Authorities in Texas are warning residents against opening so-called “witch bottles” that have been washing up on shores.
The mysterious bottles are often filled with urine or hair of the person who is believed to have been cursed – and are used to ward off spells.
The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi says it recently recovered one such bottle on the Gulf shores.
“Witch bottle!” wrote the institute in a Facebook post last week.
“We find these every once in awhile. Folks in certain cultures around the world put vegetation or other objects in a bottle.
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“They are counter magical devices who’s purpose is to draw in and trap harmful intentions directed at their owners.”
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