Heathens, Pagans and Witches discussion

I thought it would be really useful to have a thread for discussing protection and cleansing. As I know next to nothing about either, I'm hoping to draw out some of our more experienced members to put forth their thoughts and/or methods. Any takers? :)

I spent a lot of time and read a lot of books researching this topic last summer. I'm going to take a look and see what I found most useful. For the most part, I'm pretty basic--I always wear or carry black tourmaline, and I'm a big believer in smudging with sage.

That being said, I have also made use of mirror boxes and maintain a crystal grid around my house as a protective shield.

I'm also interested in what others have worked with and found successful. You never know when it might come in handy.

Great Sara. :) Links and books would be very useful for further reading.

I really like the smudging idea, it is in keeping with the Aboriginal smoking ceremony, and the Catholic use of censers, also the Taoist idea of burning incense and laughing in all the corners of a room to cleanse it (I think it's Taoist...). Smudge sticks also smell so lovely. Mine has white sage, lavender and blue gum leaves, among others.

I guess that protection and cleansing are things one may not think of until they're needed - very interested to hear from those with experience of them and their effectiveness.

I did read Dion Fortune's Psychic Self-Defense a few months ago, but specific instructions seem to be absent.

Indeed, Nell, that's been my experience with many of the books. Detailed instructions are lacking. Fortunately, I have some good friends who guided me through a couple of the protections I use. LOL, even they neglected to tell me that the mirrors for a mirror box need to be square. I can be such a dummy sometimes. :-) Of course rectangles don't work. :-)

I'm going to try the link thing--I'm not very good at it. I'm guessing Gina can clean it up for me if I make a mess.

I have used smudging quite a lot, whenever a room/space feels off. I use sage to cleanse bad energy, sweetgrass to invite in good energy. I smudge myself first: encircling my body with the smoke in several passes, from head to toe. I was also taught pass it between my legs so all openings are covered. :-) Then I move about the room or space, making sure every corner gets a good dose. I also smudge items that I use for sacred work or protection.

I have also used statues of the four archangels for a particularly troublesome room, one angel placed in a niche on each wall, for each direction. The energy is really good in there now. I got the statues from Sacred Source (billed as "gnostic angels"), but the statues are not as important as the idea they represent, I don't think. They are a way of focusing energy. Going and coming, I guess. I'm not Christian, but I don't think you have to be to get some benefit from that focus.

I've used amethyst in the past to protect against bad energy. Again, it has worked as a focus point when I've felt "hectored" by bad dreams or unable to sleep. It's always been very calming to me.

I always use white sage for cleansing, either as a smudge stick or I burn the white sage straight onto a charcoal block. I also make my own cleansing incenses which seem to work well.

Oh, I was also taught that juniper is also good for smudging and getting rid of the negative.

I'm loving this thread. :) I think it will be a really useful reference point too.

I agree with you Minsma about belief or the idea being an important part of cleansing rituals, and the statues being a way of focussing energy, regardless of whether you are a Christian or not.

Megan can I ask what you use in your cleansing incenses?

Hi little, I use frankincense, cedar, myrrh and sandalwood in my cleansing incense. It is amazing. A great book for magical recipes is Scott cunning hams complete book of incense, oils and brews. This book was recommended to me by an amazing witch I have known for a while. Although I practically know the book off by heart, I always manage to find something new in it xx

Sounds like an exquisite smelling mix Megan. :) Thanks, adding that book to the thread and to my own to-read list. :):)

The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews by Scott Cunningham

You are welcome little. The incense smells amazing and it works very well. I would love to be able to make blends like this and many more for people, it is quite hard to do where I live in New Zealand, not to many people around who are comfortable with our ways. The book though is fantastic. Enjoy x

Seeking out a copy now. And greetings from across the Tasman Sea. :)

I wanted to get back to this discussion and provide some of the references that I have found useful.

"The Witch's Shield: Protection Magick and Psychic Self Defense", Christopher Penczak Christopher covers all the bases and this is a good, basic introduction, as many of his books are. I picked up a few tidbits here.

"Spiritual Protection: A Safety Manual for Energy Workers, Healers and Psychics" by Sophie Reicher. The warding and shielding sections were useful to me, and the bibliography is especially helpful in identifying additional resources. Recommended blogs and websites is also a good resource.

A third book I read last year was "Protection and Reversal Magick (Beyond 101)" by Jason Miller. He has a particular point of view which might not be for all, however this does indeed go beyond 101.

