For anyone looking to brew up a potion with a less-than-friendly bent, here are some recipes I've created that you might find useful.
To prepare them, blend the ingredients in such proportions as feels correct for your purposes (or as supplies allow). Use dried material except where indicated. Place a few spoonfuls in a mason jar with a screwtop lid and fill the jar with a bland oil of your choice. (Vegetable oil of the sort you would buy for cooking works fine.) Screw the lid on tightly and shake well to combine, then leave the jar in a dark dry place for 2-4 weeks to steep.
Once steeped, prepare a clean storage bottle (also with a secure lid) and label with the type of oil and the bottling date. Strain the oil through paper towels or cheesecloth to remove the plant material, then bottle immediately. Store away from sunlight and heat for up to one year. Use for spellwork as you see fit.
(Please note that NONE of these potions are meant to be taken internally by any means. Observe all proper safety measures related to glass, fire, and potentially harmful plants as necessary during preparation.)
*- Ingredient is potentially harmful if inhaled or ingested.
**- Ingredient should not be used or handled if you are pregnant or nursing.
All-Purpose Hexing Oil
For general hexing, cursing, and baneful magic.
Dried Chili Pepper
Fresh Lime Peel
Lemongrass (dried or fresh)
Rusted Nail (place in bottle with finished oil)
All-Purpose Hexbreaking Oil
For general negation of baneful spells cast by oneself or others.
Agrimony**
Cinquefoil
Fennel
Vervain
Solomon's Seal Root (place in bottle with finished oil)
Backhanded Blessing Oil
For blessings that are anything but benevolent.
Burnt Cinquefoil
Bay Leaf
Pine Needles
Bayberry Root
NOTE: Prepare as you would a blessing oil, then twist the blessing into a curse, i.e. May You Get Everything You Deserve.
Done in the Dark Concealment Oil
For secrecy, confidentiality, and general deception.
Juniper Berries
Licorice Root
Black Hemp (Dogbane)
Ferns or Dried Seaweed
Note: For the final ingredient, use whichever is easier to obtain. Both bracken and seaweed work well for basic concealment spells.
Eye of Newt Disruption Oil
For disrupting and confounding magical efforts against you.
Black Mustard Seeds
Bloodroot**
Nettle Leaf
Garlic (1 clove, bruised)
No Rest For The Wicked Hexing Oil
For punishing one's enemies.
Chili Pepper (any)
Horseradish Root
Cramp Bark
Bayberry Root
On Your Own Head Retribution Oil
For counter magic and revenge hexes.
Elderberries*
Bloodroot**
Devil's Shoestring**
Vetiver
Tangled Shoelaces Binding Oil
To impede someone's ability to move or act against you.
Pine Needles
Devil's Shoestring**
Scullcap**
Coffee Grounds
Iron Nail in master bottle
Wicked Witch Heavy-Duty Cursing Oil
For occasions when a regular-strength hex just won't do.
Wormwood* **
Ghost Chili Pepper (or the hottest chili you can get)
Lemon Seeds
Lobelia*
Note: Use With Extreme Caution And Cover Your Ass.
Witchbane Warding Oil
For repelling and countering harmful spells.
Bay Leaves
Elderflower
Star Anise
Birch Bark
Should the reader require supplies, I recommend the following:
Penn Herb Company
Starwest Botanicals
Bulk Apothecary
Mountain Rose Herbs
Specialty Bottle
Image Credit - Shaiith
All recipes are (c) 2017 Bree NicGarran, published in Pestlework: A Book of Magical Powders & Oils. Please check out the book if you would like more recipes.
If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar, tune in to my podcast Hex Positive, or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop.
Protection Work in Folk Magic: Herbs, Spells, & Charms for Protecting Yourself & Others
by Keziah
Times are hard, and hard times, unfortunately, often come along with an increased need for protection. Due to this, I felt it was only right to start sharing the protection work series I've been planning to do for quite some time now. In this first piece, I share a collection (both curations and creations) of magical workings within the realm of folk magic that can offer protection. From herbs and tools to turn to, to spells and charms to work, there's plenty of protection help to be found here.
What is Folk Magic?
First and foremost, I'll answer this question so there's no confusion as to what sort of spells will be found in this piece. Folk magic is a term that has come into more common use (thanks to social media) in recent years, but that use isn't necessarily the most accurate explanation or representation as to what folk magic is.
While you'll see many claiming that folk magic is strictly Christian, that simply isn't the case. Folk magic is bigger than any one religion, and the term applies to a broad spectrum of belief sets. In its most barebones definition, folk magic is applied to the magical systems of a common people, a magical craft that exists outside of the realm of ceremonial magic. Some folk magic exists outside of initiatory and hierarchical systems, some within such systems. Some folk magic is Christian or Christianized, some is simply not. For instance, there are forms of Jewish folk magical practices and countless other non-Christian paths of folk magic.
Folk magic is not always called witchcraft, and its practitioners don't always label themselves as witches. Each folk path has its own terminologies, but some you may have heard will be charmers, cunning men and cunning women, rootworkers, granny witches, conjurers, and much, much more.
And now onto the magic!
Herbs, Ingredients, & Tools Commonly Used in Protection Work:
Agrimony: Agrimony is excellent for protection work of various kinds.
It can be used to both protect against harmful magic sent your way and to reverse spells, break hexes, and reflect the malicious work back to its sender.
Agrimony can also be used to protect one from evil spirits.
Angelica: Also known as wild celery, angelica has long been used across a variety of historical and traditional European medicinal and healing practices, as well as being associated with protection magic and warding.
Angelica root is known to be used in protective charms and works throughout Europe and in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the US.
It can be used in spells and charms to protect from malicious and malevolent magic used against you - curses, hexes, evil eye, etc.
Angelica was used to ward off plague and, thus, is associated with protection from illness and safeguarding one's health.
Angelica can be carried (dried or fresh) for protection against evil, be it evil spirits, energies, people, or some other entity or force.
Burning angelica incense can provide protection and defense to the space it's burned in.
Basil: Due to basil's association with love, it can be used in charms to protect romantic relationships from hardship and infidelity. Basil can also be included in works or carried as a charm to protect those in transitionary periods of life - i.e. coming of age, transitioning, grieving and mourning, engaged to be married, moving into a new phase in life, being initiated or converted into a faith or creed, etc.
Garlic: Garlic is used across many cultures and countries in health, protection, banishing, and empowering work.
Dried garlic bulbs and garlic cloves have long been used as amulets against evil entities and forces, negative energy, and malicious people.
Minced and crushed garlic and/or garlic cloves are often used to infuse working oils for protection purposes.
Garlic cloves are added to jar spells and various pouch and bag charms - i.e. hex bags, charm bags, hands, sachets, etc. - to bring protection. Minced and crushed garlic can also be used in jar spells.
Braids and strands of garlic can be hung from window frames, doorframes, porch beams and rails, etc. to protect the space from evil, ill health and disease, malicious work, and negative energy.
Planting garlic on one's property is believed to keep away disease and illness, bring prosperity, and protect the land and household.
Ginger: Ginger is often used in healing work and can be used to protect against illness.
Carrying a piece of ginger root or sleeping with one under your pillow is believed to protect one from taking ill. The same is said of taking ginger (either a ginger shot, ginger tea, or ginger pastes) daily, as ginger boosts the immune system.
Carrying ginger or wearing it as an amulet is also said to offer a general protection.
Graveyard dirt: A versatile tool of the trade, graveyard dirt is used across many folk and ritual practices for a wide array of purposes. An ally that can be used to both harm and to help, graveyard dirt can both be used in hexing, cursing, and other such work, while also being used for protection, warding, binding, and the like.
Hair of a black dog: Dog hairs can be used as amulets for luck and protection. The hair of a black dog is considered especially good for protective purposes.
Holy water: In Christian religious and folk magical practices, holy water is water (usually from a sacred source, such as a holy well, holy spring, etc.) that has been blessed and sanctified by clergy (most often a priest in the Catholic, Anglican, Episcopalian, Eastern Orthodox, Asian Orthodox, and Lutheran customs).
Holy water can be used to protect against evil energies and forces via the anointing of one's body, items, or home.
Holy water has been included in many protection spells and works, and to wash and purify ritual tools, by those who practice forms of Christian witchcraft and Christian folk magic.
Iron (cast iron): Iron is believed to protect from evil of all ilk - spirits, demons, curses, evil eye, etc.
Iron nails can be hammered into doors, walls, floors to offer protection to a space. Iron nails are also worn and kept as amulets to ward off evil eye and protect one from being cursed or hexed.
