| Herbal amulets, gris gris bags and sachets are small fabric bags filled with herbs and other fillings intended to achieve a particular magical goal. They are popular for protection and attracting positive influences into your life such as love, psychic ability, prosperity and the like. |
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Amulet bags are constucted with ritual incorporating appropriate correspondences for the magical intent they are being created to achieve.These correspondences include the time and day they are made, the color of the cloth used, and the herbs and other items often including crystals which are enclosed in the amulet. You will need to chose the contents based upon what you want to achieve with the amulet. See the section on Crystal Correspondences for choosing crystals, and see below for the herbs.
Choose the color of the fabric based upon the Color Correspondences section and purchase a 1/4 yard piece of cloth in the appropriate color. If you have a quilting store nearby purchase a "fat quarter" as the fabric will be in a wider strip allowing more choice in the size and shape of the sachets. It's alright to use a print with shades of the correct color or other colors with complimentary meanings. You will need to cut a piece of the fabric to size. If you want to make a drawstring bag for your sachet cut a piece about 2-3 inches wide by 7-10 inches long. This allows for the fabric to be folded in half, meeting the printed or right sides together, with the unprinted or wrong side on the outside. You will also need a piece of cord for the drawstring about 10 inches long. If you want to make a simple sachet, cut a 3 inch square of fabric. Directions for making simple sachets and amulet bags follow. The sewing involved is minimal, you don't need a sewing machine, just a needle and thread.
Directions for Making an Amulet Bag with a Drawstring
| Step one: Fold down about 3/4 inch at the top and bottom, cut ends to create the pocket for the drawstring. Stitch straight across at both ends. | 
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| Step two: Fold fabric in half with wrong sides on the outside and right sides together. | 
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| Step three: Stitch along sides of bag, stopping at the stitching line for the drawstring pocket and allowing about a 1/2 inch seam allowance. | 
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| Step four: Turn the bag right side out. Using a 10 inch piece of matching rat tail cord, thread the cord through one side of the pocket, turn and come back through the other side. Knot the ends of the cord. | 
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Directions for Making a Simple Sachet
| Cut two 3 inch squares, or other shape, out of fabric the correct color for your intent. Place the two pieces of fabric right sides together and aligning the edges. Stitch an outline of the shape allowing a 1/4 inch seam allowance. See diagram. Leave an opening of about 3/4 inch so you can turn and fill the sachet. See diagram. When you finish stitching, turn the sachet right side out. |  |
| You may need to use a tool such as a pencil to get the corners sharp. Insert the tool through the opening and poke gently into the corners to turn them completely right side out. Fill the sachet with the chosen filling. Do not overfill, you don't want it tightly stuffed, loosely is best. Align the two unsewn edges where the opening is, folding the seam allowance inside the sachet. Stitch the opening closed. See diagram |  |
Choosing the Herbs
You may use the Herbal Correspondences section or the Planetary Correspondences section to determine the correct correspondences for your magical intent and to find the herbs that are appropriate to your magical intent. Look up the Planetary Correspondence for the intent and then find herbs that correspond to that planet in the tables of Herbal Correspondences. You may also use the following table which gives a list of herbs that are traditionally carried for a particular purpose. There are also recipes for herbal sachet blends following the table. Any herbs used should be consecrated to the magical intent using ritual done on the day and hour appropriate to the purpose. This adds immeasurably to the power of the amulet or sachet which should not be overlooked.
Herbs Carried for Various Magical Intents
| Magical Intent | Herbs |
|---|---|
| Chastity | Camphor, Hawthorn, Lavender with Rosemary, Rue, Witch Hazel |
