Protection Spells are intended to prevent, protect, and repel danger. Many find this category confusing so let’s be very clear: there is no magic spell that functions exactly like an armed response guard one might hire from a personal security service. Magical protection spells provide magical protection. They create an aura that enhances other protective methods. If you are concerned about actual physical danger, magic reinforces other methods but does not replace them. If you are seriously concerned about your apartment being robbed, for instance, it doesn’t matter how many powerful spells you cast, how many amulets you post at the entrance, if you don’t also lock doors and windows. Magic doesn’t offer license to defy laws of Nature or common sense.
According to occult wisdom, however, there are many kinds of danger in the world. Locking your door may prevent a human thief. However, certain dangers can only be repelled by magical methods. These dangers include:
Incorporate the following into spells as desired:
Although these dangers derive from magical and spiritual roots, they may manifest in very physical ways, as illness, accidents, and general disaster. However, because their derivation is at least partly magical, prevention and remedies must also be, at least partly, magical.
Anti-bewitchment spells create a protective shield, an aura of invulnerability against malevolent magic. They prevent the casting of enchantment against you, however they may not remove a hex already cast. Hex-antidotes or reversing spells are required instead.
This formula from ancient Mesopotamia to protect against malevolent magic is particularly beneficial if a future personal encounter with evil sorcery is anticipated.
Aloe vera’s leaves, filled with healing, soothing gel, are shaped like spears. Maintain living plants on your altar for spiritual protection, especially if working with volatile entities or dangerous spirits.
Carry dried heather sewn up in a sachet to magically guard against rape and sexual assault. (This enhances but, of course, does not replace more conventional safety precautions.)
Strategically arrange blue crystal gemstones around the home or area you wish to protect, creating a magical boundary to keep out evil.
Many botanicals weave an aura of protection, including the ones that follow. Create your own protection spells by incorporating them. Try betony, black cohosh, cactus, calamus/sweet flag, fig leaf, five-finger grass/cinquefoil, garlic, hyssop, lavender, mugwort, peppermint, roses, rue, Saint John’s Wort, snake root, stinging nettles, tormentil, vervain, wormwood, and yarrow.
Hollow out the bottom of a black, blue, or red candle. Stuff it full of basic protection botanicals and burn the loaded candle.
According to myth, the bay laurel tree offered the Delphic pythoness Daphne an avenue of escape when fleeing rape. Place at least one bay leaf in each corner of every room to create an aura of protection.
Bells protect against evil. Their ringing causes many malicious spirits to flee and they are thus a primary component of exorcism rites. It’s not only their ringing tones that repel evil; bells, like broomsticks and mortars and pestles, are a discreet metaphor for the reproductive act. Creative acts of life counteract forces of destruction. For this protective ritual, four silver or iron bells are required.
Although different botanicals provide different facets of magical protection, certain plants, especially in combination, provide a fearsome shielding aura, prevailing against evil from all sources.
Allegedly, evil and malevolent forces cannot exist in the presence of the following botanicals:
Lavender
Patchouli
Rue
The following nine herbs allegedly withstand and protect against all spiritual and magical dangers:
Plant them around the perimeter of the area needing protection, ideally in a circle. Maintain living plants in pots that may be arranged in a circle, if and when necessary. In times of spiritual danger, sit within that circle.
The equivalent of the thicket around Sleeping Beauty’s castle, a boundary of tall prickly cactus around your home casts an aura of protective banishing against humans and spirits alike.
An incredibly simple yet remarkably protective spell is accomplished by casting a circle. Children’s games, such as tag, often designate an area as “safe”; once the child has reached the designated area, the opportunity exists to take respite. Casting the circle is similar: the space within the circle is designated as “safe.” No malevolent spiritual force can touch or harm you while within the circle. The materials used to cast the circle enhance this power.
In addition to personal protective magic circles, circles are traditionally cast to contain threshold experiences as well as whatever is perceived as potentially vulnerable:
This is the very simplest protection spell of all. Cast a circle around you. (In other words, stand within while drawing the circle, rather than casting from outside, intending to jump inside when the circle is complete.) Sit in the center until you feel it’s safe to come out.
Protective materials sufficient to cast a circle large enough to contain you comfortably may not be at hand when most needed. Draw a circle around yourself with a hazel branch. Hold onto that branch so that the circle’s boundaries may be adjusted and reinforced as needed.
Wreaths are circles, too. The form as well as the material used for construction contributes to a wreath’s protective powers. Pick primroses and convolvulus on May Day. Make wreaths and hang them to protect against evil.
