Hey autumn witch.

As the leaves turn golden and the air grows cool, it’s the perfect time to invite a little extra protection and cosy magic into your home. Fall is a season of transition, and witch bells – those beautiful, jingling charms – are a wonderful way to guard your space and embrace the spirit of the season.

Rooted in magickal tradition, they’re just as practical as they are beautiful.

Many of the tools, materials and accessories you’ll need can be gathered from your home, local shops or the autumn landscape around you. For others, click the links in the article. These are affiliate, meaning we’ll receive a very small commission at no extra cost to you. 

So let’s dive into what witch bells are, how you can craft your own with an autumn twist, and the many ways to use them in your fall magickal practice…

What are witch bells?

Witch bells are a type of protective charm often hung on doors, windows, or other entryways to keep negativity at bay and invite positive energy into your space.

The tinkling sound of the bells is believed to ward off evil spirits, banish unwanted energies, and create a sacred boundary around your home.

They’re not just functional but are a beautiful way to blend magic with everyday life.

Fall Season Protection 

Fall is a liminal time, when seasonal energies are shifting states. The days grow shorter, the nights stretch longer, and the veil between worlds grows thin.

During this time of betwixt and between, it’s wise to keep protective charms close at hand. Witch bells are especially powerful in autumn, their clear chime said to scatter wandering spirits, ward off negativity, and keep your home’s energy strong as the dark half of the year approaches.

In the run-up to Samhain, as you magickally prepare for the close of the witches year (and especially if you are working with the ancestors) it becomes vital to guard your home.

Witch bells offer an extra layer of protection, especially when made by hand and infused with personal intention.

How to make your own witch bells

Making witch bells is a deeply personal process, and there’s no wrong way to do it. Let your intuition guide you because you’re the only one who knows what kind of protection is really needed for your home.

The intention you infuse into your bells, plus how personal the different elements are will make the difference. I’m offering a range of suggestions for materials, and extra embellishments or elements to amp up the effectiveness of your witch bells. The article contains affiliate links which means we make a penny or two on each purchase you make through these links, at no extra cost to you.

So what I offer is a few simple steps to follow, but if you stray from them, no stress!

1. Choose your base

Decide whether you want to tie your bells to a ring, a branch, or directly to the cord. A metal hoop makes for a tidy look, while a branch adds a more rustic, natural vibe.

Here are some options to choose as your base:

• Classic metal rings, different sizes
• Extra-large metal rings
• Wooden hoops, 2 sizes
• 12 inch crescent moon, set of 2 (my favourite!)
• Natural grapevine wreaths

2. Gather your materials

Get everything together first! If you have all your materials laid out in front of you, you can ritualise the construction of your witch bells – they are a magickal tool, after all.

You’ll need:

• Bells
• Cord or ribbon
• A hoop, ring or branch (see above)
• Charms or crystals
• Herbs, feathers, beads and found objects
• Scissors and hot melt glue

Bells (of course!)

Choose ones with a tone you love. We love these:

• Boho style bells
• Brass minimal cow bell (I really love these)
• Rustic fire-finished bells
• Handmade Indian chimes

Cord or ribbon

This needs to be sturdy enough to hold everything together. We use:

• 3 ply jute cord
• Black jute twine (looks stunning!)
• Orange twine – gives a gorgeous autumnal feel to your bells

A hoop, ring or branch

(See above) – this serves as the base for your bells.

Charms or crystals

Think protection symbols like pentacles, moons, or quartz. Choose what you love from the list below.

Herbs, feathers, or beads

Include found objects, things that call to you or are significant. They may add extra intention or simply be beautiful!

Scissors and hot glue

For assembling everything. You can simply tie everything together tightly, but hot glue makes the process much easier!  Try these:

• Antique-style snips – for witchy crafting and tool-making, have a special pair of scissors
• Hot melt glue gun – this is one of the best

3. Cleanse and charge your materials

Before you start putting your witch bells together, take a moment to cleanse your materials. This is especially important if you’re repurposing objects or got them second hand. And even new materials will have an energetic echo from their manufacturing process, so dont’ skip this step.