This website was recommended to me by a close friend, and it has good information. Catherine Yronwode offers coursework as well. www.luckymojo.com

I also considered, and did not read Ted Andrews' book on the subject. I use two of his other books routinely, and can't say why I didn't pick this one. Sometimes we're guided to what is needed at the time. Hope this list helps.

Great Sara. :) Adding the links now:

The Witch's Shield: Protection Magick and Psychic Self-Defense by Christopher Penczak

Spiritual Protection: A Safety Manual for Energy Workers, Healers, and Psychics by Sophie Reicher

Last book not found on GR yet, but I believe this is the author: Jason Miller

Little wrote: "Great Sara. :) Adding the links now:

The Witch's Shield: Protection Magick and Psychic Self-Defense by Christopher Penczak

Spiritual Protection: A Safety Manual For Energy Workers, Healers, And P..."

Yes, the first two are correct. It looks like the Goodreads link to Jason Miller covers more than one author. The Jason Miller I refer to has two other books of which I'm aware, The Sorcerer's Secrets and Financial Sorcery.

Sara wrote: "Little wrote: "Great Sara. :) Adding the links now:

The Witch's Shield: Protection Magick and Psychic Self-Defense by Christopher Penczak

Spiritual Protection: A Safety Manual For Energy Workers,..."

When I get a chance Sara, I'll switch profiles and put on my librarians hat to fix it, or take it to the librarians group. I've found a run of issues like that recently. There are two Kubler-Ross profiles and two Reicher profiles, both spelt differently. :/ I could spend days on GR with that sort of stuff, and have done before, but not today. :)

Actually I'll have to edit one of those links now as it goes to the wrong Reicher profile (spelt Reichter)...

Personal: I have a piece of jewellery that I use as an amulet for protection, and other things, as well as performing a daily shield visualisation, which I have personalised over the years from various sources.

Home: I have created barriers to the yard using a technique I read in a book relating to Irish witchcraft; outside the front door I have placed a rowan, though there was already a hawthorn bush next to the door; I have buried a jar on the property using witch bottles for inspiration; and, indoors, whenever I do an autumn/spring clean, I use salt to cleanse/protect all entrances to my home and do a saining, burning juniper to complete. There are other bits and pieces in place, too, which I have incorporated over the years.

I would definitely recommend reading Defences Against the Witches' Craft by John Canard for ideas.

Thanks Ancestral, these are great, the link included! Adding that book to my to-read list too. :):)

Apotropaios is a good resource forthe types of items people put into their homes for protection from evil, which may provide ideas.

Thanks, looking up that link now. :):)

For cleansing, herbal salt baths--which sound damn fine to me.

Hi! I will be moving home on Feb, 25th. The whole process is proving to be very challenging and stressful, but now that the day is coming I really want a fresh start.

I haven't got the time for reading right now, but I want to introduce myself soon to this knowledge you have been discussing in this thread. I want to develop my own protection and ritual.

At this very moment, I would like some tip of what I could do in my new home, something simple for a real beginner. I intend to buy a Sage plant, I have some incense... I think I will make some good intentions, put on a relaxing music and burn an incense.

If somebody has anything to add, I would appreciate.

If you have a lovely tinkly bell, ring it all around each room as well. All best wishes for a happy move to your new home :)

Have a look at the above links and info from Ancestral too Luciana. Some very good ideas. I smudge fairy often, even outside, for instance the goat house in which things kept dying (after both goats suddenly died last year). I also use salt to protect or cleanse the entrances to our house too. I really like the bell idea, and also laughing in all the corners of each room of a new house, and burning incense.

Thank you! I'll do it for sure.

Little wrote: "I smudge fairy often, even outside, ..."

I have to ask: how does fairy react to being smudged? ;D

Ancestral wrote: "Little wrote: "I smudge fairy often, even outside, ..."

I have to ask: how does fairy react to being smudged? ;D"

Whoops....:D I seem to be away with them a lot lately...

I actually took the original post as read rather than a typo and thought Gina knew of some obscure protection ritual I'd never come across :D

Oh, it made me giggle. :D

:D:D Me too. (And I suspect fairy would have been very miffed indeed.)

I somehow imagined that smudging might diffuse their mischief or keep it at bay - some hope :D

Think I'll go the way of respectful placation. A tad safer. :D

Luciana wrote: "Hi! I will be moving home on Feb, 25th. The whole process is proving to be very challenging and stressful, but now that the day is coming I really want a fresh start.

