SpellWork: Protection Bowl

I plan on creating a protection bowl to shield myself from this feeling of exhaustion and overwhelm that no amount of sleep seems to fix.

May 19, 2024

SpellWork is a direct reflection of my witchcraft practice. I’m not a traditional witch, and belong to no coven—think of me as a lone hedge witch.

I’ve been so focused on manifestation that I think I’m losing steam and running on fumes. While I don’t celebrate Beltane, I do celebrate full moons, and there’s a full Flower moon coming up soon on May 23, 2024. I plan on creating a protection bowl that night to shield myself from this feeling of exhaustion and overwhelm that no amount of sleep seems to fix. Or, I could do it during the Jupiter cazimi that happens on May 18, 2024, so the moon will be waxing but not full. (Yes, I write these posts in advance—May 18 hasn’t happened yet as of now.)

What’s Going Into My Protection Bowl?

Bowls are new for me, but my first spell bowl has rave reviews—from me! Hahaha. My manifestations are going strong, and I genuinely believe more blessings will come. Now, I’m excited to balance the spell bowls in my home. I have one for abundance, so I should also have one for protection. I used to have a collection of stones in random places on my desk for protection, but I thought my setup needed some upgrading.

Herbs

First, let’s talk about herbs—I’m using all dried herbs because fresh ones are difficult to work with, especially if I’m not stopping up a jar and instead using a bowl:

Angelica Root – Summons the protection from the angels in your life.
Bay Leaves – I’ve never used Bay Leaves in a protection spell, but I like using it in spells regardless of their nature. It’s known for its protective and banishment properties and is said to bring prosperity and good luck. But what I really like about using it is that it’s a common ingredient when I’m cooking—my other practice where I make spells of a different kind.
Dragon’s Blood – Protects against psychic attacks.
Frankincense – Protects against disturbing thoughts.
Mint – Protects against many types of negative energies.
Rosemary – Protects against bad luck.

Of course, before I add these herbs, I need to set up the bowl by cleansing it with sage incense and moon water and then adding blessing oil and black salt.

Oils

On top of my blessing oil, I typically add a few drops of specific oils—and because this is a protection bowl, there are many I can add, but I’m sticking with these:

Eucalyptus oil – Protects against bad moods
Lavender oil – Protects against stress
Orange oil – Protects against depression
Peppermint oil – Protects against negative thoughts

My blessing oil is the first thing I made after setting up my altar, and it’s just blessed olive oil. My black salt is similarly humble and personal—just my weed/incense ash, black pepper, and kosher salt.

Crystals

I’m using nine different crystals in this protection bowl, and they’re going to go on top of the oils, salt, and herbs:

Amethyst – Honestly, I love Amethysts. I wear them all the time. But I don’t usually think of them as protection stones. I collect them mainly because they’re known as psychic stones that enhance your intuition and capacity for lucid dreaming. I also collect them because they say Amethysts clear the mind and protect empaths from absorbing other people’s emotions. I have many Amethysts—and I’m using an old crystal for this protection bowl. Apart from safeguarding empaths, it’s also said to ease tension, grief, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances.

Black Onyx – I’ve worn Black Onyx before but have never used it in a spell—not that I do many spell jars or bowls. I feel like it’s the most popular protection crystal to wear just because it’s Onyx and deep black. They say it symbolizes emotional and physical strength, perseverance, and overcoming challenges. And, like most black crystals, it absorbs negative energy.
Black Tourmaline – One of these crystals is my very first protection stone ever—in fact, I’m using that very same one in this spell. They say it’s good for your physical health, as it improves your circulation and mood and even supports weight loss and bloating reduction. It’s also said to reduce anxiety and stress and protect against negative people.
Clear Quartz – Let’s start with the basics. Clear Quartz should be part of every spell that includes crystals. Yes, it’s a protection stone, but it also provides clarity, heals you, cleanses all your chakras, and allows you to connect with higher levels of consciousness.
Hematite – I’ve never used Hematites before, but I have always been curious. They say it’s good for grounding and connecting with your root chakra. So, I’m guessing it amplifies survival energies and enhances feelings of stability and security. I'm adding a couple of Hematites because I’ve been feeling scatterbrained and overwhelmed lately.

Shungite – This is another crystal I’ve never used before. When I intuitively picked crystals at the shop for my protection bowl, this was my first one. They aid in healing, block radiation, and even purify water. But like all black crystals, they clear negative energy.
Snowflake Obsidian – Obsidian is said to protect against frustration, but I don’t know if the same is true for Snowflake Obsidian. This is a crystal I’ve used to temper my mood and temperament—something sorely needed if you’re manifesting big things that take some time to come to fruition. It’s said to help ease anxiety, like Black Tourmaline, as well as release negative emotional baggage and promote harmony.
Smoky Quartz – If Black Onyx and Shungite protect against negative energy, Black Tourmaline protects against negative people, Snowflake Obsidian protects against negative emotions, then Smoky Quartz protects against negative thought patterns. And like Hematite, it’s also a grounding crystal—some even say that it absorbs and transmutes negative energy.
Turquoise – Unlike many of these crystals, Turquoise is considered a protection stone but has nothing to do with absorbing or dispelling negative forces. Instead, it’s associated with success, good fortune, positive energy—and, like Amethyst, healing. Like Smoky Quartz, it’s also good for spiritual grounding. I didn’t see any Turquoise when I went to the shop, so I’ll be using bits of it I have in a small bottle.

How Do Spell Bowls Work?

Honestly, I’m just following my intuition here. That’s how I learned to make spell jars and how I learned to enchant small items. The power really doesn’t come from the bowls, jars, or enchanted items. It comes from your belief that your intuition is leading you the right way—like reading tarot cards. It helps that my practice finds “energy” and “power” in coincidences and harmony.

Why a bowl and not a jar? Since I’m often home, this makes the most sense to me—and I have my braided hair, jewelry, and enchanted items to protect me when I’m out and about.

I believe spells are very personal and that you should only use another person’s spell as a guide for yours—mimicking it exactly will result in the spell not aligning with you. Take all of this with a grain of salt, as I am just learning, growing, and improving upon my practice.

Do you like content like this? Should I lean more heavily into this or continue with my StarCrossed series? Honestly, I want to write about the music I listen to and the shows I watch—but I don’t think that would be as interesting as my more… esoteric… interests. What do you think? Tell me, and let’s talk again soon.

Miao? Wow!

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