QUOTE(Elodea @ Nov 12 2011, 08:07 PM)
Hey there, Elodea here to bring you a curiosity about Altar water:
Would Altar water work better if it was CLEANSED of all energy or IMBUED with all energy?
Would said water be negated if charged?
What type of water do you use?
To start with, I cleanse my water of any and all energy so that it can be more versatile in works. I kinda view imbuing the water with all the elements as 'dirtying' the water up. If charged, unless you're going to use it I guess I wouldn't mind but charging it and not using it destroys the whole point. I use tap water and simply cleanse it, though sometimes I wonder if boiling it would be better? Maybe even buying distilled water...though that will probably never happen since that is counter cost-productive.
Opinions?
In short it depends on what you are doing with the water.
Everything on your alter should have a reason for being there and serve some function. A cluttered alter is like a cluttered soul, little will some of it. That being said water is most often used to cleanse other tools and to represent the element. If it is used to represent the element then just sanctifying it will do. Putting it aside with the intent that it is now something special for only magick is enough to serve the purpose. If it is used to cleanse other tools then insuring that no lingering intent still lays upon it is impotent, but also important is giving the water power enough so effect other tools. In that case you should empower the water, which is accomplished easy enough by putting in chi - I assume this is what you mean by imbued. What water you use is of little importance, save for when you use it as an offering. Then it is only proper to give no less than you would for a friend or ranking official who came for a visit.
I use river water when the need demands I use it at all. Stagnant water will multiply its native aspects in the same way water sitting on an alter will slowly gather power. Get good healthy water and in magick it is made more so, get it from a algae choked pond and you are going to get something different.