Once upon a time, in the magical land of Dreamscape, there lived a little pig named Hug. Unlike other pigs, Hug had an extraordinary gift - he could make people feel instantly happy and loved just by hugging them. Hug's magic hugs were known to heal broken hearts and bring joy to even the saddest souls. One day, Hug heard a rumor about a magical cover that had the power to grant any wish. Intrigued, Hug set off on a quest to find this legendary cover and use it to spread even more love and happiness in the world. With his heart full of determination, Hug traversed forests and mountains, overcoming various obstacles along the way.

Collection: Witch Balls

Looking for a décor piece that will add some eye-catching colour to your home? Witch Balls offer something truly unique and dazzling, no matter what area of the home or garden you display them in.

Witch Balls have been used since the 17th century, traditionally hung in homes to eliminate bad energy and evil spirits by trapping them inside the colour strands. Today, they are a popular decorative ornament that are hung or placed nearby the windows to reflect the light and create beautiful optical effects.

Using specialized glassblowing techniques, our glass Witch Balls feature intricate webs and ribbons of colour that weave throughout the entire orb. The glittering strands and bubbles provide an amazing pop of colour that create an artistic effect, and the bright opaque and transparent glass creates a beautiful reflective finish once it’s complete.

Our 100% handmade Witch Balls are offered in a variety of colours and sizes. Choose from a selection of mini 2.5”, small 4.5” or large 5.5” Witch Balls for your home or garden. These are all custom made to order right in our shop, which makes every Witch Ball completely different from the next. What they all have in common, however, is their perfectly spherical shape, achieved by our highly-skilled artists. The colours will slightly differ from the photos you see below as each Witch Ball design offers a truly distinct, personalized design.

There’s really no right or wrong way to display your Witch Balls. You can hang them near a window to add some aesthetic appeal and character to your space, out back to accent your patio décor or in the garden to add more colour, texture and depth. These colourful pieces of glass can also be strategically hung to attract birds to your yard and can even act as pollinators, as bees are drawn to their beauty. If you don’t have space or don’t want to hang your Witch Balls, we offer strands to those who would prefer to display them otherwise. The options are endless!

Beyond your personal enjoyment and satisfaction, Witch Balls also make the perfect gift to give to a special someone on their birthday or for another important milestone. Or maybe you have a loved one in the hospital who could use a unique gift to brighten their day. With a wide range of colour options to choose from, we make it easy to find the right piece of glass art that’s suited to your loved one’s décor, preference and style.

Discover our sparkling Witch Balls for yourself today! Below is our wide collection of coloured, one-of-a-kind glass pieces for your home or garden.

Please note, each Witch Ball is made to order and will slightly differ from the picture provided below.

I Finally Have a Place for My Witch Ball Collection!

A few years ago, I wrote about glass witch balls. They’re basically just hollow glass spheres, a bit like glass Christmas ornaments. Today they’re quite decorative and also go by several names such as glass kugels, friendship balls, spirit balls, ju ju balls, fairy orbs, spirit tree balls, and medusa spheres. With all these names, there is some differentiation beginning to happen. For example, ju ju balls will tend to be squat little footballs rather than spheres. A medusa sphere will usually have several smaller strands going up and down inside the globe, which gives the effect of a jellyfish. The strands in a spirit tree ball, unsurprisingly, look an awful lot like a tree captured in the glass. And some don’t have strands inside at all. In general, I’ve found that those with “witchier” names will have strands, and more plain names won’t.

Magically speaking, the witch ball is kind of related to witch bottles and other forms of protective container protective magic. Unlike the witch bottle, though, this was something that mundane people tended to use against witches and other forms of ill luck. These glass spheres as charms probably got their start in England’s 17th and 18th centuries as plain fishing floats. They bob on the surface of the water to note where fishing nets or crab traps are, much in the same way as a ‘dunked’ witch would float. In a rather gory bit of logic, someone probably got it into their head that hanging one of these glass balls up in their home would ward off evil in the same way a hanged witch would have on the demonic forces surrounding a village. So people began hanging these floats in their homes.

