Create your own witch bottle and explore a world of folk magic, aromatic botanicals, symbolic ephemera and everyday ritual.

In this creative workshop at Chelsea Physic Garden, you’ll discover the curious history of witch bottles, made in pre-modern England by people who believed they offered protection against negative magic and malign influences.

Along the way, you’ll explore how these bottles were constructed, uncover some of their rather grim contents and learn how they have been reimagined in modern spirituality as objects of positive intention and magical inspiration.

You’ll then create your own witch bottle, drawing on botanical materials, essential oils, symbolic items and your own intentions to make something personal to take home.

We encourage you to also bring something of meaning to add to your witch bottle. A small item, such as a shell, trinket, a piece of fabric, a sample of soil from your garden etc, whatever you feel may have significance in your bottle.

 What to Expect

Begin with an introduction to the history and folklore of witch bottles before getting hands-on with your own creation.

You’ll be guided through the materials, plants and ephemera that can be used, exploring their historical associations and symbolic correspondences. There will be plenty of inspiration for shaping your bottle around an intention of your choosing, alongside suggestions for making further bottles at home.

What You’ll Learn

• The history of witch bottles and their use in protective folk magic
• How traditional bottles were constructed and what they contained
• How witch bottles are used in modern spirituality and everyday ritual
• The symbolism and correspondences associated with different plants, ephemera and materials
• How to create a witch bottle inspired by your own intentions

 What’s Included

• Guidance throughout the activity
• Access to the Garden after dark!
• An introduction to historical and contemporary witch bottles
• Your finished witch bottle to take home
• Ideas for creating further bottles at home

Tutor bio:

Tanya Moulding (TIDHA, MIFPA, CNHC) 

Tanya is a practising clinical aromatherapist, aromachologist, botanical perfumer and teacher. Outside of her part-time NHS role in Oncology & Palliative care, Tanya creates olfaction and blending workshops, delivers conceptual fragrance ideas and sensory learning activities for special events, museums and public spaces and has taught historical perfumery at many English Heritage sites and local museums.

Website: www.theperfumemistress.com

About Chelsea Physic Garden

Established in 1673, Chelsea Physic Garden is London’s oldest botanic garden. For over 350 years, it has been a place for discovering the remarkable ways plants can be used for medicine, food and wellbeing. Today, the Garden brings people and plants together through horticulture, learning and creative experiences for all ages.

When you attend this event, you’re supporting Chelsea Physic Garden’s charitable mission to protect and celebrate plant knowledge for future generations.