How To Do A Jar Spell + 15 Jar Spell Rituals To Try

Want to cast your first jar spell? This guide walks you through every step, then gives you 15 ready-to-use spell jar recipes.

The jar spell is one of the absolute best spells for the beginner (and even advanced) witch. Traditional folk magic calls them witch bottle spells or bottle charms (tracing back to ancient Egypt and Greece), and while cursing and curse-breaking get the most attention, the format works for nearly anything — money, protection, luck, health, creativity, love. The classic honey jar spell? That’s pure love and attraction magic.

What makes jar spells so useful is their flexibility. Swap the ingredients, shift the intention, and you’ve got an entirely different spell. That’s why witches keep coming back to them.

If you’d rather hire a witch to perform a jar spell for you, you can book here.

How Do Jar Spells Work?

The magick of a jar spell happens as you mix specific components, add the intent, and seal the jar. Those steps, in order, create the magic.

The real selling point? You can recharge them. Cast a love spell jar and the spark fades six months later? Pull it out, pour fresh energy in, and reactivate it. No need to start from scratch.

Jar spells also happen to be gorgeous, discreet, and cheap. They tuck away on a shelf, fit in a drawer, and nobody notices them. The ingredients cost next to nothing, which makes this one of the most accessible forms of magic out there.

Want to go deeper? Layer in candle magick to seal the jar or mirror magick to amplify the spell’s energy. Or don’t, because a simple jar spell works just fine on its own.

Define Your Intent

Every jar spell starts with one thing: knowing exactly what you want. Your intention drives the entire spell. Get it wrong and nothing else matters.

Two rules:

1. Be specific. Target one clear goal. No vague wishes, no generalizing, no cramming twelve desires into one jar. Pick something achievable but just out of reach — not Harry Potter fantasy, but not something you could do without magic either. And think it through. Make sure you actually want this and can live with the outcome.

2. Be ethical. We’re not here to police your morals. But sit with the spell before you cast it. Consider the consequences. Follow your own code. If something feels off, trust that instinct.

Once you’ve nailed your intention, you’re ready to build.

Step One: Pick Your Container

Almost anything works. Glass is the go-to, but clay and ceramic are fine too. Two requirements: the container is intact, and the lid seals tight. That’s it.

I buy most of mine right on Amazon – check out this link if you’re interested.

You can also find an empty bottle by searching your home or local thrift stores. Mason jars, baby food jars, mayonnaise or pickle jars, and even used salad dressing and oil bottles may all work.

One important step before you start: purify the container and everything going into it. I cleanse with smoke, incense, a pendulum, or straight-up visualization (just picture the vessel washed clean of any residual energy). You can also quite literally clean the jar with soap and water.

Step 2: Choose Your Contents

The “meat” of the jar spell is choosing what to put in it. There’s no rule about what you have to include, so just pick items that serve your intention.

You may want to include a certain amount of items based on your intentions. Generally, I like to include three, five, or seven items, but you can also dig deeper into numerology and use a number that makes sense for your specific spell jar ritual.

Personal Items

Drop in something that ties the spell to its target: a photograph, a strand of hair, a nail clipping, a drop of blood, or a written name. Casting for yourself? Use something of your own. Casting for (or against) someone else? Use something of theirs.

Intentions or Prayer

Words carry power. Write your intention on a slip of paper and add it to the jar — a direct statement, a short poem, or a note to a deity asking for help.

Liquids

Filling the jar with liquid is optional (I often skip it), but here’s what different liquids do:

Urine — Protection, curse-breaking, and spells of control over others.

Vinegar — Brings bad luck, disruption, or spoils a situation. Don’t overfill. Store vinegar jars wrapped in towels unless you plan to bury them.

Honey, sugar water, or nectar — Sweetens a situation or a person’s attitude toward you. Use this when you want to win someone over, close a deal, or calm a fight.

Ammonia — Wipes the slate clean and banishes negativity. Safety warning: never light candles near ammonia and keep these jars far from heat. This one’s for experienced practitioners only.

Tinctures, infusions, and oils — Match them to your goal. Money spell? Use a cinnamon or mint infusion. This adds an extra step since you’ll need to prepare and charge the tincture first.

Solids

Your imagination sets the limit here:

Coins (minted in your birth year if possible) — Money-drawing magic.

Crystals and herbs — The workhorses of spellcraft. Versatile, powerful, easy to find.

Heart-shaped confetti or glitter — Love-drawing spells. Wrap a ribbon around the jar to symbolize binding.

Rusty nails or glass shards — Curse-breaking.

A pencil wrapped in a tiny scroll of paper — Stuck on a writing project? Try this.

Study whatever herbs and crystals you can get your hands on. The more you work with them, the sharper your instincts get.

Step Three: Fill Your Jar

Gather your ingredients and charge them. You can infuse each item individually before placing it in the jar, or load everything in and charge the whole thing at once. Either way, you’re waking up each item’s energy and pointing it at your goal.

Chant while you fill the jar to amplify the effect.

