To perform, you’ll need only three things: water, a vessel,
and a relatively tall chair. I use a large copper bowl for my vessel (which I
literally use for almost everything in the Craft; at this point I feel like I
should set up its own college fund, it’s like my child) and it serves me
nicely. I have, however, also used a bathtub, perched on the edge, but this is
far more difficult to do considering the short distance from the water you’ll
be sitting at. By all means, however, put yourself a tall chair in a bathtub –
if nothing else, anyone walking in will be dumbfounded.

Begin by filling the bowl part-way with water (and some
salt, if you’d like). You don’t need a lot – in fact, you’ll want to be scant
so as to prevent any overflow. Arrange the chair and bowl in an open space,
such as the center of a room. Feel free to light any candle and put on music that
might benefit your preferred process for trance – hell, use an entheogen if you
have to! You may also seek to set up a form of protection or safeguard – one that
might pull you from the trance if need be. This can also be set as a sort of
alarm, one that signals for you to return if you get caught up. It’s all the
same principle as any sort of astral/trance work or hedgeriding/edgewalking.

It is at this point that I flick off the lights. Whether a
mere aesthetic choice or practical, I’m not sure, but doing trance magic under
electric lights just pains me. The darkness or warm glow of a candle is much
more leading.

Sit in the chair, arranging yourself comfortably, but the
more upright the better – resting your back against the chair’s – this prevents
any physical discomfort from drawing you back too early. Begin with a bit of
breathing, maybe some stretching if that’s what you’re more comfortable with. When
you’re ready, begin. Raise your legs and touch the soles of your bare feet to
the water’s surface. You can even submerge them partially, but the goal here is
to have the touching nothing but the water. Don’t rest them on the bottom of
the bowl, at least not until you’re “in.” This is where a higher chair pays
off, because holding your legs up can be strenuous and cause for some sore
thighs and back the next day or two. This, however, can act as a sort of safeguard
for beginners when it comes to trance-work. It allows you only to stay “under”
so long as your feet are held up. Dropping them snaps you back. This can be
useful for those who are unfamiliar with the process and allow for brief jaunts
instead of long hauls until the time has come and you’re comfortable enough to
do so.

From that point, the worlds are your oyster. You might now
move unencumbered to the darkest reaches of the realms, through time, through
space, etc. For channeling – however, you will most certainly want to set up a safeguard – even with trusted
deities. When it comes to the occupation of your own body by another
(especially those who are very powerful), it’s always extremely important to
have a failsafe. While host will reject a spirit that is not its own, it can be
a varyingly timed process. For spirits, occupation of a mortal body can be
detrimental to the spirits well-being as well as your own. And as you made the
choice to allow their entry, it is your responsibility to ensure both theirs
and your own safety.

For those of you interested in other elemental mediums
(earth, air, fire) for trance, I will happily write up a tutorial upon request!
All of which are interesting, I simply chose water because it was my first
medium and the simplest/most accessible to perform.

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