I engagement got the time for re..."
Hi if your moving into a new house i would make a few reccomendations.
Smudging, as the smoke diccipates so does the bad energy it has atracted to it.
Plant a rowan treee by your entrance,i have 2 plants outside my front door that i put rowan berries in which i renue every couple of years. I also put shavings from my willow branches. ( from making wands) in my pots.
Salt is also good for protection, either salt with added herbs or black salt that you have made, this would go around the parimiter of your house.blessed salt is best made at the right astral time and using protection herbs,blessed ?on your alter while asking protection from whichever god you use.
I also use gargoyles and pentagram s etc hope this helps jule

made some black salt using a new cauldron that i had been itching to use.
used some around the perimeter of my home and some went into tiny glass bottles with cork tops which were sealed with sealing wax and a tiny ribbon,i should have glued them in as well as they can come undone if left in your bag as my son found out.

here is a link that explains what black salt is
http://www.examiner.com/article/black...
hope this clarifies what it is.

Jule wrote: "here is a link that explains what black salt is
http://www.examiner.com/article/black...
hope this clarifies what it is."

Thanks for this link Brian. Have saved the recipe.

There's something sold at my general store which is called black salt, (when translated from Hindi directly) but I'm not sure if it's the same thing. It's actually pink in colour and smells strongly of sulfur. I use it in cooking a lot.

Aaron wrote: "There's something sold at my general store which is called black salt, (when translated from Hindi directly) but I'm not sure if it's the same thing. It's actually pink in colour and smells strongl..."

Thats right there are two types of black salt, the sort you can cook with and the sort you costom make for protection. I,ve not yet come across the salt you use but if i do i,ll definitely buy some to use as the sulfur taste sounds interesting.

I burn incense (mostly lavender) and cleanse my room and pray as I go, praying for negative energies to dissipate and for safety then I go to my shrine and pray for it to be holy for use. Once I am done I put it out and do offerings (if I have offerings I cleanse those with the incense also) then I prey my pounding my first on the ground (because Hades is my main God (I also pray to Persephone and a few other Greek Gods/Goddesses).

I smoke cleanse about once a month to flush out any baddies that might be trying to take up residence in my home and energy, and I employ the use of sigils quite often too.

I need some advice. We recently had my 16 yr old son hospitalized. He was cutting his self and stated that he didn't see the he didn't see the point in living. Well, once he got there he stated that he was seeing a black figure in his room and that it followed him to the hospital.
Please, what should I do?

Rachel, in a situation like that, I'd recommend having a serious talk with your son. Ask him why he hurt himself and if he's seen this black figure. I normally cleanse by burning lavender flowers and bitter herbs such as hyssop and licorice root--but in a dire situation like this, I'd want to have a serious conversation with him, first.

Erin,
We already have According to him this figure followed him to The Tau Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I have decided however to do a full cleansing on the entire cottage {all 1000 square foot of it LOL}. He says the figure doesn't talk to him or scare him at all. But, I can't help but wondering if it is what's causing his issues and what got him to start cutting.

Well then, I'd recommend either burning some black salt on some incense charcoal in the corners of his bedroom or simply setting it in some bowls.

Black salt is easy to make. You simply take regular salt (I like using the purest) and charcoal and mix it together until it's all blended into a gray, crystalline powder.

I find it to really work. After I give a room a good cleaning (as in dusting and the works), I set black salt in all the corners to cleanse and purify the room. I also like lighting herbal incense or beeswax candles to give it a scintillating scent.

Black salt is also a great aid for dreams. That and lighting lavender incense just before you go to bed.

I also want to say I don't know if it'll keep him from his tendencies, but if you think it's linked to the black figure he claims to see then maybe this will work.

It's possible that this figure is a Shadow Person - they tend to show up around people who are suffering or dealing with a lot of personal stuff. The theories hold that they feed on the negative energies of people, but no one can say definitively if they help or harm or do nothing but simply exist.

Usually, the first course of action I take when dealing with an unknown entity is just telling it, verbally, to bugger off.

Lower astral entity. Feed off fear. Blood letting not good either, attracts them. I have read a lot to say that they do harm, if they can, or get a way in. Agree with Michaela, tell it to bugger off, be angry. Don't let your son feel fear either. They can't get to you if you don't let them--this is a key point. But once you've been angry, send it on it's way with laugher, in all corners of the house, as anger linked with fear, and is only first tool.

Rachel wrote: "I need some advice. We recently had my 16 yr old son hospitalized. He was cutting his self and stated that he didn't see the he didn't see the point in living. Well, once he got there he stated tha..."

Rachel - that sounds like a deeper matter than just saging a home. My guess is there is entity attachment. I hope you can find someone skilled at entity removal (and they usually can do cord cutting and other energywork on the person).