How to Make War Water: Easy Instructions!

War Water is a brew which can be used either as protective magick or for dark purposes. It has roots in European folk magick and Southern American voodoo, hoodoo and witchcraft.

War water, although it has an ominous name, can be used for both light and dark purposes. For light magick, it’s a useful protective tool. Use it to reverse curses and hexes and eliminate negativity and evil. If you feel surrounded by something dark or negative, use war water to restore balance and calm in your life.

For dark magick, it can be used to curse and cause harm to your enemies.

War water is also called Mars water. The two names are often used interchangeably, although they represent slightly different potions.

The name Mars water comes from the Roman god of war Mars. Mars Water is more of a generic form of war water. For example, Mars water can be created in advance and used for various situations as needed.

War water is much more specific to a particular person against whom it will be used. Oftentimes war water will be created as a special batch of existing mars water– all that needs to be added is the witch’s intent and any other ingredients to strengthen the mixture. Now, let’s learn how to make war water.

How To Make War Water

Recipes for war water vary because they were passed down in secret and often not written down. This is a good generic procedure to follow, although you can make your own modifications as local customs require. Follow these steps:

1. Start on a Tuesday

This mixture is best prepared on a Tuesday which is the day of Mars.

2. Gather Iron Nails and Water

The base for all varieties though is made with iron nails, because the god Mars’s symbolic metal is iron. The best water to use is rain water from a violent storm, or water from a swamp or a pond. If possible find cut nails to use as well or even an old railroad spike.

3. Combine Everything Together

Combine the water and nails together in a clear jar or plastic jug. Stir the mixture, and make sure you have a way to cover the container with a lid.

4. Leave the Jar Unopened for Seven Days

This leaves the mixture exposed to the air and will start the oxidation process.

5. Keep the Jar Cool in the Refrigerator

After seven days, close the jar and place it in the refrigerator.

6. Revisit the Jar Every Tuesday

For the first month, revisit the jar every Tuesday. Give the jar a swirl and open it for several hours to allow more air to enter. Cover and again return to the refrigerator for another week.

7. Use Your War Water After a Month

After about a month, your Mars Water is ready to use. As time goes on the water will turn a rusty color. When it’s the color you want (after about a month), it should be ready for use in spells and rituals.

Considerations When Making War Water

You can summon Mars to bless the water and infuse his power and strength into your blend. Think vividly on his skills, determination, and dignity. You can also draw or paint a protective rune onto the container.

If you are creating war water with a specific purpose in mind, focus on your anger for your enemy and what you wish to happen to them as you tend to the water. This infuses your intent into the mixture.

Be as specific as possible. Should they have trouble with their boss? Break up with their significant other? Car trouble? Money problems?

Use your Mars water/war water as needed. You can avoid the long start-up period for a fresh batch. As you use the war water, you can top off the original jar with new water every time. You’ll never run out!

For ease next time you make this concoction, reserve a bit of the rusty sediment to place in the bottom of your next batch. This will speed up your next batch, just like making your own yogurt. It’s best to make sure you always have some on hand because of its versatility, and its long start-up process.

Additional ingredients to add to war water

You can add additional ingredients to the water (and container) to strengthen and specify your intent. Some examples:

• Spanish moss- lends a black color to the mixture and rots in the water providing a smelly, swampy odor to the water.
• Cayenne pepper
• Mustard seeds
• Poppy seeds
• Asafoetida
• Wormwood
• Gunpowder
• Devil’s snuff
• Graveyard dirt. The type of grave can affect the potency. Dirt from an evil grave will have more effect than dirt from a good grave.
• Black salt- works for light and dark magick, increases iron oxidation rate (speeds up the water’s development)
• Coffin nail
• Urine- add your own power to the mix and literally piss on your enemies each time you use the war water
• Draw an Algiz rune on the container for protection.
• Draw a sigil you’ve created on the container with your intention.

How do I use it?

For protection, it is best to use Mars water. A few drops form a good level of protection against evil, harmful spirits, and negative energies. Here are a few examples of how to use it.

• Pour a bit around the edges of your home to form a protective perimeter.
• Add a few drops to your cleansing bath ritual.
• Wash your altar with it to remove negative residuals from spells.
• Sprinkle some drops throughout your home.
• Add a few drops to wash water when cleaning your home.
• Use in uncrossing, unhexing, and unbinding spells. Use to remove obstacles that someone has placed in your way.
• Store some in a talisman to keep it with you as you travel.
• Use to remove obstacles.

For offensive or darker uses, war water is best to use, not mars water. Store war water the traditional way– in a glass bottle. Then, just throw the glass bottles onto the doorstep of your enemy, nails and all.

You can also pour some on the land, property, feet, or path of your enemy. In fact, sprinkling it around the perimeter of their property will work well to curse them and manifest the intent you held while making the war water.

You can also spill some water inside an enemy’s home to bring negativity and pain to their home. You can use war water in spells for hexing and crossing. Finally, you can use war water in a spell to remove a toxic person from your life.

War water is malevolent, much more so than Mars water. Never apply it to your own home or property. Use it inside your home, but be careful to not spill or drop it. 

What is peace water?

It’s exactly what you might think– something opposite to war water. Use it in a multitude of ways, even as an antidote to a war water attack. You can also use it to create a soothing and calming environment in your home (and in the minds of those around it.) It dampens tempers, encourages respect, creates friendliness, and invites good spirits into your space.

Sprinkle peace water into the corners and onto the threshold of your home, or spray it throughout the home. Use it to create peace after an argument, conflict, or sickness. Use it to keep out evil spirits and toxic people, and to smooth out relations with children, in-laws, and neighbors.