ABitontheHistoryofWitchbottles

ThehistoryofWitchbottlesgoesbackhundredsofyears.Theoriginsofthistraditionhasbeen
datedtothe1500's.Theywereusedmostactivelyforacoupleofhundredyears.Thisisthe
sametimewhentheWitchhuntsweregoingon.Afterthisperiod,thetraditionslowlywaned.
ThelasthistoricalWitchbottlewasfoundinacabinbuiltinmid19thcentury,inPershore,
Worcestershire(UK).
TheactualbottleofatraditionalWitchbottleduringthe16thand17thcenturywasaGerman
stonebottlecalled"bartmann"or"bellermine"bottle.Similarbottlesofstonematerialwere
manufacturedinHollandandBelgium.Thetechniquewasn'tmasteredinEnglandbeforethe
1660'sandbartmannbottlemanufacturingwasrareinBritain.

ThebottlegotitsnamefromacardinalcalledBellarminoonlyaftertheWitchbottletraditionhad
alreadybegun.Thesebottleshadaroundbellyandtheyweredecoratedwithafacialimageofa
grimlookingbeardedmanandamedallionofstylizedfloralornaturalimagery.
EventhoughthesebottleswerebeingmanufacturedactivelyinGermanylongbeforethetimeof
BellarminowhowasagainsttheReformationthesebottlesweregiventheirfamiliarnameas
asatiricalcommentontheCardinal.Hisbeardedfigureresembledthetypicalbeardedman
depictedonthesebottles.
Lateron,thebeardedimagewastakentorepresenttheDevil,whichsuitedwellfor
Witchbottles,afterallwitcheswereconsideredaspeoplealliedwiththeDevil.
Glassbottleswerealsoused,butaccordingtomysourcestheywereneveraspopularas
Witchbottlesaswerethebartmannones.
OldWitchbottlescontainedthingslikebentironnails,humanhair(headhairandpubichair)and
urine.UrineasanimportantingredientofaWitchbottlehasbeenlongknowninfolktraditions,
butactualfindingswiththebottlestillcontainingurinehavebeenrare.However,allofthe
WitchbottlesfoundinEnglandwhichweretestedforurine,didprovepositive.Othertraditional
itemscontainedinWitchbottlesincludesmallbones,thorns,needles,piecesofwoodandin
somecasesheartshapedpiecesofcloth.
Thebottlesweremostoftenfoundburiedunderthefireplace.Othersitesincludeunderthefloor,
buriedinthegroundthere,andplasteredinsidewalls.Thefireplaceis,fromamagicalpointof
view,asecurityriskasithasastraightconnectionwiththeopenskiesabove.Itwasbelieved
thatthecurseofaWitchorevenaWitchherselfinashapeshiftedformcouldgetintoahouse
throughthefireplace.Anothersecurityriskwasthedoorway,asdoorsareopenedandclosed
severaltimesthroughouttheday.Inadditiontothefireplace,thebottleswereoftenhiddennear
thedoorway.

OntheOriginalUses
ThemostactiveperiodofWitchbottleusageandtheWitchhuntsdon'tcoincidebyaccident.
ThefearofWitchesproducedwaysofprotectingoneselfagainstthemduringtimeswhen
slightestmisfortunewaseasilyinterpretedasbeingcausedbyacurseputononeoranother
memberofthefamily.FromthepointofviewofapresentdayWitch,theoriginalpurposefor

1
buildingaWitchbottlewasn'tthatpleasant:theywereintendedtokeepWitchesandWitches'
cursesaway.ThecontentsofaWitchbottlewasdesignedtonotonlydivertanattackingWitch,
butalsotocausehertosuffertheagoniesbroughtonbyallthenastythingsinsidethebottle.To
putitsimply:toturnthecursebacktothecurser.
Theurineinthebottlesymbolizesthetargetofthecurse.Thecurserandthetargetofthecurse
werebelievedtohaveastrongconnectionandthecursewasbelievedtotargetnotonlyits
intendedvictim,butalsothebodilyfluidsofthetarget.Whenthebottlewasplacedinawaythat
madeiteasierforthecursetomeetwiththeurine(intheWitchbottle)beforetheactualtarget,
thecursehitthebottleandnotitsintendedvictim.Thisiswhythebottleswereusuallyhidden
wheretheywere.
Theimportanceofpubichairandhairwassimilartothatoftheurine.
Witchbottlesareverymuchapartofageoldtraditionsofsympatheticmagicwithitsintentions
ofcausingpainfortheWitchwiththecontentsoftheWitchbottle.Accordingtofolkbeliefs,the
useofWitchbottlessometimesbroughttheWitchherself,writhinginagony,knockingonthe
doorbeggingforsomebodytobreaktheWitchbottleandpromisingtoreversethecurse.
TheWitchbottlewasbelievedtobeactiveaslongasthebottleremainedhiddenandunbroken.
PeopledidgothoughalotoftroubleinhidingtheirWitchbottles.Thoseburiedunderneath
fireplaceshavebeenfoundonlyaftertherestofthebuildinghasbeentorndownorotherwise
disappeared.

