A money bowl is one of the simplest pieces of prosperity magic you can build, which is why it shows up in almost every folk magic tradition in some form. This guide explains how to make a money bowl, why each ingredient is there, and how to look after it so it keeps working. It also covers what a money bowl cannot do, because it is a focus for your attention and effort, not a replacement for either.
How it works
The mechanism is the same as with most small domestic workings. A bowl on a table is a physical reminder of a goal, and the act of adding to it regularly keeps your attention pointed at that goal. In the animist way of working, the materials you choose are treated as allies, each with its own character, that you are asking to help. Either way, the practice does two things: it makes your intention concrete, and it builds a habit of tending to your money with attention instead of avoidance.
What you need
A small bowl you like the look of, ideally in a green, gold or natural material, and one you will not use for food again. A handful of coins, with one slightly bigger or shinier coin to act as the anchor. A green or gold candle. A few dried bay leaves, a cinnamon stick, and a pinch of dried basil or mint. A piece of paper and a pen. A small citrine or green aventurine if you want a stone, though it is optional.
You can find most of this at a supermarket or nursery. For dried herbs, resins and stones, some practitioners order from US suppliers such as Mountain Rose Herbs, Lucky Mojo, Sage Goddess and Mineralism. Plant material is regulated on entry to Australia, so check the Department of Agriculture’s import rules first.
Why those ingredients
Bay is a traditional leaf for wishes and success. Cinnamon is warm and drawing, and it is a classic prosperity herb. Basil is linked to abundance and to protecting what you have. Coins are the obvious one: they are the thing you are working with. The anchor coin stands in for the whole bowl. None of these are chemical effects, they are the accepted correspondences in folk practice, and they work in the way a symbol works, by focusing you.
The best time to make it
Traditional timing for growth work is the waxing moon, with the new moon as a starting point. The next new moon is on 9 November, though with Mercury and Venus retrograde at that point it is better for review than for launching new money plans. If you can wait until after 14 November, when both turn direct, the timing is cleaner. Our Scorpio new moon guide explains why. Thursdays and Sundays are the traditional days for prosperity work.
Making it
Begin by cleaning the bowl and your table, and clearing a spot where the bowl can stay for a month without being moved. Write on the paper one clear, realistic financial goal. A good one is specific and within your control, like clearing a particular debt, saving a set amount, or getting a pay review booked. A poor one is vague or depends on luck, like winning something. Fold the paper toward you and put it in the bottom of the bowl. Add the bay leaves, the cinnamon and the basil, then lay the coins on top with the anchor coin in the middle. Light the candle beside the bowl, say your goal aloud in a sentence, and sit with it for a few minutes while the candle burns, thinking about the first practical step you can take this week. Snuff the candle when you are done and keep the bowl where you will see it daily.
Keeping it alive
Add a coin once a week. Dust it, refresh the herbs every month, and burn a candle by it on the new moon. If the bowl is hidden in a drawer it will quietly stop doing anything. Alongside it, do the real work: write the budget, make the call, send the invoice. The bowl is the reminder, and the action is where the change comes from.
Retiring it
When the goal is met, or when the month cycle ends, thank the bowl and its contents. Bury the herbs in a garden or put them in a bin with respect, and put the coins to some use you can attach to the goal, such as paying a bill or donating them. Do not keep the old paper. Start again with a new one if you want to continue.
The honest limit
A money bowl will not create money from nothing and it should never be a reason to skip real advice if you are in financial difficulty. Free, confidential help is available through the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007. Think of the bowl as a practice that keeps you engaged with your finances. Many people find that is where the shift happens.
If you want more beginner-friendly practice, have a look at our guide to whether you need tools to practise witchcraft.
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