A witch’s abode is often portrayed as with rows upon rows of dusty jars filling all the shelves. In the ignorant years, those jars were thought to be filled with all kinds of unpleasant substances.
Today’s witch is unlikely to have, or even want, bizarre items such as unicorn blood, bat wings, dragon teeth, pig eyes, or the hair of a still-born baby. Yikes and yuck.
There could still be lots and lots of jars and bottles. Some will be simple herbs, kept in the kitchen for cooking. Others will be in the bedroom; cosmetics, and the bathroom for skin lotions and first aid.
But, there could be other bottles around the house that have strange labels attached. Perhaps there is a picture, a sticker or a ribbon. The ingredients may, or may not, be recognisable. These are truly witchy things put together for magical purposes.
So, what are in these bottles and how does this all work?
In keeping with tradition, the bottles are usually glass or clay. Somehow, plastic and magic make uneasy companions. As both glass and clay are products of the earth, they will help anchor the spell contained within.
The spell the bottle is holding will be as individual as the witch who creates it. One bottle may be an invocation for romantic love. Another; protection for a bullied child. Perhaps the garden needs a boost.
And the same goes for the ingredients. Imagination plays a large part in deciding what will go into the bottle. Using the examples above, you could add red rose petals, a picture of a diamond ring, a piece of rose quartz, even a dash of the kind of scent you find attractive.
While we cannot literally wrap our children in bubble wrap, a piece of that, along with a pentagram for protection and a few hairs (both the child’s and the biggest, fiercest dog’s that you know) could chase off the bullies.
For the garden, it may be a couple of seeds, a speck of compost, a few drops of water plus a picture of the sun.
Pictures are great as long as they are small enough. These bottles are often small, either recycled from the kitchen or bought at craft shops. I would say the smaller the better as this means you can store several, or, if necessary, carry them with you.
The best time to create a magic bottle depends on the witch. It may feel empowering to go with the phases of the moon or on the first of the month. As with all magic, when the time is right the creation will flow.
To breathe magic into the bottle, invoke your deity and tell them what you are doing. Speak to each item as you place it in the bottle, describing its purpose. When everything is done, seal the bottle and label it. The label can be a single image. A rose or heart for love, a proud looking figure for the child, a flower for the garden.
Next, the bottle must be put somewhere that you can see it so it can work its magic on your subconscious. My experience suggests it needs to be visible for about two weeks. Then it can be put on a shelf with all the other magic bottles.
