What’s a Witch to Do?

Protection Magic: Flexing Your Magical Muscle

To bind or not to bind, to hex or not to hex– What’s a witch to do when she’s confronted by a bully? Because a magical practitioner has more of an arsenal in her handbag with which to defend herself than the average person, you would think that her options would be varied and her reasons for using them valid. However, in the modern day world of the witch, there are several people and groups who propose the somewhat Christian option of ‘turning the other cheek’. We also have pagan purists who scream ‘Karma’ and gather their magical skirts about them in a panic.

The result of this is that it leaves many of the witches in the world afraid to rile the purists. It leaves many witches negatively influenced by the neo-flower children, completely unprotected and open to the dark energies of an enemy, the destructive forces of a foe, or victims of the rampant overwhelming energies generated by a group. It leaves the witch, plain and simple, between a rock and a hard place.

What’s a witch to do?

Is it permissible for the witch to use witchcraft to protect herself?

You bet your sweet cauldron it is, and we’re going to look at a variety of possibilities that will both protect the occult practitioner and do so in an honorable and ethical manner.

Group Mentality Binding Mojo

Whether you are the victim of office water cooler gossip, a group of well-meaning but highly misinformed busy bodies, or a posse of fellow pagans who have climbed on a proverbial high-horse, there is something you can do about negative energy and black mojo directed at you by a group of people– no matter who they are, or what their intentions might be. We’re going to round this energy up, lasso each individual perpetrator, and bind them in their own actions.

Items needed:

a sheet of paper and a pen; a black taper or votive candle; a pinch of the following herbs: cloves, cayenne pepper, and hyssop; salt; cemetery dirt; uncrossing oil; a small hand mirror

The method:

1. On a sheet of paper list the individual names of the people who have ganged up on you, the people who are creating havoc in your life. Don’t write their names down in a neat little list, but write them down helter-skelter, all over the paper, in all types of scrawled print.

2. Dress the black candle with Uncrossing Oil. Combine the herbs listed, mixing them well, and pouring them out upon a hard surface, arranging them to make a nice line about the length of your candle. You’re going to roll this candle in these herbs until the candle is sufficiently covered.

3. Set this dressed candle in a holder and light it, with intent, knowing that you are calling upon the energies of sister witches past, present, and future to aid you in this time of crisis.

4. Set the sheet of paper containing the names on fire, dropping it into a fireproof container and allowing it to burn itself to ash.

5. When the candle has burned itself out, you will gather up the wax from the candle, along with the ash from the name paper, and you will place these items in the center of a small hand mirror. Carefully circle the candle wax and ashes with a ring of salt followed by a ring of cemetery dirt.

6. Place this mirror in a safe and secret spot, perhaps beneath a dresser or on the floor of your closet. Cover this mirror with a bowl, so that nothing will disturb it to break the ring of salt and cemetery dirt.

7. Know that as you have sealed these spell remains upon this mirror, so have you sealed and bound the actions of the individuals named upon the paper. Check this mirror, perhaps on the dark moon of each month, reinforcing the circle of salt and cemetery dirt if necessary.

There are several simple actions a witch can take when protection is needed and the situation at hand must be handled quickly. And these actions are not meant to harm the offender, but simply to halt their offensive and destructive behavior.

Foot Track Magic Freeze

A footprint leaves behind a powerful indelible impression of an individual and their personal energy. It’s as potent a personal item as are hair or fingernail clippings and can be used just as successfully in spells where personal effects are called for.

To stop someone who is harassing you, gossiping about you, lying about you, or otherwise trying to bring negative energy and its effects down upon you in any way, you are going to watch for the perfect opportunity to snatch their footprint from the earth and stop them in their tracks…pun intended. When the long awaited opportunity presents itself, very carefully gather the footprint up, placing the soil in a jar with a screw top lid.

Once you get this precious magickal item home, fill the jar half full of water, securely screw the lid back on, sealing it with black candle wax, and place this jar in your freezer– slamming the door shut with triumphant force.

As the water freezes, trapping the soil which made up the target’s foot track, so will their actions against you come to a halt, their bad behavior frozen in time and place.

Ghosties, Goblins, and Poltergeists

Protection from the Invisible Realms

Occasionally those things we need protection from are not the human beings around us, but ethereal spirits and other entities that linger from various planes of existence, for a variety of reasons, haunting our homes and occasionally even our dreams. These entities are really not as formidable as they may seem, especially not for the seasoned witch who knows how to control these spirits, how to protect her personal space, and how to empower herself through magical means.

