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Protection & Reversal Magick: A Witch's Defense Manual

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" You could be the target of a spell or curse and not even know it!

All people, witches or not, are susceptible to these attacks. The witches and magicians can do something about it. Now you can too.

Protection & Reversal Magick is a complete how-to manual on preventing, defending, and reversing magickal attacks of any kind. You will learn
These techniques aren't just for witches, either, but for ceremonial magicians, rootdoctors, and anyone else who puts magick to a practical use. Like the cunning men and women of old, now you can defend yourself and your loved ones against even the strongest attacks!

“This book is not only one of my favorite books on ‘defense against the dark arts’, but is actually one of my favorite books in my whole library. Throughout the book Jason provides not only on protection, but also on recognizing the symptoms of attack and creating early warning system to alert you of magickal attacks.” — Mat Auryn , author of Psychic Witch "

224 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2006

298 people are currently reading
2848 people want to read

About the author

Jason Miller

10 books235 followers
Jason G. Miller, who also works as Inominandum, has devoted over 20 years to the study of witchcraft and magick in its many forms. He is a Sovereign of the Chthonic Ouranian Temple, and initiate of Ordo Templi Orientis, and a member of the Terra Sancta Sangreal Sodality, as well as an initiated Tantrika of the Nyingma and Bön lineages of Tibet. He writes regularly for the journal Behutet , and a frequent contributor to Witchvox, and Voice of the Old Ways.

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5 stars
521 (45%)
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382 (33%)
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198 (17%)
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36 (3%)
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14 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
Profile Image for Kosjitov.
29 reviews2 followers
February 5, 2013
I found myself in the middle of the road on this book. Some of it felt alright compared to other material, some of it left my scratching my head asking if this was for real.

The author presents a myriad of protections and reversals so it holds true to its core teachings about trying to elevate the reader's knowledge about various forms of attack and defense. Intermingled are the usual vague anecdotes and allegories, though I didn't find them too obnoxious. What did irk me is that the author specifically says to do a divination before working any reversals to see the outcome of such magic before you attempt it. While I can appreciate the wisdom in such a suggestion, the almost dogmatic approach can drive a person up the wall with enough repetition throughout the book. Not to mention, if I had to divine every time before I did something, I'd never get much of anything else done in my life. There were some worthy mentions that I felt curious enough to go on and look up further information regarding or add to my practice (such as sigil craft).

Anyone who is at an intermediate level of witchcraft, exploring a variety of practices, or just wants something slightly different to read, may get some value out of this book. It is dry, eclectic, and ritualistic.
85 reviews
November 14, 2011
So far it is the best book on magickal self-defense I was able to find, out of nine, specialized in this matter. Author is dedicated to help, hat off for this.

Clear and concise writing, all essentials are provided. Involves rituals of asking for protection, and tools, coming from different kinds of magick, you never know from where the problem came. Excellent. Can't say yet how helping - I'm in progress, but gives high hopes.

Other reviews noted that proper pronunciation is very important, others - that it could be found on the internet, and on author's website inominandum.com is a good passage about it in Watchtower article.

I would also recommend The Practical Psychic Self Defense Handbook: A Survival Guide by Robert Bruce, that fits in category Emergency Basics 101, Before You Leap, in not religious, no spells, no spirits soliciting way.

Again, if you know better, please advise.
Profile Image for Nightshade.
168 reviews31 followers
December 31, 2021
This book is a mixed bag.

There is no doubt Miller has an in depth knowledge of various cultural systems and the way in which they work protection magic, but there are some strange inclusions like the protection bath which uses ammonia; the inclusion of offering to incubi and succubi without an explanation as to why one would ever want to do that (I would suggest never to invite those sorts of beings as things can go extremely wrong, being that they are rather parasitic, offering to them simply serves to make them stronger, and they are no different in their attitude to witches than other people) I do wonder if this is why Miller suggests to banish every day, multiple times a day with a ceremonial ritual. Personally I feel that is overkill for most people and witches, and if you don't actively invite parasitic spirits and offer to them, you probably will do fine with once a week, or month.