Keeping a cast iron skillet hanging on the wall (and some beliefs say to keep a cast iron skillet under one's bed) is said to protect the home from evil.
Iron is also believed to keep away malicious spirits and various types of fae folk.
Rosemary: Rosemary used across many cultures and countries to sanctify and protect in so many different ways.
Rosemary is considered a powerful herb that provides protection against all forms of evil.
Rosemary incense can be burned to cleanse a space of negativity, impurity, and evil, so as to make that space sacred.
Dried rosemary can be hung up in the home to protect the space, or it can be added to spells and charms to defend against evil, illness, and negativity.
Rosemary charms can be carried or worn when working against or facing an enemy, as it's believed to protect the wearer and to strengthen their work and purpose.
Oils and waters infused with rosemary can be used to bless and purify sacred spaces and tools, and can be used as anointing oils and waters on those in need of protection, healing, strength, and purification.
Salt: Salt is often included in charms and spells as a tool for protection. It's both a purifier and a great defender and can be used to ward one's home and shield one from evil, negativity, curses, hexes, and the like.
Salt water can be sprinkled on thresholds and walkways to keep unwanted entities and energy from the space. It can also be used to cleanse sacred spaces in preparation for work.
Salt can be used in all kinds of sachets and charm bags for protection.
Salt sweeps are often used in the Southern US to cleanse, bless, and ward the home. Salt can also be added to washes for the same purpose.
For General Protection
Hagstone Charms:
Hagstones, also called adder stones, serpent's eggs, fairy stone, and witch stones, are stones which bear a naturally occurring hole, holes caused by erosion or some other natural event. Hagstones have been used as protective amulets for long while in traditional folk magic of Britain. Hagstones can be used to protect from a number of things - general protection overall, as well as protection from spirits of various ilk, protection from harm on the sea, protection of livestock and farmlands, protection from nightmares, and more.
What you'll need:
Hagstone (one or more)
Thread, cord, or twine.
What to do:
-Pass your thread, cord, or twine through the hole of the hagstone. You can knot the thread beforehand for added protection as a form of knot magic. Knots are believed to strengthen protective work, as they can confuse or distract spirits.
-You can add as many hagstones as you like. One is plenty, but I've seen charms with as many as nine stones.
-Keep your hagstone charm on your person for protection. I wear mine around my neck. It hangs from a nail in my doorframe when I'm not wearing it.
Protection from Evil Eye
the Iron Nail:
Iron nails are used for protection in an array of folk magical traditions, including (though not limited to) in Jewish folk magic, British folk magic, Appalachian and Southern folk magic in the United States, and within a number of European folk magic systems.
What you'll need:
An iron nail
(optional) A red or black thread, string, or ribbon
What to do:
-Keep an iron nail on your person to negate evil eye or malicious energies and intentions from others. The nail can be kept in a purse, wallet, pocket, car, or anywhere it can fit.
-The nail can be tied to the end of either a red or black thread, string, or ribbon for added strength. I keep mine on a cord of red twine. I keep it in my purse, but I can take it out and wear it around my neck or wrist if necessary.
Fox Tail Hairs:
Fox tails and fox tail hairs were employed in Jewish folk magic as an amulet of protection from the evil eye. Keeping a fox tail for this purpose wasn't uncommon in medieval times, but keeping a hair from a fox tail serves the same amuletic purpose.
Coral & Jet:
In many cultures, including in both my own ethnoreligious culture and my own regional culture, coral is believed to ward off and protect against evil eye. In some traditions it's specified that a hand with closed fist made from either coral or black jet can be worn or kept to protect one from any evil eye sent their way as well as any wishes of harm or suffering sent to them.
Antique hand-carved coral pendant or charm; photo courtesy of Invaluable Auction House.
In general, coral and jet beads or charms, either together or separately, can be worn to protect against the evil eye. You'll find such customs in Jewish folk magic, Southern folk magic in the United States, and throughout much of Central Europe's folk magical paths.
Protection from Hexes, Spells, Curses, & Malicious or Malevolent Magical Work
Dime Steppin':
Where I'm from, wearing a silver dime in the heel of your shoe is believed to keep any spells put on you from reaching you.
Church Dirt:
It's believed in various Southern U.S. regions that keeping a bit of dirt taken from church grounds will protect you from any witchcraft sent your way. The dirt can be kept in a baggy, pouch, envelope, vial, or any small thing you can keep on your person or in your home.
Iron:
Again, iron comes to save the day! It's long been believed that iron protects from witches, demons, and other forms of evil, and that it repels or dispels evil spells, curses, and hexes sent the keeper's way. For this reason, a bit of iron can be kept on one's person, or forged iron jewelry can be worn. Iron charms, rings, and amulets can be worn to protect from all forms of nefarious magical workings.
Angelica Baths:
For those who feel they've had a curse or hex put on them, add angelica or angelica root oil to your bath. Doing so is said to remove any curse, hex, or harmful magic laid upon you.
Mirror Method:
This spell is perfect for when you have someone you suspect is trying to spell, curse, or otherwise harm you, even in it's just through malicious gossip. This spell aims to protect you by making sure their work doesn't reach you and instead bounces back on them.
What you'll need:
A photograph or drawing of the person(s) you wish to prevent from harming you or the written name of the person(s)
A compact mirror
Red string, thread, cord, or ribbon.
What to do:
-Tape, glue, or fix the picture(s) or name(s) inside your compact mirror, making sure the name(s) or picture(s) will face the mirror when the compact is closed.
-Bind and tie the compact mirror closed with the red string, thread, twine, or ribbon.
-Keep your mirror somewhere safe where it won't be broken or disturbed. The curses or malicious work of those contained within the compact mirror should always be reflected back to them instead of reaching you.
Protection from Violence, Assault, & Harassment:
Sator Squares:
Pennsylvania Dutch variation of a Sator Square found in 'Long Lost Friend' by German-American Pennsylvania Dutch healer and charm worker, John George Hohman; published in 1820.
The Sator Square / Rotas-Sator Square is a palindromic word square used as a magical charm or amulet. It's been around for quite some time (with the oldest known square possibly being from as early as AD 50) and has been found to have been used historically throughout Europe, Africa, Asia Minor, and the Americas. As to its origins and intended purpose, no one knows for sure, but the Sator Square has come to have a number of magical uses, including as a tool for curing ailments, aiding in childbirth, putting out fires, and, in fitting with the theme of this piece, in protection magic.
Medieval Sator Square etched into a wall; Oppède-le-Vieux, France.
There are many variations of Sator Squares / Rotas-Sator Squares, but the most common forms consist of five rows of five words, each with five letters, arranged in a 5x5 grid. The Rotas-Sator Square (in which rotas is the word listed first, pictured below on the left) was the more common in pre-medieval use, but the Sator Square (in which sator is listed first, pictured below on the right) became far more prevalently used than the Rotas-Sator variation at some point in medieval Europe.
Rotas-Sator Square (left) and Sator Square (right).
In Southern Appalachian and some Southeastern folk practices within the United States, one can use a Sator Square for protection from violence or assault against your person.
What to do:
-Write out a Sator Sqaure or Rotas-Sator Square and carry the charm with you. It can be kept in the pocket, especially a shirt pocket, in the shoe, or even be sewn into one's clothes.
It's also said to be used in/on charm bags for general protection from evil in Cornish folkloric based witchcraft.
Protection from Illness & Pain
Shielding from Illness:
There is an oral version of the abracadabra charm I use to safeguard one's health and keep from falling ill.
What to do:
-When you lay down to go to sleep at night, press your teeth together. Not enough to cause you pain or discomfort, just enough to keep your mouth fixed so that your jaw doesn't move.
-With your jaw fixed in such a way, recite this charm in a hushed tone of more breath than voice -
-This should be recited three times in the same manner in order to shield one from illness.
Banishing Illness & Pain:
I've used a few variations of this work for years to rid one of illness or pain. Here are two variations -
The "Hands On" Approach:
If you or someone you know is coming down with something, is ill, or has been suffering pains, either place the palm of your hand on the area of their body where the pain or illness is rooted to or hover the hands just over the body. Recite either aloud or in your mind these words either 3 or 9 times (I typically use 3, but I've used 9 in more serious situations) -
All the ails shall leave (me/you/him/her/them/the person's name),
All that pains shall go away.
Good health shall surround (me/you/him/her/them/the name),
Good health shall come to stay.