Sweet Dreams Mojo Bag

If you’ve noticed that you have been having trouble sleeping, and your sleep is disturbed by dreams with often recurring themes, characters, or creatures; you may be experiencing nocturnal hauntings by pesky spirits. First, you might want to examine these dreams closely, looking for that which may be familiar to you; for often, loved ones who have passed will try to communicate with us in this way. If you recognize the spirit and acknowledge it, letting it know that you’ve received the message and you understand, the dreams most often stop.

However, if this type of nighttime activity does not cease and is beginning to wear upon you, and you simply want a peaceful night’s sleep, there’s an easy magical fix. You can assemble a Sweet Dreams Mojo bag that will keep spirits at bay, quiet your subconscious, and allow you a peaceful undisturbed night’s sleep.

To a small blue bag you can add the herbs calamus, mugwort, valerian, lavender, chamomile, and most importantly cloves and garlic (for exorcism). You will add to this bag any one of the following three stones: chalcedony, citrine, or jet (to halt nightmares).

Tie this bag up and sleep with it beneath your pillow.

Quiet the Spirits

For years we’ve lived in a house rife with paranormal activity, so much so that my own children tend to take it in stride. We’ve become rather fond of some of the spirits wandering throughout our home, and I tend not to clear our living space too thoroughly, as we would actually miss some of our ghostly visitors.

However, I’m sure not everyone feels this way when it comes to having spirits roaming their personal space. There are many things you can do to banish spirits who have already taken up residence, as well as several preventative measures you can take to keep new entities from entering. We’re going to take a look at just a few witchy little tricks to set some ghostly boundaries and protect you from hauntings.

Salt

There is nothing more purifying or grounding than salt, and it can be used in a number of ways to cleanse a space of unwanted entities and to keep them at bay:

To a small bowl of water, add a pinch of salt, and using your fingers– or a sprig of rosemary, dip into the water and asperge (sprinkle) your space with this salted water, cleansing it of scattered energies, as well as entities.

You can leave a small bowl of salt sit upon your nightstand, near your bed. (I’ve done this for my daughters.) During the night, should you be awakened and frightened by a passing spirit, just take a pinch of salt and toss it in the direction of the specter– with this action, you will banish it.

Place a line of salt down across the threshold of your home to keep spirits at bay. But you’d better make sure that your space is properly cleansed before you do this, or the result could be that you will unwittingly trap an entity inside your home.

Onions & Garlic

To keep a space clear of unwanted energies, fill four small bowls with quartered onions and a couple cloves of garlic. Place these bowls in the four corners of a room to keep spirits at bay. You might want to replace the onions and garlic with fresh quarters and cloves about once a month– perhaps on the waning or dark moon, to send negative energy, as well as unwanted entities, on their way.

Sage

The age old method of purifying and cleansing a space is with the use of burning sage or incense to ‘smudge’ an area with the smoke. Traditionally, in many cultures, including Native North American tribes, the method is both cleansing and protective. I’ve often used more than one method for purification and protection, either when preparing sacred space, or when cleansing my home– first asperging the area with salted water, and then following up with a good smudging/cleansing/protective incense.

After a room is cleared of ghostly visitors, I’ve often prepared a mojo bag with hyssop, sage, rosemary, and sea-salt, and tacked these bags above the door-sills, or over the window sills.

Magickal Protection
for the Mundane World

We’ve seen what we can do to protect ourselves from negative energy and people, as well as hauntings and unwanted ghostly contact. But we have to remember that we live in a bustling modern world where we’re always on the go, where we’re confronted by fast travel, unlimited and immediate communication with strangers– as well as friends and family, and a host of physical maladies that can befall us. There are many instances where practical protection is needed to maneuver safely through this hectic mundane world.

A Vehicle Blessing

Many of us commute long distances on a daily basis, and the most important thing we can do to insure safe travel on these jaunts is to bless our vehicle with the four elements and Spirit. You can do a full out ritual if you feel so compelled, either in the privacy of a closed garage or out in the open space of your driveway; or you can simply smudge the vehicle, anoint it with a protection oil, and seal the space with protective talismans.

Since I’ve included a full ritual in my book, “The Gray Witch’s Grimoire” (working title), I’m going to go through a simpler act of magick here that will take less time but will be just as effective.

Items needed:

1 white tea candle
A bowl of salt
A stick of incense
1 red candle
A bowl of water
Mars Astrological Oil

The method:

1. Anoint the tea candle with Mars Astrological Oil, light it, and set it on the hood of the vehicle, along with the other items you will need. Each time you circle the area, you will begin from this point.