ModernWitchBottles
Verygenerallyspeaking,themoderndayWitchbottlesareverysimilartohistoricalWitchbottles
intheirbasicstructure,eventhoughtheirintendedpurposehaschanged.Themostcommon
purposeforconstructingaWitchbottletodayiscapturingnegativeenergiestargetedatthe
constructorofthebottle,herfamilyorherhome.Eventhoughsomebottlesare"mirroring"in
nature,theyaren'tnormallybuilttocauseagonytothesenderofnegativeenergy/casterof
curses.SomeWitchbottlesareintendedtochangenegativeenergyintopositiveoneandthen
releaseitintothesurroundingarea.Thiskindofbottlescouldbeclassifiedas"guardand
protect"bottles.
ThebasicstructureofWitchbottlescanbeusedforpurposesotherthanprotective:forfinancial
gain,forhelpingwithartisticcreativity,tocallforthpositiveenergy(insteadof"justfilteringout
negativeenergy"),forimprovinghealth,etc.
Onecouldsaythatthebasicprincipleisthefollowing:practicallyspeaking,aWitchbottleisa
containerofsomesort,usuallyajarorabottle,whichisfilledwithobjectsandoftenalsoliquids
whichfillagivenmagickalpurpose.ThepersonmakingtheWitchbottle,orinotherwords,the
onecastingthebottledspell,canchargetheobjectsmagickallybeforehandandbuildthebottle
toworkonthischarginguntiltheneedofrenewingthespellarises.Witchbottlescanalsobe
builttorechargethemselvesbytheenergythey'capture'foraslongasthebottlestays
unbroken,whetheritbeyearsorcenturies.
Insteadofmagickallychargingtheitems,onecanbuildabottlewhosethepowersarebasedon
itscontents,butcumulativelyso,resultingwithpowersstrongerthanthesumofitsparts.Also
thisversioncanbedesignedtobeseasonalor"onetimelastsalifetime".

2
WhatDoModernWitchBottlesContain?
ThetypicalcontentsofthebasicprotectiveWitchbottletodayisquitesimilartothatofthe
traditionalone:bentironnails(somesaytheyarebetterifoldandrustywhileotherssayclean
andunusedarebest),thorns,rustyrazorblades,brokenglassorpiecesofbrokenmirror(some
saybreakingamirrorforWitchbottleusecausesbadluck,othersclaimthatbreakingamirror
forthisparticularusewillnotcausebadluckexceptforpeoplesendingnegativeenergiestothe
bottlebuilder),orothersharpanddangerous"nasties",urineofthebottle'sbuilder,oftenalso
menstrualorotherblood.Onecouldusesemenasthemasculinecounterpartformenstrual
blood.Thebottleisoftenacommontightliddedglassjar,orabottlewitharatherwidemouth.
OthertypesofWitchbottlesmaycontainsandordifferentcoloredsands,crystals,stones,
knottedthreads,herbs,spices,resin,flowers,candles(no,youwon'tburntheminsidethe
bottle),incense(youwon'tburniteither),votivecandles,salt,vinegar,oil,coins,sawdust,ashes
etcetc.Actually,everythingusedin"normalspells"canbeusedinthisbottledversionofaspell,
theWitchbottle.
Additionalmaterialsincludecandlesand/orwaxtosealthebottle/jarwith.Therestofthe
materialsdependontheritualinquestion(ifany)andthereligionofthebuilderofthebottle.

OntheHidingPlace
APaganlivingintheirownhousemaybeabletohidetheWitchbottleinthetraditionalway
underthefireplace,underthefloor,orinthewalls.However,itismorecommontoburythebottle
intheyardinaplacewherenobodywillaccidentallybreakitwhiledigginginthegarden.One
suchplaceisbehindstonesunderthestairs.ForaPaganlivinginaterracedhouseburyingthe
bottleinthegardenshouldworkwellaslongasyouarecarefulnottoattracttoomuchattention
toyourselfwhileburyinganoddobject(thebottle)duringthecorrectphaseoftheMoon,atnight,
withjustcandlelight,wearingsuspiciouslookingritualgarments.
Apartmentscanbeadifficultplacetoliveinwhenyou'retryingtofindsomewheretohidea
Witchbottle.Or,atleastitmayseemlikethat!Diggingaholeandburyingthebottleintheyard
maybenotonlydifficult,butalsoquitelikelynotallowed.Nosykidscandigthebottleupandhurt
themselvesonthecontents.Nottomentionthatintheright(orwrong,tobemoreprecise)
neighborhoodcouldcauselotsoftroubleforthePaganattemptingtohideabottleintheyard.

