What is a witch bottle?

A witch bottle is a magical protective tool that has been used for centuries. Although many forms of protective magic like witch bottles have been used in different religions, practices, and cultures around the world; the type we are making today are rooted in European folk magic. They are described in historical sources from England and the United States with the earliest surviving mention from 17th-century England. In early times, the bottle was designed as a way to protect oneself from malicious witchcraft. Whether that be from “evil spirits” during Samhain or a curse from a witch. The bottle was usually made of pottery or glass, and included sharp objects such as nails, pins, or razors. It also commonly contained urine (or other bodily fluids, sometimes nails and hair), belonging to the homeowner (or believed curse receiver).

Ingredients

Amethyst: protection (especially psychic), calm, comfort, happiness, spiritual awareness, intuition, healing, cleansing, focus, wisdom Basil: happiness, love, protection, wealth, money, health, luck, emotional healing Birch: strength, beginnings, protection, warding, purification, love, fertility, renewal, sacred in cultures Black jasper: stability, grounding, protection (especially curses), luck, manifesting, cleansing Black salt: protection, banishing, dispelling, purifying & cleansing, connection to Earth Chamomile: money, peace, love, calm, purification, protection (especially psychic), healing, luck Cinnamon: healing, love, happiness, money, protection, power, success, luck, strength, prosperity Clear quartz: healing, amplifying, absorbs & regulates energy, balance, cleansing, psychic power

In almost everything written, witch bottles are seen as a protection against witches and witchcraft, though their beginnings tell a different tale. It is said that witch bottles in Europe were originally made by “chymists” and sought out by people with a range of ailments. In the 17th century, chemists were herbalists who ran apothecaries, typically out of their homes, helping those in need of medical and spiritual treatment. In most ballads and tales, these chemists are men, but historically these roles were filled by unmarried women that we now refer to as hedge witches. It is more likely that witch bottles were made by witches, to protect themselves and others, from harm.

Cloves: protection, banishing, psychic shielding, break hexes, calm, cleansing, courage, luck, wealth Lavender: clarity, love, protection, healing, happiness, cleansing, balance, warding, dispelling Mugwort: psychic powers, prophetic dreams, protection, wisdom, protection Mullein: courage, protection, warding, psychic awareness, love, health, divination Red thread: red for strength, courage, and force; the thread represents binding (the red thread from “sprite traps” were often used in witch bottles) Rosemary: cleansing, purifying, protection, healing, warding, focus, strength, love Rusty nails: aggressive magic, destruction, used here to destroy malicious energy Sage: balance, comfort, focus, divination, grounding, harmony, healing, mental clarity, money, dispel negativity, purification, psychic power, wisdom