The Long Distance Approach:
What you'll need:
A candle (preferably white or any other color associated with healing)
Powdered or ground ginger
Salt
What to do:
-When one is unable to be touched due to distance from the worker, severity of illness or pain, desire to not be touched, or any other reason, take a candle (preferably white or any other color you associated with healing) and hold it whilst you think of them and their ailments and how you wish for them to get better.
-Select where you're going to burn your candle and, before lighting the candle, make a circle of powdered ginger and salt around the candleholder.
-Light the candle and look into the flame, keeping your intention of healing and helping close to your heart and mind.
-As you look into the flame, recite these words either 3 or 9 times -
All the ails shall leave (me/you/him/her/them/the person's name),
All that pains shall go away.
Good health shall surround (me/you/him/her/them/the name),
Good health shall come to stay.
Alternatively, a variation of this spell calls for the recitation of these words -
Sickness burns, good health returns.
Protection from Enemies
Binding A Dangerous Enemy:
To bind someone dangerous who could do you harm.
With Sympathetic Magic
Sympathetic magic is one of the most common means of working against someone else where I'm from. It entails using an image, belonging, likeness, or symbol of who you're working against. In this case, we'll be using one of those things above to try to bind that someone from working against you or from bringing trouble, maliciousness, or suffering your way.
What you'll need:
A photo or drawing of the person;
or a doll of the person (which can be made of clay, cloth, wood, grass, corn husk, etc.); and/or a scrap of clothing, hair, or item belonging to that person
Red thread, string, or ribbon
A candle (preferably black or red)
What to do:
-Light the candle, which can be carved with the target's name if you'd like.
-If you have an item or scrap of clothing or hair belonging to this person, press it against the likeness when you pick it up. If you don't have any such item, skip that step. Item or no, hold the likeness in your hands, focusing on the object and your intent. Once you're fully focused, recite these words -
I name thee (name of the target of this work).
Thou art (she/he/they/name) in the flesh.
I name thee (name of the target of this work).
Thou art (she/he/they/name) in the flesh.
I name thee (name of the target of this work).
Thou art (she/he/they/name) in the flesh.
-Take the likeness (and if you have an item, scrap of clothing, or hair belonging to them, make sure you keep it against the likeness or symbol while you work, so that it's trapped beneath the bindings as well) and begin wrapping it up, tying it tight with your ribbon, thread, or string. If you're using a drawing or photograph of the person, you can roll or fold the image first before tying it up. While you wrap and tie up your symbol, recite these words -
Your hands are bound, your hands are tied.
They cannot be raised against me.
Your feet are bound, your feet are tied.
They cannot move against me.
Your lips are bound, your tongue is tied.
They cannot speak against me.
You're bound, you're tied, you're bound, you're tied.
You cannot work against me.
-Recite this as many times as you need while finishing the tying work, or you can tie them up as much as you need whilst reciting these words 9 times. It's up to you.
-Let the wrapped and tied symbol sit in the light of the candle as it burns down.
-Do with the likeness, doll, or symbol what you will. Some bury it (far from your home, preferably under the light of a waning moon so as to diminish the power of that person to move or work against you), some (especially if it's a clay or paper doll) burn the likeness, and some keep the item in their home and occasionally recite the binding words and add to the wrapping and tying when they feel they need to again.
SOURCES & FURTHER READING:
Most of the spells listed above are variations found within the realms of folk magic which I've learned through my family, ancestors, and from simply being born and raised where I am. Spells similar to these can be found in the reading list below, as can any spells included that were not from my own family or regional homebrew of craft.
'Conjure/Doctors: An Exploration of a Black Discourse in America, Antebellum to 1940' by Brown, David H.
'Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs' -Cunningham, Scott
'Doctoring the Devil: Notebooks of an Appalachian Conjure Man' - Richards, Jake
'Jewish Magic and Superstition: A Study in Folk Religion' - Trachtenberg, Joshua
'the Master Book of Herbalism'- Beyerl, Paul
'On the Origin of the Rotas Sator Square' - Fishwick, Duncan
'Silent as the Trees: Devonshire Witchcraft, Folklore, & Magic' - Gary, Gemma
'Traditional Witchcraft: A Cornish Book of Ways' - Gary, Gemma
Practical Magic: Everday Items You Can Use in Witchcraft; Part 1
by Keziah Zibelmann | Support on Ko-fi
One common misconception about witchcraft is that it requires tools, plants, and magical allies that are difficult to come by. This certainly is the case in some works, but it needn't be. Witchcraft should be both accessible and adaptable to meet the needs of the practitioner, and the witch's toolset should be the same.
There are countless everyday tools and allies that one can put to good use in magical craft, with such items laying around the house or readily available at your local grocery store, hardware store, or even dollar store, and not enough witchcraft resources take the time to show these types of tools love. This piece, though, aims to remedy that, because, as I've previously written in Simple Methods of Magical Protection, —
'...witchcraft shouldn’t be locked away behind a paywall, doled out by practitioners convincing others that magic can only be accessed via a pay-to-play system...'
To add to this, one's magical toolset or arsenal of allies need not consist of expensive, difficult to access items or plants. Consider instead incorporating some of the tools and herbal allies included in this piece, a dedicated exploration of commonly accessible goods that provide a wealth of magical aid; or take inspiration from this piece and consider your own readily available alternatives in similar items.
Now, without further ado, allow me to present to you a collection of everyday items for working craft. May it serve those in need of it.
AROUND THE HOUSE
This section focuses on items one can typically find around their house, things that are commonly kept in stock in one's home or are easy enough to come by at a local hardware store, dollar store, or shop.
[NOTE: You can catch even more items, ingredients, and allies in the upcoming Part 2 of this series.]
NAILS & THUMBTACKS
Nails are a versatile and potent tool to keep in your magical arsenal. While iron nails and coffin nails are believed to be especially powerful and are a common feature in various magical crafts around the world, nails in general (yes, even the pack you picked up at the hardware store or dollar shop) can be used in numerous works. We'll focus on the common nails (typically steel) one can access nowadays, but you can find information on the use of pure iron nails in some of my other works — Protection Work in Folk Magic: Herbs, Spells, & Charms for Protecting Yourself & Others; Home Protection in Folk Magic: Charms, Wards, & Work to Magically Protect One's Home.
PROTECTION: Nails can be used in various protective works. This is most especially true of iron nails, but the work can also be done with your run of the mill steel nails, as steel is an alloy of iron and carbon, so iron's magical associations are still there in the nail. Some may feel that acquiring wholly iron nails would provide stronger, more reliable magical workings, but many spells, wards, and such have proven to be lasting and effective using the common steel nails more easily accessed these days. That being said, there are still those who would rather work with nails of pure iron but may not have immediate or easy access to such tools, in which case common steel nails are a great alternative in the meantime.
Here are some examples of how nails can be used in protective work:
Nails are used across various forms of folk magic and systems of witchcraft around the world to form protective barriers and wards. Hammered into thresholds, in doorframes and window frames, into porch rails or fence posts, and even into bedposts or crib legs, they can be used to protect against spirits of various ilk (be they fae, haints, demons, etc.) and to protect against witchcraft or malevolent magic worked against you.
For those who live in an apartment or house in which they cannot hammer anything into a wall, floor, doorframe, or such, nails can be tied to string, yarn, twine, or even rope, preferably of a color that bears association with protection in your practice, and strung over doors and windows in a renter-friendly way (using tape or command strips, for example).
Nails have long been used as protective amulets to carry or wear on one's person. One can fashion a nail as a pendant, carry a nail in their pocket, purse, or wallet, or include nails in a protection pouch to carry with them or wear.
Nails can also be featured in knotwork protection, pierced through knots as an added means of protection from spirits. When one runs out of nails, thumbtacks can be used as an alternative for this same purpose.
CURSING: Nails are a fairly common feature in curses in some cultures and regions, particularly in folk magical practices. When it comes to baneful magic, thumbtacks can be used in place of nails in essentially any working.
Nails can be included in curse bags, curse jars, any curse container spells.
Nails are commonly used in curses that are worked through sympathetic magic to pierce the target's likeness, which can be a photograph, drawing, doll, or even fruit, root, or vegetable that has been identified as a representation of whomever is the recipient of the curse.
Nails can also be hammered into items (planks of wood, the ground, etc.) when working spells meant to curse someone by fixing them in place (meaning to prevent them from moving forward with something or from finding growth, success, or prosperity in a particular area).
