Gris-Gris Bag

Since I am in New Orleans I felt this weeks spell should be fitting to the circumstances. This week I will teach you how to make a Gris-Gris bag (pronounced Gree-Gree).

A Gris-Gris bag is a small amulet that can be carried in the pocket of the holder, worn around the neck or hung in a building to ward off bad luck and evil spirits. They are filled with a range of objects specifically chosen by each practitioner that may include herbs, roots, stones, carved stones, good luck tokens, coins, bones, seals on paper and sometimes grave dirt, and set for a specific intention. The number of pieces in the bag should be no less than 3, no more than 13 and be of an odd number.

What You’ll Need:

1. Representation of the four elements:

• Earth (graveyard dirt)

• Fire (a candle)

• Wind (incense)

• Water (bowl or glass of water will do) & Altar space.

2. A 2x3 inch cloth & string or drawstring bag made of red flannel, chamois or leather

• Color is important, if you are doing other than a protection or passion Gris-Gris then choose the correct corresponding color like green for finance. You may also choose a neutral color like tan/brown/black

3. Collection of 3-13 ingredients that are personal to you. One of them to be a magickal symbol either drawn on paper or the inside of the bag

• Examples: Silver charms like horseshoes, iron nails, crosses, quartz, camphor, powdered jellyfish, crushed eggshell, dried toadstool top etc.

• Have these & the drawn symbol prepared ahead of time

4. Anointing oil or Holy water (set outside the altar space but within reach)

5. A prayer traditionally used is Psalm 44. You may create your own prayer. Careful of the words you use while creating your bag, as words have meaning and power. Good to decide ahead of time instead of in the moment.

• Write it down if you need to as you will need to repeat it

6. Whiskey & a bowl or glass for it

Time of Day: Can be done at any time of day that you have a quiet moment to yourself. Suggested to setup your altar 24 hours in advance with offerings for your petitions. Not necessary if you have pets or little ones that could disturb it when not around.

Instructions:

Setting up the altar using the cosmogram layout. In basic terms it is a circle with a cross inside. You can either draw it out, or imagine it. Setup begins at the South Point & moves counterclockwise ending with placing the cloth/bag in the center.

1. Starting at the bottom place your small bowl of Earth (Graveyard Dirt)

2. Then move to the East point of Fire. If setting up the altar 24 hrs in advance only light the candle if it will be monitored. May use an electric candle if desired

3. Move to the Northern point of Air. If setting up the altar 24 hrs in advance may need to relight the incense, try to keep it rotating without going out completely if possible.

4. Next move to the West point of Water and place your bowl/glass of water.

5. Lastly set your cloth or drawstring bag in the center

6. If letting the altar sit for 24 hrs add offerings like food, drink, coin within the circle. Leave them there during creation of the talisman & don’t remove for 24 hrs after completion.

Adding items to the bag

While adding items to the Gris-Gris say your prayer as a continuous chant

Each item should be blessed before being placed on the cloth/into the bag by anointing with either oil or holy water and waved through the incense.

Once completed tie the bag and anoint it with oil or holy water

Then you will breath on the bag, essentially breathing life into it

Move the glass/bowl of whiskey to the center point of the altar & soak the bag

Then place the soaked bag in the center of the altar to dry over the next 24 hours

Once complete let the altar stand for at least another 24hrs before disassembling

Using the bag

Once dry the bag is now ready to be used. Hang it in a doorway to protect the home

Carry in your pocket, right for a man and left for a woman, or add to a chord to wear around the neck.

Soak in Whiskey every Friday to recharge and let dry overnight while you sleep

~Happy Conjuring~