However,thesituationisnotthatimpossible!Thebottledoesn'tneedtobesituatednearthe
homeinorderforittowork.Ifyouareconstructingabottleintendedtobeapersonalsafety
guard,itcanbeburiedinaforestorsunkinaswamp.WithaWitchbottledesignedtoguarda
givenhomeandthoselivinginit,youcanusealargeflowerpotbythefrontdoororonthe
windowsilltoburythebottleinto.Inthiscase,thebottleshouldbesmallenoughtofitinthe
flowerpotwiththeplant!
AnotherideaI'veheardisputtingtheWitchbottleintoaclosetnexttothefrontdoor,whereit
couldeasilydoitsjobasaguardianandprotectorofthehomeanditsinhabitants.However,this
solutionmightcausesometroubleifthesamethingthathappenedtoonePaganhappensto
you:theWitchbottleshekeptinherclosetworkedverywelluntilitonedayliterallyblewup.

3
Thebottlewasoftheverytraditionaltype,socleaningupafterthiswasn'tthatpleasant,asyou
canwellimagine!Whilerefiningtheideafurther,weendedupputtingthebottleinacovered
bucketfilledwithsoilandthenputtingthebottleinsidethebucketinthecloset.
ForaPaganstill"inthecloset"orlivinginsomethinglikestudenthousingwitharoommatethese
ideasmaynotbethatusable.There'sstillnoneedtopanic,asWitchbottlescanbemadein
miniaturesize,too.Onewitchworkingwithtesttubesinherprofessionallifeworkedout
recyclingmethodsfortesttubesasminiatureWitchbottlessmallenoughtofitintheflowerpots
onherwindowsill.Ifyouwanttousetesttubes,makesureyoucanclosethemtightly.Thereare
alsominiaturebottlesandjarsavailableatvariousgiftshopswhichcanbeusedaswell.
ItshouldbenotedthatnotallWitchbottlesaredesignedtobehiddenaway.Someareintended
tobeleftoutintheopen,forexampleonthewindowsill,onyouraltaroronyour(work)desk.

BasicBottleforaModernWitch
ThisisthetriedandtestedbasicWitchbottle,suitablealsoformoderndayPagans.Thebottleis
intendedtobeonethatprotectsitsmaker,oftenalsothemaker'shomeandfamily,from
negativeenergies.Dependingonhowthebottleismadeandonthemaker'sWill,thebottlecan
beonethatgathersthenegativeenergiesinitself(capturing),onethatsendstheenergiesback
towheretheycamefrom(mirroring)oronethatchangesnegativeenergyintopositive
(transforming).Iwouldsay,however,thatthistraditionalWitchbottleisn'tthebestsuitedonefor
thelastoption.

Materials
Glass,earthenwareorstonebottleorjar,withatightlyclosingcap.Sizedependingon
howbigyoucaneasilyhide.Sizedoesn'tmatterthatmuch,sobereasonable.
Protectiveglovesforhandlingitemsyou'llbeputtinginthebottle.AWitchbottlewon't
helpyoumuchifyoumanagetogetabloodpoisoningwhileconstructingone.
Waxorcandlestosealthebottle.Blackisagoodchoice.
Anotherjarfor"potty"ifyoudon'thaveone.Aimingisn'tthateasy,especiallyifyou're
tryingtohitsomethinglikeaWitchbottle.So,you'llneedsomethingtopeeintoandof
courseyou'llneedyoururine.
Allkindsof"nasties":Nails,rustyandbent(youcanbendthemyourself,too).Piecesof
barbedwire,thorns,burrs,piecesofglassand/ormirror,needlesetc.
Somethingstochoosefrom:Menstrualblood(ifyouarefemale)orsemen(ofyouare
male).Youcandrainmenstrualbloodfromyourmenstrualpadsortampons,inorderto
getsemen.Well,youdoknowhowtogetit.Wordofadvice,thoughifyouareusingsex
magickasapartofyourWitchbottlebuildingritual,dotrytorememberthatyouwere
supposedtocollectsomeofthesementouseinthebottle.It'snotthateasytocollectit
outofyourpartner,youknow.Otherbloodgetasterileneedlefromthepharmacistand
remembertobuysomebandaidsaswell.Youcanalsoaddyourpubicorotherhairto
representyourself.Aneggcanalsobeincluded.
Bandagesshouldbereadilyavailable,inthecasesomethinghappens.Alotofthestuff
you'reputtingintothebottleissharp.

