Making Natron

Natron—or soda ash—was used in ancient Egypt for a variety of purposes, both spiritual and practical. These include mouthwash, early soap combined with oil, water-softening, combining with castor oil as a smokeless fuel that wouldn’t damage wall paintings, and to dry out corpses for mummification. Most of its practical applications were replaced with sodium bicarbonate in the modern world.

We use natron in the Temple as a powerful cleansing agent. We add it to water to make holy water for clearing. Add it to bath water for a spiritually cleansing and protective bath.

This recipe is simple and simulates the soda ash you might not otherwise be able to obtain:

Preheat the oven to 150 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine equal parts:

  • Baking Soda
  • Sea Salt

You can grind the ingredients in an electric grinder or in your mortar and pestle. Mix these dry ingredients with small amounts of water until you get a paste-like consistency. Spread it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for at least 20 minutes until the consistency is like crumbly chalk. Let it cool a bit, but not too much, before you put it in a dry air tight container, so as not to reabsorb moisture from the air.

In this video, Virgo lead minister Adam Sartwell guides you through the natron-making process!

Temple of Witchcraft