Visible circles aren’t necessarily more effective, however, their clear boundaries may provide additional peace of mind for the person within as well as security: you’re less likely to accidentally venture outside the perimeter if you can see it.
Regardless what material is used to cast a circle, it’s crucial that the circle be unbroken. Powerfully protective circles may be cast from the following:
Absinthe
Amber chunks or beads
Chalk
Charcoal
Coral
Cornmeal
Fiery Wall of Protection powder
Flour
Henna powder
Jet
Pemba
Red brick dust or red ochre
Rice flour
Rum
Salt
Tobacco
Turquoise
Vervain
Vermilion
Whiskey
Wormwood
Certain circle-casting materials, when combined, create a synergistic, exponentially increased magical effect. Cast a circle of alternating coral and jet. Substitute amber for coral if desired, or combine all three.
For extra fortification and maximum power, create double concentric circles: one circle within the other. Fill the narrow border between the two circles with protective amulets or salt.
Black crystals are used to create a shield against evil and danger. Any black crystal absorbs anger, danger, evil, and malevolence, however black tourmalines are believed to repel it.
Holed stones or holey stones—naturally holed pebbles—are also known as witch stones. In magical terms, they are as precious as any rare gem: they provide protection against malevolent magic, famine, storms at sea, and general spiritual disaster.
String a holed stone onto red cord or a silver chain. Wear around your neck during the day, hang onto your walls and bedposts at night.
The root, devil’s shoestrings, is used to provide magical protection. The following two spells are most effective if cast in conjunction with each other.
Nine roots of equal length are required; they can’t be cut to size. Knot them into a bracelet, blessing, affirming, and petitioning with each knot.
Grind up devil’s shoestrings and blend them with arrowroot powder. Sprinkle the powder in your clothing drawers, around your bed, and over your thresholds for round-the-clock protection.
Thresholds are always places of combined power and vulnerability. The threshold of a home, the front entrance, is particularly vulnerable. Where does both bad and good news most typically enter the home? Right through the front door. Reinforce with protective measures. Door guardians are objects chosen for the protective magic that they radiate. Typically placed by the entrance facing outwards, they stand ready to battle and repel any approaching threat or evil.
With the exception of the Holy Child, under whose deceptively sweet demeanor a primordial spirit hides, these are fierce, threatening, even frightening images—but they’re door guards after all. Who gets hired to work as a club bouncer: a cute, little kid or a big bruiser? What type of dog is most typically on guard duty: a miniature poodle or a rottweiller? The fiercer, the more frightening the image, the more profound the protection offered by your door guardian.
Place living aloe vera plants over the door, rather than beside it, to provide magical, spiritual protection.
Blackthorn is a small tree with profound magical connections. Associated with witchcraft, it’s also among the fairies’ favorite botanicals. As you’re requesting blessings of protection, it’s particularly important to request permission from the tree, explain your intent, and offer gifts and libations.
Create a rod from a blackthorn branch. Keep the shape simple or embellish with protective runes, symbols, and sigils. Hang it over the door to refuse entry to mischief, misfortune, and evil and malicious spells.
Technically the gargouille was a seventh-century water-spouting (as opposed to fire-breathing) dragon (think “gargle”) that lived in the River Seine and was slain upon orders of the local bishop. Although the use of animal-shaped water-spouts dates back to ancient Egypt, Etruria, and Greece, the term “gar-goyle” reemerged in eleventh-century Western Europe as the name given to functional but decorative rain spouts, carved in the form of grotesque creatures. Because they most frequently adorn churches and cathedrals, they, like the sheela na gig, are mysterious, evocative, surviving vestiges of paganism. Gargoyles give the appearance of demons but offer spiritual protection rather than harm. It’s believed that they are guardian spirits, magically preserved in stone; in the face of evil, however, they will break free to do battle.
In the past few decades, gargoyles have been adapted to serve as door guardians. Free-standing reproductions of famed gargoyles are available. You may also craft your own. Gargoyles do not have to be placed at the front door; consider your most vulnerable points and place gargoyles appropriately. Gargoyles also apparently enjoy each other’s company; there cannot be too many. Place them as needed in combinations that evoke a sense of security. According to legend, winged gargoyles can fly; feel free to move them around as desired.
In Asian magical tradition, tigers are the fierce sworn enemies of evil spirits. They are also animals closely associated with warrior spirits and witchcraft: a tiger’s magical knowledge is as great as its bravery and physical prowess. All are put to good use when the tiger serves as a door guardian.
