After 20 years of blogging and raising six children, I’ve learned that September carries a special kind of energy. It’s not just about new school supplies and fresh routines – there’s something deeper happening. September whispers of fresh starts, new possibilities, and the courage to protect what matters most. Oh and its my birthday month too – September Magic!
Today marks the beginning of something I’m incredibly excited to share with you: Spell Jar Season. For the next five months, every Monday, I’ll be sharing the magical practices that have quietly supported my family through two decades of life’s ups and downs. We’re starting with the jar that has become my September ritual – the New Chapter Protection Jar.
Why September Calls for Protection Magic
As mothers, we feel it every year. That shift when summer’s carefree energy gives way to the structured intensity of autumn. New schools, new teachers, new challenges. Our children are stepping into unfamiliar territory, and our protective instincts go into overdrive.
But here’s what I’ve discovered: protection isn’t just about keeping bad things away. True protection creates a bubble of confidence, clarity, and calm around your family. It’s about setting intentions for how you want this new chapter to unfold.
This jar has sat on my kitchen windowsill every September for the past ten years. Not because I believe in magic wands and fairy tales, but because the ritual of creating it centers me. It reminds me that I have more power over my family’s energy than I sometimes remember.
The New Chapter Protection Jar: What You’ll Need
Ingredients:
- 1 small glass jar with lid or cork (mason jars or old repurposed food jars work beautifully)
- 1 piece of black tourmaline or obsidian (about the size of your thumb)
- 2 tablespoons dried rosemary
- 3-5 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 1 small white or black candle
- Autumn-colored ribbon (optional but lovely)
- Small piece of paper and pen
The Meaning Behind Each Element:
- Black tourmaline/obsidian: These stones are like energetic bouncers – they deflect negativity and create a protective shield around your space
- Rosemary: Beyond its culinary uses, rosemary has been used for centuries to cleanse spaces and enhance mental clarity
- Bay leaves: In ancient times, bay leaves represented victory and success. Perfect for new beginnings
- Sea salt: Nature’s purifier. It clears stagnant energy and creates a fresh slate
- White/black candle: White for pure intentions, black for protection and banishing what no longer serves
Creating Your New Chapter Protection Jar
Step 1: Set Your Intention Before you begin, take a quiet moment. What do you want this new chapter to bring your family? Write it on your small piece of paper. Keep it simple: “Safe transitions for all of us” or “Confidence in new situations” or “Peace in our home during busy times.”
Step 2: Layer with Purpose Start with the sea salt at the bottom – you’re literally creating a foundation of purification. Add your written intention, folded small. Layer in the rosemary, speaking your hopes aloud if you’re comfortable doing so. Add the bay leaves (I like to whisper a wish to each one). Finally, nestle your protective stone on top.
Step 3: Seal and Activate Close your jar and tie the ribbon around it if you’re using one. Light your candle and hold the jar near (not in) the flame for a moment. This isn’t about heat – it’s about intention. You’re activating the energy you’ve just created.
Step 4: Place with Purpose I keep mine on the kitchen windowsill where it catches morning light. Some families prefer the front entryway or a child’s bedroom windowsill. Trust your instincts about where it belongs in your home.
Making It Family-Friendly
One of the things I love about this practice is how naturally it includes older children. My teenagers have always been fascinated by the process, and it’s become a lovely way to talk about setting intentions together as a family.
For younger children, let them help choose which bay leaves look the strongest, or have them whisper their own wishes for the new school year. It becomes less about “magic” and more about family intention-setting – which is really what this has always been about.
When to Refresh Your Jar
To fully embrace September Magic I tend to create a new one each year, but you might feel called to refresh yours monthly or seasonally. Trust your intuition. If the energy feels stagnant or if your family is facing new challenges, it might be time for a fresh jar.
The old ingredients can be buried in your garden or scattered outside with gratitude for their service.
What to Expect
Here’s what I’ve noticed over the years: the real magic isn’t in the jar itself. It’s in the pause. The moment you take to consciously think about what you want for your family. The intention you set. The reminder, every time you see that jar, that you’re actively participating in creating the energy of your home.
Some Septembers have been smooth sailing. Others have brought unexpected challenges. But in both cases, I’ve felt more grounded, more intentional, more connected to my role as the keeper of our family’s peace.
Looking Ahead: What’s Coming in Spell Jar Season
Next Monday, we’ll dive into the Autumn Abundance Jar – perfect timing as we think about financial goals and gratitude for the harvest season. Then we’ll explore the Balance & Harmony Jar around the autumn equinox, and finish September with the Family Shield Jar as we head into October’s mystical energy.
Each jar builds on the last, creating layers of intention and protection that will carry your family through the most magical months of the year.
Your Turn
If you create a New Chapter Protection Jar this week, I’d love to hear about it. Share a photo on Instagram and tag me @countryheartandhome – there’s something beautiful about seeing how different families interpret these practices.
And remember: you don’t need to believe in magic to benefit from the magic of intention. Sometimes the most powerful spell is simply taking time to think about what you truly want for the people you love most.
What new chapter is your family stepping into this September? What would you most like to protect or nurture as the seasons change?
Next Monday: The Autumn Abundance Jar – because September is the perfect time to shift your money mindset from scarcity to harvest thinking.
Pin this post for later and share it with a friend who might need some September magic in her life. ✨
