As Nikki Van Der Car, author of The Witchy Homestead, tells mbg: Spell jars are a place to gather the thoughts and desires you want to put into your intended spell. They give you something concrete to focus on as you work to bring your dreams to life. “Spell jars are based on old folk magic dating back to the 17th century,” Van Der Car explains. In the past, spell jars were used for protection to ward off evil spirits, but nowadays, they hold a much broader appeal. And you certainly don’t have to identify as a witch to use them. While there’s no scientific consensus behind spell jars themselves, there is validity to the power of the law of attraction, which suggests you attract what you place your attention on. Spell jars are just another tool to help you concentrate your attention on whatever it is you’re seeking (like crystals, vision boards, etc.). You can make any kind of spell jar you want, and there’s really no limit to what you can put inside of it. “Certain ingredients have certain agreed-upon meanings based in folklore and hedge witch healing—like rosemary for remembrance, lavender for peace, mugwort for visions, holly for protection, etc.,” Van Der Car notes. “So once you decide what you want your spell jar to focus on, you can do some research around what to add to it, whether they’re herbs or crystals or feathers or images—really, there are no rules here!” she adds. When you decide what elements you want to include, get clear in your mind on what each thing represents as you add it to your jar. Top off your jar by sealing it with candle wax while holding your intentions in your mind. Choosing what you want in your jar will come down to your intention, which is, of course, totally up to you. And once your jar is assembled, you can keep it somewhere you’ll see it often, serving as a reminder of what you’re manifesting. “I like to keep my jars on my altar, or beside my bed, or any place that feels relevant. Say I’ve made a jar for creativity; I’ll want to keep that by my desk where I write. The idea is to let the energy of the spell inspire you,” Van Der Car explains. And as always, whenever you’re trying to call something in, whether it be love, abundance, etc., it’s important to remember you also want to continuously embody that intention yourself. If you were making a love jar, for example, author of Inner Witch Gabriela Herstik previously told mbg, “I think the most powerful love spell there is—instead of just casting a spell—is embodying the energy of love, becoming love, and acting as a magnet for that.” Ready to get started? Here are four simple spell jars you make and customize yourself, from Herstik and Van Der Car:
