Apothecary

Spell Jars

     Spell Jars, traditionally known as Witch Jars, are a branch of herbal magic.They are a physical receptacle for your personal magick of energy and thought and are used to aid in your manifestation work. Containing your intentions - such as love, health or protection - they represent long term spell magick and can be used openly, hidden or buried depending on your requirements. The use of glass jars dates back to the 16th Century, prior to that herbal sachets and pouches would have been used.  Today most spell jars have a cork stopper which is sealed with wax but this is mostly an aesthetic choice as any glass receptacle can be considered as a spell jar if you deem it as such. It can have a metal lid, a glass stopper or even a waxed cloth tied with a thread to seal the contents.

at The Cottage Witch…

These gorgeous Spell Jars are carefully handcrafted with conscious intention and using the highest quality, 100% natural; crystals, salts, herbs, spices, flowers, resins and other botanicals. My tools are charged and each jar is cleansed with sage before being filled. The contents of each Spell Jar are a historically symbolic representation of the spell they invoke and are displayed on the label for your own reference. The jars are then sealed with an appropriate coloured wax and further embellished with additional botanicals, crystals and a corresponding charm. While always of the same esthetic quality, these are lovingly handcrafted and will therefore vary in appearance from the photographs shown. Through the laws of attraction & protection they add a magickal touch to setting your intentions and make a perfect gift for those you wish well. Spell Jars can be placed in your home or office, according to your needs, and should be used in conjunction with your own spoken or written intentions. 

Place your Spell Jar under the Full Moon to recharge your crystals when required. The Spell Jar is a receptacle for your intention and as such it should never be discarded without equal thought. When you no longer have use for your jar you can break the seal and return the contents to the earth with gratitude. You may then dispose of the crystals and jar as you wish.

Witch Balls

The history of what we now call a 'Witch Ball' was an ancient pagan custom that was widely used amongst cultures where harmful magic and those that practiced it were feared. Hollow glass spheres were hung in windows to ward off witches spells, demons, evil spirits and ill fortune. They became very popular and more ornate in England during the 17th & 18th century, where they were most often created in blue or green glass. Hanging these decorative glass balls in doorways and windows was thought to mesmerize mischievous spirits that threatened the homes tranquility. Enticing them with their reflective beauty and then trapping them inside within the filaments of glass. 

Larger variations of Witch Balls were also used in gardens, often more opaque and less colourful, they later became referred to as Gazing Balls and were used for scrying and divination. Glass balls, derived from these silvered witch balls, are still used in gardens today to ward against evil by reflecting it away. Fishermen's nets traditionally had glass balls woven into the ropes for the same purpose. 

Unlike Yule Balls, Witch balls are not tied to a holiday and are used year-round by cultures that accept magick and magickal practitioners. They are often blessed or enchanted by a local witch or medicine women before being placed in the home to ward against any negative energies, entities or spirits that can cause ill will or sickness. They may be filled with a variety of ingredients to increase their magickal working.

Our Witch Balls contain beautiful layers of salts, resins, herbs, flowers, spices and botanicals that are carefully selected for their protective qualities, to bring peace, harmony and good fortune to your home and those that dwell within your home. They are further adorned with natural elements, crystals, charms and a hanging ribbon. As with all artisan products, each of our Witch Balls is unique and filled with protective intentions during their creation, making each finished piece exclusive. You will be able to see and feel the presence of something special!