Amulets and Talismans: How to Enchant Jewelry & Charms for Protection

Have you ever had a lucky rabbit’s foot? A coin that your grandpa gave you that seems to bring money in, just when you need it? There’s a unique kind of magick behind these charms we wear. Witches and sorcerers love their magical jewelry. Have you ever known a witch who doesn’t wear jingling rings on her fingers and toes? How about a sorcerer who doesn’t wear amulets and talismans? There’s a reason witches love their charms, necklaces, and anklets – they use them to ward off negativity, draw love and money, connect to the divine, and more. Learn how to enchant jewelry for magical purposes here!

Amulets and Talismans: What Are They and How Are They Different?

People think amulets and talismans are the same thing. They aren’t. While they are both charms and/or jewelry worn for magical purposes, they serve two different purposes. An amulet is charmed jewelry worn to WARD off anything the individual wants to keep away. A talisman DRAWS something towards the individual. For example, an obsidian pendant is worn and charged to ward off evil. While a jade bracelet is charged to draw love towards the individual.

Sometimes it’s hard to remember the difference between amulets and talismans, so think of it this way: A for AMULET and AWAY. And T for Talisman and TOWARDS.

Ancient Amulets and Talismans: A Magical History

Protective charms and jewelry have been around for thousands of years, and we have archaeological proof from every corner of the world.

Amulets and Talismans in Ancient Egypt

The ancient Egyptians believed strongly in gods, spirits and in magic. They believed the gods could fill certain places and objects with their power. The gods’ presence was felt in large places like in the Nile River and in a multitude of sacred temples. But they could also be felt in something as small as an amulet or talisman. Every aspect of an Egyptian amulet or talisman was important and meant something to its owner, down to the color, size, and image. Scarab amulets were particularly popular, as well as amulets depicting particular gods like Isis or Ra. You can see an array of Egyptian amulets and talimans here and in person at the Met Museum.

Amulets from the Bronze and Viking Ages

In November of 2022, a construction company began a new housing development project in Southwestern Sweden. And they “unearthed a metal amulet in the shape of Mjolnir, the Norse god Thor’s hammer,” according to Archaeology.org. The Norse amulet is now being housed in the Halland Museum of Cultural History. There’s some speculation as to why this amulet may have been worn during the Viking Age, but as magical practitioners, we know people wore these charms to invoke the protection of their gods. Thor was considered a god that protected the common folk and seafarers, and thus his amulet was likely worn often by many folks before the Christianization of Sweden.

Another amulet was discovered in 2022 in Siberia. This ancient amulet is particularly interesting because it’s made of human bone and is accredited to the Bronze Age Tagar culture. There, next to an ancient woman’s body, archaeologists discovered a necklace made of bronze and carnelian beads, boar tusk and a fragment of human rib bone. You can read more about the excavation site and the woman next to whom they discovered the amulet here.

What is the Nazar Amulet?

The Nazar amulet, pictured above, is a symbol that’s been used for thousands of years, with evidence dating to the 16th century BC. The obvious eye depiction in this amulet is used to ward off the “evil eye”. This amulet originates in ancient Mesopotamia and has gained recent popularity in Modern Turkey and throughout the world.

Personally, I use the Nazar amulet in my vehicle and it has been quite effective as a warding device. It works to deflect envy and ill will knowingly or unknowingly cast against a person…sometimes with just a “look”. I’ve also worn it as a bracelet, anklet, necklace and belly button ring. The interesting thing about the Nazar is that once it’s absorbed a good amount of negative energy, it literally becomes heavy and breaks its chain. At this point, it’s time to get a new one.

Types of Protective Amulets

Literally anything you wear can be enchanted for a magical reason and considered a protective amulet. Any necklaces, chains, bracelets, anklets, earrings, body jewelry, or even sewn into clothing or etched into shoes. The choice is yours, but here are some examples:

• Crystals and stones: turquoise, obsidian, tiger’s eye, tourmaline, hematite, fire agate, jasper, jet, amethyst, etc.
• Sigils and symbols: protective sigils, Elder furthark runes, witch’s runes, ancient symbols, Celtic, Helm of Awe, crosses, Nazar amulet, Mjolnir, hamsa/evil eye wards, etc.
• Protective Totems/Animal Guardians: pictures/symbols with protective animals like the wolf, bear, tiger, lion, hawk, dog, etc.
• Lockets or pendants with ancestors’ or deities’ photos/images

Types of Talismans for Love, Abundance, Etc.

