Potion of Boundaries

We’ve spent the week exploring foundations, autonomy, and the art of boundaries. This potion turns those ideas into action. Made from simple ingredients you can find in any grocery store, it’s a small ritual of remembrance — a pause before the day begins to remind you who you are, and where you stand in the world.

RECIPE

• Coffee to taste
• Crushed eggshell, finely ground
• A pinch of chili powder
• Plastic wrap or a clear covering

DIRECTIONS

Begin by collecting and cleaning an eggshell. Let it dry completely before grinding it into a soft, pale powder. I use a mortar and pestle and store it in a clean, dry spice jar.

Brew your coffee normally, breathing in the scent as the steam curls upward. When it’s ready, take 1 cup of coffee in a small bowl and stir in the chili powder and the powdered eggshell. Let it steep for five minutes, long enough for heat to carry intention through the mix. 

Strain the brew before drinking as eggshell shards can be sharp and you shouldn’t try to drink them. Pour the strained coffee into a cup and wrap the cup in plastic wrap, leaving the mouth open for drinking. Find a quiet place to sit and sip. Taste that first beautiful bitter darkness hit your tongue.

As you do, whisper or think the phrase *“Circulum circa me creo”* (Latin for “I create a boundary around myself.”) Keep the wrapped cup nearby until you feel peaceful and strong, grounded in yourself and who you are. Then unwrap it and wash it clean.

VARIATIONS

If you’re not a coffee drinker, use any warm, grounding drink instead. The key is ritual, not caffeine. You can also simply sit with a quiet cup and breathe until you feel the boundary between yourself and the world again. 

For stronger or more advanced technique, charge the drink on your altar with a candle or protective charm before sipping.

EXPLANATION

Coffee brings clarity and wakefulness, symbolizing awareness of self. Eggshell, long used in folk protection spells, builds a psychic barrier between you and intrusion. Chili powder adds fire, courage, and the sharp reminder that boundaries can burn when crossed. The plastic wrap seals the work, keeping your intention contained until you’re ready to release it.

Together they form a small act of sovereignty, a small ritual that turns an ordinary habit into magickal maintenance — a quiet embodiment of what Pragmatic Alchemy teaches: protection begins with knowing your own shape.