THREAD, STRING, YARN, TWINE, & RIBBON
Not only featured along with other tools in a wide variety of spells, items such as string, yarn, ribbon, thread, and twine can be used on their own to perform various magical acts, particularly in crafts that feature knot magic.
Here are some ways in which one can utilize thread, string, yarn, twine, and ribbon in their witchcraft:
CURSING: Cursing works can be extremely simple, some even needing nothing more than string (or the like) and maybe one or two other items.
String and the like play a prominent role in cursing and baneful works across a wide array of practices. Some curse work involves winding string (or the like) around an object, image, paper featuring a name, etc.; some involves tying knots in thread and piercing those knots with glass, thorns, tacks, or nails; some involves forming a ball of knots, knot on top of knot on top of knot; and some involves cutting thread, yarn, twine, or such.
In curses utilizing sympathetic magic, it is not uncommon to use yarn or thread (usually red or black in color) to tie around or tie up images and likenesses.
Yarn is also frequently put to use when working container spells (be they jar spells, box spells, or any other container). The yarn, thread, twine, or string is used to further secure the container both physically and secure the work symbolically by repeatedly and tightly wrapping and tying the opening of the container with said yarn or the like.
PROTECTION, WARDING, & LUCK: Yarn and such is plenty useful in protection magic, especially for those who use knot magic to bring protection.
Using thread, yarn, or ribbons (of any color that bears association with protection in your practice), knots can be tied down the length of the strand (the number of knots varies from practice to practice). These knots are believed to confuse spirits who could harm you or bring unwanted mischief or pain into your home. Some practices see the more knots as bettering the work; other practices also call for piercing the knots with sharp things like needles, tacks, glass, or thorns to further deter the spirits, while some prefer the use of bells, the sound of which when rung is believed to both warn of the presence of evil and repel such forces. Such cords of knots are typically strung from doorframes, window frames, or porches around one's home as a protective charm.
Protective work using string can be extremely simple. Even just wearing thread or ribbons of certain colors is believed to grant the keeper protection from spirits, curses, evil eye, bad luck, illness, and such. Preferred colors will vary from practice to practice, but an especially well-known custom of both Buddhist peoples and Jewish peoples (both within kabbalist circles and by Jewish people who do not study or practice kabbalah, do not practice or believe in witchcraft, and across all levels of practice within Judaism) calls for the wearing of red cord bracelets (often featuring knots, twists, braids, or added charms).
SEVERING SPELLS: Thread, ribbon, and string featuring in severing spells is kind of a given, but for those who have never worked a severing spell before, here's how a very common method seen across many different practices typically involves string or the like:
There are generally two items (often candles, but sometimes other items like tarot cards representing those the spell involves, personal items of those involved, rocks representing those involved, photographs, etc.) and a thread is tied between them, tied to each item. At some point in the spell, the cord can be cut with scissors or a knife, and some candle spells call for letting the candles burn down and the flames to sever the tie (though this should be practiced on a fire safe surface, in an environment where no children or animals can access it, and under supervision, not left to burn on its own; so, basically, please practice commonsense fire safety if you choose to use such a method).
COINS
Coins are great little helpers when it comes to charms, wards, and divination tools. Different coins (or rather the metals they are made from and the imagery they feature) are called for in different works, but here's a quick run-down of the works I'm most familiar with:
PROTECTION:
Silver coins (silver dimes are used where I'm from) can be kept on one's person to repel and protect from curses, hexes, and other baneful works sent one's way. Where I'm from, the coin is specifically kept in the heel of one's shoe or worn in one's sock, but this isn't the case everywhere and some traditions call for keeping the coin in one's pocket or wallet, or for wearing the coin as a pendant on a necklace.
Pennies (particularly the pre-1982 US pennies, which have higher copper content, as opposed to the post-1982 mainly zinc pennies) and other copper coins can be used to protect one's home and person from police and law enforcement. Lining pennies under one's doormat, nailing pennies in the threshold of one's home, or nailing or gluing pennies above a door is believed to deter law enforcement officers from entering or coming to the home. [CAUTION: Pennies should not be left laying loose where children or animals can access them, especially if you're leaving them under your welcome mat or at your threshold. Coins are a commonly ingested foreign object, and pennies bearing higher levels of zinc can potentially lead to zinc toxicity, especially in children and animals, if ingested.]
LUCK & MONEY:
Carrying a penny (usually an Indian Head Penny) in one's pocket or wallet is believed to help one win in gambling.
Coins are commonly used in money jars (or similar money container spells) along with other items and imagery that symbolizes wealth, abundance, and luck to attract money one's way.
DIVINATION: Coins have long been used in divination. It is as easy as simply flipping a coin in search of an affirmative or negative answer; but there are a few other methods of divination your pocket change can play part in.
Penny pendulums are pendulums made with yarn or twine and a coin, in which the coin is tied to the end of the string and used in the same way as a pendulum. This is the method taught me by my grandmother and is the type of pendulum I first learned with.
If you've a variety of coin types or colors, you can take one coin of each and assign associations and/or meanings to each coin. Then place the coins in a bag, ask your question, or think on the situation you seek guidance about. Draw one coin from the bag and interpret it according to the meanings you've determined.
One of the simplest ways of using a coin in divination is by flipping or tossing a coin, seeking a yes or no answer. Usually, heads would mean yes and tails would mean no.
PLAYING CARDS
Playing cards can be used in spells in many ways — as significator cards representing whomever the spell involves, as charms for luck, protection, and the like, and as bases for spells themselves.
Playing cards can be carried as charms (often in one's wallet, pocket, or shoe), seeking to attract that which the card represents or is associated with. Charms can use either a specific card to serve a specific end, or one can, instead, carry any card from the house associated with whatever their charm pertains to, with court cards, aces, or tens being the most commonly used cards for such purposes. Meanings and associations of cards and suits vary from one practice/culture to the next, but some common general associations of suits are as follows — hearts: relationships of all sorts, matters of the heart, matters of the home; clubs: creative pursuits, travel, communication, education or scholarly pursuits, mental matters; diamonds: matters pertaining to money, wealth, careers and businesses; spades: trials and challenges, loss, conflict, but also endings and/or beginnings, sudden changes and turns of fate. Again, there are countless other associations for cards and suits, and it entirely depends upon the reader and their custom; the above are simply common examples.
Playing cards can feature in spells as symbols of the worker's intention or as a tool to boost and draw in the results one hopes for. This is usually done by using cards associated with the goal of your spell.
One can also use cards as the foundation of a spell itself, such as in the spell I will include now.
Using the 10 of Diamonds to Attract Money:
There are various methods of using the 10 of Diamonds playing card to attract money your way.
The simplest way is to carry the 10 of Diamonds card in your wallet, purse, or pocket.
Another method, common in the Southeastern US and Southern Appalachia, is to write your name horizontally across the 10 of Diamonds three times. Where I’m from, we then turn it clockwise and write your name again, three times. The lines of names from the first three and the lines of names from the second three should crisscross over each other, as demonstrated in the images below. Another variation includes you writing your date of birth within the squares formed between the written names (where the 'x’ marks are on the rightmost image below); I have also, though, known of people writing the amount of money they seek (or simply writing dollar signs) in the place of 'x.'
[You can find the above spell and more in 'Spring Magic: Herbs, Spells, & Chamrs for Cleaning & Prosperity' by Keziah Zibelmann.]
Similar spells can be crafted using other cards. One can use the 9 of Diamonds, for example, for a spell pertaining to starting a new business, getting a promotion, getting a new job, or the like; or one can write the names of two parties on the 6 of hearts to bring peace between two people or promote a harmonious, understanding relationship or partnership between them. It all depends entirely upon the crafter's own meanings assigned to each card, but it really can be as simple as using a playing card and a marker or pen to craft a spell or charm.
MIRRORS
Mirrors can be used a variety of ways in magic — in divination and in spells and baneful works.
DIVINATION: Perhaps the best-known way of using mirrors in magic is for divination purposes, using such methods as these —
Mirrors can be used to scry. Scrying is a divinatory practice that involves the reading, viewing, or receiving of symbols, visions, or messages using a reflective surface. While many prefer to scry using a specific scrying mirror, often made of black painted glass or obsidian, one does not need a black mirror to scry with. Indeed, scrying can be carried out with any mirror of any size, shape, or color, or with any other reflective surface, such as water, ice, windowpanes, etc.
