Some like to keep their cauldron in the center of the circle or in the west, full of water which represents the underworld and afterlife. Placing herbs and flowers into the salted water releases preferred scents into the area and can be used in anointing/consecrating both participants and tools, though one should never anoint with water tainted by dangerous herbs.
Here is a list of blends I prefer depending on the theme for the ritual. I like cauldron water because by the end of the rite, when I lay all the biodegradables into the land in offering and thanks, I can anoint the land and purify the space with the left over infused water or give it to the river or the compost pile. Sometimes the smells are subtle. Often, the waters are intense in their smell and helpful for me when I need to center or when I’m somberly anointing my bones and blades and bottles. Enjoy some of my recipes for awesome smelling water.
For rituals dedicated to…
The Goddess– rose, lilac, jasmine, cherry blossom, heather, yew, elder flower, mugwort, lavender.
The God– ivy, oak, woodruff, holly, rosemary
Aphrodite– cinnamon, olive leaf, Dittany of Crete, rose, lily, violet, periwinkle, daffodil, dulce.
Morrighan– yew, nightshade, henbane, mint, pennyroyal, witch hazel, willow.
Brighid– daisy, mistletoe, mugwort, St. Johnswort, thistle, grains, blackberry, hawthorn, oak, angelica.
Protection– betony, birch, burdock, mint, mugwort, rosemary, yarrow, sage, rue, lavender.
Healing– cinquefoil, lavender, lemonbalm, mullein, rosemary, sage, guelder rose, thyme, violet, and moonflower.
Strength/Energy– dragons blood, elder flower, Vervain, orange blossom, apple blossom, woodruff.
Creativity– basil, catnip, hawthorn, anis, lavender.
Divination– clover, mugwort, oleander, damiana, moonwort, marigold, rowan.
Blessings– chamomile, dianthus, elderflower, fennel, oat, mint, rue, Vervain.
Wisdom-, sage, willow, yew, elder.
Purging/Releasing– elder, fern, garlic, hyssop, lavender, lilac, mugwort, onion, sage, skullcap, thistle, valerian,
woodruff, willow.
Death/Otherworld/Dark Moon– amaranth, yew, willow, nightshade, belladonna, agaric, snowberry, henbane. (not for anointing)
Luck/Curses– cypress, dragon’s blood, wormwood, yarrow, primrose, rowan.
Love-apple, basil, catnip, dill-flower, elm, ginger, lemon balm, marigold, marjoram, red heather,
yarrow, roses, strawberry flower, pear blossom, orris root, pansy, oleander, daffodil, daisy, cinnamon, lily, lotus,
geranium, hibiscus, vanilla, poppy, violet, primrose, plum, orange.
Dílis Glas– lemon balm, English ivy, lilac, wisteria, bluebell, red rose, butterfly bush, apple
blossom.