By the time the 19th century rolled about and the trend began catching on in America, the idea of hanging fishing floats merged with other folk protective magic from other cultures. They started to be made with glass threads in them, not unlike dream catchers and other such items, and malice was supposed to be caught in and dissipated through the webbing. They started to be more colored, a bit like the Hoodoo bottle trees with their African origins on the grounds that evil spirits are attracted to pretty things. Indeed, most of the earlier American witch balls are blue and green in color, much like the bottles popular on these trees. (Though, as I mentioned previously, that could just be a side product of history as lots of older American glass tended to become blue, green, or violet in color when exposed to sunlight.)

I think this collection of solid colored witch balls is so pretty, and they look so lovely against all the ferns.

I, of course, love these silly things. As I said in the earlier post, I was first introduced to them through V., my former housemate and covenmate back in Olympia who had one hanging up in the middle of each window in her living room and lined up the windowsills with glass paperweights an apprentice glass artist friend of hers continually gifted her with. The effect was very charming, and when I happened to see a small witch ball in a downtown Olympia shop, I bought it on a whim and hung it up in one of my own bedroom windows to continue the trend. Not long after, I found another one in a Goodwill shop for just a couple dollars, so I of course had to buy that one, too.

And then I just kept adding to the collection.

After I moved out of V.’s house, I really didn’t have any place to display them, so I just stored them in a box in the garage “for whenever I get a place of my own”. And that sort of meant I didn’t really have a fixed grasp on just how many I’d begun to acquire. And over the past five years…well, it got to be a lot. I had a knack for spying them in thrift stores, which didn’t help, and they’re also alarmingly popular in Western Pennsylvania where my mother lives. Nearly every little town we explored had a boutique that sold them, and I’d sometimes get one if I thought it pretty or unusual.

Twenty-two. I ended up with twenty-two of these things. And I have nowhere near twenty-two windows in my new place. I scoured Pinterest to see if anyone else had a collection and what they did with them…and honestly, I wasn’t able to come up with much. In the end, I decided to just hang them all together in my front window.

This is not the greatest picture. Lighting is a bit tricky and unfortunately, my iPhone camera is having issues focusing…so this was the best of a bad bunch.

I kind of like the final effect. It’s certainly the most interesting feature of my living room, and I like seeing how different they look throughout the day as the light changes. The process of stringing them up was a lot easier than I thought it would be, too. The largest of the balls only weighs 1.5 pounds, so I probably could have just used some drywall anchors and cup screws to attach them. However, I didn’t want to have almost two dozen screws in the ceiling (renting!), so I went with a curtain rod. I did end up needing to mount it from the ceiling as the two largest balls are over 8 inches in diameter, and the standard clearance from a wall-mounted curtain rod meant they would have rested against the window. I was slightly worried about all the weight, so I did actually weigh each ball and add up the figure, but there’s still less than 25 pounds hanging from the rod, and the three brackets I used means it will support 33 pounds. I also used plain 15-pound fishing line to string them up as I thought a “floating” effect might be nice. I just doubled a length of line, stuck the loop through the glass hole, tied a larks-head knot, and fasted the other end to the rod with a few square knots. They’ve been up for at least a month now, and I’ve had no issues whatsoever.

And now you get to see my living room, a masterpiece of Craigslist decor.

And, of course, you can bet that they’re serving a witchy purpose. My coven and I specifically charged two of the balls to keep my home safe. To be honest, my home isn’t in the nicest area of town, and the previous tenant was a drug dealer: I’ve had several people stop by over the past few months to buy their stuff, which is awkward and a little scary. (Trying very hard to live very frugally so I can start saving to buy a house.) I was surprised by how much safer I felt when I finally strung the charged balls up. They also give me a strong, physical focus to concentrate on when I renew my wards, and I’ve found that makes it a bit easier, too.

If anyone is all that interested in where you can find these things, these are the artists and companies that contributed to my collection: Kitras Art Glass, Gray Art Glass, Three Crow Glass (Les Trois Corbeaux), Virgil’s Art Glass, Pairpoint Glass, and Iron Elegance.

