A brief history of crystal healing and spell jars

by Jillian Eckert

Natural healing is all the rage these days; from essential oils and meditation to crystal medicine and spell jars. These practices focus on mindfulness and spiritualism as opposed to hard sciences, and they date back millennia. Though crystal healing is trending right now, it has always served as an alternative to classical healing, and people have found comfort in these sorts of practices throughout history. People have been practicing crystal healing, or lapidary medicine, since about 4500 BC—the first documented use of crystals comes from the ancient Sumerians. Ancient Egyptians wore jewelry made with crystals and gemstones for health and protection— they also buried their dead with stones like lapis lazuli to aid them in the afterlife. These ideas persisted into medieval Europe, where texts known as lapidaries documented the various powers crystals were believed to hold.

Such widespread belief across time and culture means there are no exact definitions of what a stone can or can’t do. Rose quartz, for example, was believed to prevent aging in Egypt, signified ownership in ancient Rome, and is now known as the “love stone,” believed to hold power over one’s emotions. Some have more continuity in their uses. The ancient Greeks used amethyst to prevent intoxication and cure hangovers— now, the stone is believed to help quell addictive or disruptive behaviors.

Many people now use crystals to make spell jars, which are physical representations of one’s intentions. For example, make a focus spell jar to help clear your mind or a calming spell jar to soothe anxiety. The rules are loose, and there aren’t specific recipes for certain spells. The core idea is that setting intentions and binding them to a physical object will help those intentions manifest. You can use crystals, herbs, flowers, notes— anything. Many spell jar recipes on Instagram and Pinterest blend crystals, essential oils, herbs, and other objects to represent specific ideas and intentions. The concept of a spell jar comes from medieval Europe, where people created “witch bottles” to protect against witches. These spell jars weren’t nearly as pretty, often containing urine, hair, fingernail clippings, brass pins, dead bugs, etc. Some historians think these bottles were like voodoo dolls, wherein the urine and pins would cause whatever witch cast a spell on you to feel pain when urinating, incentivizing them to lift the spell. The modern spell jar is a far cry from the medieval version; there’s less body matter and negative energy.

That said, crystals and spell jars can be a fun way to focus your energy and manifest change. While it’s all pseudo-scientific and likely an example of the placebo effect, these ritualistic practices may help you make small changes in your everyday life. Simply having a focus spell jar on your desk can aid productivity if you believe it has the power to do so. These physical objects are reminders of your intentions— whether they work or not is entirely up to you. While creativity is encouraged, here are a couple of spell jar recipes to help you channel your inner witch!

Protection Against Negative Energy (via @thewitchoftheforest on Instagram)

For this spell jar, you’ll need black tourmaline, a bay leaf, nettles, a stick of cinnamon, cloves, and smokey quartz. Black tourmaline and bay leaves provide all-around protection, while the net- tles and cloves protect against negative energy and gossip, respectively. The smokey quartz absorbs negative energy, and the cinnamon boosts the spell. Simply cleanse a small jar with incense and then place the ingredients in it, keeping your intentions at the front of your mind. Seal the jar with a cork and candle wax.

Peace and Harmony (via @lovebyluna on Instagram)

For this spell jar, you’ll need salt, lavender, lemon balm, moonstone, agate, and hematite. The moonstone and lemon balm symbolize harmony, the agate and hematite provide stability, the lavender brings peace of mind, and the salt purifies energy. Cleanse your jar with incense and place the ingredients inside, staying mindful of your intentions. Seal the jar with a lid, a cork, or candle wax and shake it to activate the energy.