2. Open all the doors of the vehicle. Taking the bowl of salt, walk deosil (clockwise) around the vehicle, throwing a pinch of salt into each open doorway as you go, saying:

“I consecrate this space, by the power of Earth.”

Walk a complete circle, stopping at the front of the vehicle.

3. Light the stick of incense and circle the vehicle deosil, stopping at each open doorway and reaching within to smudge the area, saying:

“I consecrate this space, by the power of Air.”

Walk a complete circle, stopping at the front of the vehicle.

4. Light the red candle, carry it carefully around the vehicle, walking deosil, and reaching within each open doorway as you go, saying:

“I consecrate this space, by the power of Fire.”

Walk a complete circle, stopping at the front of the vehicle.

5. Taking the bowl of water in your hands, carefully walk deosil around the vehicle, dipping your fingertips into the water and reaching within each open doorway as you go to sprinkle the interior, saying:

“I consecrate this space, by the power of Water.”

Walk a complete circle, stopping at the front of the vehicle.

6. Pick up the burning white candle, hold it aloft, and say:

“By the power of the four elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water; I have consecrated this space, that all who occupy it shall be kept safe within this place.

So mote it be.”

The ritual is done.

After the white candle has burned itself out, you will use the remaining wax and add it to a protective mojo bag that you will place within this vehicle. To that bag you will also add the herbs calamus and plantain, a stone of tiger’s-eye that you’ve anointed with Mars Astrological Oil, and personal effects from the individuals who most often travel in this vehicle…a lock of hair would be perfect.

Protection for Your Computer

This innocent box we refer to as the computer is a gateway for all kinds of energy– and individuals– to come through. Most of the time this energy is positive and the visitors welcome, but occasionally this may not be so. You can use your magickal advantage to keep this gateway clear of unwanted energies and strangers.

I keep a mojo bag taped to the side of my computer. It’s the easiest type of magick imaginable and it is impressively effective.

Use a yellow bag, harnessing the energy of the element of Air– highlighting communication, mental endeavors, and creativity. To this bag add slippery elm–  to halt a nasty tongue, or in this case, fingertips; sage and rosemary– for purification; cloves– for exorcism and protection from unwanted or negative energy or people; a stone of jet or obsidian for protection, blue lace agate to open your throat chakra and improve your ability to communicate, clear quartz crystal to increase all positive energy, and blue lapis to enhance your intuition– allowing you greater insight into whom you can and cannot trust.

To Your Health

The one thing most human beings feel they may not have complete control over is their health; in respect to contracting diseases, coming down with functional maladies of various organs and systems, and accidental injuries. As wonderful and modern as science is, there are times where it can benefit from a magickal boost.

Understand that the following information is not to be used in lieu of regular medical treatment by professionals, but is intended to be used in conjunction with standard medical care. Always follow your doctor’s orders and advice.

We’re going to make a healing poppet, a dolly, to generate healing energy for a particular person, or ‘target’. This form of magick is known as sympathetic magic, meaning ‘this becomes that’. Realize, as you create this poppet, that this dolly will not only carry the essence of the one who needs healing, it will actually become this individual. This is why it’s so important to keep this poppet in a safe and secure place, until it’s magic is no longer needed, at which time you will carefully and respectfully dismantle it and bury the remnants in the earth.

Making our poppet:

The healing poppets that I make are always green…for the element of Earth, highlighting the physical world and manifestation of magic into this realm. I prefer flannel.

Once you’ve acquired your material, double it and lay it on a flat hard surface– the kitchen table works well in my house. You will cut out the rough shape of a human figure, and to make this easier for you, you can trace a rough shape on a blank piece of paper, cut this out, and use it as a guide.

Sew these two mirror images together, leaving sufficient space open on one side so that you can fill this poppet with baubles and stones, herbs and healing energy. You can decorate this dolly in any way you see fit to connect to the individual it is intended for. This might mean cutting out the face of a photo and pasting it to the face of the doll; attaching hair matching that of the target’s, adding a ribbon necklace containing a bead, earring, or some other significant item that belongs to the target.

The next step is going to be filling it with objects who’s energy is geared to healing, as well as personal effects connected to the target. The personal items could be fingernail clippings, a lock of hair, a scrap of material or button from their clothing, the more intimate the better; but if don’t have access to any of these items, you will have to settle for a ‘name-paper’…simply a piece of paper upon which you’ve written the target’s name. Insert this inside the poppet.