Many folk divination methods involve standing before a mirror in the dark, usually at a particular time of night, and waiting to receive a glimpse of a specific person, most often one's soulmate or the object of their affections. This is usually preceded by some sort of folk spell, such as the carrying of a candle whilst walking backwards in complete silence until one reaches the mirror, or peeling/slicing/eating from an apple and tossing some piece of the apple over one's shoulder (there are a great many variations of the apple and mirror spell), or reciting (or using your finger to write) the name of the person you wish to see as you stand before the mirror. There truly are countless spells across magical traditions that use these or similar methods, but the common tie between them is that they seek to bring about a vision of a specific individual in the mirror. This can also be done when seeking the identity of one who has wronged you or worked against you, and I can personally attest to its effectiveness.
SPELLS: Mirrors can be used across a variety of spells, in such ways as listed below (and more) —
One can use a mirror to work spells in seeking reflection (either for one's self or for someone else) by keeping either the name or image of someone in a compact mirror, forced to face their own reflection or, if one doesn't have a compact mirror available, by sticking the name or image on the mirror, with the name/image facing the mirror.
Compact mirrors can be used in return to sender spells when one knows or suspects someone has worked baneful magic against them or sent harmful wishes or energies their way. To do so, simply fix the name or image of the sender (or one can simply write 'those who work against me' or something along those lines instead of a specific name) on one of the mirrors. One can then either leave the other mirror clean or fix it with a symbol, sigil, or the written intent to return energy/magic/etc. to the sender. Then close the compact, effectively creating a spell that both works as a return to sender and as a mirror trap for baneful magic or negative energy sent one's way.
Compact mirrors can also be used to bring about positive changes, to strengthen and reinforce our resolve to better ourselves, or to help one quit harmful or bad habits that they wish to leave behind, such as in the easy mirror spell that follows —
An Easy Mirror Spell (from Diary of a Jewitch: Spells for the Days of Awe by Keziah Zibelmann):
What you’ll need:
A compact mirror (it needs to be one containing two mirrors that will face each other when the compact is closed);
Lipstick.
What to do:
-Using the lipstick, write on just one of the mirrors in the compact mirror the attributes or traits you wish to strengthen in yourself or to introduce into your behavior. Alternatively, you can write down specific wishes for bettering yourself — ’I want to be more patient.’ ’I want to be more in control of my temper.’ 'I want to be honest.’ 'I want to judge less.’
-Write your name on the second mirror with the lipstick.
-Now close the compact mirror, forcing the changes you wish to make to be there, staring your name in the face, forcing your name (symbolizing you) to face its own reflection along with the constant reminder of what you wish to improve or introduce.
-You can either leave the compact as it is or you can fix the compact closed with ribbon, yarn, or some other material. It’s up to you.
BANEFUL MAGIC: Compact mirrors can prove an effective and simple host, tool, and foundation for baneful work.
One excellent way of utilizing a compact mirror in baneful magic is to fix one's target in a mirror trap. A mirror trap is any work that uses two mirrors facing one another to trap a spirit, energy, individual, or spell between the two points. This can not only be done to render someone's ill intentions toward you or their baneful work against you powerless and/or to send those works and intentions back to someone, but it can also be done to constantly charge and renew your own baneful works against someone.
To do so, one need only take their compact mirror and place the name or likeness of their target either one one of the mirrors or between the mirrors. The name or likeness should be marked somehow with your intentions for this spell — words written or spoken onto/into the paper or image, symbols/sigils drawn upon the paper or image, or other symbolic works performed on the paper or image, such as piercing it with thorns or pins, tearing it, crumpling it, or whatever method you prefer. Then, place the paper or image, as said before, either on one of the mirrors or between the two mirrors. Close the compact and seal it with wax, tape, thread, glue, or any other preferred method of securely shutting the compact.
This is a form of sympathetic magic, in which the mirrors are used to constantly keep the intention of one's baneful work going. It's particularly useful for sewing chaos in someone's life, for using someone's own maliciousness against them in baneful works, or for hitting someone hard and fast with a baneful work. The compact can be kept, can be buried, or can be discarded; or, should you wish to release that person from your work at some point, the compact can be broken, preferably crushed, to break the cycle of the work.
This will conclude this first part of Sheydmade's series, 'Practical Magic: Everyday Items You Can Use in Witchcraft.' I leave you with this reminder — as I said in my introduction for this piece, magic should be both accessible and versatile, and our tools and allies should reflect the need for both. It is my hope that a practitioner never feels defeated because they can't afford expensive magical supplies, or because they have limited or no access to metaphysical or witchcraft shops, apothecaries, or the like. One's magical craft can, indeed, thrive without all of that. After all, magic and witchcraft has always existed, before drop shippers and international delivery services, before influencers, before bloggers, podcasters, and publishers. Magic was always there and could always be worked, and that has never changed and never will.
FURTHER READING & FURTHER INFORMATION: The contents of this article are entirely based on both my own personal experiences within years of experimenting within my practice, and on things which were taught and told to me over the years by my grandparents. You can find similar customs within British, Irish, and Southern US folk magical practices. Some recommended reading about similar customs can be found listed below. Readers are welcome and encouraged to do their own research on these or other similar practices. -K.Z.
[NOTE: Practical Magic: Everyday Items You Can Use in Witchcraft was originally written as one piece, which ended up being far too long to keep as just one post. The piece has now been divided up into parts and will become an ongoing series here on Sheydmade. Look forward to the following chapters in posts to come.]
Reading recommendations:
'Backwoods Witchcraft: Conjure and Folk Magic From Appalachia' - Richards, Jake
'The Black Toad — West Country Witchcraft and Magic' - Gary, Gemma
'Doctoring the Devil: Notebooks of an Appalachian Conjure Man' - Richards, Jake
'The Fortune Telling Book: Reading Crystal Balls, Playing Cards, and Everyday Omens of Love and Luck' - Kemp, Gillian
'The Good Spell Book: Love Charms, Cures, Magical Cures, and Other Practical Sorcery' - Kemp, Gillian
'Traditional Witchcraft — A Book of Cornish Ways' - Gary, Gemma
just to preface that i am a BEGINNER in baneful magic. i've become quite knowledgeable on benevolent magic after several years of practicing it, so while i do have foundational knowledge of the materials and techniques, the execution is often very different. this post is as much for me as it is for you (whoever you may be). it is not meant to be a comprehensive introduction, nor a complete guide, but if you have any questions i will absolutely do my best to answer them :)
special thanks to @trash-bin-witch for all their help assisting my introduction to baneful magic, as they're a lot more experienced with all this than me.
INTRODUCTION
my thought process for baneful magic revolves a lot around chaos magic. chaos magic, to put it simply, is that what you believe to be will be. if you can believe in it, then it exists (or will exist). this is a very simplified way of thinking about it, but that's how i sum it up.
this is different from benevolent magic, which revolves a lot around action which merely guided by spell work. it involves manifestation too, but only to a certain extent. with benevolent magic there is little to no way to get things done without putting work in yourself. with baneful magic, it's more like creating the spell and letting it do the work. this is, i believe, because baneful magic almost always has an inciting incident. think of it as if your ex cheats on you. them cheating, your emotions, your "belief" is the action needed to get the spell to work. this is why curses, hexes, jinxes, etc. will work on relatively good people. if the witch believes the person to be bad, or believes they wronged them, then the spell has power.
again, that's how i think about it, not necessarily how it concretely is or must be.
baneful spells can be created yourself just as much as benevolent spells can, and this post is intended to give you the foundational materials to do that.
WARDING
warding yourself, your space, and those vulnerable around you is, in my opinion, the most important first step to take before embarking on baneful magic.
to make a simple ward there are two things i would include: protective herbs or crystals and your taglocks. a taglock would include hair/fur, blood, nail clippings, anything that is biologically from you or your subject (even a photo would work). for example: if i wanted to create a protective spell jar for my cat i might include some whiskers (DO NOT REMOVE THEM YOURSELF, THEY DROP NATURALLY), some fur, some tiger's eye and/or cat's eye quartz, a picture or drawing of them, and some herbs from the list below.
WARDING/PROTECTIVE HERBS:
Angelica
Anise
Basil
Bay Leaves
Black Cohosh
Black Pepper
Boneset
Cedar
Cinnamon
Frankincense and Myrrh
Garlic
Ginseng
Mandrake Root
Mistletoe
Rosemary
Valerian
Vervain
Witch Hazel
Wormwood
CURSES, HEXES, JINXES
before we start, lets define some things:
1) CURSES: long term effects, sometimes lifelong or multigenerational. often invoked with rituals
2) HEXES: have long term effects, but often not lifelong. more generic effects like "bad luck" or "desolation"
3) JINXES: invokes a specific bad event to happen
now, i don't do much work with jinxes, and i've never had a reason to do a full on curse, so my work primarily takes the shape of hexes right now. if you'd like to do any of these types of spells, down below are some herbs you can use.
also practice extreme caution when handling these, and acquire nontoxic variants or parts as available! some herbs are DEADLY toxic just through touch and should be respected!!
