A spell sachet is a small cloth bag filled with herbs, a stone or other small items and a written intention. You can carry it in a pocket or bag, tuck it under a pillow, or hang it in a room. It is one of the oldest forms of portable folk magic, with relatives in the charm bags, mojo hands and sachets of many cultures, and it is easy to sew by hand even if you have never sewn anything before. This guide shows how to make a spell sachet and how to look after it.
How it works
A sachet is a way of keeping an intention with you. You prepare it deliberately, charge it with attention, and carry it so that it acts as a small reminder throughout the day. Each time you notice it, you have a chance to check in with the aim you set. Traditional practitioners also treat the ingredients as allies that have been asked to help, so the sachet is a small partnership you carry with you.
What you need
A square or rectangle of natural cloth, about 10 by 20 centimetres, such as cotton or linen, in a colour that suits your aim. A needle and thread, or a stitched ribbon or string for tying. Dried herbs, a stone, a coin or a scrap of paper with your intention. A candle if you want to charge it by flame.
For dried herbs and stones, some practitioners use US suppliers such as Mountain Rose Herbs, Sage Goddess, Lucky Mojo and Mineralism. Australian import rules apply to plant material, so check the Department of Agriculture’s biosecurity requirements first. Garden and supermarket herbs, plus fabric from a craft shop, are all you need to begin.
Choosing colours and herbs
For protection, use black or dark blue cloth with rosemary, bay and a pinch of black pepper. For luck and prosperity, use green or gold cloth with basil, cinnamon and a coin. For peace in the home, use soft blue or white cloth with lavender and a small clear quartz. For focus and study, use yellow cloth with mint and rosemary. These are traditional associations and spiritual in nature, so choose what suits your own practice and feel free to swap in what grows nearby.
Sewing the bag
Fold the cloth in half with the right sides facing inward, so the outer pattern is on the inside. Sew the two long edges with a simple running stitch about half a centimetre from the edge, leaving the top open, and then turn the bag right side out. If you do not sew, use a square of cloth and gather the corners together with ribbon or string to make a pouch. Either way, the key is to make it yourself, slowly, thinking about what it is for.
Filling and charging
Write your intention on a small piece of paper, one sentence in the present tense. Fold it small and put it in first. Add each herb one at a time, naming what it is there to do. Add the stone or coin on top. Tie or stitch the bag closed, then hold it in both hands and breathe on it three times, saying the intention aloud once. If you want, pass it briefly over a candle flame, keeping the cloth well clear of the fire, and let the smoke of a stick of incense drift over it. Keep it with you for a few days and notice how it feels.
Where to keep it
In a pocket, wallet or bag for luck and focus, over a door or inside a window for protection, and by the bed for peace. Keep it out of damp and direct heat. If it gets wet, dry it and replace the herbs.
Refreshing and retiring it
Replace the herbs every season, or whenever the scent has faded. When the aim is met or the sachet no longer feels right, thank it, empty the herbs into the garden, and keep or recycle the cloth. If you want to keep a record of what worked, note it in your grimoire. Our guide to starting a grimoire covers a simple layout.
Timing
Make sachets for growth on a waxing moon and for protection on a waning moon. If you want a seasonal starting point, spring is a good time to make a luck or growth sachet in the southern hemisphere, and the Wheel of the Year lists the festivals where you can mark it.
Safety
Use dry herbs only. Keep sachets away from open flames, small children and pets who might chew them. If you are allergic to a plant, leave it out and choose another.
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