Now it’s time to add the magickal ingredients:

Herbs:  calamus, fennel, rosemary, sandalwood, thyme, mugwort (add at least three of these herbs to the poppet for healing); coriander, white geranium, marjoram, St. John’s Wort, rue, tansy (add at least three of these herbs to the poppet to maintain health)

Stones:  jade, bloodstone, crystal quartz, jasper, lapis lazuli, carnelian, moss agate, amber (add one of these stones to the poppet for healing)

Other Items:  a symbol of the Goddess, perhaps in the form of a Virgin Mary medal.  My grandmother always swore by St. Jude, both for healing and hopeless cases, and you could add a metal of this saint; a personal lucky token, whether it’s a four leaf clover, or something that was passed down through several generations– such as a religious symbol, the photograph of a beloved relative who has passed over, or a token for the target’s totem animal. There is such an endless variety of items, personal images, and associations that will lend it’s power to this healing poppet. It’s healing energy will come from the intensity of your will and the inspiration you will experience during its making.

Correspondences for Protection Magick

Goddesses for Protection

Artemis:

Artemis is the protector of young girls until they leave the stage of maiden.

Element/air; Color/yellow; Maiden

Athene:

She is the protector of civilization and will protect people from enemies.

Element/air; Color/yellow; Maiden

Bast:

Bast is the protector of women and children, guardian of the household, and brings health and prosperity to those who honor her.

Element/fire; Color/purple; Maiden

Cerridwen:

Cerridwen dispenses justice where justice is due.

Element/water; Color/white; Crone

Demeter:

Demeter is sympathetic to suffering and grief and can be called upon to protect children.

Element/earth; Color/brown; Mother

Freya:

Call upon Freya to protect your feline companions.

Element/water; Color/gold; Maiden

Hecate:

Hecate protects both the spirits and the living from spirit mischief. She is also the protectress of Witches.

Element/earth; Color/silver; Crone

Inanna:

Inanna is a warrior goddess who protects civilization and those who dwell within the cities. She also dispenses justice.

Element/fire; Color/purple; Maiden

Isis:

Call upon Isis for the protection of women and children, as well as for the protection of marriage and the marriage vows.

Element/fire; Color/blue; Mother

Kali Ma:

Kali Ma can be called upon to protect feminine interests.

Element/fire; Color/red; Crone

Kuan Yin:

This goddess cures maladies of the body, mind, and spirit.

Element/water; Color/green; Mother

Lilith:

Lilith will protect you from the natural elements. Call upon her to keep you safe from storms.

Element/fire; Color/red; Crone

Nut:

Nut, the mother of Isis, can be called upon to bring protection by the four elements…Earth, Air, Fire, & Water.

Element/air; Color/yellow; Mother

Shakti:

Call upon Shakti for the protection of women.

Element/air; Color/rainbow; Mother

Sheela Na Gig:

The Sheela Na Gig can be called upon to protect women in childbirth.

Element/water; Color/blue; Mother

Shekinah:

Call upon this goddess to protect you from a broken heart. Shekinah will also protect against evil.

Element/air; Color/white; Mother

Stones for Protection

Protection from an early death: agate, fossils, petrified wood

Protection from nightmares:  chalcedony, citrine, jet, ruby, amethyst

Protection during childbirth:  geodes, pumice, clear quartz crystal

Protection for your health:  jade, amber, coral, jasper, azurite, aventurine, agate, turquoise, sodalite, blue lace agate

Protection from the bad guys:  jet, obsidian, snowflake obsidian, black tourmaline, black onyx

Herbs for Protection

For Exorcism:  cloves, dragon’s blood, frankincense, garlic, myrrh, nettle, pepper, sage, rosemary, cayenne pepper, thistle

Protection from gossip:  slippery elm, cloves, rose thorns

Protection from infidelity:  nutmeg, rhubarb, skullcap, cumin, chili pepper, chickweed

Protection of good health:  coriander, juniper, St. John’s Wort, thyme, ash, marjoram, rosemary

Protection from curses:  chili pepper, galangal, hydrangea, thistle

Protection in legal matters:  marigold, skunk cabbage, slippery elm, henbane, hemlock

Protection against exposure (to maintain secrecy):  edelweiss, poppy, wolf’s bane

Protection from an early death:  lavender, sage, maple, cypress, iris

Protection against poverty:  rice, black poppy seeds, fennel, corn

Protection against the bad guys:  bittersweet, anise, agrimony, buckthorn, castor, devil’s bit, dragon’s blood, foxglove, garlic, ginseng, lucky hand, mugwort, wormwood, valerian, thistle, onion, cactus

Protection against draught:  rice, water lily, pussy willow

Protection against theft:  cumin, garlic, vetivert, thistle