| Courage | Basil, Black Cohosh, Borage, Columbine, Iris, Mullein, Nettle with Yarrow, Poke, Sweet Pea, Tea, Thyme, Tonka, Wahoo, Yarrow |
| Creativity | Acorns, Beech, Lily, Mistletoe |
| Employment | Devil's Shoestring, Lucky Hand |
| Fertility | Acorns, Banana, Barley, Bistort, Brackenfern, Cuckoo Flower, Dates, Hawthorn, Hazelnuts, Horsetail, Mistletoe, Mugwort, Patchouli, Pomegranate, Poppy Seeds, Wheat |
| Fidelity | Caraway, Cumin, Elder, Spikenard |
| Friendship | Love Seed, Passion Fruit, Sweet Pea, Yarrow |
| Happiness | Celandine, Chamomile, Hawthorn, High John the Conqueror, Jasmine, Marjoram, Motherwort, Savory, St. John's Wort, Thistle, Vervain |
| Healing | Angelica, Balm, Brackenfern, Calamus, Camphor, Carnation, Cinnamon, Coriander, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Gardenia, Heliotrope, Hops, Lavender, Mimosa, Mint, Mugwort, Myrrh, Peppermint, Pine, Rosemary, Rowan, Rue, Sage, Sassafras, Spearmint, Thyme, Vervain, Willow, Wintergreen, Wood Sorrel |
| Health and Longevity | Acorn, Carnation, Cinquefoil, Cowslip, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Feverfew, Figwort, Garlic, Ginseng, Horse Chestnut, Lavender, Life Everlasting, Linden, Mint, Mistletoe, Mugwort, Myrtle, Nutmeg, Peach, Peony, Pine Cones, Rosemary, Rowan, Rue, Sage, St. John's Wort, Spikenard, Sumbul, Tansy, Thyme, Tonka, Vervain, Walnut, Wood Sorrel |
| Legal Matters | Buckthorn, Cascara, Celandine, Cinquefoil, Marigold, Skunk Cabbage |
| Love | Adam and Eve Roots, Apple Blossoms, Apricot, Ash, Aster, Balm, Balm of Gilead, Basil, Bedstraw, Belladonna, Betony, Black Snakeroot, Bloodroot, Brazil Nut, Capers, Cardamon, Catnip, Cedar, Chickweed, Cloves, Black Cohosh, Coltsfoot, Coriander, Cubeb, Daisy, Dogbane, Dutchman's Breeches, Elecampane, Elm, Eryngo, Gentian, Ginseng, Grains of Paradise, Henbane, Hibiscus, Hyacinth, Indian Paint Brush, Jasmine, Juniper, Lady's Mantle, Lavender, Lemon, Lemon Verbena, Licorice, Mallow, Meadow Rue, Meadowsweet, Mimosa, Mullein, Myrtle, Orange, Orchids, Orris, Pansy, Patchouli, Pimento, Purslane, Quassia, Rose, Rosemary, Saffron, St. John's Wort, Southernwood, Spiderwort, Sumbul, Tamarind, Tonka, Tormentil, Valerian, Vervain, Vetivert, Violet, Willow, Wormwood, Yarrow, Yerba Mate |
| Luck | Daffodil, Devil's Bit, Devil's Shoestring, Frankincense, Galangal, Grains of Paradise, High John the Conqueror, Holly, Huckleberry, Irish Moss, Ivy, Job's Tears, Lotus, Lucky Hand, Male Fern, Meadow Rue, Nutmeg, Oak, Olive, Poppy Seeds, Purslane, Rose, Rowan, Snakeroot, Spikenard, Star Anise, Straw, Strawberry, Sumbul, Tonka, Trillium, Vetivert, Violet with Lavender |
| Lust | Acorn, Capers, Cattail, Damiana, Galangal, Ginseng, Grains of Paradise, Juniper Berries, Mugwort, Nettle, Patchouli, Rosemary, Saffron, Witch Grass, Yohimbe |
| Power | Cedar, Cinquefoil, Oak, Rowan |
| Prophetic Dreams (Use in Sleep Pillow, see directions below.) | Celandine, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Coltsfoot, Heliotrope, Hops, Jasmine, Lavender, Linden, Marigold, Mimosa, Mugwort, Nutmeg, Peppermint, St. John's Wort, Vervain, Wormwood |
| Prosperity | Alfalfa, Alkanet, Allspice, Almond, Banana, Basil, Bergamot, Bistort, Black Snakeroot, Blue Flag, Cascara, Cashew, Cedar, Cinquefoil, Galangal, Ginger, Ginseng, Grains of Paradise, Heliotrope, Honesty, Irish Moss, Oats, Orange, Oregon Grape, Patchouli, Pecans, Pineapple, Pipsissewa, Pomegranate, Poplar, Poppy Seeds, Sage, Sassafras, Snakeroot, Sweet Woodruff, Tea, Tonka, Trillium, Tulip, Vetivert, Wheat |
| Protection | Agrimony, Ague Root, Althea, Angelica, Bay, Beans, Betony, Bittersweet, Boneset, Brackenfern, Burdock, Caraway, Carnation, Castor, Cinchona, Cinnamon, Comfrey, Devil's Bit, Dogwood, Dragon's Blood, Ebony, Elder, Elecampane, Eryngo, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Frankincense, Galangal, Garlic, High John the Conqueror, Horehound, Lady's Slipper, Larch, Leeks, Marjoram, Mint, Mistletoe, Motherwort, Mullein, Nettle, Nightshade, Oak, Peony, Pepper Tree, Rice, Rose, Rose Geranium, Rowan, Rue, Sloe, Holy Thistle, Toadflax, Tulip, Valerian, Vervain, Wax Plant, Willow, Wolf's Bane, Wormwood, Yerba Santa |
| Psychic Powers | Althea, Bladderwrack, Broom, Clary Sage, Cinnamon, Dandelion, Deerstongue, Eyebright, Galangal, Grass, Lavender, Linden, Mugwort, Juniper, Rowan, Thyme, Uva Ursi, Vervain, Wormwood, Yerba Santa |
