It’s the stuff of childhood dreams: a jar, lost at sea for decades, washes up on shore. Next, it’s found by a group of curious New Jersey beachcombers and opened. Are they letting a genie out or possibly unleashing an ancient evil on the world?
TikTok creator and musician Aaron (@heyaarn) recorded everything that happened, from discovery through “translation” and cleaning. Picture this: It’s after dark at Laurence Harbor Beach (in Middlesex County, New Jersey), and a small mason jar is half-buried in the sand.
For a little context, Aaron notes in the video that this is a “mystery jar” that “washed up on [a] New Jersey beach.” In the same frame, there’s a close-up of the jar. Just visible through a viscous brown liquid is a small piece of paper. The words “find me” are legible on it.
So Aaron and his friends do the thing that horror movies teach us not to. They unscrew the cap and pour the contents out.
“Ew, it’s coming out,” one person says.
Another says, “It smells like cinnamon.”
They shake the jar to coax the gelatinous contents out. Then they spy the small piece of paper that they noticed earlier.
“So weird. It’s the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen,” someone off-camera says.
“But it smells good,” replies Aaron.
‘Love Me, Find Me’
They remove the paper to discover that it’s actually a photograph. “Yo, this is actually kind of creepy,” Aaron says. He scrapes the apparent honey and cinnamon mixture off of the photo using the jar’s lid. “There’s straight cinnamon on the back: It’s still powder,” notices one of Aaron’s friends.
They keep scraping the substance off the photo, and a snapshot of a woman emerges. They flip the photo over to try to read the writing on the back.
Written in faded red ink is a name, a date, and a lovesick plea or vaguely ominous threat—depending on how you read it. “Amando J. Nieves; 12.19.88; You want me? Come look for me. You love me. Show me off.” Then, like a tacked on afterthought, the phrase “find me,” is jammed onto the back.
The Internet Is A Sweet Place
Naturally, the comments section has answers. Multiple viewers claimed the honey, cinnamon, and photo combo is a love spell. “They’re married 25 years and today he woke up no longer in love with her,” joked Atrophywife (@atrophywife).
Art of the Root explains that so-called honey jars are a potent folk magic tool. “They are used primarily to sweeten situations, relationships, and outcomes, drawing positivity and goodwill into one’s life,” the site indicates.
The outlet alleges that honey jars can trace their use back to ancient Egypt through African American hoodoo practices. Furthermore, it’s explained that honey is used because it is sweet and sticky and has proven healing qualities. All this makes honey a powerful magical substance, especially in so-called sympathetic magic. “Its natural stickiness is symbolic of the ability to bind and attract, making it an ideal component in spells aimed at fostering closeness and unity,” the site explains.
But there are more things than just honey and good intentions in a personal honey jar. Including a photo or drawing of a person purportedly strengthens the connection, as do written affirmations or prayers. Petitioners might also include flowers for certain properties and symbols indicative of intentions (like jewelry or small mementos).
There’s also a note that interacting with the jar helps to “activate” the spell. So it might’ve been in the ocean to take advantage of the waves. Bobbing around in the ocean (or even in tide pools) would get the concoction moving.
There’s More To The Story
Because the internet is like the biggest small town, it didn’t take long for someone to come forward alleging they’ve got more details about the lady in the jar. Vicki Lugo (@vicki_lugo), who says she’s friends with the “jar lady,” clarifies a couple of things: The woman in the photo is Amanda—Amanda Neves—not Amando. And despite “not being a social media girly” (Lugo’s words), she’s taking the discovery mostly in stride.
Lugo says in her own video that Neves is considering a social media post of her own since she has no idea who could have done this. “B—-, I’m the girl in the jar,” she jokes to Lugo. But Lugo warns her, “It’s a weird thing. Because obviously there’s somebody who’s obsessed with you out there.”
@heyaarn We were walking Laurence Harbor Beach at night in New Jersey and came across this jar
BroBible reached out to Aaron and Vicki via TikTok direct message. We will update this if either responds.