According to Chinese schools of magic, it’s not advisable to maintain images of tigers within the home; because of their fierce, uncontrollable nature, they have a tendency to stimulate havoc. Instead post an image of one by the entrance door, either a paper image attached to the door or a statue beside the door to provide spiritual protection. The tiger must be looking away from the home searching for danger.
The doorstep marks the literal threshold. It is a particularly vulnerable spot. Many hexes involve what is called “dusting the doorstep.” The spell is activated by leaving its remnants or other magic materials at the target’s front door.
Many rituals are designed to transform this threshold into a zone of safety. Typically spells are repeated weekly with many involving “cleansing.” Because in some cases, although not all, it appears only that you’re being very clean and house-proud, this is also a very subtle, discreet style of magic.
(Should your doorstep ever be dusted, check Hex Antidote Spells for tips on removing items safely and repelling the spell, but follow up with protective measures, too.)
Urine is believed to have fierce magical commanding powers, hence its use in protective floorwashes. If you’re genuinely fearful or otherwise passionately emotional, assume that your desires are inherently transmitted; otherwise concentrate on your desire while scrubbing the steps.
Red brick dust protects against malevolent magic and repels evil of all kinds.
Fiery Wall of Protection is among the most famous classic condition formulas. Its name invokes the power of Archangel Michael’s protective flaming sword. The formula may be consecrated to the archangel.
Fiery Wall’s basic ingredients include such powerful protective agents as salt, frankincense, and myrrh. Its red color, the color of protection, derives from dragon’s blood powder. See the Formulary for specific instructions: the dried powder may be used as incense or magic powder. When the powder is added to oil, Fiery Wall of Protection Oil is created.
Carve a red or white candle with your name, identifying information, hopes, and desires. Dress it with Fiery Wall of Protection Oil and burn. Consecrate the candle to the Archangel Michael if desired.
Protect against a threatened curse by burning Fiery Wall of Protection Powder as incense. To intensify the protection, add powdered agrimony and/or vervain.
Soak a cotton ball in Fiery Wall of Protection Oil and carry it in your pocket or tucked into your bra.
The term “gris-gris” derives from West Africa. Now frequently used as just another synonym for conjure, charm, or mojo bags, gris-gris originally indicated what the Portuguese called “fetishes:” handmade magical objects. The original West African gris-gris often took the form of dolls; modern New Orleans gris-gris are often a cross between a mojo bag and Vodou paquets-Congo, although doll-shaped gris-gris still exist.
For those who care about magical semantics, subtle, subliminal distinctions exist, however. Mojo, also derived from an African word, usually implies magically acquiring success, whether in love, gambling, money, employment, or legal matters. Gris-gris implies protection; the gris-gris bag thus tends to cover the spectrum between benign protective spells and hexes.
Animal allies may also be petitioned for safety. As usual, the most potent allies are always your personal allies. If you are unaware of their identity, request them to make their presence known in your dreams and visualizations or obtain professional shamanic/spirit-working advice. In the meantime, certain animals provide magical guardian services when requested.
Dogs provide magical protection as well as the mundane type. This protective spell benefits an entire community.
Create paper dogs so that you are ready to cast this spell on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar (coinciding with Midsummer’s Eve). Charge them with their mission and throw them into living waters (rivers, lakes, springs) so that they’ll bite and incapacitate any evil attempting to emerge.
In general, magical guardian animals are fierce. This makes sense: the Doberman is a more popular guard dog than a golden retriever. Chinese magic contemplates what it perceives as the five most venomous creatures and groups them together to provide magical protection, especially protection against animal attack, poison, and spiritual harm.
Create an image or collage of the five poisonous creatures: centipede, lizard, scorpion, snake, and toad. (The toad, source of powerful venom (think poison-arrow frog) is sometimes replaced by the spider. Use whichever frightens you more.) Images may also be purchased in Chinatown or from feng shui suppliers, however the image created for oneself is always most powerful. Wear to protect against spiritual danger, poison, venomous creatures, and animal attack in general. The image is regarded as particularly beneficial for protecting children and infants.
Snakes are renowned for possessing divine powers to ward off evil. Think of a hidden jungle temple guarded by protective serpents. Legends of buried treasure or hidden magical valuables traditionally have snake or dragon (considered metaphysically to be a closely related species) guardians.
Spiritual suppliers sometimes sell candles in the shape of coiled serpents.
