Crafting Protection Charm Bags: Ancient Magic for Modern Reiki Energy Work
- raidoreikiwellness
- Oct 27
- 4 min read
At Raido Reiki, we recently gathered at Studio 280 for an evening of grounding, creativity, and protection magic. Our Protection Charm Bag Workshop invited participants to craft small, intention-filled pouches, each one a unique blend of herbs, crystals, and energy designed to bring balance and protection through the darker months of the year.
This timeless practice connects us to the deep human instinct to protect, bless, and empower through sacred symbolism. Whether called a mojo bag, gris-gris, or protection sachet, these small bundles have been part of spiritual traditions around the world for centuries.
A Little History of Charm Bags and Protection Magic
The idea of carrying protective amulets or pouches is ancient and universal:
In West African and African diasporic traditions, gris-gris bags are sacred bundles filled with herbs, roots, prayers, and personal items. These were carried for luck, health, and protection, and are still made by spiritual practitioners today.
In European folk magic, people carried small sachets of herbs or salt, hung rowan berries above their doors, or kept iron keys near the hearth to guard the home.
In Celtic and Pagan traditions, herbs like rosemary, rue, and sage were burned or carried to cleanse and shield the spirit.
Even today, we wear protective jewelry, carry meaningful stones, or keep charms on our bags or cars - the language of protection simply evolves with time.
At their heart, charm bags are a form of sympathetic magic, which is the belief that symbolic actions and materials can create real energetic shifts. Each ingredient carries a vibration that aligns with your intention.
Herbs for Protection & Balance
Here are some of the herbs we used in our workshop, each chosen for its energetic properties and folklore:
Rosemary – A classic all-purpose protector that wards off negativity and restores clarity.
Sage – Cleansing and purifying; used for centuries to banish stagnant energy.
Bay Leaf – Strength, courage, and wish-making. Write an intention on the leaf to amplify it.
Lavender – Brings calm and gentle protection; excellent for peace of mind.
Rue – Known as the Witch’s Herb, used in Mediterranean folk magic to repel the evil eye (handle dried rue carefully).
Yarrow – Builds strong energetic boundaries and deflects harm.
Angelica Root – Sacred “holy herb” that calls in divine protection and courage.
Cedar – Grounding, ancestral protection, and purification.
Mint or Chamomile – Gentle everyday protection that refreshes and comforts.
Crystals for Protection and Strength
Crystals amplify the charm’s energy and provide their own form of vibration and resonance. Common choices include:
Black Tourmaline – Grounding and shielding from negativity.
Obsidian – Reflects and absorbs unwanted energy; brings clarity.
Amethyst – Spiritual protection, calm, and higher awareness.
Smoky Quartz – Dissolves tension and anchors you to the earth.
Carnelian – Courage and vitality; helps you move forward confidently.
Clear Quartz – Amplifies all other energies and intentions.
Choose crystals that feel right to your touch - your intuition knows what you need most.
How to Make and Charge Your Own Protection Charm Bag
If you’d like to create your own at home, here’s a simple, sacred process:
1. Choose Your Intention
Decide what kind of protection or grounding you need - emotional, energetic, or spiritual. Write a word or short affirmation on a slip of paper.
2. Select Your Materials
Pick 2–3 herbs and 1–2 crystals that align with your goal. Trust your senses: the herb that smells right, the crystal that feels warm in your hand, are often what your energy is calling for.
3. Assemble the Bag
Place your herbs, crystal, and intention slip into a small muslin or fabric pouch. As you do, focus on your breath and visualize your energy flowing into the bag.
4. Charge Your Charm Bag
To activate your charm bag, hold it in both hands and imagine a light surrounding it. You can say aloud:
“I am protected, grounded, and safe. My energy is clear, my boundaries strong. This charm holds my light and shields my spirit.”
If you practice Reiki, you can channel Reiki energy directly into the bag for extra strength and harmony.
5. Carry or Place It
Keep your charm bag near you — in a pocket, under your pillow, or by your front door. You can also hang it in your car or workspace. Over time, it will absorb and reflect energy on your behalf.
6. Refresh as Needed
Over the months, your charm will do its work. You can “feed” it by anointing with a drop of oil, Reiki energy, or moonlight. When it feels complete, thank it and bury the contents in the earth as a respectful return to nature.
Magic Rooted in Connection
Whether through herbs, crystals, or energy work, protection magic is about more than defense - it’s about harmony, grounding, and empowerment. When we craft together, we reclaim ancient knowledge and remind ourselves that energy follows intention.
Creating a protection charm bag is both art and prayer. It's a small act of sovereignty that says, I am safe, I am grounded, I am guided.
Sources & Inspiration
Frazer, J. G. The Golden Bough (1890) — origins of sympathetic magic.
Uhl, Cassie. Magic Charm Bags for Protection, Love, Luck & Health. (cassieuhl.com)
Witch Casket. The Magick of Charm Bags. (witchcasket.co.uk)
Substack: On Becoming a Crone: Charm Bags (witchingandwriting.substack.com)
Wikipedia. Mojo (African-American culture); Cimaruta; Witch bottle.
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