Our ancestors experienced a higher than normal paranoia surrounding these things due to lack of technology and medicine. Crop failures, illness, infant mortality and other things were attributed largely to spirits or witches. As science, electricity, medicine, technology developed many of these things became ellimated or better explained.

I still feel protection and reversal magic are important factors in witchcraft, and I agree that many modern authors play down how dangerous the spirit world can be, which is hugely problematic, however I think Miller plays too heavily into the other extreme.

I am glad Miller included folk magic practices, and his rituals to Hekate were interesting from a fellow devotee. I am not a fan of the ceremonial stuff, but I am sure some people are, and these practices are included as well. However, I am wary of invoking spirits that were revealed to one devotee, and not to yourself, again things can go wrong, and if you don't have a body of lore which can help when or if you ever need to banish the spirit, it can be a hefty process. I am not keen on giving people instructions on how to work with spirits revealed in my own UPG for those reasons and many others.

Overall this is a decent introduction to protection and reversal magic, with various rituals and spells which you can employ as your taste and comfort allow, however I did scratch my head a few times and feel some things should be taken with more than just a grain of salt.
Profile Image for Breanna.
6 reviews
February 5, 2012
I must say that I bought this book on a whim. I had been trying to find a way to defend myself against other peoples emotions, I recently realized I was an empath. While this didn't help in that respect necessarily it did help me see that those strange headaches I was getting, that would niggle at one side of my head or the other for no reason at all, were in fact an attack from a disgruntled client.

What I particularly liked was the references to other older works from all over the world. Gave me plenty of ideas to do my own background research if I so choose to read further. Great compilation of rituals and daily routines to assist in keeping yourself safe from metaphysical attacks while encouraging the involvement of mundane protectors as well. i.e. informing the police when you have a stalker.

Definitely a book that will go on the bookshelf, instead of the second hand store, to be used many times over.
Profile Image for Ryan.
15 reviews
March 19, 2022
Very good information and concise! The only issue I have is that this is a white author using closed practices for black and native people that white people should not use. There are very good bits of information in here though if you can discern!
2,059 reviews18 followers
June 4, 2019
I really wanted to love this book. It focuses on protection magic from a broad range of methodologies, but still from a pagan perspective, which I really appreciate. I did like some of the personal rituals to Hecate (I'm not sure of the spelling he used, as I got this in audiobook format) the author included, but my enjoyment of the book was hampered by the author Wiccan-baiting and insistence that all the cool kids are cursing people. Similarly, though it gave examples from a number of sources, there was a lot of Hoodoo in this book, but relatively little time spent on addressing some of the more exotic ingredients mentioned for those with a different background. Ultimately, this book has some interesting information, and it's not awful, but it hasn't ended up being one of my favorites, either.
Profile Image for Jeanine.
166 reviews2 followers
July 26, 2022
I like this one, it's very geared towards everyday practical magic, and it's not nearly as ceremonial as other books of his can be.
Profile Image for Krisanne Lane.
239 reviews1 follower
September 18, 2021
I thought this was very good. The book has a comprehensive plan for protecting yourself against magickal attack, as well as counter measures and cleanup after the fact. The book calls itself "Beyond 101," but I'm not quite sure I would go that far. It stops short of full rituals for things like exorcisms or soul retrieval, which is a perfectly acceptable decision by the author, but most of the information is just a step above basic. That's not to say it's not useful. On the contrary, I think the way the book is laid out makes it a very usable book.

My criticism is mainly that Miller draws from a wide variety of traditions, such that most practitioners would not be intimately familiar with all of them. He acknowledges this himself towards the end. Despite seeming like he is attempting to appeal to everyone, Jason Miller actually uses most of these in his own practice. I also would say that Miller's liberal use of UPG (unverified personal gnosis) in the rituals he provides is not my cup of tea. Again, this is not to say it's not effective. I'm sure it is. And one could take what is presented and tweak it to make it their own, which is what I plan to do, as well as do further research on some of the rituals mentioned.

