Folk Magic Water and Horse Brass Spell for Luck and Protection



This spell uses traditional elements such as horseshoe, horse brass and silvered water. First, a little background on each of the items we will be using in this spell.

Horse Brass
Horse Brass are brass amulets traditionally used in the UK to decorate and help identify draft horses. They were used during the 17th century and now are collectors’ items used to decorate homes, pubs and other spaces. As a child, I remember growing up and having many of these around the house. Recently I found that they were used as charms and protection amulets. “Horse brass were first used as amulets and not primarily as decorations”(Pearson:198) While this spell uses an actual horse brass, other brass charms or even shells could be used in a similar manner employing them for specific purpose for the sea or water witch.  “The brasses used to decorate the horse trappings originate thousands of years ago in amulets designed to ward off evil influences and protect the bearer from all forms of negativity. Designs such as the Sun, Moon, Stars, Equal-arm Cross and Circle have been found on amulets dating from the Iron Age period in Britain and still appear on brasses today…” (Pearson:154) The brass I selected has a Rose, Thistle and Shamrock on it. The thistle and rose are sacred to me and the shamrock mirrors the Triskele with its three heart shaped leaves.

Horseshoe
When you first think about a Horseshoe you might instantly think of luck! It is popular folklore to associate both the horseshoe and shamrock with luck, in fact there are probably hundreds of thousands of tattoos with both! However, horseshoes have been used as protective amulets as well. “Old horseshoes are of course seen a-plenty hanging on house and stable doors throughout the region, many having been placed there as protective devices many years ago.” (Pearson:199) When visiting the UK in 2012 I stayed on a Barge, which is a narrow house like boat full of its own watery traditions, ghost stories and folklore. The Canal ways have their own style of art as well, which is full of stylized roses and often castles with sun, moon and other motifs. While I was on the canal, at one of the locks, there was a little village store. I stopped in and grabbed some local art; a painted pail, small boat and a painted blue horseshoe featuring roses in the canal folk art style. This has become a wonderful magical tool and furthers my connection with the water.

Silvered Water
In Scotland “silvered water” was often used by a Faery doctor to cure the curse of the evil eye. However, there are many accounts of silvered water being used to heal, cure, and used in other forms of magic “Silvered water was water into which silver coins had dropped; and it was prepared in a special way.” (McArthur: 119) The water was taken from a liminal place and the silver dropped in the water. For my silver water I chose to use my sacred vessel and a very special silver pendant I have had since I was 16. I acquired it in Scotland around Edinburgh and it features 3 thistle arranged in a similar way as the Triskele. I have it attached to a short silver chain which is perfect for charming and silvering water. We will start by creating silver water and move into our protection and luck charm. 

How to create Sacred Water with Silver
You will need:

  •   A Sacred Vessel
  •   Distilled water, or water from a sacred source 
  •   A silver coin, ring, or pendant


1) Start your spell by clearing your space, ground and center.
2) Consecrate your sacred vessel by holding it and saying... With my breath, with my heart and with my will I consecrate this vessel.
3) Place your silver into the bowl, and begin to pour water over the silver filling the bowl up.
4) Carry your sacred vessel outside and place under the light of the full moon for 1-2 nights or just let it sit for 24 hours.
5) Bless the water with a prayer or incantation, Nine times is recommended. Something similar to this will work.
Nine maiden of the sacred well
Bless this water
bless the well
in your sacred spiral swell
Bless this water
Bless the well

6) Retrieve your water, label it, and store it in a mason jar with a tight lid. Now it is ready to use any time you need it!

Once your water is finished, dip your horseshoe into the water 3 times with the specific intent of making it a magical tool for either luck, protection or both. Empower and consecrate it in the same way you empower ad consecrate your other magical tools.

When this is finished lay out your working board, cloth or altar space and place the sacred water on the surface and then lay the horse brass inside of the Horse shoe. Spend a moment getting your intent clear, cast your circle or lay your compass and call upon your deity’s or spirits. Then hold your hands over the horse brass and tell the charms with words what you are employing them to do. Now sprinkle the silvered water on to the charm, as you do this speak aloud to your spirits and ask them to aid you in your work and to lend their power to the charm and its intent. Be sure to give them plenty of offerings, you know what they like so be sure to give them their favorites! 

