Hex bags in Supernatural and real lore: Delving into the details
Supernatural introduced hex bags for the first time in Season 3. Here’s a look at the real and series lore.
In Supernatural Season 3, hex bags were officially introduced for the first time, although they were used in Season 1’s “Home.” Since then, they’ve been used regularly, whenever witches have turned up. The lore on hex bags is from real mythology and sorcery lore.
As part of the series to look at the real lore behind the show’s mythology, it’s time to look at hex bags. Just how were they used in real history and how much as Supernatural stuck to the lore?
Hex bags in Supernatural
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In the third season, hex bags were introduced to help with spellwork. They would contain a mixture of items, usually bones, an item from the intended victim, etc., and would be placed somewhere connected to the individual. Usually, they are used for malicious purposes, but hex bags can also be used for protection or warding.
It seems that in many cases, the bags are required for spells to take effect. Once the hex bag is destroyed, the spell comes to an end. This is one of the only ways to stop the spell in its tracks and save the intended victims.
In the first season, hex bags were used for protection. Missouri Moseley created bags that could be added to walls in each room of the house to protect against the poltergeist.
Real lore about hex bags
In real sorcery, the items used in a hex bag were usually connected to the intended victim. They were personal in nature, making the spell or hex personal. This could be items that held significance, items of clothing, and even DNA.
The longer someone holds the hex bag in their possession, the more powerful the bag becomes. In some cases, the hex bags can be held intentionally by the person, as they’re not just for malicious acts. As these bags hold more significance in a person’s life, the power within them grows. Some will carry hex bags around on a daily basis as they would their wallet.
@Boeufblogginon been watching #Supernatural with youngsters, we agree #HexBags are very powerful, like #frightbat #madfuckingwitch #witchin
— grace pettigrew (@broomstick33) January 8, 2016
There are usually four types of hex bags: those that protect, those that curse, those that heal, and those that empower. In real lore, the curse bags can actually be harder to implement. They need to be in the possession of the other person. In Supernatural, they’ve sometimes been placed in bags, in cars, or somewhere important in the house to ensure possession.
For much of Supernatural, the idea behind hex bags has been consistent with real sorcery lore. The difference is that most bags are used for malicious spells, as witchcraft is viewed as being more evil than it is in real lore.
Next: Anti-Claus lore: Where does the idea of Evil Santa come from?
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