The regular practices suggested, (meditation, banishing, and offerings) will definitely be helpful to any practitioner. There is something here for everyone. There are a LOT of ideas about how to protect yourself in different ways. It's also a very easy, quick read. This is absolutely a book to have on your shelf as a reference.
Profile Image for meg.
100 reviews7 followers
July 30, 2021
Writing: ❤❤❤❤
Content: ❤❤❤
Enjoyability: ❤❤❤
Overall: ❤❤❤

Summary:
As a witch, I had higher hopes for the content presented within this book. While a lot of the information was useful, there was a lot of information I was already aware of. This may be a better book for beginners, however, I recommend you do your own research and only take what feels right for you. The most important point I should mention is Jason's encouragement to create a foundation of personal protection through meditation, banishing, and offering. The writing style Jason Miller uses is very accessible to everybody, which I highly appreciated but I think it did make the reading experience less enjoyable for me. He uses many personal anecdotes from his own experience which gives the reader a better understanding. He also provides a lot of rituals and spells, most of which I honestly did not care for but I think they are good to get inspired by what rituals and spells you may want to incorporate. If you are more advanced in magic/magick or witchcraft, I'd say you could skip this one but it will probably stay on my shelf as a reference book.
Profile Image for BJ.
84 reviews8 followers
January 7, 2022
This is a fantastic book not only for those currently practicing or interested in practicing witchcraft in the modern world, but also for those with intellectual curiosity regarding the subject and its subtle workings. In addition to rituals and practices, there is a fair amount of lore from various traditions in this book, as well as interesting anecdotes from the author's personal experiences.

My only criticism is that I would have liked a little more detail, or additional exercises, on visualization and intention. To be fair, that type of subject matter may be considered more basic, and the book implies that it is more of a supplement to discuss topics that some of the more marketable texts avoid mentioning.
Profile Image for Samantha.
32 reviews
February 22, 2025
I think 3.75 ⭐⭐⭐💫
While I am taking many aspects of this book with a grain of salt, it does feel like a deeper look into the craft in a sea of surface level texts. I think the level required to pursue some methods is beyond my current ability or outside my desired practice. I don't necessarily feel comfortable calling deities (or giving offerings to demons... No), and I think there is some fear mongering here -
But certain rituals were fascinating to learn about in greater depth and they were actually explained at the very least!
Cause for further study.


Also, so weird, the end of the book the author talks about finishing writing on Candlemas, which is today for me! the same day I finished reading it! Just worth noting.
Profile Image for Autumn Sulick.
56 reviews5 followers
October 8, 2023
This book is HEAVILY CEREMONIAL, so as a beginner, or a folk practitioner like myself, be aware going into this book that you may not take everything exactly as it is written into your practice. HOWEVER, everything he wrote, I learned from! Jason Miller has an extremely different practice from my own but he is a wealth of knowledge and personally I found it deeply intriguing to gain a glimpse into a ceremonial practitioner’s craft! Despite our drastically different ways of executing our magick, I felt very connected to this material and I’ve been able to incorporate a lot of new things and new ideas that were inspired by his work into my own craft! Ceremonial, folk practice, eclectic, whatever you identify with, you will gain something from this book!!! Be it whole rituals, routines, historical knowledge, or inspiration for your own new ideas; or all of the above like myself! I gave it four stars simply because the fact that it is SO heavily ceremonial did make it feel a little foreign to me and some parts were easier to connect with than others. Despite the author frequently warning against it and making it clear that you don’t have to do everything exactly as he does, I think many newer practitioners could easily fall under the impression that you have to be able to dedicate that much time and do such elaborate rituals and recite such elaborate incantations (multiple pages long in many instances) in order to be a valid practitioner and I think many people start with protection magic in order to venture into this new path safely and I think that if someone lacks the time or connection to these rituals they may just turn away from finding their own craft all together because it is a lot to take in if you’re not already somewhat aware of different general paths of witchcraft and know that there are options and ways to apply this information in a way that is more realistic for your lifestyle. But that’s really my only concern! The content itself is fantastic if you know what you are trying to learn from this book and how to determine what your limits and comforts are without feeling incomparable. I think Jason Miller is a wonderful teacher and a very VERY well studied practitioner that offers amazing historical insight into everything he teaches!!! I’d love to read more from this author in the future!
Profile Image for Kitn.
90 reviews1 follower
October 16, 2024
Interesting but too many practices devoted to hekate, I get that's their chosen deity but I was hoping for more in the way of generic protection rituals. I do appreciate these books that are more candid about practical advice than just magic through cooking or taking a nice bath or "love and light" 🙄 I will see what else this author has to offer.
Profile Image for Kirby Coe.
116 reviews20 followers
June 30, 2017
Really interesting