Sea Charm for Protection

Last month I was out of town much of the month. Part of my travel was to San Francisco for a lovely well needed vacation. The second part was to attend my 2nd year at Pantheacon. It was a fantastic time, and I will be blogging about some of the things I learned very soon. However this blog is all about a Sea Charm for protection.
I was very excited to attend Pantheacon this year, a good friend was planning on going and I was looking forward to seeing her. She mentioned that she sensed something was "off" and her intuition was telling her to be cautious. Well it would have been foolish to ignore such a warning! I still wanted to go and have a great time however I was very cautious. With my energy very scattered and preoccupied with vacation fun I thought I better be careful and add some extra protection oomph. I am on my second read through of Whisht Waters and had remembered Gemma Gary had mentioned that sea horses are traditionally used for protection against the evil eye. I immediately knew what to do, I saw a charm in my mind...

I keep stock piles of shells, bugs, salts, strings, bones, beads and other things used for magic. I selected a small oyster shell to keep me hidden and safe, black salt for protection, the traditionally used sea horse, and finally 9 pieces of garnet which is also traditionally used for protection when traveling. I bound them tightly and sealed them with breath, incantations, and knot work. I am back from my trip and I have to say it worked brilliantly! If you want to make your own follow the directions below...

You will need...

  •  A clam that fits nicely together and will hold your sea horse
  • A dried sea horse, these can be found at many beaches such as Sanibel Island and some online stores (you can also substitute this with an evil eye or a drawing of a sea horse depending on your intent, if you are purchasing it, please find a beach comber on Etsy, someone who can verify they found the seahorse and do NOT buy them from places like craft stores or online stores. Vintage seahorses are also a good option)
  • Black cotton or wool string (I am a stickler for the natural fibers)
  • A few pinches of black salt
  • 9 pieces of garnet

Once you have gathered all your ingredients, create your sacred space in your usual fashion. Add the ingredients into your shell and close it tightly. Bind the string around the clam shell until you are satisfied, I tied 9 knots into mine to match the number of garnet beads inside. However if you use a specific number you can substitute that as well. Once it is bound focus your intent and breathe your intent into the charm by blowing over it softly (or fiercely if needed) Tuck it away or carry it with you!


The Rose Thorn Charm

Slathered in homemade flying ointments of nightshade and fly agaric, I waded through the waters of the forest creek. I dropped pansies from my garden as an offering and sacrifice to the spirit world. I walked against the current untill I heard a call, a tug at my heart strings. I saw the seductive silver of the artemisa and nightshade. A single purple flower with a bright yellow pistil and anthers stuck out and drew me in. I instantly knew I had permission, it is almost as if she drew me in. There was no need to ask she beckoned me over and I thanked them. I harvested several branches and placed them in my harvesting basket. I walked for a while before heading back to my family picnicking by the river for lunch. I thought I had finished collecting plants, but I was not quite done. There to my right, standing high above the rest of the silver weeds were green and brown striped balls glistening in the sun. There were exactly three on a dried and twisted silver nightshade twig, my charm was almost complete. I collected fallen bark, droplets of sap from the ground, some wild weeds and then I waded in the waters and regenerated. I crossed the river back to my family and after an enjoyable day returned home.

The rose, the first to bloom on this plant the second for an offering. This one white on the outside and deep blood red on the inside. It whispers to me words of bone and blood. I combine the rose with it's extra sharp, needle fine thorns, with the prickly weeds and silver nightshade. This formed the perfect combination for the charm I needed. Beauty and bane, bone and blood...tied with a black cord this protection charm now hangs in the magic room. I warn visitors not get too close to this beauty, she has a sharp bite. There were many sacrifices in this making this magical charm. Sharp pricks sticking my flesh as I wrap the cord around it reminding me that everything has a price. All great works of magic cost, the price is always different and never easy. The cord wound tight, the sacrifice given, incantations whispered and life given...