Asphodel: invoking spirits (which can assist in spells)
Belladonna: toxic, madness, invoking spirits
Black Mustard: confusion, failure, bad luck
Blackthorn: revenge, binding
Blue Cohosh: breaking up relationships
Boneset: exorcism, boundaries
Celandine: binding, madness
Dragon's Blood: power, banishment
Jasmine: love related issues
Larkspur: banishment
Mandrake Root: toxic, exorcism
Mugwort: dreams and nightmares, insomnia, madness
Mullein: invoking spirits
Nettle: irritation, retribution
Oleander: toxic, bad luck, revealing true self
Poke Root: cord cutting
Pomegranate: binding, love and fertility
Rue: retribution, reversing spells
Thistle: retribution, reversing spells
Wormwood: bad luck, sorrow, bitterness
Yarrow: invoking spirits
OTHER USEFUL MATERIALS:
the general framework for good hex ingredients include things that are visually disgusting or is smelly, sharp, painful, or toxic things, and objects that symbolically represent the harm you want to inflict. to be specific you can use:
salt: consecration, i use it as the base for my jars
rosemary: cleansing, protection
pine needles: spiky, also good for protection
thorns of plants trees or flowers
spicy things (peppers, seasoning, etc.)
sharp things (needles, broken glass, etc.)
food (especially rotten)
railroad ties/other iron objects: exorcisms and banishment
other metals like aluminum cans: can be used for sigils
hand mirrors: for "reflecting" energy
jars, bottles, boxes
cards: using face cards to represent people
small candles
trash: cause it's gross
money
ash/charcoal: protection, enhancing or sealing spells
bones: can be broken to invoke injury, or as a makeshift taglock
expired makeup: to make them feel ugly
vinegar/bleach
receipts/mail ads: monetary issues
dead bugs: cause they're gross
dirt (graveyard, four corners of your property, etc.): invoking spirits or setting a target area
thread: to ensnare or paralyse
note that you can also freeze or burn things for their symbolic effects
RECOMMENDED READING:
"Of Blood and Bone: Working with Shadow Magick & the Dark Moon" by Kate Freuler (just ignore her divine feminine shit)
for information on sigils i recommend "Sigil Craft" by Lia Taylor
"The Spell Book of a Wicked Witch" by Thalia Thorne
Warding is the practice of shielding or protecting something, someplace, or someone. There are a million and two different types of wards you can create-- in many ways, you are only limited by your own creativity and knowledge.
Why/when should I use a ward?
I always recommend having, at minimum, a protective ward for yourself and your living space if you practice witchcraft (or something adjacent to witchcraft). What a ward does is dependent on what it was created to do. Different people have different needs, and wards are not one-size fits all. Wards can be generic or specific, but my personal preference is a well-defined ward. By well-defined, I mean "clear in what it will and will not do".
Basics
In order to figure out what sort of ward you may need, ask yourself these questions:
What does my practice focus on?
Where might I be vulnerable?
What are my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to witchcraft?
Who and what am I comfortable with having in my space?
When and where am I comfortable with having others in my space?
What do I need to keep out, and what do I need to keep in?
What existing practices/habits may affect my wards? (e.g. cleansing, banishment, rituals, etc.)
Do I have an energy source for a ward? How do I intend to upkeep my wards?
Do my wards need to be moveable or changeable?
What resources are available to me? Are there people or entities that are willing to help me?
What, in my mundane life, do I need help with? What do I need to protect?
What actions am I taking, in my mundane life, to protect myself? (e.g. driving safely, practicing good fire safety habits, etc.)
How to make a ward
As previously stated, there are a million and two different types of wards-- and a million and two different ways to create them. Best practice is generally to lean on your personal strengths and resources to make one. Here are some more specific examples:
Herbalism: A witch who works primarily with herbs could create a protective sachet or jar that is filled with protective herbs.
Kitchen Witchcraft: Someone who practices kitchen witchcraft could cook protective foods, or incorporate small actions into their regular cooking that add protective qualities into their food (i.e. stirring a certain way, routinely using certain ingredients, etc.)
Storm Witchcraft: A witch who works with storms could use the energy of storms to protect their home. They could call on fearsome breezes to blow away harm, rainfall to wash it away, darkness to hide their home, etc.
Glamour witchcraft: A glamour witch can work on how they are perceived. Don't want someone approaching you? Make them afraid of you. Have a fearsome appearance to those who would wish you harm. Make them hesitate. Or hide yourself altogether, as if you were never there.
Deity witchcraft: Ask your gods to guide your hand, to show you how to protect yourself. Ask them to protect you, and clarify what you need protection from.
Green Witchcraft: Grow a plant with the intention of having it take the blow for you, if anything negative gets sent your way. Or have it purify your space.
Divination Wards: Use the energy of specific tarot cards to protect yourself. Write protective runes on things you care about.
Music Witchcraft: Play empowering music. Belt out a song about how nothing can harm you. Hum a tune to make things go away.
Energy Witchcraft: Envision great shields and walls, fortresses and moats. Whatever screams "protection" to you.
Etc.
Types of Wards/Ideas for Wards
Keep in mind that any ward can be for both the magical and mundane (though, always act with common sense, and act as if your wards do not exist. A ward will not make you immortal, and they can be counteracted and/or destroyed. They are there for when shit hits the fan-- but they are not a free pass to start throwing shit AT the fan!)
Transmutative wards: Tranform harmful energy sent your way into something positive and useful. (e.g. negative rumors -> increased opportunities, bad intentions -> abundance)
Baneful wards: If someone hits you, hit them back. Reflect whatever they sent to you back on them, and thensome.
Banishment Wards: If something steps into your space, kick it back out.
Hiding Wards: Hide something from prying eyes. Make it invisible, or make it appear boring/uninteresting.
Reflective wards: Reflect something's image back at them, let them see what they expect to see, or let them see themselves.
Healing wards: Protect your health, or force healing upon those who brush up against them (e.g. if someone lashes out at you because they have not been working on themselves, a healing ward can be just as painful as an outright baneful one.)
Scrambling/maze Wards: Scramble any information someone/something gets, or make them lose their way. Commonly used for unsolicited divination.
Protective wards/wall wards: Stop anything from getting in or out. Stop or prevent harm
Alarm bell wards: Warn you about things coming your way.
Comfort wards: Keep comforting/soothing energy around you.
Examples of Useful Wards
Name/Reputation wards
Household/common places wards
Wards for safe travels
Wards to keep specified spirits/entities out
Wards for malicious intent
Wards for curses/hexes
Wards for natural disasters
Wards for misfortunes
Please feel free to ask any specific questions you may have, this is only a very brief overview to introduce the topic.
Already quickly back with another water post, I'm hoping to make a master post once I'm done with all these posts of magical waters I use.
What is War Water?
War Water, also known as Mars Water or Iron Water, is an aggressive magical water used for hexing, curses, offensive protection, warding, return to sender, and to restore peace.
War Water, whenever it is from Hoodoo or European-folk magic, shares these traits and the ingredient iron.
Iron, also known as the metal of Mars, is commonly used in witchcraft to repel, contain, or harm fae, ghosts, malevolant spirits, and others. Iron is considered a sacred element of the Earth and because of it's association with Earth, it has a grounding and balanced aura to it. Hence why War Water restores peace.
Let's not forget that weapons, like that of swords, is typically associated to be made of Iron and steel. which is also why War Water is aggressive and offensive as a sword weapon.
How do I make War Water?
There's a few different ways to make War Water, but all of them share at least one common ingredient, iron. You can use any iron object in your War Water, the most common form is nails. Here's my War Water recipe.
Place iron nails, either whole or cut, in a glass vessel with a tight lid, it does not matter if they're already rusty. Cover it up with water from a storm preferably. Otherwise Holy Water, rain water, or tap water will do. You may also add urine* to it depending on the use.
It will have to rest for about a week, So make this water on a Thursday corresponding to a waxing moon, and end it on a Thursday. Thursday is associated with Mars, the God of war.
Where do I use War Water?
War Water is a great hexing magical water and protective agent. It removes disruptive forces from your life and will restore relaxation and peace in your environment.