I am glad I read this book. Eclectic and intriguing. Even the stuff I won't be doing personally sparked my creativity and gave me some insight and knowledge on the different ways various people think and believe.
Profile Image for Thomas Pinneck.
66 reviews6 followers
September 27, 2024
Jason Miller’s Protection & Reversal Magick is a powerful and practical resource that stands as one of the definitive guides on defensive magic for modern practitioners. Unlike many books that focus solely on offensive spellcasting, this manual addresses a crucial aspect of the craft that is often overlooked—how to protect yourself from magical attacks, identify when you are being targeted, and effectively neutralize threats before they escalate. With his characteristic clarity and no-nonsense approach, Miller provides a comprehensive toolkit for dealing with hostile energies and reinforcing your magical boundaries.

From the outset, Protection & Reversal Magick distinguishes itself by tackling real-world issues that many witches, magicians, and rootworkers face. Miller’s emphasis on prevention and early detection is a breath of fresh air in a genre that often leans more heavily on reactive measures. He equips readers with a layered approach to defense that includes everything from household wards and protective talismans to more sophisticated techniques like creating decoys and establishing psychic shields. This multi-faceted approach ensures that practitioners can tailor their defenses based on the severity of the threat and the specific circumstances at hand.

Miller’s experience and expertise shine through in his detailed explanations of how to diagnose and respond to magical attacks. His guidance on recognizing the symptoms of curses, hexes, and psychic intrusions is invaluable, giving readers a clear framework for determining whether a run of bad luck is just that, or something more sinister. By breaking down the mechanics of these attacks, he demystifies the process and empowers readers to take control of their own protection.

One of the standout sections of the book is Miller’s focus on reversing and neutralizing harmful magic. He doesn’t just offer counter-curses or banishing rituals—he teaches the reader how to turn the tables, reflecting negative energy back to its source without harming oneself in the process. This balanced approach is key, ensuring that readers are equipped to defend themselves while minimizing the risk of escalation or backlash.

Miller’s inclusion of techniques for various magical traditions—ranging from folk magic to ceremonial systems—adds a level of versatility that makes this book accessible to a broad audience. Whether you are a witch, rootworker, or ceremonial magician, Protection & Reversal Magick offers something for everyone. His pragmatic style makes the material easy to follow, yet it is rich enough in content to provide valuable insights even for advanced practitioners. Protection & Reversal Magick is more than just a manual for self-defense—it is a call to proactive magical practice. Miller encourages readers to establish a solid foundation of protection that they maintain even in times of peace, treating defense not as an emergency measure, but as a core component of one’s magical practice. For those serious about safeguarding themselves and their loved ones, this book is a must-have addition to the library. With its practical advice, clear instructions, and comprehensive scope, Protection & Reversal Magick remains a cornerstone text for anyone looking to master the art of magical protection.
Profile Image for Jessica Nightshade.
62 reviews
September 26, 2024
Protection & Reversal Magick by Jason Miller is the second book of his that I’ve read, and it’s just as impressive as the first. Miller dives deep into the often-overlooked area of magical defense, providing a practical and thorough guide on how to protect yourself, recognize signs of attack, and reverse harmful magick aimed your way. Whether you're dealing with curses, psychic attacks, or just want to strengthen your protective wards, this book is packed with techniques that are accessible yet incredibly effective.

