Witch Jars Rebooted for the Modern Witch
Witch jars and witch bottles have been in use for centuries. In fact, the earliest record of witch bottle use dates back to 1681 in England. During this time, they’ve garnered for themselves a sort of reputation for being used in “witch warfare” as a counterattack to curses and malevolent magic. In this regard, they can be used for both offensive and defensive magic: as a reaction to hexes and curses by negating them (or returning them to their caster) and by protecting against further attempts of harm. Witch jars are some of the best items in a witch’s arsenal of protective magic.
However, relegating witch jars to a simple category of “protective magic” limits the multitude of ways that they can be used across every category of magic imaginable. Witch jars are a self-contained, ongoing spell. They are one of the most adaptive forms of magic available to witches: as long as the bottle or jar is not broken, the spell is continually cast. This means that witch jars no longer have to be buried in some secret place and dug up every time a witch moves. They can be placed in a cupboard or closet or hidden away in the attic, as long as they are safe and out of harm’s way. Since they are a form of “passive magic,” there are no serious, taxing, or exhausting rituals for the caster to endure, and there’s no mess to clean up after, as all the spell reagents are contained neatly within the jar. The contents of the jar can be as simple or complex as the caster wishes and can be tailored to be more general, all-encompassing magic or to be very specific and definite. Because they are versatile and can be adapted to suit a witch’s location and variety of available ingredients, witch jars are an excellent starting point for any witch wishing to write his or her own spells and are a great way to experiment with more personal spells to add to a witch’s grimoire.
Even in this modern age of Witchcraft, there is still a need for discretion within the magical community and among practitioners of Witchcraft. Witch jars provide a sort of discretion that more elaborate spells cannot. As said before, everything is neatly contained within the jar or bottle, and nothing is more innocuous looking than a simple jar. Completed jars are small enough to be hidden away easily, and there is no need to bury them—which comes as a huge relief to any witch without a yard or easily accessible garden or one who does not want to risk being caught digging a hole on possibly private property in order to hide the spell. Jars and bottles are easy to come by, and recycling pasta and salsa jars or glass beverage bottles makes this magic both cost-effective and eco-friendly by keeping more trash out of landfills.
While witch jars can still be used as passive protective magic, there’s no end to the possibilities and versatility of their use. The contents can be used to cast spells of prosperity, healing, luck, hexes, cleansing, banishing, and even attracting love. Protective uses can be expanded to include nonmagical maladies, such as spells against nightmares, bad luck, anxiety, depression, financial problems, and troublesome people or spirits.
Writing a witch jar spell is as simple as knowing what you need and what you want the end result of the spell to be, and understanding the necessary items you will need to cast it. Herbs, oils, written petitions, physical representations, symbols, incense, candles—all of these are common spell ingredients and all are acceptable additions to the contents of the spell jar. If you have experience creating your own spells, then you’ll know what it is you will need to include in the anatomy of your witch jar. You can adapt spells to easily be contained within a jar, or you can glean ideas from other witch jar spells in order to create your own. Once you get into the habit of using witch jars in your spellwork, the rest will come easy.
A Witch Jar for Prosperity
You will need the following:
Basil (fresh or dried)
Mint (fresh or dried)
Cinnamon
Sea salt
Four coins of any denomination (pennies will work)
Paper and pen
A green or white candle
Basil oil (optional)
Start your jar by adding a single layer of sea salt. If you are using fresh herbs, shred them now and add a layer of basil first, then a layer of mint. See the green herbs as money coming to you, filling your wallet and your bank account. Add another layer of sea salt. If you are using a cinnamon stick, rather than ground cinnamon, break it into pieces and scatter it over the second layer of salt; otherwise, sprinkle your ground cinnamon over this layer, using it as a means of drawing prosperity to you. Write your petition for prosperity on the paper:
As this jar is filled with treasures, so too will my life be filled with prosperity. So shall it be.
Fold the paper four times, and anoint it with basil oil if you are using it. Add it to the jar, and add the four coins. Add two more layers of basil and mint. Seal the jar and burn the candle on top (do not leave burning candles unattended), allowing the dripping wax to further seal the jar with your intent. Aloud, repeat your petition:
This jar is sealed, my spell is cast, prosperity shall come to me and fill my life as I have filled this jar. So shall it be.
Give the jar a shake, dispersing the layers and see prosperity in all forms being dispersed to you. You can either keep the jar on your altar or workspace or put it away for safekeeping. When you feel the need for an extra boost of prosperity, take it out and give it another shake, while repeating your petition.
“The Way Is Convoluted”: A Spell to Banish Bad Luck
You will need the following:
Paper and pen or a printed image of a maze
Salt
Rue, lavender, rosemary, powdered dragon’s blood, and
chamomile
Three cloves of garlic
Olive oil or an uncrossing oil of your choice
Lucky charm (optional)
A black candle and a white candle
Sandalwood incense
Fresh water
Soap (either a new bar or a few drops of liquid soap)
This is a two-part spell that starts with a symbolic cleansing of your bad luck so far and banishing of bad luck, and it ends with a petition to draw good luck to you in the future. Light the sandalwood incense. Start your jar by drawing an X or a protective sigil of your choice on the inside of the jar with your oil (you can use your finger or a paintbrush). Say this aloud:
Bad luck has plagued me but no longer. The way is convoluted, and it shall not find me.
Wash your hands with the water and soap; dispose of the dirty water immediately. Draw a maze on the paper unless you are using a printed image of a maze. Fold the paper in thirds and repeat this:
The way is convoluted, and bad luck shall not find me.
Pass the paper and your hands through the smoke. Add the maze to the jar and sprinkle it with a liberal layer of salt. Peel and crush the three cloves of garlic for the next layer in the jar. Next, layer the powdered dragon’s blood and rue (for protection), chamomile (for peace), rosemary and then lavender (for drawing good luck). Say this aloud and with intent:
Bad luck has plagued me but no longer. The way is convoluted, and it shall not find me. The wheel of fate is turning, and only good luck and good will shall find me now. So shall it be.
If you are including a lucky charm (anything that you associate with luck or that has been particularly lucky for you) add it to the jar now and seal your jar. On top of the jar, burn the black candle first, banishing the negativity that has been following you. When it is done, burn the white candle over the black wax, drawing good fortune and good luck to you and your home. When it has burned out, put the jar in a dark, secret place, and be careful not to disperse the layers so that the maze stays hidden at the bottom of the jar.
Witch jars are an old form of magic, reliable and well-founded in their antiquity, but can and should be used in modern forms of witchcraft, as they are adaptable both in practice and in path. Any type of witch, from kitchen witches to faery craft practitioners to urban witches, can find a use for witch jars and bottles. The only limit to their usage lies in the imagination and the needs of the witch using them.