You can use herbal smoke incense, sprinkle them with salt, or moon water, or pass them through a flame (safely).

While you’re doing this, focus on your intention for these bells, whether it’s protection, peace, abundance, or anything else.

4. Tie on the bells

Cut your cord into varying lengths and attach your bells securely. You can tie them with knots, braid them into the cord, or even use hot glue for extra hold. Make sure the bells hang freely enough to jingle!

5. Add charms and decorations

This is where it gets really fun, and you can let your creativity shine! Add charms, symbols, beads, feathers, herbs, and any other meaningful items that you feel inspired to include.

Tie them onto your witch bells in whatever arrangement feels intuitively right. Here are some examples of different charms, crystals and ornaments you could add. Have a browse and see what calls to you…

• Pentacle charms for protection
• Leaf and feather charms
• Eye of Horus and Egyptian Ankh charms
• Mixed vintage key charms to lock out negativity
• Celestial sun, moon and star charms
• Minimalist crescent moon charms 16 pcs) I love these for a more classic look
• Small glass jars to make your own witch bottles and spell jars (these come with hooks and I LOVE the shapes!)
• Amethyst pendants for peace
• Semiprecious spheres (these come with hooks, ready to hang)
• Natural raw citrine pendants for positivity
• Lavender bundles for calming energy
• Rose buds for love
• Antique metal spacer beads
• 1000 assorted wooden beads (omg so beautiful!)
• Gorgeous set of natural stone beads
• Set of stunning turquoise cut glass beads

6. Secure, bless and awaken your witch bells

Once everything is assembled, give your bells a little test jingle to ensure everything is secure. Then, bless them in your preferred way. This may mean holding them in a beam of moonlight, saying a blessing, or anointing them with a magical oil. Be intentional, heartfelt and give gratitude for their protective spirit.

6 Ways to use witch bells in your practice

Most witches hang their witch bells in a doorway (so if you step into someone’s home this season and hear that tell-tale jingle, it’s a good sign there’s magic afoot!). But in fall – when protection, balance, and honouring the turning of the year take centre stage – these charms can be worked with in even more meaningful ways. Here are a few ideas:

Hang on your front door

This is the classic spot for witch bells, and especially powerful in autumn when the veil begins to thin. Each time the door moves and the bells ring, they energetically sweep away lingering negativity and welcome in the crisp, protective energy of the season.

On a practical note, the sound also alerts you when someone enters your home – a kind of enchanted doorbell.

Protect your windows

Hang smaller witch bells in your windows to guard against unwanted energies during these longer nights.

Witch bells with glass beads, acorn charms, or autumn-colored ribbons can catch the waning sunlight and cast warm glimmers across your space, like little blessings of harvest light. If your bells include feathers, the autumn breezes through an open window can stir them, awakening their airy magic.

Open and close rituals

The ringing of bells can help cleanse your home before gatherings, seasonal rituals, or even while decorating your altar for Samhain. They’re a beautiful way to mark the beginning and end of any autumn working, like a chime echoing the shifting seasons themselves.

Set boundaries

Hang witch bells on your bedroom door, or at the entrance to a sacred space in your home. This is especially helpful in fall, when energies are in flux and your personal space might need an extra layer of protection.

Bells can act as guardians, creating a boundary that helps you rest, reflect, and work in peace.

Call in spirits or Deities

Sound carries power across the veil, which is particularly thin in autumn. The clear chime of bells has long been used to call on benevolent spirits, ancestors, and deities during this time of year.

You might reserve a specific set of bells just for this purpose—letting their tone become a sacred call each fall season.

Carry bells for protection on the move

Make a small set of portable witch bells to carry with you as you wander through autumn festivals, forest walks, or seasonal gatherings. Attach them to a keychain or wear them as jewellery, allowing their soft jingle to keep you shielded and grounded as the wheel of the year turns.

Making witch bells is a wonderful way to blend creativity and magic. Every jingle is a little reminder of your power, your intentions, and the energy you’ve chosen to bring into your life.

I hope you enjoy making yours as much as I’ve enjoyed sharing this process with you. Happy crafting, friend.

Blessed be!