I appreciated how Miller breaks everything down in a clear, straightforward manner, making it easy to follow whether you’re a witch, ceremonial magician, or someone looking to incorporate magick into your life for practical purposes. His emphasis on prevention and building an early warning system is something I hadn’t encountered before, and it adds a valuable layer to the typical protection techniques found in other books. I’m really looking forward to exploring more of his work after this, as both books I’ve read so far have been insightful and immediately applicable to my practice. Five stars without hesitation—if you’re looking for a solid guide on magical defense, this is the book to get!
Profile Image for B.D.
14 reviews1 follower
August 24, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. It had a lot of good information on protection magick and other practices to incorporate it into protection. It's definitely a good book if you're looking to learn about protection and to even expand your knowledge a little bit. However, my gripe is that a lot of the spells are inspired off of Hekate and some of the ingredients listed in spells are hard to find. I know that the author works/worships Hekate and therefore wants to put in some things about her, but I just got a little sick and tired of it, especially since I don't interact with her. And also, again, some of the ingredients listed aren't very easy to find or to obtain depending on where you live, and would have to be bought at specialty stores or grown yourself to obtain the herbs. I also didn't really like how the spells were laid out on the pages. But that's about it, still a really good book.
124 reviews
February 2, 2022
4.85!
This is the best occult book I have ever read.
Not only does he encourage you to do everything based on your own path and understanding or magic, but he really kicks it in the ass when it comes to including the many traditions.
This is the book I’ve been looking for my whole practice. So few books include things like magical defense and healing, it’s really unfortunate.

The information in this book is accessible and accurate as far as I can tell from follow up research.
He provides many follow up books to read on the many different traditions mentioned within. And the techniques and spells provided are well written and explained.

The only reason this isn’t a 5 star review is because I wish he would have provided a means of curse removal that was not turning it back on the originator or confusing them. Just plain old removal would have been a good addition.
Profile Image for Kylie.
23 reviews6 followers
July 30, 2024
I had listened to Jason Miller's content on a number of Podcasts and was looking forward to reading this book (recommended by my husband, who is a huge fan of Miller's work).

I'd say that for someone starting out on this path, it is a lot to absorb. I found some of the spells were quite in-depth.

There is a lot of Ceremonial work and working with Hecate - nothing wrong with either of these topics, I just don't practice that way!
Miller also refers to a lot of Vodou - which is a closed practice. These things were probably where I lost interest in continuing the book.

The chapter on healing and self-care was well written, and Miller gets massive 👏 for recommending people seek professional/medical help if needed.

Overall, I do recommend reading as there is a lot of content on protective magick.
Profile Image for Sannie Razhel.
10 reviews
August 6, 2024
This book is a wonderful & very comprehensive manual on the basics of starting your witchcraft journey covering meditation, banishing, protection, warding, exorcising, & much more. If you've felt overwhelmed by the terminology used everywhere else, this book breaks everything down into easy to digest portions that are easy to flip through & find if you're lost. It covered many different religions & cultures making it a relatable learning guide for most.

My only gripes are that the rituals are very heavily focused on ceremonial magick involving envisioning, something that not everyone can easily achieve. It's also very focused on involving Hekate or other angels or elements, which might be challenging for those who wish to not work them.

Overall, it is a great read to get your basics right and to develop a strong foundation in your craft.
Profile Image for George  Samsung .
1 review
May 1, 2025
I read the newest 2024 edition with the author's updates. I get the impression that Miller himself isn't entirely sure of what he's claiming. In many chapters, he seems to contradict himself or gives conflicting information. For example, he might say something is very dangerous and then immediately state that it’s not that dangerous after all.

Miller is an eclectic witch/magician, like me. I really appreciated that he draws from many cultures and traditions. The book is good, but not exhaustive. It’s not really suitable for beginners, yet at the same time, more experienced witches won’t learn much from it either. It feels more like Miller’s personal opinions than a true practical guide.