I’ve always been fascinated by witch balls, pagan crafts and their origins—especially the art of making wards, which are magical items intended to protect.

Researching the history of these tools allows me to feel a stronger connection to my magic practice. One cherished example is witch balls, a kind of ward that originated in England during the 1600s. They are used for protection against evil spells, hexes, negativity, sickness, and ill fortune. Plus, they’re gorgeous. They are definitely among my favorite things to make—and are sure to be yours too!

Legend has it that the beauty of mystical witch balls attracts negative spirits thought to be threatening a home’s tranquility. An orb’s swirling colors and uniqueness mesmerize the evil being. After a spirit touches a ball, its malevolent energy is trapped within the webbed strands of glass inside the orb, which prevent the spirit from affecting its surroundings.

Traditionally, witch balls are hung in an east-facing window. But really, any area around your home—whether in a window, on a desk, or even on a porch or elsewhere outside in a garden—is suitable for placing a witch ball to ward off (and possibly trap) negative energy.

Making witch balls is still a popular pagan craft and can take only minutes per ball. They make lovely ornaments for Yule as well as gift giving. Family and friends will love them as special handmade ornaments and will be captivated by the history and magical meaning. Maybe best of all, creating a ball will give you a greater connection to your witchly craft.

I like to begin mine with the clear glass ornaments carried in craft stores. These are especially easy to find around the winter holidays. I add flowers, herbs, spices, crystals, and charms that correspond with a specific intention, such as protection, happiness, good fortune, or peace. You can fill your witch ball as much as you want with your chosen ingredients. I like to fill mine halfway so I can see the individual items inside.

Once you have all your materials gathered, you’re only minutes away from completing your own mesmerizing witch ball.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Ingredients can vary depending on your specific intentions. It’s totally up
to you!

• 1 3-to-4-inch clear glass or shatterproof DIY ornament
• 1 or 2 4-inch cinnamon sticks
• 1 to 3 sprigs of lavender
• ⅛ ounce preserved moss
• Small dried flowers, ferns, pine cones, crystals
• 8 inches of natural twine
• 5 inches of cording
• Hot glue gun with glue stick
• 10 inches of ribbon
• 1 magic charm

INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1: Remove the hanger from the top of the ornament. Set aside. Before adding anything, I like to smoke-cleanse the inside of the ball with a stick of incense.

Step 2: Carefully, a few pinches at a time, add the preserved moss. Step 3: Put your other elements inside one by one.

Step 4: Add the hanger back on the top of your ornament by squeezing the two metal progs together and sliding them inside till the hanger snaps back into place.

Step 5: Add a tiny spot of hot glue to the base of the hanger and press the end piece of twine in place, gluing and wrapping the twine around the top. Cut excess twine.

Step 6: Tie on a magical charm and add ribbon to the hanger. Your enchanting witch ball is ready to hang in your home—or a friend’s!

Find more of Lemmon’s creations at etsy.com/shop/thewitchnthegoddess, or follow her on Instagram @thewitchandthegoddess.

Witch ball diy

Witch balls have a pretty long and rich history. Originally assumed to be less-than-friendly, modern witches use witch balls as a form of decorative magic. That's right, witch balls are usually prominently displayed in the witch's home or garden to bring about whatever magic they infuse the ball with. This is generally protection magic, but witch balls can be used for any magic you want.

With Valentine's Day under our belts, I decided to honor myself as well and put together a witch ball for self-love. After celebrating everyone else we love in our lives, why not celebrate ourselves as well? This simple witch ball is designed to be a constant reminder that you are enough, even when you do feel like it.

Directions:

Begin by cleansing all the items and charging the crystals with your intent.

Next, gently place the rose petals and herbs into the witch ball. As you do, visualize your intent.

