Cultures from all over the world have used spell bottles for specific purposes such as protection, attraction, breaking up lovers, cursing, money spells. etc. In Latin America, charm flasks contain charms for protection and/or luck and are filled with oil and sealed.

African-American hoodoo utilizes spell bottles for good or ill magic including spells for break-ups, love magic, and luck. Hoodoo is folk magic originating in Africa that later drew from Jewish, Native American, European, and South American cultures.

Christian influence is significant in both hoodoo and Latin American folk magic. The use of images of saints is not uncommon as well as reciting psalms as part of the spell.

In England, witch bottles have been found originating from as early as the 16th century. They have been unearthed in archeological digs from under hearthstones and sometimes in walls and floors of old homes. Contents of these clay jars have been analyzed and generally found to be iron pins or nails, human hair, and urine. Ironically, this very witchy practice was most likely used as protection against witchcraft.

These clay jars were called Bellarmine bottles (see photo above) named after a cardinal of the day whose unpleasant mug was carved on the surface. Apparently, this face only a mother could love along with the contents of the bottle were believed to keep people of evil intent away from the home.

Modern witches and Pagans use spell bottles in new and traditional ways. You can let your imagination guide you with this. Below is an example of a modern spell bottle to get you started.

Spell Bottle for Protection

Ingredients:

• A glass jar any style and size (i.e. canning or decorative with a cork).
• Protective and banishing herbs such as sage, mistletoe, mullein, and basil.
• Sea salt - the all-purpose protection/banishing tool.
• Vinegar - another all-purpose cleaning/banishing item.

Fill the jar with the herbs, salt and then vinegar. Seal it (either with the lid it came with or if a cork is used, seal with melted candle wax). Bury it in your yard where you believe you will gain the most protective benefit such as near a door or at the far end of your property.

Or leave it where you can see it in or near your home. It doesn't have to be buried. In fact, you can make the bottle as attractive as you like and leave it in a windowsill. Personal symbols of protection can be painted on the jar or ephemera from magazines and the like depicting a deity, animal, symbol, etc. can be glued on it.

The casting of the spell can be simple as above or more elaborate with a fully cast circle. Include prayers or petitions to the deities or spirits you work with.

Other items that can be used are:

• Herbs and flowers for love, money, luck, etc.
• Crystals or other stones for your specific purpose.
• Your hair or fingernail clippings to represent yourself in the spell.
• Clay or wood pieces that have symbols of protection, luck, etc. carved into them.
• Nails or pins.

Sources consulted:

• Hoggard, Brian. Apotropaios - Witch-bottles and their contents. 2000-2009. 2009.
• yronwode, catherine. Bottle Spells and Spell Bottles. Lucky Mojo.  1995-2003. 2009.
• yronwode, catherine. Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic: A Materia Magica of African-American Conjure. Lucky Mojo Curio Company, 2002. 2009.