The Hopping Pot: How my Brewing Pot Enhanced my Magical Practice
Author’s Note: The content of this blog reflects my personal experiences and perspectives on magic. Witchcraft is a deeply individual practice, and my approach may not align with everyone’s beliefs or traditions. I encourage readers to explore, question, and adapt what resonates with them. Nothing shared here is meant to serve as absolute truth or professional advice. Trust your intuition, do your own research, and walk your own path.
I have always been a cauldron lover. Before I made the decision to phase out buying new magical supplies that I didn’t truly need, I collected cauldrons—food-safe cauldrons, cauldrons I used as small fire pits, cauldrons for burning herbs, and even cauldrons for melting wax. But despite my love for them, I found a gap in my toolset when it came to making brews.
Any kettle that entered my house inevitably became a mundane tool, used for making tea or adding extra hot water to the bath. My food-safe cauldrons, though beautiful, simply did not like having water in them for any extended period of time. I needed something that could bridge the gap between the cauldron and the kettle—something that could be a dedicated magical tool for creating brews, oils, and waters. That’s when I stumbled across my brewing pot.
Unlike a usual cauldron or a kitchen kettle, my brewing pot is a food safe cast iron pot on a stand, allowing me to gently heat oils, waters, and herbs for magical purposes. It sits right on my working altar, where I can warm it using a lit candle as the heat source.
What is a Brewing Pot?
Thanks to folklore and media, we often associate cauldrons with brewing, but most of the cauldrons sold in magical markets are not food-safe and aren’t actually suited for making liquid brews. Instead, they are primarily used for burning herbs and incense, as they are sturdy and fireproof.
Kettles, on the other hand, are ideal for practical use—making teas and medicinal herbal infusions. However, they are not as convenient for altar-based spellwork and rituals.
My brewing pot was crafted by an artisan within the magical community (who, unfortunately, no longer sells them). But if you want to create your own, a fire-safe bowl (such as a cast iron noodle bowl with a lid) and an open-top plant stand of a suitable size work perfectly as the pot and stand. I also place mine on a wooden board to protect my altar from heat and candle wax drips.
Ease of Use on the Altar
Having my brewing pot on my altar means I can stay within a magical space throughout the entire process, rather than working in a cluttered kitchen. While my kitchen is certainly a magical space in its own right, it is not always ideal for ritual and spellwork.
A Dedicated Magical Tool
Since using my brewing pot, I have stopped repurposing my kettle for magical work. Having a dedicated tool allows me to build a stronger relationship with it, treating it as an ally rather than a mere utensil.
A Different Kind of Brew
A slow, gentle brew gives me more time to work with the herbs, the spirits, and the energy of the spell. This approach transforms the brewing process into a ritual in itself, rather than just a preparation step.
Since incorporating a brewing pot into my practice, I have been able to make more intentional magical creations, including:
Brews & Infusions – Herbal teas, ritual washes, simmer pots.
Magical Waters – Herbal water offerings, cleansing waters.
Oils & Decoctions – Spell oils, anointing oils, protective blends.
The ability to heat these mixtures gradually and mindfully on my altar has deepened my connection to both the ingredients and the final products. And I find myself wanting to do so more often.
Adding a brewing pot to my practice has been a small but profound shift. It has not only expanded my ability to create magical brews, but it has also strengthened my relationship with my tools and made my spellwork more immersive.