After adding the flowers, place your rose quartz and pearl into the witch ball. If you are using a glass ornament as I did, you may notice it is not a perfect opening, so test to make sure your crystals will fit prior to beginning. I brought the ball with me to the metaphysical store to ensure the rose quartz was small enough to fit through the opening. If you are using a plastic ball you may notice you can fit large sized items into it because it has some give to it. If you are able, place a heart charm inside the ball as well. I couldn't get my charm to fit, so I set it aside for another spell.

On the piece of paper, write an self-love affirmation. I went with " I am enough. I am loved. I am beautiful." These are things I struggle with daily, so I felt they were three of the best affirmations to include in my self-love witch ball.

Finally, seal the ball and wrap the top with twine. If you'd like, add a heart charm to the twine prior to wrapping. To secure the first end of the twine, slightly open the top of the witch ball and place a small bit inside. Secure the top and the twine should remain snug. When you are done wrapping the top, you can tie it off, tuck the twine, super glue it, or even seal it with wax. Finish it off with a piece of twine to hang it up or place it in a holder.

Place in an area where you will see it daily to remind yourself that you are enough.

While the magic seems rather simple, this is a very powerful tool, especially because you made the item and are displaying it as a constant reminder. Sometimes we cast a spell and forget about it because there is nothing left behind in the physical world to remind us of it. Not the case with the witch ball.

How do you show yourself some love?

With his heart full of determination, Hug traversed forests and mountains, overcoming various obstacles along the way. After weeks of searching, Hug finally stumbled upon a hidden cave that was said to be the resting place of the magical cover. As he entered the cave, he was met with an eerie silence and a dim glow emanating from a small object at the center.

Approaching cautiously, Hug discovered a worn-out, tattered blanket lying on the ground. Confused, he picked it up and examined it closely. The blanket seemed ordinary, but Hug knew better. Deep down, he believed that this must be the legendary magical cover he had heard about. Without hesitation, Hug wrapped the blanket around himself and instantly felt a surge of power. The blanket transformed into a magnificent pair of wings, enabling Hug to fly through the skies. Excited, Hug soared above the clouds, spreading love and warmth wherever he went. With each hug he gave, the magical cover radiated even brighter, touching the hearts of everyone it encountered. However, Hug soon realized that the true power of the magical cover was not in flying or granting wishes, but in the simple act of hugging. It was the love he shared through his hugs that brought the real magic into the world. From that moment on, Hug became known as Hug, the Magical Piggy, with the tattered cover as his trusted symbol. He continued his mission of hugging and spreading love, using the magical cover to remind people that love is the most powerful magic of all. And so, Hug Piggy and the Magical Cover became a legend, inspiring generations to come to embrace the power of love and the magic it brings..

Reviews for "Hug Piggy's magical cover: A key to unlock imagination"

1. Emma Smith - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Hug Piggy and the Magical Cover". The story was predictable and lacked originality. The characters were one-dimensional and didn't have any depth. Additionally, the writing style was simplistic and didn't immerse me into the magical world as I had expected. Overall, I found the book to be unengaging and I wouldn't recommend it.

2. John Anderson - 3 stars - While "Hug Piggy and the Magical Cover" had some entertaining elements, it ultimately fell short for me. The plot felt disjointed and rushed, with key events happening without proper explanation or build-up. The dialogue was also unrealistic and forced, making it difficult to connect with the characters. The concept had potential, but the execution left much to be desired.

3. Sarah Thompson - 2 stars - I was extremely underwhelmed by "Hug Piggy and the Magical Cover". The storyline was confusing and difficult to follow, with random magical elements thrown in without much explanation. The characters were forgettable and lacked development, making it hard to feel invested in their journey. The writing style was also repetitive and dull, making it a struggle to get through the book. Overall, I found it to be a disappointing read.

4. Michael Johnson - 1 star - I couldn't finish "Hug Piggy and the Magical Cover". The writing was juvenile and lacked creativity. The plot felt disjointed and lacked any real substance. It was hard to connect with the characters as they seemed flat and uninteresting. The book overall felt like a poorly executed attempt at a magical adventure. I would not recommend it.

The transformative power of Hug Piggy's magical cover