How To Make A Spell Jar
Spell Jars are one of my favourite things to create and unfortunately, a lot of traditional witches give them a bad rap. This isn’t because spell jars are bad (they’re definitely a useful spell form), but more because they’ve risen quickly in popularity due to their aesthetic and ease of access.
BUT - When things go up in popularity, there will always be haters who want to nitpick and feel superior about it.
They are right in some respects though. Because many newer witches don’t always know the ins and outs of this kind of magic. So we end up seeing things created that probably won’t work for what the Witch was intending.
It’s just user error and misinformation. And I’d argue that it’s a necessary step for many witches to get shit wrong beause that’s how we learn, right! But I digress… you want to know how to make a spell jar the right way.
I'm going to be taking you through exactly how to make a spell jar plus explain why we make spell jars and when we should and shouldn’t be using this form of magick.
What are spell jars used for?
Spell jars can be used a number of ways;
Money & Abundance
Success
Love
Protection
Health
Baneful workings (hexing & cursing)
Luck
As you can see, there are all sorts of things that you can do with a spell jar! The only limit is your imagination (and skill).
The very first step before ANYTHING else is done, is for you to figure out the purpose and intent for your spell. Once you have that in mind, you can follow these simple steps on how to make a spell jar.
[Small reminder, many witches like to check in with some divination before attempting spell work to ensure it’s the best option for their specific scenario. If you’re not sure how to do divination, I can teach you how >> CLICK HERE]
But Hana, won’t a spell jar LOCK the spells intent and mean it’s not ‘released’ to the universe!?!
With that attitude it certainly will!
In all seriousness though, this is a major player in the “spell jars are bad” camp. So let’s look at it shall we?
I want to use Witch Bottles as an example.
Historically, witch bottles are jars filled with urine, sharp tacks, nails, hair or nail clippings of the witch and anything else nasty and sharp that you can think of. This bottle was sealed, and buried on the corner of the witches property.
What’s the purpose of a witch bottle? To ‘confuse’ enemy witches so that when they try to lock onto your energy, to send you bad vibes/curses/hexes… they find the bottle instead and get hit with a nasty surprise.
A witch bottle is essentially a protective spell jar.
Next, we need to think about WHY we’re using a spell JAR instead of a pouch or alternative.
Sometimes it’s because it’s sturdier, safer, more transportable etc.
These are valid reasons. If you don’t need those things for your spell, don’t do a spell jar.
Try something else.
Personally, one of my favourite spell jars I did was a protection jar for myself and my baby whilst I was pregnant. The jar itself doubled up my intent for insulation, protection, separation from the world. The concept of keeping us safe and contained worked well for the spell.
We’re WITCHES - we’re supposed to use our brains and THINK.
Be the cunning Witch and really think about your spell work, and work out WHY you want to do that format (spell jar, pouch, candle) before you begin.
#1
Select the jar
The size of the jar does not matter.
You can use a tiny, small jar or a large, massive one. It’s all about the intent, energy raised and thought process of putting everything together.
TIP: The larger the jar, the more materials you need to use. This can add up to more $$$.
Also, consider the size when thinking about where the jar will be placed. A smaller one is easier to bury, pop into a bag, pocket, suitcase or car. To hide in a drawer or fit on your altar. Smaller jars are far easier to have nearby, than a large jar will be.
Bigger does not always mean better.
As for where to find jars…
Check your local dollar/discount stores craft sections, art or craft stores. They may come in multi packs, or individually. Mason jars work a treat too!
This small glass jar is the type I use most frequently.
BUT WAIT; before you settle on a glass jar, have a think about your intent,
Some alternatives may suit your purpose and intent better!
Money & Abundance
Consider using an expensive (but empty) perfume or wine bottle.Success
Perhaps a yellow jar, champagne bottle or something else that shouts success for you.Love
You may like to try a honey or jam jar.Protection
Something unbreakable, lockable or very sturdyHealth
An empty pill bottle, especially if it’s a spell to treat the thing the pills help with!Baneful workings (hexing & cursing)
Pickle jar, old soda bottle you found in the trash somewhere, anything gross or smelly
#2
Cleanse the jar
When you're preparing to use them in any form of spell or magical work, first thing you need to do is cleanse it (unless it’s for a baneful working).
There are many ways to cleanse the jar, smoke cleansing is an easy way to do it. You can use herb bundle or incense. Light it and let the smoke rise, you can turn the bottle over the smoke and let it rise into the bottle, or if it’s large enough you can put it into the bottle and cleanse it that way.
Other methods include washing it out with moon water or placing it in the moonlight. Simple dish soap and water does the trick too.
Don’t ignore direct sunshine as a wonderful cleansing option, or placing it on a selenite disc works a treat too.
#3
Filling the jar
Now - this blog post is not a crash course in spellwork as a whole. I would presume you have at least some knowledge around spellwork including that you need to ground yourself before you begin. Raise energy as you do it and you will need to know which items to choose for your spell jar based on their correspondances and your intent. If you don’t know this stuff, my candle magick class breaks it allllll down for you. Easy peasy.
I’m giving you the PROCESS but the spell is up to you.
Collect items that will fit in your jar – crystals, herbs, flowers, salts, resins, etc.
We don’t want any liquid in the jar, unless you want mould to grow which might be beneficial for a baneful working.
Again, you can follow a written spell or choose these items intuitively for the intention you are setting.
A tip on using crystals: Chips are a great way to include crystals into a spell jar. If you have a crystal bracelet that breaks – keep the chips for spell jars!
Another tip is to spray essential oils or intention sprays into the area you’re creating your spell jar for a little extra boost.
REMEMBER TO RAISE ENERGY AND FOCUS ON YOUR INTENT AS YOU FILL YOUR JAR!
#4
Sealing the jar
If it is a cork bottle, you could carve a sigil in the cork before sealing. For other bottle styles, e you could draw a sigil under the lid.
A candle, or some kind of melted wax is a perfect way to seal the jar or bottle. Glue also works. Try to choose a wax/candle colour that correlates with your intent. But you can also use a white candle or wax as a stand in for any other color.
Make sure that you cover the entire top of the jar lid with wax to ensure that energy stays in the jar and it can’t be altered.
The free image I’ve used above, doesn’t quite use enough wax in my opinon.
#5
What do you do when the jar has served its purpose?
When you are finished with your spell jar you do not need to overthink it. You can simply dispose of mindfully (recycle/reuse where possible).
Or, if you have made it to bring something to you such as money/love, when you're finished with it and you no longer need it - simply bury your little jar outside on your property or close to your home.
Now, if you have made a spell jar to cancel a curse or a hex, or to you know keep someone away from you, or to get rid of something like a banishing, then you want to make sure you bury this at a crossroads, throw the contents in a river (if safe for the environment and animals, we don’t want littering here people).
You can also simply open and empty the contents into the trash bin and recycle the bottle.
So there you have it!
Five spell jar tips to help you get started!
If there’s anything I’ve missed, feel free to pop it in a comment below this blog post. I’m also a sucker for compliments, so if something here has helped you I’d love to know!
Want to chat with other witches? I have an option for group mentorship through the Suburban Witches Society where you can pick my brain on our monthly group calls or anytime via our thriving group chat.
OR if you are serious about your witchcraft journey you can book in with me for a 3 month mentorship intensive here.
Happy Spellcrafting!
Hana the Suburban Witch
Note: some links in this post are affiliate links and I earn a small amount if you choose to purchase. It does not affect your purchase price.
Meet Hana
Hana O’Neill, the Suburban Witch is a professional Tarot & Astrology reader, Intuitive Coach and the host of the Witch Talks podcast.