| Safe Travel | Comfrey, Daffodil, Eryngo, Feverfew, Garlic, Heather, Irish Moss, Juniper, Mountain Mahogany, Mint, Mistletoe, Mugwort, Mullein, Oak, Pennyroyal, Quince Seeds, Rowan, Rue, Sweet Woodruff, Ti, Wormwood |
| Spirituality | Cinnamon, Frankincense, Iris, Yerba Santa, Wood Aloes |
| Strength | Bay, Betony, Carnation, Comfrey, Nettle, Pennyroyal, St. John's Wort, Sweet Woodruff, Tea, Thistle |
| Success | Balm, Cinquefoil, Fennel, Frankincense, Ginger, High John the Conqueror, Horse Chestnut, Lucky Hand, Oregon Grape, Pennyroyal, Rowan, Wahoo, Winter's Bark |
| Wisdom and Mental Powers | Bodhi, Cinquefoil, Dill, Eyebright, Hazelnuts, Horehound, Iris, Mace, Mustard Seed, Rue, Sage, Savory, Spearmint, Vanilla |
Directions for Herbal Sleep Pillow
| Purchase 1/2 yard of fabric in light yellow. Cut a piece 12 inches by 18 inches. Fold the fabric in half with the right sides together so that it is 12 inches by 9 inches. Stitch around the edge with a 1/2 inch seam allowance, leaving a 2-3 inch opening at one end. See diagram. |  |
Turn pillow right side out and stuff with herb mixture. Do not overfill, it should be soft, not tight. Fold seam allowance into opening and stitch closed. See diagram. |  |
Recipes for Herbal Sachet Blends
Anti Theft Sachet
White cloth, Caraway, Rosemary, Juniper, Garlic, Elder. May be used in the home hung up over the door or in the car or other vehicle. But don't stop locking your doors.
Car Protection Sachet
White cloth, Comfrey, Caraway, Juniper, Mugwort, Rosemary. Hide somewhere in the vehicle.
Car Protection Sachet
Basil, Fennel, Juniper, Mugwort, Vervain, Rosemary, Salt. Hide somewhere in the vehicle.
Healing Sachet
Blue or purple cloth, Cinnamon, Sandalwood, Rose, Rue, Chili Pepper, Rosemary, Ginger. Wear or put in the sickroom.
Home Protection Sachet
Red cloth, Rosemary, Basil, Fennel, Bay. Place in attic or on highest floor.
Love Sachet
Red or pink cloth, Rose Buds, Orris Root, Lavender, piece of Rose Quartz. Carry or wear.
Protection Sachet
White or red cloth, Angelica, Bay, Frankincense. Carry or wear.
Prosperity Sachet
Green cloth, Cinquefoil, Vanilla, Balm, Cloves. Carry or wear.
Gris Gris Bag Ingredients
Certain ingredients are used in gris gris bags that are not necessarily traditional to other types of amulet bags and sachets. The following table will describe some of these and following the table will be some recipes for gris gris bags for various purposes. You will note that the gris gris bag recipes all call for a red flannel or chamois bag. They include color correspondences by including pieces of fabric or feathers in the appropriate color inside the bag rather than by changing the color of the bag itself.
| Ingredient | Use |
| Lodestones | To attract positive forces and repel negative ones. Often used in pairs for this purpose. |
| Four Leaf Clovers | To attract luck. |
| Rabbits Foot | For good luck. |
| Cross | To symbolise faith. |
| Coins | To attract money and prosperity. |
| Dice | To attract luck in gambling or games of chance. |
| Personal Items | Nail clippings, hair or photographs are used to link the energy of the amulet to a particular person. |
| Pieces of colored cloth or feathers | To add additional color correspondences to the amulet. |
| Talismans written on parchment | To add planetary influences or strengthen the intent of the amulet. |
| Saints medals or cards | The appropriate patron saint is added to strengthen the intent of the amulet and invoke the aid of the saint. |
| Magical Powders and Oils | To add strength to the intent of the amulet. |
Recipes for Gris Gris Bags
Home ProtectionRed flannel or chamois bag, Tbsp. of Five Finger Grass, Tbsp. Bay Leaf, Large Clove of Garlic, sm. piece of Mandrake Root, iron nail, protection oil to anoint bag.
Stopping Gossip
Red flannel or chamois bag, a piece of cloth with a face drawn on it, some hair from the person who will wear the bag, a piece of High John the Conqueror root, a Tbsp. of Slippery Elm, 1/2 Tbsp. Gag Root (I'm not sure what this is, try your local botanica), a needle and black thread, Gris Gris Faible Incense to burn while preparing bag. During the ritual preparing the bag you will use the needle and thread to sew shut the mouth on the face drawn on the cloth to represent people keeping their mouths shut.
To Obtain Money
Red flannel or chamois bag, a coin or two, a small pair of lodestones, a Buckeye, Tbsp. Five Finger Grass, Tsp. Money Drawing powder, Tsp. Silver Weed (I'm not sure what this is, try your local botanica), Shower of Gold Incense to burn while preparing bag, Money Drawing Oil to anoint the bag.