Snakes can serve as personal magical bodyguards. Methods of tapping into snakes’ protective powers include:
In addition to their traditional role as guardians of treasure, snakes and dragons have discovered new realms to protect in the twenty-first century. Snakes and dragons have become the metaphysical protectors of computers and the treasures contained within.
Although there are many benevolent, powerful, protective spirits, your own strongest ally is always your personal guardian angel. If you’re unsure of his or her identity, consider that although there are spirits that offer protection, it’s best to call on someone you can count on. Call on whomever has helped you in the past, whomever you feel you have a relationship with. That said, there are spiritual experts in the world of protection, just as there are human security experts.
It takes a fierce spirit to defeat other fierce spirits: treat these guardians with respect. Transcending any other arrangements, the necessary payment for protection is respect.
Images of the following guardian deities may be used to exorcise or drive off all manner of evil. Not only do they protect from the evil done by humans, they also guard people against danger threatened by less benevolent spirits.
This spell is particularly effective for providing protection during ritual. However it may also be used any time spiritual protection is perceived as necessary.
Although the archangels (and potentially any angel) can provide tremendous protection, the archangel Michael is the very personification of protection. Always ready and alert, Michael the Archangel is charged as humanity’s guardian and defender. That’s his mission, his raison d’être. Put him to work if his services are required. Although Michael the Archangel will respond to any call for help, he is a particular vigilant defender against rape and sexual assault.
The aroma of frankincense summons Michael, however calling his name, particularly when desperate, may be sufficient. Call him with his invocation:
Michael to the right of me,
Michael to the left of me
Michael above me
Michael within me
Michael all around me
Michael, with your flaming sword of cobalt blue please protect me today.
Gather dillweed, Saint John’s Wort, and vervain within white handkerchiefs. Either tie the packets closed with blue ribbon or create sachets using blue thread and hang these strategically throughout the home for spiritual and magical protection.
Carrying a hyacinth (jacinth) crystal gemstone allegedly protects one from poison.
Iron repels evil of all kind. Most malevolent spirits cannot bear to be in its presence. In addition to providing protection, iron enhances and stimulates the growth of one’s personal magic powers, so that you are stronger and better able to protect yourself, requiring less outside spiritual protection. Iron also invigorates general vitality and energy.
Iron provides protection 24 hours a day, whether you are asleep or awake.
The power of iron is so strong that even if you don’t have any, just shouting out the word “iron” allegedly routs evil spirits.
Ironworkers create intricate, complex amuletic designs for fences and gates. Of course, professional talent, extensive training, and skill are required. Simple spells can also be very powerful. Pow-Wow draws on potent household magic: a safety pin serves as a protective amulet. Wear one discreetly on your sleeve to repel dangers.
In fairy tales, witches’ cottages are surrounded by magical gardens. A garden creates a living altar that is cultivated to achieve your desired goals. A protective garden creates an aura of safety around the perimeter of your home.
Maintain a protective aura of safety around your home. Include as many of the following as possible: angelica, cactus, clover, dill, elder, flax, gardenia, garlic, holly, juniper, mugwort, nettles, oregano, roses, rosemary, rowan, rue, Saint John’s Wort, southernwood, thyme, vervain, wormwood, and yarrow.
Grow or transplant as many of the following protective trees as possible: ash, bay laurel, birch, cedar, ceiba, hawthorn, hazel, iroko, juniper, oak, olive, and rowan. Arrange the trees in a circle, if possible.
Should you hear someone call your name when no one is visibly present, and should you fear that this is a demonic ploy to lure you into trouble, take advantage of low-level spirits’ legendary low IQ: respond with a contradictory message. The classic Russian answer is something like “Come again yesterday,” but the more clever and creative your response, the more you’ll leave the spirits scratching their heads and impotent to hurt you.
This spell is particularly beneficial following banishing spells when you fear that malevolent spirits will attempt to re-visit the scene of their crimes. The aroma of this potion repels hostile, troublesome, malicious spirits and prevents their entry.
Place rotten apples, wine galls, vinegar, and sulfur in a cauldron. Add myrrh and red sandalwood and warm to a simmer.
This spell comes from Scandinavia; it is diametrically opposed to many Chinese New Year’s spells that instruct not to clean on New Year’s Day because you may accidentally sweep all your luck away, leaving you none for the year ahead. How you feel about cleaning will determine which magical philosophy is most appropriate for you.
Entwine mugwort and Saint John’s Wort and place within a red bag. Hang over every door and window for powerful magical, spiritual protection.
