Witches Bottles and Spell Bottles

A brief discussion on Witches bottles and Spell bottles

Quite often the term witches bottle and spell bottles are used interchangeably which in essence is not correct as they are indeed two separate things.

Witches Bottles:

Historically these bottles became popular in the 1600s as a means of defense and protection against witchcraft.  There have been examples unearthed in many places including in Greewich and even in Pennsylvania.  These bottles are based on the idea of sympathetic magic and were designed to protect and to cause harm to those sending the magic.  Traditionally made in pottery vessels (there is some evidence for glass bottles having been used also) they contained sharp items (nails, pins etc), bodily items (urine, hair, fingernails etc) and other items such as bones, sulphur, ribbons etc.  The idea was that the bodily items would draw the magic aimed at the person to the bottle through association and that the nails etc would harm the practitioner casting the magic.  These bottles would usually be buried top down on the property under a fireplace ( for its perceived ease of access by witches and evil spirits), under the floor, in the yard, or they could be plastered into walls etc.

Today's witches bottles follow similar lines to the traditional design, however their purpose is somewhat different.  These bottles are designed for protection and for many practitioners the intent is to draw and trap negative energies not to mirror them back or cause harm to the source.  Recipes usually involve nails or pins, wine, rosemary, salt and other items depending on your path and intention.

(Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5437664/Witch-bottle-containing-finger-nails-hair-and-pins-discovered.html)

Spell Bottles:

Unlike Witches Bottles spell bottles are used for any number of purposes.  There is a history of these bottles being used throughout various practices, especially Hoodoo, and as prayer bottles in abrahamic faiths.  In essence they are a physical representation of your spell work and are often kept visible so that ones repeated focus on them will continue to add emphasis to the spell being cast.  These bottles are usually glass and their ingredients obviously differ dependent on what the spell itself is. They are often sealed with wax and decorated or even painted appropriately for the intent.  This decorative nature adds to the element of drawing attention to the spell being worked, if your eyes and mind are constantly drawn to the bottle by its presentation than your thoughts are constantly being added to the intent held within the bottle.

(Source: http://www.moonslipper.com/spell-bottles.html)