In summary, I do recommend reading it and getting familiar with it. I personally found some inspiration in it—a new recipe for a cleansing bath and a new prayer to Hecate.
Profile Image for Amber.
3,565 reviews41 followers
September 10, 2021
A pretty good resource but not as all encompassing as I had hoped. I kept looking for certain concepts and didn't see them. Miller touches on a method but doesn't entirely expand all of them, just lists ideas or nods at tbem. (For example, the witch's bottle is mentioned but doesn't offer enough information on how to make one)

Miller invokes hoodoo, chaos magick, and..
like Tibetan magic?? He also works with Hecate. So refreshing eclectic and if any of that interests you, this resource may help you more than me, because if you don't, say, work with Hecate, the rituals are not as helpful.

Also, I'm surprised Dion Fortune's Psychic Self-Defense wasn't mentioned!

Overall, good information present, valuable further reading suggestions, and a good starter.
Profile Image for Dora Amalia.
117 reviews
June 19, 2022
For someone who bases their workings around ceremonial magick and rituals with spoken prayers, as well as Hekatean practitioners, I feel this book would be perfect, as it is incredibly detailed.

I'm not entirely sure of the author's background and whether this was simply a sign of the times as this was published 16 years ago, but there were several instances throughout the book that felt like delving into closed practices, which should not be recommended. Of course, I do believe that most practices in this book are a bit more advanced than any beginner would likely attempt.

Overall, it's not for me, but I understand its value for those who practice in a similar way as the author does.
Profile Image for Rogue Blackwood.
179 reviews6 followers
September 1, 2020
It is refreshing to find a Protection Magick book designed for Intermediate to Advanced Practitioners. I think everyone that practices magick will find some gold in this book. And I love Jason Miller states that these rituals and spells can and even should be tailored to work with your own deities and spirits.

It's quite an eclectic mix of different manners and methods to deal with the subject. You are bound to see something new or at least different. I recommend this highly even to beginners! Everyone that practices magick should be able to efficiently protect themselves and have access to reversals when necessary.
Profile Image for NebulousGloom (FK).
619 reviews13 followers
June 13, 2023
This book gives really clear information on magical defense and healing. I think it is helpful both for those who are having actual problems that require magical defense, as well as writers who want to write about magic in a more authentic way. I was impressed by how often the author pointed out that mental health professionals should be consulted and that some people make money telling you that you are cursed and promising to fix it. It was also very interesting to read about how the trends in the magical community have changed since the first edition was published.
Profile Image for Jenna Victoria.
111 reviews1 follower
September 21, 2021
The only qualm I have is the author does not express even more caution about practicing traditions such as hoodoo without initiation. He mentions it briefly but not enough imo. However I still decided to give this book five stars bc I cannot disagree with the fact that this is a tricky subject. No matter how ppl want to spin it now.
So five stars bc the info is that essential for a witch or any other folk practitioner to know.
Profile Image for Krystine.
33 reviews
September 24, 2022
Overall this was a very insightful book filled with a lot of helpful tips. I know this is usually recommended for “beginners,” but I will go ahead and say that there are some verbiage that could be considered confusing, as well as a few ingredients that could be rather difficult for anyone to find in the “regular” world. Definitely a book you’ll need to read more than once but it does have very thorough indexes.
Profile Image for Johnny.
60 reviews
September 28, 2022
I would venture to say this is the best and easiest to utilize book on protection magick that I've come across in my thirty years of queer witchery. For any practitioner that doesn't want to dawdle around with the cliquey, meddlesome circles that can exist in local witchcraft, this is a good tome for the introverted hermit. If you are meddlesome yourself, then you may have different need for this toolkit.
Profile Image for Queen Aries.
129 reviews1 follower
February 6, 2023
I personally wouldn’t recommend for really new witches simply because this author works with several deities in the book. If you have never worked with deities then I recommend doing more research before picking up this book. With that being said, I loved this book a lot. It had lots of helpful information & defensive magic. I think all witches need to read this book at some point in their practice.
Profile Image for Megan Thomas.
1,021 reviews13 followers
March 12, 2023
This is, hands down, the best book on protection and reversal magic I've read so far!

Jason writes in an approachable way, and many of the spells, rituals, and practices outlined could easily be adapted across several traditions.

As someone who already works with Hekate, I found this book especially well-aligned with my beliefs and spiritual practice. I plan to keep this book close for ongoing reference as needed!
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