4

Preliminarypreparations
Gatherallthenecessaryitems,yourbodilyfluidsbeingtheverylastonesasyoudon'twantto
storethemevenforaday.YoucancollectotheritemsintendedforaWitchbottleoveralong
periodoftime,storingthemuntilyouhaveallthenecessaryitemsandenoughofthem.Items
foundonthegroundsuitthepurposewell.Cutmetalitemsintosmallerpiecesifnecessaryso
thattheyfitintothebottleyou'vechosen.Ifyou'reusingaverysmallbottle,rememberthatwill
needonlyaveryverysmallnumberofeachitemoralternativelysmallitems(brokenneedles,
tinynailsetc).
Chooseadatetosuityourmagickalworkingsbestandplanyourritual,ifthesethingsare
importantforyou.WaningmoonisoftenconsideredasuitabletimeforbuildingaWitchbottle.
Theritualcanconsistofjustthevisualizationofthebottle'sintendeduse.
Youcanusethefollowingtohelpwithyourvisualization:
Yourbodilyfluidsareintendedtosymbolizeyourself,theyarepartofyouressenceandare
traditionallyusedinmagick.Insteadofhavingthenegativeenergieshittingyou,theyhityour
"representative"intheWitchbottle,thepartofyouressence.
Foracapturingbottle:The"nasties"insidethebottleareintendedtocapturethenegative
energiesthemetalcapturesthem,theglassconfusesandcutsthem,thethornspuncture
themandiron(andegg)dissolvethem.Youcanvisualizethenegativeenergiesdrowninginthe
urine.Ifyouarebuildingamirroringbottle,visualizetheglassandmirrormirroringthenegative
energybacktoitssenderortogroundingittoearth.Foratransformingbottleyoucanuse
coloredglassandvisualizethenegativeenergytransformingintopositiveonebeforecontinuing
onitsjourneyforwardtobenefityou,yourhomeortheuniverse.
ChoosetheplacetohideyourWitchbottlebeforeyoumakeit.Besureyouhaveallthe
necessaryequipmentlikeashovel.Bythetimethebottleisfinished,it'stoolatetostart
pondering"butwherewillIputthisthing?"Ifyouaregoingtoburythebottleintheground,choose
theplacesothatpeopleoranimalswillnotdigitup.

TheActualMakingoftheBottle
Haveallthenecessaryequipmentanditemsathandinaplaceyouconsiderbestsuitableforthe
task,atatimemostsuitableforyou.Youcanbuildthebottleandhaveyourritualatthesiteof
whereyouwillhideitordoeverythingelseinoneplaceandthentakethereadybottleelsewhere
tobeburied.
Fillthebottlewithitemsyou'vechosenuntiltheyformadisgustingmixture.Shakethebottleto
mixtheitems,ifnecessary.Ifyouareincludinganegg,don'tbreakitandadditasthelastofthe
soliditems.Remembertoleaveenoughroomforitaswell.
Afterthis,addurine,menstrualbloodorsemen,orprickyourfingerwiththesterilelancetand
addastheverylastthingafewdropsofyourblood.Youwon'tneedlargeamounts,bloodand
semenareconsideredpotent,sofewdropswilldo.
Closethecaporlidandsealthebottle.Youcancarvesymbolsofyourchoice(forexample
runes,asigil),beingcarefulnottobreaktheseal.Ifthishappens,removethewaxandstartthe
sealingprocessagain.

5
Ifyouaregoingtogotoanotherplacetohidethebottle,cleanupafteryourselfespeciallyifthere
isanychancethatsomebodyelsewillgettotheplacewhereyouwerebuildingyourbottlebefore
youcomebackfromhidingit!Remembertogroundyourself(ifyouarecreatingthebottleatthe
placewhereyou'rehidingit,youcandothisafterwards).
TraveltothehidingplaceandhideyourWitchbottleinasuitablemanner.Banishingwordssuit
thesituationwellandifyoudon'tknowhowordon'twanttousetraditionalbanishingspellsor
somethingsimilar,youcanevenswearlikeadrunkensailor!Youcanburythebottleupside
down,puttingmorenastiesintheholeyouburiedaroundthebottlebeforecoveringitallup.Ifyou
arehidingthebottlesomewhereinsideyourhome,hideittherightwayup.