Hoodoo and Southern Folk Magic 101: Jack Balls and Witch Burrs

Good Evening Witches of Lunar Tides!

In my Hoodoo and Southern Folk Magic 101 post today I wanted to cover a couple of different subjects. If ya didn’t guess by the title, (jk) this post is going to include info on Jack Balls and Witch Burrs. Witch Burrs are a *little* more well known throughout the communities but I thought I’d cover them anyway because I love to implement them for several purposes(benefica and malefica alike).

Now these two implements are very different-I don’t want anyone to think that either are interchangeable by any means. A jack ball, this is a tool you keep on your person. The witch burr *can* be kept(especially for protective purposes), but typically(at least in my experience) their utilization is worked by contagion and sympathy(if sympathy usually it is discarded with the rest of the hexing leftovers).

Ok so basic differences aside...what exactly are they?

Jack Ball

A Jack Balls are a small round ball containing a items, typically roots, herbs, stones, and a personal concern, all rolled together in wax, which is then wrapped in red string. You want to leave enough string left so that you are able to suspend the Jack Ball. By its very nature, a Jack Ball is a combination of mojo/gris gris bag and a pendulum.

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So How Does One Use a Jack Ball?

Jack Balls are either used as a pendulum in order to divine answers to yes or no questions or is swung around by the practitioner in order to produce a desired magical effect.

Just like they’re counterparts mojo/gris gris bags, Jack Balls must be fed regularly. One would want to feed them with whiskey, perfume, rum, oils, etc-and store them in a red bag until needed.

How do you make a Jack Ball??

Well I’m glad you asked!

First Step:

Collect any ingredients and personal concerns. On a hard and non porous source pour out some melted wax-wait for it to cool enough that it is pliable. Place your herbs and personal concerns in the wax and gently press it into a a ball of wax. It will be about the size of a quarter or a little larger.

Second Step:

Wind the red thread/yarn around the wax.

Third Step:

Leave a tail after continuing to wind the ball-of about a foot.

Fourth Step:

Using a large needle-like a mattress or sail needle if you’re using yarn-thread the string or yarn through the eye, and run it through the center of the ball.

Fifth Step:

Thread a length of yarn on the needle twice the length of the jack ball's tail. Run the needle through the ball at the base of the tail.

Sixth Step:

After doing step five you should be left with 3 “tails” of yarn/string. These are to be braided and the end should be tied into a knot to finish.

After it’s creation it should be baptized in your(or your client’s) name, awakened, and then kept on the person in the bag for 7 days. After that with regular feedings it will begin to serve its purpose. Keep in mind like mojo and gris gris bags this tool, traditionally, should not be touched by another’s hands.

The jack ball is either then used as a pendulum or to being about the desired effect-again by swinging it around after removing it from the bag and waking it again.

Witch Burrs:

Photo is my own

On kind of the opposite end of the spectrum is a witch burr. Though typically these are used for protection/wards, they can be used in hex work as well. The witch burr is naturally full of holes once the seeds fall out. These holes are loaded with powders, herbs, and anything you need, then covered over in the appropriate color wax. They can be kept on your person/property if using it for protection. If using it for hex work, or even other beneficial spell work, it’s usually thrown on the persons property or buried where they will step.

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They can also be added to jar works or other hexing and beneficial works as well. If you are unsure what a witch burr is, it is a seed pod from the sweet gum tree. They are everywhere here down south!

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Well all that’s my lil 101 tidbit for today! As always be blessed and make it a wicked one :purple_heart:

Sources:

The demoniacal

Carolina conjure

Local Practices

*Background photo is the cover of Southern Cunning by Aaron Oberon*