I recently had the opportunity to attend a live concert by the band Surf Curse, and it was truly an incredible experience. Surf Curse is a Los Angeles-based indie rock duo known for their unique sound and catchy melodies. As soon as the band took the stage, the energy in the room was electric. The crowd erupted in cheers and everyone was instantly captivated by their presence. With their signature blend of surf rock and punk, Surf Curse delivered a high-octane performance that had the entire audience on their feet. The setlist included a mix of their most popular songs, as well as some new tracks that had everyone eager for their upcoming album release.
On Samhain, people rang bells to banish evil spirits. The sound of bells are thought to banish bad spirits because they can’t be near their beautiful sound. This is why bells are sometimes called “devil drivers.”
Lastly, the Morris Dance, with its liminal creatures such as the animal-man and dancers who wear bells tied to their legs, could be seen to represent folly and things which are not of this world. Choose from large or small brass bells in silver, black or gold etched with designs like pentagrams, triple moons and other Pagan and Wiccan designs.
The setlist included a mix of their most popular songs, as well as some new tracks that had everyone eager for their upcoming album release. Each song was performed with an intensity and passion that was palpable. **Surf Curse had a rawness to their live performance that translated into a powerful and unfiltered musical experience**.
The Witch’s Bell As An Altar Tool: Calling Spirits & Change
Every time a bell rings, it indicates a change in the fabric of the universe. Wind chimes twinkling outside a witch’s home tells them of shifting air fronts and a possible storm. The otherwise silent cat who wears a bell around his neck reveals his presence with a jingle. A doorbell rings, announcing a guest. Bells also ring to mark the changing of the hour.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
But bells don’t only point out physical changes. Their sound also marks an energetic change as well. There’s something about the simple ringing of a bell that changes the energy of a space. This can be felt when priestess rings a bell to move her coven from the mundane to the magical, or during the ringing of a funeral bell.
The bell has been a witchy tool since time immemorial. Doreen Valiente is often depicted holding a bell in her left hand for good reason. Bells have so many witchy uses, something she was aware of. In my opinion, they’re a very underrated altar tool.
Here are some of the ways you can use a bell in ritual and magic
CC-SA 3.0, Photo by Malcolm Lidbury (aka Pinkpasty)Cleanse the Energy of a Space
Ring a bell to cleanse the energy of a room. This is thought to attract good energy and repel negative energy. I like to do it both before and after rituals.
Invoke Spirits
The ringing of a bell can invoke a spirit ally. I’ve also seen bells used to call the spirits at each of the elemental quarters.
Spirits of the dead have also been associated with bells in the form of funeral bells, which is a longheld tradition that spans the globe. If you wish to summon the spirit of a specific person, you can use a dedicated bell to communicate with them.
Banish Spirits
On Samhain, people rang bells to banish evil spirits. The sound of bells are thought to banish bad spirits because they can’t be near their beautiful sound. This is why bells are sometimes called “devil drivers.”
Seal The Magic In
After spell work or magic, there’s something that feels so final about ringing a bell. It shifts the energy from “working” or “almost there” to “done.” For this reason, I highly recommend sealing in spell work and magic with the ringing of a bell.
Celebrate the Holidays
Bells were also connected with the holiday Saturnalia, the winter solstice, and Yule in many cultures. The ringing of bells was thought to bring back the sun.
Protect Your Home
Bells can guard doors in your home. In Ancient Rome, people hung tiny bells and wind chimes called tintinnabulum on the gates of their homes and temples. (1) These bells were sometimes found hanging from the figure of a man with a huge, erect phallus, which was thought to magically wield off the evil eye. You can enchant bells to be protectors or to bring cheer to your home every time they ring.
Attune Your Energy and Stay Healthy
Your personal energy can be attuned with the pitch of a bell. The sound and vibration can reset errant energy and can help you get back to your home frequency.
Whenever I hear bells ring, I feel as if something inside of me is ringing too. That’s because the sound they create is a vibration, which is a form of energy. Because everything vibrates, bells have resonated with people for millennia.
In Ancient Greece, 100 CE, the ringing of sistra (cymbals) was even thought to dispell disease. In Book 5 of Moralia, Plutarch said, “The sound of these sistra averts and drives away Typho [typhoid fever].”
Tonal healing is also though to clear away energetic blockages. Check out this tonal healing video with its bell-like waves of sound.
Connect with Certain Deities
Bells are sacred to a handful of deities. In Ancient Egypt (circa the third millennium BCE), it was an important part of Isis and Hathor’s worship and had connections to birth. “Sistra had erotic connotations, and by extension, alludes to the creation of new life.” (2)
The Roman deity Jupiter also was connected to tintinnabulum. Augustus dreamed of Jupiter lamenting the lack of worshippers at his temple. Upon waking, he immediately hung little bells around the temple for Jupiter. (3)
Persephone was associated with the sistrum, as seen in the marble statue below, which syncretizes certain Greek aspects of her with the goddess Isis.
The Statue of Persephone, 2nd Century CE. Photo by Carole Raddato, CC 2.0
Celebrate the Liminal
Many people use a bell to induce meditation, or liminal work. The sound can center and bring the mind into focus. This is one reason why monks use bells.
There are a few other liminal examples of bells. The Fool is the only tarot card with a bell. He’s depicted in several different decks as a man wearing a hood or jester’s hat with several bells attached. He gazes up at the sky, blissful, while one of his feet hovers in the air, caught in the moment he is stepping off a cliff. With a foot in each world, he is a representation of the liminal.
He represents the leap into the unknown: the end of one journey and the beginning of another. He’s also considered the beginning and the end of the major arcana. This echoes the liminal nature and change associated with the bell.
Similar to the fool, the court jester is another archetype associated with bells, usually on a their hats. The jester is known to speak truth in jokes and riddles. Their message is ‘what you see is not what it seems.’ Jesters follow a different set of rules than everyone else. It’s almost as if they are not of this world.
Lastly, the Morris Dance, with its liminal creatures (such as the animal-man) and dancers who wear bells tied to their legs, could be seen to represent folly and things which are not of this world.
I hope this article opened your mind to the many witchy uses of the bell as an altar and magical tool. It’s one of my favorite tools for all of these reasons.
If you liked this article, check out my other magical tool articles:
The band's lead vocalist, Nick Rattigan, had the crowd in the palm of his hand. His emotive and powerful vocals resonated throughout the venue, drawing listeners in with their honest and relatable lyrics. Paired with the electric guitar skills of bandmate Jacob Rubeck, Surf Curse created a sonic landscape that was both captivating and addictive. One of the standout moments of the concert was when Surf Curse played their hit song "Heathers". The crowd went wild, singing along to every word and dancing with reckless abandon. It was a moment of pure joy and unity, as everyone in the room connected through the music and shared experience. The atmosphere at the concert was vibrant and immersive. The stage was adorned with neon lights and projected visuals, creating a dreamlike backdrop for the band's performance. It felt like being transported to another world, one where the only thing that mattered was the music. Overall, the Surf Curse live experience was nothing short of extraordinary. The band's unique sound, passionate performance, and infectious energy combined to create a truly unforgettable show. **From the moment they took the stage, Surf Curse had the crowd in the palm of their hand, delivering a high-energy performance that left everyone craving more**. It's safe to say that anyone lucky enough to attend a Surf Curse concert will be in for a night they won't soon forget..
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