It is also used as an offensive protective ingredient. Think of making a spell and lighting a black candle dressed in this water for protection. The spirits will go to this candle and essentially be spiritually cut by the nails and rust away, at least, that's how I like to think so.
It is also used for curses for it's aggressive nature.
*Typically I make the War War with just the nails but during a spellwork session, I pour a bit on the side and add a bit of urine to it. That way my War Water stays clean for future use, and I can grab it whenever I want. I add urine to be extra offensive and add some aggressive potency to it. It is not a must, It's something I like to do for certain spells.
This post is for my folks who currently use glasses, contacts, or other visual aid's!
What is Warding with your eyes?
This is a concept similar to taking on a witches name, however it has to do with your visual aids! They say that eye's are the windows to the soul, but what about people or entities or energies that are looking to disrupt our peace? Well this is a great ward to follow as a personal ward
I recently had this revelation when my glasses shattered in the sea after I slipped under the riptide and as I was grabbing my glasses under the water, a shell came and smashed them (I am ok, I am trained to handle that and am a strong swimmer). I ended up going to one of those minute labs to get new frames and lenses, but I realized something.
If eyes are a part of you that exposes a lot about your being, whether you believe in iridology, window theory, etc then why wouldn't you ward a possible weakness? Witches names are a name a witch takes on to act like a deflector, if someone hexes them using the wrong name then it doesn't touch down, so the idea of this spell is If someone attempts to harm you spiritually, you are now wearing 'different eye's' and can reflect the spell. All it takes is a bit of enchantment. We will be banking on the fact that glasses somewhat obstruct the eye (when you look at someone's eyes through glasses they can appear different, bigger, or smaller) but you can see them clearly.
The Spell
This spell is best done on a new moon, high tide, or on a Wednesday! all of these have correspondences of protection, deflection, etc.
ingredients:
- Glasses/eye aid
- Cleaning solution
- Cleaning cloth
(If being done with contacts or other eye aids, adapt this to be the aids, whatever you use to clean them with, and IF NEEDED a drying apparatus)
The Steps:
1. Set up your space how you choose to do so, set your aid down in front of you. Meditate over or reflect on what the glasses mean to you
2. Envision or create a chant that reflects the eye-dea (haha) of people/spirits/energies with bad intentions not being able to effect you, because they cant see the right person to harm because of the visual aid
3. Take your finger and stamp a sigil of warding either on the lens, contact case, or safe spot on the aid
4. Clean it off to 'rub it into' the device
5. Finish the spell how you choose to finish, and transition out of the ritual space
I hope you all enjoyed! More content coming soon!
a guide on protecting yourself and your home. [very long post]
personal protection
wear an amulet on your person - can be made from man-made or natural materials so long as its intent is to protect
keep a protective crystal in your pocket
craft a small protective spell jar and keep on your person
anoint yourself with a protective oil
place an energetic shield around yourself
place a glamour on yourself to go unnoticed in the presence of harmful or negative energies
carry a piece of iron on your person
bathe with a wash made with protective herbs
sleep with a sachet of herbs under your pillow or hanging above your bed to prevent nightmares
prayers and offerings to your chosen deity
hang a protective amulet from the rearview mirror in your vehicle for safe travels
home & hearth protection
hang rose stems with thorns intact above the entrance of your home
hang an upside down horseshoe above the entrance of your home (some lore states you should hang the horseshoe right-side-up)
hang wind chimes or bells outside of your home
plant rosemary near your front door
create a “witch bottle” and bury in your front yard, or in a potted plant on your porch
create a “witch’s ladder” or “witch ball” and hang it either inside or outside of your home
hang imagery of protective symbols outside or around your home
burn protective incense or candles in your home with scents that are associated with protection
create a room spray made from protective oils and spray around your home
create a protective wash and use it to clean your windows, door frames, and tile/wooden floors
use the wash mentioned above to “paint” symbols of protection on the outside of your front door, on your porch, etc.
place a protective crystal or small glass of salt at each corner inside your home
hammer 3 iron nails into your front door
create a protective powder and sprinkle around the perimeter of your home; alternately, sprinkle outside of your front and back door (be wary of sprinkling salt on grass!)
create a sachet filled with protective herbs and crystals - keep inside or outside of your home, in your vehicle, etc.
hang mirrors inside of your home to trap negative energy, entities, or spirits (not facing each other)
place a crystal grid at the center of your home using protective crystals
call upon your chosen deity to protect your home and those who reside in it
protective symbols & items
pentacle
triquetra
witch’s knot
algiz (elhaz) rune
vegvisir
helm of awe
mjolnir
glyph of the moon, mars, or saturn
eye of horus
ankh
crossed swords
iron nails
railroad spikes
thorns
mars water / oil
third & fifth pentacle of saturn; third & sixth pentacle of jupiter; sixth pentacle of mars; second, third, & fifth pentacle of the moon
crystals
agate, amethyst (protection against psychic attacks and while traveling), angel aura quartz (spiritual protection), apophyllite, aqua aura quartz (protection against psychic attacks), aquamarine (protection while traveling via water), astrophyllite, aventurine
beryl (protection while traveling) blue goldstone, bowenite, bronzite, bustamite
catlinite (spiritual protection), carnelian (protection from negative emotions), celestite (emotional protection), chalcopyrite, chrysoberyl, citrine (protection from nightmares), clear quartz
diamond, dravite
eudialyte
fire agate, fluorite (protection against psychic attacks)
galaxite, garnet
indicolite, infinite stone
jade, jasper, jet
lapis lazuli, lepidolite (protection from manic depression)
malachite (protection during pregnancy and childbirth), moonstone (protection during pregnancy, childbirth, and while traveling via water), mother of pearl (protection for children)
nuumite
obsidian, onyx
peridot, pyrite
rose quartz (protection during pregnancy and childbirth), ruby (protection of the home and hearth)
acacia, aconite, acorn (protection from lightning), african violet, ague, alder (protection for the deceased), alfalfa (protection from hunger and poverty), alkanet (protection from snakebites and the fear of snakes), aloe (protection from household accidents), amaranth (protection from bullets), amber, angelica, anise seeds, ash (protection from drowning and while traveling), aspen (protection against thieves)
bamboo, barley, basil, bay laurel (protection from lightning), bay leaf (protection for your home and family; protection against baneful magic), belladonna, bergamot (protection from illness), bilberry bark, birch (protection from lightning and infertility), black cohosh (protection from accidents and sudden death), black haw, black pepper, blackberry, bladderwrack (protection while traveling), blessed thistle, bloodroot, blue violet, blueberry, boneset, brimstone, buckeye (protection against arthritis), buckwheat
cactus, calamus, calendula, carnation, caraway, cascara sagrada (protection against baneful magic), catnip (protection while sleeping), cedar (protection from lightning), celandine, chia, chives, chrysanthemum, cilantro (protection for gardeners), cinnamon, cinquefoil (protection for loved ones on a journey), clove (protection for babies), clover, coconut, comfrey (protection while traveling), coriander, corn, cotton, cramp bark, cranberry, cumin, curry, cypress
daisy (protection for babies), dandelion root (protection while sleeping), datura, devil’s bit, devil’s claw, dill, dogwood, dragon’s blood, ebony, elder (protection for the deceased), elm (protection from lightning), eucalyptus
false unicorn root (protection during pregnancy and childbirth), fennel, fern, feverfew (protection against accidents and cold/flu), figwort (protection for your home), flaxseed (protection for your home, protection against baneful magic), fleabane, foxglove (protection for your home and garden), frankincense
gardenia, garlic, geranium, ginger, ginseng, gorse (protection against baneful magic), hawthorn (protection from lightning), heather (protection against violent crimes), heliotrope, henna (protection from illness), hickory, high john the conqueror, holly, horseradish, hyssop (protection for property against burglars and trespassers)
irish moss (protection while traveling), ivy, juniper, kava kava, lady slipper (protection against baneful magic), larch (protection against theft), larkspur, laurel, lavender, leek, lemon, lemon verbena (protection of your home, protection from lightning and storms), lettuce, lime, lotus, lucky hand root (protection while traveling)
mandrake, marigold (protection while sleeping), marjoram, marshmallow root, mimosa, mint, mistletoe (protection from lightning and fire), mullein (protection from nightmares and baneful magic), nutmeg
oak moss, olive leaf, onion, papyrus, parsley (protection for your home), peat moss, peony, periwinkle (protection against snakes and poison), pimpernel, pine, pineapple, plantain (protection from snakebites and jealousy), quince, radish, raspberry leaf, red clover (protection for pets), rhubarb, rice, rosemary, rowan, rue
sage, sandalwood, saw palmetto, sea salt, sheep sorrel (protection from heart disease), slippery elm, snapdragon, solomon’s seal, spanish moss, spearmint, st. john’s wort (protection from baneful magic, lightning, and fire), straw flower, sunflower
tangerine, thistle, toadflax, tonka bean (protection from disease), true unicorn root (protection from baneful magic), valerian, venus fly trap, violet, willow, witch hazel, wood aloe, wood betony, woodruff, wormwood (protection against dangerous roads while traveling), yerba santa, yew, yucca (protection of your home)
waxing - to attract protective energy and positivity
full - generalized protection
waning - to banish negativity, thus protecting the caster
planets / days of the week
moon / monday
mars / tuesday
saturn / saturday
as always, don't steal from other cultures, don't put salt on your grass, don't handle or ingest toxic metals or plants, and don't burn your house down! it's up to you to discern how to practice safely and ethically.
