Witches Burr, also known as Sweet Gum Balls, is a type of seed pod that is native to North America. It is produced by the sweet gum tree, which is a member of the legume family. Witches Burr is a popular ingredient in spiritual practices, as it is believed to have a variety of protective and healing properties.
Spiritual Uses of Witches Burr
Witches Burr has a variety of spiritual properties. It is a powerful protective charm that can be used to ward off evil spirits, negative energy, and bad luck. It's also used to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
In addition to its protective and healing properties, Witches Burr is a powerful amplifier of energy. It can be used to boost the energy of spells, rituals, and other spiritual practices. It can also be used to enhance psychic abilities, such as clairvoyance and telepathy.
How to Use Witches Burr in Your Spiritual Practice
You can use Burr Pods as a standalone ingredient in your spiritual practice. Simply carry it with you, wear it as jewelry, or place it in your home or sacred space.
You can also combine it with other herbs, crystals, and other magical ingredients in your spells and rituals.
Witches Burr can also be used to make incense, oils, and other magical blends.
Witches Burr Spells & FAQ's
Witches Burr is a powerful ally to any magickal practice. Often used in hoodoo practices for their protection power, it can also add power to your spellwork. Here are some of my own tried and true spells for using sweet gum balls.
Love Spell
- Rose
- Lavender
- Cinnamon
- Honey
- Copper
- Sea Salt
- Green Pen
- Paper
- 1 pint Glass Jar
- Witches Burr
On a piece of paper, write down your desires for love and partnership.
In the jar, add the herbs, honey, and copper. Mix well. Bathe in the mixture for 7 days. Read your note and envision your ideal partner each day.
Prosperity Spell
- Green Pen
- Copper Wire
- Tape
- Sweet Gum Pods
On a small piece of paper write runic symbols for fehu, degaz, fehu.
Add a strip of copper wire and witches burr shavings onto paper.
Seal both sides with tape like you’re laminating the paper.
Add the strip to your bath, keep it in your wallet, purse, or in your pocket on the non-dominant side i.e if you're right-handed, keep it in your left pocket.
Spiritual Healing Spell
- Eucalyptus
- Copper
- Sea Salt
- Agave
- Witches Burr
Add all of the ingredients to a bath or use in candle magic.
To enhance the energy, burn an eucalyptus smudge wand and visualize where you want the energy to go. If you want to use candle magick, see our article on creating a successful spell. Also, if you’re using witches burr in candle magic, clip the spikes with scissors and use them instead of the whole ball.
Sex+Lust Spell
- Copper wire
- Witch Pods
- Paper
- Orange Pen or Marker
- 1 Tbsp Dill Seeds
- 1 tsp. Lavender
- 1 Stick or 1 tsp (powder) Cinnamon
- Glass bowl or Jar
Mix dill, lavender, cinnamon, and 1 witches burr in a jar, set aside.
With your orange ink, write runic symbol Kenaz (<<<) 3 times on a tiny piece of paper. Poke 3 holes in the paper and weave copper through each hole, twisting the ends when finished.
On the second piece of paper write the runic symbol Fehu 1 time. Poke 3 hole and weave a piece of copper wire through, twisting the ends together when finished.
With a clean tub ( cleanse with salt, pine, or lemon) add the symbols, and herbs to bath. Run water and get in the bath. Sit in the energy mix for at least 10 minutes before washing. Be sure to relax and enjoy your bath. Listening to sensual music helps to boost the energy even more.
What are other names for Witches burr?
Witches Burr is also called Sweet Gum Pods, Burr, Witch Pods, and Witch Balls
What can I use Witches Burr For?
You can use witches' burr to boost the power of any spell or use in baths for spiritual cleansing and protection.
How do I use witches burr in my spells?
You can use the whole pod or shavings. I usually like to use the clippings for candle work and the whole pods for bath magick. The pods are quite prickly so I only recommend using 1-3 in the bathtub.
Can I use witch balls for protection work?
Of Course! Using witch balls in protection workings is really common. Most people create a mix of herbs and cover the witches' burr in black candle wax for protection work. But as a Water witch, I prefer to bathe with the balls directly. A bath with witches burr, sea salt and lemon peel is great for spiritual cleansing.
Can you burn witches burr?
Yes. I recommend adding the shavings directly to a candle for candle magick or adding the shavings to a mixture of safe-to-burn cleansing herbs. Those can be added to a cauldron or incense burner with charcoal.
What is a witches' ball used for?
Witches' burr is primarily used for protection work but can add power to any spell workings.
What are witch balls?
Witch balls are porcupine-like balls that come from the sweet gum tree. The balls are originally green and contain the seeds of the American Storax Tree. They fall from the tree green and change from lime green to blonde and finally brown as the pod releases the seeds and gets dried out by the sun.
