Witchcraft 101 - "Witch Jars"
A very fun, easy and inexpensive way to do magic is to use/make/do Witch Jars. I have several Witch Jars, one of which I realize I didn’t take a picture of, but oh well. I’m honestly not feeling up to tracking it down (it’s outside), photographing it, and then uploading it (unless you want me to? Just let me know.)
Anyway, here’s the Witch Jars I currently have:
- Lakshmi Money Pouring Water Jar
- Money Jar (this one is really old, and I mainly keep it ‘cuz I love how it looks, with the wax going down the sides and all, and also ‘cuz it was my first one I ever made that wasn’t a protection jar.)
Witch jars are extremely easy to make. Basically, you get a jar, put in the stuff you want, and seal it; either magically or physically. What you put in really depends on the kind of jar you want to make. For example, here’s what I have in my protection jar:
a star shaped piece of glass
a mirror with a pentacle drawn on it
I also always ensure to decorate the outsides of the jars. The only exception to this is my jar with the money water on it, as it’s more just the holder for the water, although when it comes to this years Money Pouring ritual I really want to have a decorated jar so that’s on my list.
I always try to keep jars around. They’re basically free because for the most part you already have them! Examples:
salsa jars (but these seem to frequently be embossed with shapes and such and this really takes away from my ability to do magic with them; this is personal though)
I find that I only use glass ones. They are not absorbent (when it comes to putting things in it such as water) and they are very easy to decorate. I do keep plastic ones from time to time such as mayonnaise or peanut butter jars. I like to keep waters in them such as holy water. I am going to be starting to keep other water such as rain water, as they have a lot of different properties to them.
When it comes to doing spells it’s always very important to know exactly what you want to do; what your purpose is. I’m always harping that magic is intent and this is always true, and for me, always will be.
(* Side note; so much for not getting up. Got a pic of my protection jar and where I have it sitting as well. Photos at the end… possibly. We’ll see how this post formats.*)
So anyway, when you’re deciding what you want for your jar, go through all of your correspondences. Things like witch jars really make use of the craft part of witchcraft :) As you are not only putting physical items in them but also your energies, keep in mind the following, which is not an exhaustive list.
How big is your jar versus what you want to put in it.
Astrological/timing symbolism.
I like to make/decorate a corresponding candle to match my witch jars.
Decorations for the outside of the jar; glitter, ribbon, stickers, mod-podge, etc.
Everything you want to put inside.
Do you want to include use of the lid for the jar. If so in what capacity? Permanently sealed, made with an opening, to open/close, etc.
Is what you’re putting in it going to react with each other such as herbs and oils. Will it make mud/mold?
How long do you plan to keep the jar? Like I re-open my protection jar to cleanse and re-charge it every few months.
Taking things out of the jars can decrease the energy. Like in a money jar if you have to take money out if it for a necessary thing (Like I had to do to get food the other day….). This affects the energy.
Again, this is not exhaustive but here are some ideas for Witch Jars:
Protection jar – Put this outside or near your front door. Include items to reflect negativity back (mirrors), to break spells (nails), barrier against negativity (salt, soil), other herbs/oils as your choice. These are typically permanently sealed, though I open and cleanse and re-charge mine every few months.
Wish jar – Put inside goals you wish for, no matter how realistic (stop a habit, buy an item, loose weight, etc) or how unrealistic (have a pet tiger, meet Johnny Depp, own an island, etc). This one you want to leave open so you can add things to it. I like to have small pieces of paper and I draw on them what the wish is. The more time you spend on it the more energy is in it, so the better it works.
Money jar – This one I put money in, and I also have items in it that represent finances and money. I have herbs and such in it, plus a small vial of my Lakshmi money pouring ritual water.
Other jars – A witch jar can be anything you want it to be. You could use it to contain bad habits you want to release. You could make a “happy” jar where you put inside things that make you happy to increase the happy energy around you. Anything you want.
Witch bottles are … for me, little mini witch jars that you can take with you. I love having the little bottles for things like taking money water with me, I once made up an herbal mixture for helping me at work, things like this. Small bottles are great to keep around for making your own oil mixtures as well. These are different from witch jars, but still similar enough I wanted to include them in a small way here.
I just really like witch jars. They are super fun to make, super easy and can be used for a variety of things. This is one of those things that really makes me feel “Witchy” when I’m making it and when I look at them on my altars.
When you are beginning to gathering jars make sure you get them super clean. I first hand wash them, then I usually put them through the dishwasher a couple times. This gets away all of the scent and residue from whatever food was in it. Also make sure to get off all of the label. I have found that nail polish remover is very good for it.
My jars except the protection one. Left to right it’s wish jar, money water, financial prosperity jar and Lakshmi money jar.
This is my first non protection jar. I permanently closed it with wax. I love how it looks. It used to be an alfredo sauce jar. This one is a financial prosperity jar.
Here’s my bottles. From left to right they are: prosperity oil, faery fire oil, cinnamon amber power oil, dragon fire oil, a luck herbal mixture for work, protection oil and prosperity oil.
So here’s my protection jar. It used to be an olive jar LOL I drew on the outside, several runes, in permanent marker. It’s hard to see it ‘cuz the outside is really dirty… >.> I need to clean it LOL I keep it on my balcony.
Close up on my wish jar :)