Powder spells are a powerful form of magick that has been used in many different forms across a variety of cultures. Whilst the powder spells of Hoodoo are the ones most widely recognised by novice Witches, especially those in the United States, Hoodoo practitioners are far from the only people to conclude that mystical powders can convey powerful magickal spells and properties upon the bearer, user, or target. Their highly portable nature, their lack of requirement for obviously “Witchy” paraphernalia that may belie the Witch’s status, and their simple and cheap construction from things easily obtained from homes and gardens, make them an excellent way to start getting a feeling for magick workings without worrying about protective circles and wards to keep you safe and centred.

These are seven simple powder spells useful for various events and actions, both the everyday kind and the infrequent and precious. I felt seven, starting and ending on constructive spells, would be a good magickal number. I hope you find some usage!

Most powder spells (and all of the ones listed below) are simply “grind up into a powder and shake or stir them to combine, often whilst invoking some kind of chant or powerful thought or emotion”. Whether shaking or stirring should be used will be indicated in the title - stirring should be used for constructive spells (things that make something or add to something, not necessarily good), and shaking for destructive (things that break something or that take something away, not necessarily bad).

Bringing Joy And Blessings (stir)
Best sprinkled over a person’s pillow or head, this spell brings joy and peace to all who use it.

• Cinnamon
• Sugar
• Nutmeg
• Dried wildflowers and grasses; any will work
• Peppermint
• Chocolate

Easing The Loss Of A Precious Thing Or Person (shake)
Best worn in a phial around their neck, wrist, or stored in their bag or pocket. Don’t take it off until you feel truly at peace with what you’ve lost.

• Soil from beneath the Earth (i.e not top soil)
• Salt
• Sugar
• Frankincense or some other fragrant incense
• A slip of paper containing the name of the thing or person you lost
• A small amount of nightshade (remember, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant/aubergine and tobacco are all nightshades! It doesn’t have to be a toxic nightshade)

Blessing A New Space Like A Home Or An Office (stir)
Best sprinkled across all the entry points to the space,, or if this is not practical, sprinkle it through the air so that it drifts wherever it pleases before landing. 

• Seeds, especially edible ones
• Dried rosemary
• Dried sage
• Top soil taken from your old home if you’re moving into a new one, or from your current home if you’re moving into a new office or similar.
• Iron filings or slivers (you can get these by cutting them off of steel wool)
• Turmeric

Bringing Misfortune On Those Who Harmed You (shake)
Best used as part of the filling for a poppet of the person or people who wronged you, or sprinkled over a taglock of them (like a photo or a hair) as you burn it.

• Black salt (see my post here for information on making and using)
• A taglock of the target
• Cayenne or other chillies
• White peppercorns, or 
• Sand or soil collected at night, preferably on a new moon
• Any form of nightshade (if you plan to burn the powder, do NOT use a toxic nightshade!)

Encouraging Plants To Grow (stir)
Best mixed into the soil of a pot or bed that you wish to enhance, or added to a small amount of moonwater and poured over the plants you want to encourage.

• Sugar
• Soil from a healthy bed
• Eggshell powder (bake cleaned eggshells at 200°C in an oven for 10 minutes, then grind into a powder)
• Ground fennel seed
• Rosemary
• Ash or charcoal

Dispelling Nightmares And Traumatic Memories (shake)
Best worn around the neck in a phial as a necklace, or placed into a bottle or pouch and slipped into the pillow that you rest your head on as you sleep.

• Lavender
• Salt 
• Mugwort (if you can get it)
• Ash or charcoal
• Dust from a roadside
• Chamomile

Bringing Health And Strength of Body (stir)
Best sprinkled over the head or worn as a phial necklace, this spell strengthens and brings health to those who utilise it.

• Ground fennel seed
• Cinnamon 
• Sugar
• Fertile soil (not topsoil)
• Salt
• Grated candle wax (use a fine grater and a dribble of wax to make a sort of powder)

– Juniper Wildwalk