In opposition to an amulet warding off illness, luck, or evil, the talisman serves to draw something towards the witch/magician. YES, you can wear both! They don’t serve to cancel one another out, unless you are asking for the exact thing you’re warding off (which I hope you wouldn’t be asking for illness/evil!) Types of talismans are similar to amulets and are up to your imagination and preferences:

• Stones and crystals to draw intentions: jade and rose quartz for love, amethyst for psychic abilities and dreams, bloodstone for health and fertility, moss agate for monetary abundance, etc.
• Sigils and symbols to draw intentions: sigils for love and health/success, Elder futhark runes for family and finances, witch’s runes for deity connection and divination, etc.
• Pendants/images of gods and goddesses and spirits who draw intentions towards the individual: Aphrodite for love/passion, Ganesha for financial abundance and well-being, Freya for fertility and love, Odin for wisdom, Thor for strength, etc.

How to Enchant Jewelry for Amulet and Talismanic Purposes

So, you have your favorite piece of jewelry (be it new or old), and you want to turn it into an amulet or talisman. Here’s the step-by-step process of how to enchant jewelry for magical purposes:

1. First, establish if your jewelry or garment will be an amulet (to ward something off) or as a talisman (to draw something towards you).
2. Next, cleanse the item using smudge smoke, water, by burying it in the earth/bowl of salt, or whatever cleansing method you prefer and won’t damage the item.
3. Select the appropriate timing to charge the amulet or talisman. For example: if you want to enchant jewelry to draw love into your life, choose the Full Moon. If you want to make an amulet to ward off evil, choose the Waning Moon, etc.
4. Once the timing is right, get into a relaxed, ritual-working state of mind and hold the amulet/talisman between your hands.
5. Whatever is your intention for the amulet/talisman, visualize in your mind’s eye. Hold this visualization and let your energy pour into the item for as long as you can (I typically give it 10-15 minutes total).
6. Lastly, set the amulet/talisman somewhere it can soak up the moon’s rays overnight.
7. In the morning, pick up your amulet/talisman and tell it its purpose. “You are an amulet to ward off evil spirits and energy. Henceforth this is your purpose.”

Re-charge your amulet/talisman once a month or whenever you deem fit. Follow the same process, or at least charge it in the appropriate moonlight. This is an easy and effective way to enchant jewelry for many different reasons. You can use this same process to enchant patches for clothing, shoes, bags, hats, etc. Anything worn can be enchanted and made into amulets and talismans.

What If You Don’t Have Jewelry to Enchant?

What if you don’t have a piece of jewelry to enchant and make an amulet? You don’t need jewelry to make an amulet or talisman. Charge a small crystal or stone with your intention and carry in your pocket or purse. Use anything that is small and means something to you. An acorn acts as a talisman to draw strength and wisdom. A seashell brings creativity, intuition and fertility. A small picture of an ancestor can be carried in your wallet for protection. Use your intuition and what you feel drawn to when it comes to finding your amulet.

What if Your Amulet or Talisman Breaks?

It’s interesting to note that sometimes evil eye amulets will be the first to break or tarnish. I’ve noticed this pattern particularly with the nazar, whenever I wear, carry, or display it in my car or windows. To me, if your amulet breaks and it was charged with protective intentions, this means its done its job. At this point, I typically bury it. With the nazar or evil eye amulets, it’s almost like they’ve absorbed too much negative energy and can’t handle anymore. So, to me, burying it and retiring it for good is the best way to go.

Other amulets, however, may be able to be re-used for other purposes if you so choose. You’ll definitely want to cleanse them thoroughly and recharge them for your intended purposes. If it happens to be an heirloom necklace or item, I wouldn’t get rid of it. I would cleanse and use it again. Or perhaps leave it on your altar to have your guides instill positive energy into it.

Read More About Magick and Witchcraft:

• Spell Remnants: How to Dispose of Your Ritual Remains
• Magical Wards: How to Lay Protective Wards
• Write Your OWN Spells Step by Step Tutorial