Step Four: Speak Words of Power

Chanting sharpens your focus like nothing else. Find a chant in a book, online, or write your own — it doesn’t need to sound like Shakespeare. It needs to mean something to you.

New to witchcraft? Browse Pinterest or Tumblr for spell jar chants. Ancient texts work too — Greek and Egyptian ritual literature, even the Psalms.

Pick something that matches your spell’s purpose, memorize it or have it written in front of you, and let it flow as a mantra while you cast. When the words stop requiring effort, you’ve tapped into the part of your mind that steers energy toward your goal.

Light a candle during this step if you want extra energy to draw from.

Step Five: Seal Your Jar 

You can do this two ways. The first: close the lid, then light a candle on top and let the wax melt down over the lid and sides — this adds a magical seal on top of the physical one. The second: skip the lid entirely, stick a lit candle into the jar’s open mouth, and let it burn down until the melted wax fills the opening and hardens into the seal itself.

Candles boost the spell’s power but aren’t mandatory. If you use one, pick a color that matches your intention, optionally dress it with oils and herbs, and burn it until the wax melts down completely. You can burn multiple candles over time, so they’re great for ongoing work with a single jar.

The only hard rule: if you’ve used anything perishable, seal the jar tight so nothing molds.

Step Six: Meditate on Your Intent

Here’s the truth: your intention matters more than every ingredient combined. Without it, you’re holding a jar of random stuff.

Hold the jar in your hands, visualize what you want, and feel the desire.

Now try to shift, and top seeing yourself as someone who wants this…but see yourself as someone who has it. What does your life look like? How does it feel? Sit in that satisfaction. Let certainty replace longing.

Stay with it for a few minutes, or until the jar feels charged. I wrap my hands around it to physically push the energy in.

When you’re done, stash the jar somewhere cool, dark, and out of sight. Don’t think about it. Pull it out to recharge when you need to.

15 Jar Spell Rituals to Try

Looking for simple jar spell rituals that work? Here are some of my personal favorite spell jars to try!

1. Abundance

What to prepare: 

Sugar, Salt, garlic, and sesame seeds, seal with red and/or green candle wax

As you put together the jar, recite the following mantra:

“As these things now I lay

What I want will come my way.”

Picture the kinds of abundance you desire. This spell can be modified to fit your needs.

2. Anti-Anxiety

What to prepare: 

Chamomile, Olive Oil, Moon water, Gardenia, Amethyst

Candle wax in various shades of purple, black, and/or yellow can be used to seal the jar.

• While you’re putting the jar together, make sure to take some deep breaths (breathe in the herbs and oils for a calming effect). 
• You can keep it on your bedside, or your workspace. 

This is also a great self love spell jar to try.

3. Anti-Bad Vibes

This is a great protection spell jar for any purpose.

What to prepare: 

Black tourmaline, lavender, black pepper, clove, sage, salt,

• After putting all of the ingredients into a jar, you should then seal the lid with some candle wax in a dark color. 
• Put the jar where it can be seen as you enter your home to keep any potentially harmful or unsettling energy far away from your sanctuary.

4. Art/Work Productivity

What to prepare: 

Lavender, grass, marigold, cinnamon, carnelian

• Silver candle wax or yellow candle wax can be used to seal the jar.
• Place this in your designated working area.

5. Attract Love

What to prepare: 

Pink food coloring for romance, Orange food coloring for attraction, white sugar, dried or fresh red or pink roses, dried or fresh lavender, Paper, pen/marker with orange ink, pink candle 

• Half-fill two bowls with white sugar. Drop one pink and one orange drop of food coloring into each. Stir vigorously until the sugar in each container is the same color throughout.
• Put the paper with the traits of the ideal partner written on it at the bottom of the jar.
• Crush the roses and lavender in a mortar and pestle while visualizing yourself attracting a loving partner.
• Fill the jar with alternating layers of orange sugar, pink sugar, and the herb mixture.
• Add more cinnamon to the top for extra flavor and to attract love and happiness.
• You can just put the lid on the jar and leave it as is, or you can light a pink candle on top of it.

If you’re looking for a love spell jar then definitely try this recipe – I’ve had a lot of success with it.

6. Good Luck

What to prepare: 

Salt, white rice, rope, and bay leaves, and then seal with green candle wax!

• This is ideally done at the beginning of a new week or month, or before starting something new like a job, an audition, a project, etc.
• Mix everything in a container.
• Keep it by your bed or in your closet.

7. Happiness

What to prepare: 

A photo, fabric from a favorite shirt or blanket, citrine peridot, sweetgrass, wildflower petals

• It’s best to put your ingredients in the jar one by one for this purpose.
• Consider the symbolism of each step and how it ties to your goal.
• Start by lighting a candle and declaring your goal aloud while visualizing its fulfillment.
• Candle wax can be used to seal your jar.
• When you’re finished, put the jar somewhere you’ll see it often as a constant reminder of your goal.

8. Happy Home

What to prepare: 

Lavender, lemon peel, basil, thyme, catnip, mugwort, vanilla bean or extract (6 drops), blue lapis, rose quartz, one drop of the moon, sun, or blessed water

• This should be done on a Friday, during a waxing or full moon.
• Think about what makes you happy and what you want from this place.
• Hang or display prominently in your home (by your front door, on a mantel, under your bed, etc.)