[ ] black or white candle + something to carve it with
[ ] bowl or dish
[ ] protection oil(optional)
[ ] a piece of hair/fur/scales/etc from everyone you wish to protect as a taglock (optional)
Herbs + Crystals
[ ] salt
[ ] cloves
[ ] agrimony
[ ] rosemary
[ ] nettle leaf
[ ] hyssop
[ ] comfrey
[ ] eggshells
[ ] lavender
[ ] amethyst
[ ] obsidian
[ ] clear quartz
(not all are necessary, pick what feels right to you)
Instructions
1. Cleanse your space and your bowl. I like to do this with incense, however you can do it using sound, sprays, visualizations, etc. Pick whatever method(s) feel right to you.
2. Fill the bowl with salt and add your eggshells and herbs (except for the cloves). As you add each herb, set your intention and express your gratitude to the plants for aiding in protecting you. If you're using crystal chips, you can also add those at this time.
3. Stir the herbs counterclockwise to banish any residual negative energy a few times, then clockwise to welcome in the protective energies
4. Grab your taglocks. If you don't have DNA items such as hair, you can write their full name and birthdays on a slip of paper or bay leaf. Bury them into the salt, visualizing the salt as a protective shield around them.
5. Place 5 cloves around the bowl in the places where the points on a pentacle would be, and then place your charged crystals.
6. Grab your candle and carve word "protected" into it. Hold the candle in both hands and concentrate on who and what it would be protecting. If you have a protection oil, annoint your candle at this time. Place it in the middle of your bowl
7. Light the candle with intention and let it burn all the way down. If you'd like to enchant any jewelry or items to protect you in your travels, you can place them in the bowl before lighting to charge them
Refresh once a month, or whenever the energy feels off and you think it caught something
If you haven’t already, check out my lessons on visualisation for the basic knowledge you’ll need to begin practicing shielding.
So what is shielding?
Shielding is a manipulation of energy, used to create a barrier between yourself and unwanted, usually negative or malicious energies. It’s a basic aspect of spellwork that everyone, beginner or experienced, should use to keep themselves safe.
What can I use shielding for?
Some beginner-level uses for shielding are drawing a circle, or casting a spell. A more experienced individual might use shielding in astral travel or spirit work, where there are a lot more malicious energies involved. Personally, I use shielding as often as possible, for instance when I do tarot readings, spells, spirit work, shadow work, and especially cursing. It gives that extra guarantee that you won't flood your personal space with unwanted energies.
Other uses include shielding against real-life dangers, to a certain degree. I often shield when I am walking through town at night for extra protection. But please remember to take other measures too! Call someone, pretend to be on the phone, plan your route, and even carry pepper spray if it's legal where you are.
An easy shielding method:
The easiest way to explain this is to think of your energy as a physical manifestation. Think how power attacks are shown in anime or cartoons - a streak of colour or light, or an element. Make it personable to you: fire signs (Leo/Aries/Sagittarius) might visualise fire, or a red energy or light etc.
Firstly, some people prefer to cleanse before shielding. I don't think its all that necessary but the choice is yours.
Begin by easing yourself into meditation. Get comfortable, and use whichever technique works for you. I have various methods for this in my visualisation lessons if you are struggling.
Attempt to visualise the energies surrounding you in your mind. It might be a swirling colour of light, almost like a cloud of dust. It could be flames, it could be water. Maybe try to see it held within your hand.
Now, attempt to shape this energy around your entire body. You might want to start with a bubble or a cube surrounding you. Feel this shape surrounding and protecting you. Visualise negative and unwanted energies being held back by it.
You can also layer shields, so if you are working with a particularly malicious energy you might want to have multiple shapes surrounding you, all within each other. You can also work with deities or spirits to ask them to shield you too.
Shielding Incantation
When I am shielding, I recite a spell as well as using visualisation techniques.
The shield of protection, I carry it strong,
No ill wishes or trouble shall come along,
You cannot harm me, or weaken my soul,
My light is my weapon, and peace is my goal.
Try it out for yourself and let me know in the comments how it went! Thank you as always for reading. Please message for requests.
Sprinkle sea salt or black salt along windowsills, thresholds, or in corners of rooms. Salt absorbs and repels negative energy. You can also place bowls of salt in corners for ongoing protection (just replace regularly).
🌿 2. Protective herbs in corners or jars
Use rosemary, bay leaf, clove, cinnamon, or sage. Place dried herbs in small jars, sachets, or dishes in each corner of the room to absorb and ward off negativity.
🪞 3. Visualize mirrored or glowing barriers
Close your eyes and see a glowing, mirrored dome around your space that reflects all negativity away. Say:
“No harm may enter. Only light and truth remain.”
🧿 4. Charge and place protective items
Use crystals like black tourmaline, obsidian, or amethyst at entry points. Enchant them with your intention by saying:
“I charge this stone to guard this space.”
🕯 5. Seal doors & windows
Mix olive oil with rosemary or clove essential oil. Trace sigils, crosses, or protective runes on doors and windows. You can whisper affirmations or blessings as you seal each point.
🧼 6. Cleanse before you ward
Always cleanse your space with smoke (rosemary, incense), sound (bells, claps), or sprays (saltwater, moon water) before warding. Think of it like sweeping before locking the door.
🕰 7. Refresh your wards monthly
Energy shifts. Full moons, new months, or after heavy emotional events are great times to reset and reinforce your wards.
A ceremonial knife, typically black handled with a double-edged blade. You use it to inscribe your candles or to cast a circle around the altar before commencing a spell.
Altar
A place where you do rituals or spells. It is often a special table or shelf where your ritual tools are kept.
Amulet
Is an object that is carried or worn on a person or placed in a location in order to draw specific energy or luck toward that person or location.
Book of Shadow
A Book of Shadows is a Witch's journal. It contains notes on experiments, information they picked up along the way, spells, recipes, correspondences, chants, traditions and more.
Coven
A coven is a community of witches who gather regularly for religious and/or social occasion.
Divination
Divination is the metaphysical work of finding the truth of an issue by using symbols and objects to interpret messages from the the collective unconscious or from communication with spirit beings.
Evoke
To call or summon a spirit or entity or deity.
Familiar
A familiar is a magic-user's spiritual helper manifest in animal form.
Grimoire
Is a magical manual or a magician's instruction book. It is much more formal than a Book of Shadows.
Hex
It refer to an unfriendly spell meant to bring about mischief.
Invoke
to summon or draw a spirit being into your own body. This is usually done to encourage communication between the spirit world and the material world.
Sachet
A small bag of herbs, crystals, or other objects that is meant to bring about a desired effect; essentially acts as a charm.
Ward
A protective barrier may be maintained by a spell, a talisman, a symbol or some other physical or energy object.
a grimoire can be defined as a book of magical spells and invocations; sometimes used interchangeably with "book of shadows" but you can call it whatever you want.
what should i write my grimoire in / on?
a grimoire can be handwritten or typed, there is no wrong way to construct your grimoire. (for example, my grimoire is typed in a one note document but also stretched across many, many different notebooks and composition books)
what can i put in my grimoire?
about the author
favorites: color, magical tools, herbs, crystals
tarot birth card, astrology birth chart, personal beliefs, relationship with deities or other spiritual beings
basics
intent
visualization
meditation
terminology
protection, cleansing, & banishing using various energies: shields & wards, circle casting / take down, protective amulets
enchanting items
clockwise vs. counterclockwise
other how-to’s, such as anointing items and dressing a candle
general correspondences
days of the week, lunar phases, colors, incense, essential oils, elements