This protection spell may be cast for yourself or for another.
For empowering and protecting specific objects or ritual tools:
This spell repels malevolent magic targeted toward you, repairs a damaged aura, and helps erect a personal protective shield.
Although any form of salt provides intense spiritual and magical protection, sea salt is believed most potent. Hoodoo tradition favors kosher salt because it has been blessed. In a pinch, any salt may be used although the closer it is to its natural state, the less it has been processed and essentially tampered with, the more magical protection and power salt can provide.
Add salt to the bath to simultaneously provide spiritual cleansing as well as creating a powerful psychic shield. For a quick fix, just toss handfuls of sea salt, as many as desired, into a tub of running water. Stir to dissolve and soak.
Bath salts are added directly to the water; salt scrubs are applied with either a gentle or a vigorous circular motion to the body. The oil causes the other ingredients to cling to the body, even after rinsing. This is an extremely powerful way to create a cleansing, protective shield.
A potent quick-fix spell, particularly valuable when spiritual danger suddenly threatens to overwhelm you. Cast a circle using salt or black salt. Sit within the circle until you feel that it’s safe to come out.
Sapphires allegedly serve as a protective talisman against violence.
Silver is perceived as a spiritually incorruptible metal that radiates an aura of protection. Place a small piece of real silver under the hearth. Once upon a time a coin would have been used, but once upon a time dimes were real silver. A bead or charm would be very appropriate.
This ancient and simple spell breaks any impending enchantment: consciously chew on your left thumb.
Sulfur protects against malevolent magic and repels evil entities. In North African magic, it is sometimes considered equal to salt as a protector against evil. Sulfur is a primary ingredient in exorcisms and banishing spells, where it is typically burned. This is traditional but not necessarily advisable: inhaling sulfur fumes is potentially very irritating. However there are other methods of use, particularly beneficial for protective magic.
This symbolic sword is carried to fend off hurtful words and harmful actions.
Tiger lilies serve as the botanical equivalent of tigers. Plant them near the home to prevent the entry of mean spirits.
“Witch balls” are large, beautiful, iridescent glass balls, resembling colored crystal balls or gigantic Christmas tree ornaments. They are traditionally hung from windows or placed atop pedestals in the garden to catch and absorb any approaching curses. Whether the witch ball reverses the spell is subject to debate; however it’s generally acknowledged to shield and protect from malevolent bewitchment.
Arrange witch balls strategically around the property; near the front entrance and any other perceived vulnerable spots. (This is easy to implement as witch balls are so attractive, non-magical observers will assume they are merely garden ornaments.) Despite their ornamental value, witch balls are magical tools. Magically cleanse them on a regular schedule by bathing with mugwort-infused spring water.
Glass, ceramic, stone, or metal bottles may be used for these spells against hexes and for protection against malicious spirits; don’t use plastic.
Create a protective amulet with magic beans. Yin-yang beans are the large gray seeds of the bonduc tree. They allegedly serve as the balance between male and female energy.
String a pair of beans onto a cord, together with one contraveneno bean, to provide spiritual protection. They guard against spiritual and psychic danger. Allegedly, if they are forced to do their job, the contraveneno will split into four pieces along the cross that marks one side of this black bean.
Many Protection Spells target evil in general, regardless from where it derives. Sometimes the source of danger is very clearly from another human. Spells to Protect Against Enemies take various approaches to the situation, from disarming one’s enemy to transforming enmity into amity.
Offer a small bouquet of alyssum to one who resents you and bears you hostility and malice. Disarm them; literally place the bouquet in their hands. This magical transaction allegedly cools off their anger toward you quickly.
Chocolate allegedly possesses the power to transform enmity into friendship. Make a peace offering with a box of fine chocolate. This will only work, however, if the other party will eat real chocolate, dark and bitter-sweet.
Cast off malevolent thoughts, intentions, and hexes from those who resent you. (Although this is really a prevention spell, it does possess a hex-breaking aspect.)
Fill a small charm bag with cloves, or actually incorporate the cloves into a spice necklace. Wear the charm around your neck to inspire feelings of affection and friendship.
A Pow-Wow spell to warm someone’s cold heart: place a plate of snow or an icicle near a fire (fireplace, stove, or candle) and watch it melt while envisioning all the hostility melting away too.
If you have a lot of enemies, line them up in an ice cube tray.
Rose quartz transforms anger into love, or at least mild affection. Wear it. Give it as a gift to those who resent you.
To sweeten someone’s heart toward you: