Obeah Love Spells: History, Meaning & 4 Love Spells

Table of Contents

Last Updated on November 2, 2026 by Wishbonix

Obeah is one of the most misunderstood spiritual traditions in the world. For centuries it was feared, outlawed and painted as dark magic, yet at its heart Obeah is a Caribbean practice of healing, protection, justice and love. Obeah love spells draw on that tradition: herbs, oils, candles, prayer and the wanga, a small charm package that holds your intention.

On this page you’ll learn what Obeah really is, where it comes from and how Obeah love spells work. You’ll also find four spells inspired by the tradition: a True Love Spell to draw your soulmate, a Sweet Love Wanga to open someone’s heart, a Romance Spell for couples, and a ritual to break a love spell.

Quick Guide to Obeah Love Spells

What it is: a spiritual and healing tradition that grew among enslaved West Africans in the Caribbean
Where it’s practiced: Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Guyana, the Bahamas and the wider Caribbean, and in Caribbean communities abroad
Typical tools: herbs, roots, oils, candles, prayer, and the wanga (a charm package)
Best for: attracting love, sweetening a relationship, rekindling passion, removing obstacles and breaking unwanted spells
What it can’t do: force someone to love you or guarantee a result

What Is Obeah?

Obeah is a system of spiritual and healing practices that developed among enslaved Africans brought to the Caribbean, mainly from West and Central Africa. The origin of the word is debated. Some scholars trace it to the Akan (Twi) language of present-day Ghana, others to the Igbo word for a healer or “doctor”. Both point to the same thing: Obeah was the knowledge of people who healed, protected and gave spiritual guidance to their communities.

Practitioners are known as an Obeah man or Obeah woman. They use herbs and bush medicine, prayer, charms and rituals to help people with illness, protection, court cases, money worries and, of course, love. Unlike Haitian Vodou or Santería, Obeah is not an organized religion with temples and a priesthood. It is a practice, passed on from teacher to student and shaped by each island and each practitioner.

A History of Resistance

Colonial authorities feared Obeah because it gave enslaved people strength, community and a way to resist. Obeah practitioners were linked to uprisings such as Tacky’s Revolt in Jamaica in 1760, and Jamaica outlawed Obeah that same year. Other colonies followed with their own laws. Some of these laws were only repealed in recent decades, and a few remain on the books today. This long history of persecution is one reason Obeah was kept private and why it is still so often misunderstood.

Obeah, Voodoo and Santería: What’s the Difference?

All three traditions grew out of African spirituality in the Americas, but they are not the same:

Obeah is mainly practiced in the English-speaking Caribbean and focuses on practical help: healing, protection, justice and love. It is a practice rather than a religion.
Vodou (Voodoo) is a religion from Haiti and Louisiana that serves spirits called lwa, with ceremonies led by priests and priestesses.
Santería is a religion from Cuba, rooted in Yoruba tradition, that honors the orishas.

Over time, Obeah has absorbed influences from many sources: Christianity, Hindu traditions brought by Indian workers, European folk magic and Yoruba-based Orisha worship, which is practiced alongside Obeah in Trinidad. That’s why some Obeah love spells call on Oshun, the Yoruba goddess of love, sweetness and rivers.

How Obeah Love Spells Work

The power of an Obeah love spell comes from three things working together: your intention, the natural energy of herbs, roots and oils, and the help of the spirit or deity you call on. The tools matter, but Obeah practitioners agree that the real engine is the person casting. You need to know exactly what you want and picture it clearly.

The most typical Obeah tool for love is the wanga, a small package of paper or cloth that holds herbs, names and your intention, sealed with candle wax and tied with twine. You keep it close to you until your wish has come true, then return it to nature with thanks.

Old accounts of Obeah also mention body fluids, animal parts and animal sacrifice. We don’t share spells like these. They aren’t needed for love magic, and the spells on this page work with herbs, oils, candles and prayer only.

Obeah and Free Will

An Obeah love spell can draw love toward you, sweeten feelings that already exist and clear obstacles out of the way. It cannot make someone love you against their will, and any practitioner who tells you otherwise is not being honest. Love that has to be forced doesn’t last and rarely brings happiness. Read more about how love spells work and their limits.

Before You Cast an Obeah Love Spell

Be clear about what you want. New love, a deeper bond with your partner, or more passion? If you’re unsure, wait until you know.
Clear negative energy first. Many people feel they simply have bad luck in love. A spiritual cleansing or a cleansing bath before your spell lifts heaviness and old disappointments.
Prepare your space. Choose a quiet place, cleanse it and make sure you won’t be disturbed.
Respect the spirits. If you call on Oshun or another spirit, do it with respect. A small offering such as honey, a yellow flower or a sweet is a traditional way to say thank you.

Obeah traditionally pays less attention to moon phases than Wicca, so these spells can be cast on any day. If you like to work with timing, Friday (the day of Venus) and the waxing moon are good choices for love.

1. Obeah True Love Spell

This spell draws your ideal partner toward you and clears away the negativity that may be keeping true love from finding you. It isn’t aimed at a particular person, so it’s a good choice if you’re single and ready for a real, lasting relationship.

What You Will Need

A white candle and a heat-safe holder
Lavender oil
3 tablespoons of dill
3 tablespoons of calamus root (or orris root)
3 star anise
A sheet of white paper, a pen, twine and a toothpick or needle

How to Cast the Obeah True Love Spell

Anoint the white candle with lavender oil and carve your name into it with the toothpick.
Light the candle and stand in front of it. Call on Oshun three times in your own words, or say:

Oshun, mother of sweetness and love,
hear me and bless my path.
Bring me a true and loving heart
that is meant for me.
Write your name in the middle of the paper and place it in front of the candle.
Focus on the true love you want to attract: how they treat you, how you feel together. Add the herbs on top of your name in this order: dill, star anise, calamus root. Tell Oshun honestly what you wish for.
Let three drops of wax fall onto the herbs, thanking Oshun each time.
Fold the paper into a small package, your wanga, and tie it with the twine.
Place the wanga next to the candle and let the candle burn down while you stay in the room.
Keep the wanga in your bedroom until you have met your true love. Then bury it or burn it safely and thank Oshun.

Calamus root is for spellwork only and must never be eaten. Keep it away from children and pets.

2. Obeah Sweet Love Wanga

This is a spell for someone you already know and have feelings for. It asks Oshun to sweeten the energy between you, so that any feelings the person has for you can come to the surface and grow. It doesn’t force anyone. If the feelings aren’t there, the spell will bring you clarity instead, which is a gift too.

What You Will Need

A pink candle and a heat-safe holder
Anise oil
A sheet of pink paper and a pen
3 African violet leaves
3 small pieces of gentian root
3 tablespoons of anise seed
Twine and a toothpick or needle
A little honey and a yellow flower as an offering for Oshun

How to Cast the Sweet Love Wanga

Carve the candle. With the toothpick, carve your name on one side of the pink candle and the other person’s name on the other side.
Anoint it. Rub anise oil onto the candle from the base up toward the wick, sealing in your intention.
Call on Oshun. Light the candle, place the honey and flower beside it and say three times:

Oshun, lady of the sweet waters,
sweeten what lies between [name] and me.
If love is there, let it grow and shine,
if it is not, let me see clearly.
Prepare the wanga. Write both names in the center of the pink paper. Sprinkle the African violet leaves, gentian root and anise around the names, picturing warmth and kindness growing between you. Tell Oshun what is in your heart.
Seal it. Let wax drip onto the herbs and names in three places, thanking Oshun each time.
Close the wanga. Fold the paper into a small package around the herbs and wax and tie it with the twine.
Finish the ritual. Place the wanga in front of the candle and let the candle burn down while you stay in the room.
Carry the wanga. Keep it in your pocket, under your pillow or in a special place. When your wish has come true, or when you feel it’s time to let go, bury it or give it to flowing water, and thank Oshun.

Never hide the wanga in the other person’s home or belongings. It belongs to you and works through your intention.

3. Obeah Romance Spell with Passion Powder

This spell awakens romance in an existing relationship or invites passionate love into your life. At its heart is a passion powder made from warming spices and rose petals, placed in the bedroom where you want romance to grow.

The Ingredients and Their Meaning

Coffee, cardamom and ginger warm the senses and awaken desire.
Cinnamon brings warmth, energy and speed to the spell.
Rose petals add tenderness and emotional closeness.
Pink, red and white candles stand for affection, passion and clarity.

What You Will Need

A handful of dried rose petals
1 tablespoon each of ground cinnamon, ground coffee and ground ginger
5 teaspoons of whole cardamom seeds
A small red or pink cloth bag
A pink, a red and a white candle with heat-safe holders
Musk or rose incense
Fresh bed linen

How to Cast the Romance Spell

Make the passion powder. Mix the rose petals, cinnamon, coffee, ginger and cardamom in a bowl with your fingers, stirring clockwise nine times. With each stir, picture romance and passion growing in your life.
Let fresh energy in. Open a window a little and light the incense. Picture the smoke clearing the room and carrying your wish out into the world.
Light the candles. Place them on a heat-safe surface in your bedroom, well away from the bed, curtains and anything flammable, and light them.
Charge your bed. Make the bed with fresh linen. Fill the cloth bag with the passion powder, tie it closed and place it under the mattress or inside your pillowcase. Picture your bedroom becoming a place of love and closeness.
Seal the spell. Stay with the candles while they burn for at least an hour, or let them burn down if you can stay in the room. When the incense and candles are out, close the window to seal in the energy.

Keep the passion powder in a bag rather than sprinkling it loose on the mattress: cinnamon and ginger can irritate the skin. Refresh the bag once a month.

4. Obeah Spell to Break a Love Spell

If you want to end a love spell, whether you cast it yourself and regret it, or you feel a spell is keeping you tied to someone, this simple ritual cuts the energetic hold and gives you back your freedom.

What You Will Need

A black candle and a heat-safe holder
A little fresh lime juice
A pin
A knife or athame

How to Break a Love Spell

Carve the candle. With the pin, write your name on the upper half of the black candle and the name of the person the spell is tied to on the lower half.
Anoint it with lime. Dab lime juice along the candle. Lime cuts through clinging emotions and brings back clear thinking.
Light it at midnight. Let the candle burn for exactly nine minutes, picturing the ties between you burning away. Then put it out.
Cut the connection. Once the wax has cooled, cut the candle in half with the knife in one firm motion and say: “The spell is broken!”
Separate the halves. Throw the two halves away in two different trash cans, as far apart as you can, so the energy can’t come back together.

For more ways to undo magic, read our guide to breaking a spell. If you feel someone is controlling you, whether through magic or not, please talk to someone you trust. Real-world support matters just as much as any spell.

After Casting: What to Expect

Many people notice the first changes within a few weeks: a new person entering their life, warmer contact with someone they care about, or more closeness and passion with their partner. Love magic often works through everyday events, so stay open, go out, say yes to invitations and be kind to yourself while you wait.

Don’t check obsessively for signs and don’t cast spell after spell on the same wish. Let the magic work. And if things don’t turn out the way you hoped, remember that a spell can open doors but it can’t decide for another person.

Working with an Obeah Practitioner

Real Obeah men and women learn their craft over many years, often within a family line. If you’d like an experienced practitioner to cast a spell for you, take your time choosing one. Be careful of anyone who:

Promises instant or guaranteed results
Claims they can make a specific person love you no matter what
Tells you that you are cursed and must pay more to have it removed
Pressures you to pay quickly or contacts you first

Our guide to fake and scam spell casters explains the warning signs, and our page on finding a real spell caster shows how we choose the practitioners we recommend.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Obeah black magic?

No. Obeah is a Caribbean tradition of healing, protection and spiritual help. Like any tradition, it can be used for good or ill, but most of its practice is about helping people. Its dark reputation comes largely from colonial fear and centuries of persecution.

Do Obeah love spells work?

Many people find them a meaningful way to focus their wishes for love, and they work best when the feelings are already there or when you are open to new love. No Obeah spell can guarantee a result or override someone’s free will.

Is Obeah the same as Voodoo?

No. Both have African roots, but Vodou is a religion from Haiti and Louisiana, while Obeah is a set of spiritual and healing practices from the English-speaking Caribbean, with no organized priesthood.

What is a wanga in Obeah?

A wanga is a small charm package, usually paper or cloth folded around herbs, names and candle wax and tied with twine. It holds the intention of the spell and is kept close until the wish comes true.

Which spirit helps with love in Obeah?

Many Obeah love spells call on Oshun, the Yoruba goddess of love, sweetness and rivers, who is also honored in the Orisha tradition of Trinidad. Some practitioners pray to Christian saints or their own ancestors instead.

Is Obeah illegal?

Obeah was outlawed in many Caribbean colonies, starting with Jamaica in 1760. Several countries have since repealed these laws, while some old laws are still on the books, even though they are rarely enforced.

Can I cast an Obeah love spell myself?

Yes. The spells on this page use simple ingredients and are suitable for beginners. Traditional Obeah is passed on from teacher to student, so for complex work, an experienced practitioner can help.