9. Health

What to prepare: 

Lavender, black obsidian, rosemary, amethyst, frankincense, Hawaiian black salt

• Put the materials in a jar, then cover the top with either green or black candle wax to make a seal.
• Put on, take with you, or give to someone whose wellbeing you care about if you wish to improve their health.

10. Love

Looking for your basic love spell jar? Keep reading!

What to prepare: 

A jar of average size,

Alcohol of choice (vodka, rum, tequila, etc.), honey, a bouquet of roses plus a few thorns, flowers and herbs that express passion (such as blue lotus for an aphrodisiac, cinnamon for lust and sex, patchouli for passion, and so on), A pink stone similar to quartz (optional), Notepad and writing implements, A flame, Lighting device, or matches

• Put your rose petals, thorns, herbs, and crystal in a jar with a little honey and alcohol.
• Put a note in the jar with a statement like, “I found a sweetheart,” written in the past or present tense (not future tense).
• Start by lighting a candle and declaring your goal aloud to the universe while imagining its fulfillment.
• Add a dab of candle wax to the jar’s opening and you’re good to go.
• Raise the decibel level with some rhythmic improvised noise-making (optional)
• Give the candle time to burn. When it’s burned out, pause to reflect on the ritual’s completion in your mind.

11. New Year, New You

What to prepare: 

Whole cloves, mint leaves, whole rosemary sprigs, cinnamon sticks, ground coffee sea salt (big grain), an air-tight jar, and 1 orange candle for stimulating your mental energy. 

• Considering the purpose of each ingredient, stack the ingredients in the jar in the order in which they will be used.
• After you have sealed the jar, you should next light an orange candle on top of it.

12. Protection 

What to prepare: 

Laurel, parsley, holly, black hematite, obsidian, smokey quartz (note: it is okay if you do not have all three; any crystal for protection will do), pine needles or cones, garlic, salt, a scrap of paper and pen.

• Put the ingredients into the jar one at a time, and as you do so, think about what that item represents and how it connects to the goal you have set for yourself.
• Put your goal in the jar along with a written statement of it (i.e., “I am protected” or “I am always safe”).
• Start by lighting a candle, stating your desire aloud, and imagining what it would be like when it comes to fruition.
• Candle wax should be used to seal your container.
• Finish off the ritual by putting the jar in a location that will serve as a constant reminder of the goal you set for yourself.

13. Self Love Jar Spell

What to prepare: 

Clear quartz, dragon’s blood incense, Himalayan salt, lavender, self-love quote, rose petals, and pink candle wax.

• Put everything inside the jar, and then seal it with the pink wax.
• Position it in a visible location, such as next to a mirror, to serve as a reminder and to amplify your self-love intentions.

14. Sleep 

What to prepare: 

Lemon, amethyst, lavender, and valerian

• Put everything in a jar, making sure it’s completely dry to prevent mold growth. Moldy jars are gross and should be avoided.
• White candle wax serves as a perfect seal. 
• Keep it next to your bed as a daily reminder to reinforce your sleep intentions.
• When the jar’s effects have worn off or you feel it is no longer as potent, you should wash your crystals and return any herbs that were used to the ground, maybe by burying the jar in the garden.

15. Success (In Business)

What to prepare: 

Rosemary, tiger’s eye, smokey quartz, green aventurine, sea salt

• Place your business name next to the jar containing the other ingredients, light a candle next to it, and place some coins on your business name.
• Fill the jar halfway with water, then add the coins and business name while saying, “I attract prosperity in plenty, and clients will come, buy, and multiply.”

What to Do With Your Jar

You’ve cast the spell. Now what? There are really four options — choose what’s right for your desired outcome.

Bury it when you want permanent protection or need to break a curse for good. The buried jar guards your home (or whoever you cast for). Don’t have a yard? A flowerpot works, and it’s actually better for non-biodegradable materials.

Hide it when burying isn’t practical. Tuck it behind a wall, in the back of a closet — anywhere out of sight. This is also smart if you want the option to dismantle the spell later and maybe need to have access to it.

Keep it on your altar when your goal is ongoing. Light candles over the opening or shake the jar while repeating your chant to keep the energy alive.

For long-term goals (acing exams throughout college, say) leave the jar on your altar the whole time. The night before a test, you can recite your mantra, light a candle, and give it a shake.

Dispose of it when the spell has done its job and you want it to stop. Attracted a partner and you’re getting married? You don’t need the spell pulling in more suitors. Remove the contents, bury them at a busy intersection or in a flowing stream, wash the container, and reuse it or toss it.

One warning: don’t dismantle a cursing, hexing, or curse-breaking jar unless you know exactly what you’re doing. The safest move is to bury the whole thing at a crossroads.

Jar spells focus your magical intentions like few other practices can — but sometimes you need more firepower. I offer both group spells and 1:1 spellcasting for those times when you want an experienced witch working alongside you (or on your behalf). Check out my spellcasting services if that calls to you.