Cassandra Eason - Protection Magick: Spells for Defense

Protective or shielding magick has three phases: first, the removal of malice and negativity if a physical, psychological, or psychic attack has occurred or is threatened. Second, protection from future attack and its effects. And the third all-important and positive aspect is the restoration of good fortune, success, health, or harmony. Without the third phase, there is a vacuum that can be filled by low life energies if left empty, so the key to successful shielding magick is always to replace what you have banished. Therefore, the spells in this book are empowering as well as protective.

The spells, one a day for a year, cover every aspect of protection against traditional forms of ill-wishing:

* Curses made consciously or unconsciously against individuals, families, homes, or businesses

* Jinxes that bring on ill fortune to prevent a person from succeeding

* Hexes, which are formal and often specific curses deliberately cast by a magical practitioner, usually in return for money (or by an irresponsible amateur playing occult power games)

* The evil eye of envy (more on this in )

But this book also focuses on repelling everyday nastiness from those with whom we come into contact in our daily lives. This includes bullying on social media, protection from an obsessive or violent ex-partner, protection from financial fraud, from ill health, from infertility, from vandalism, from becoming a victim of terrorism, from paranormal and psychic attack, and from fears and phobias that may hold us back from happiness. Because, most of all, we need shielding from everyday dangers and crises, the spells are quick, easy to cast, use everyday materials, and the majority are related to the hazards of the world in which we live and work.

Each protective spell in the book contains a list of what you will need, most of which you already will have in your cupboard or toolbox, or items that can easily be obtained from the local supermarket, garden center, or home improvement store. There is no need to buy specialty magical equipment, though you might if you practice magick regularly and want to collect one or two beautiful items you may find in an antiques store. Many of the spell items are in everyday use. Candle snuffers, for example, are common in stores that sell candles, but you can easily use metal tongs to snuff out a candle and so extinguish the power of a bully.

I have suggested different candle colors and fragrances as most appropriate. However, you can substitute an all-purpose white candle or a generic fragrance, such as rose, lavender, or sandalwood. Incense sticks and cones are ideal for casting spells in a hurry. Potpourri is an excellent substitute for petals, although you can pluck the petals from a fresh rose or another flower of the suggested color. Most of the herbs you need in magick can be found in the culinary section of the local supermarket, or try your local health food store for less common plants, such as dried nettles, that are ideal for a fiercely defensive charm bag. You can empower herbs in a spell and afterwards use them in cooking for ongoing protection.

You may wish to keep a well-stocked box with different-colored candles, incense sticks, candleholders, etc. if you cast a lot of spells, but otherwise raid your household supplies before spell-casting. Candles used in the later stages of a spell to restore light, health, and fortune, or to offer protection, can be burned around the home in the days after the spell, though those used for banishing or binding should be environmentally disposed of after the spell. Household appliances, such as a freezer, are your best friend for binding the names of those doing or wishing harm written on paper in the coldest part of the freezer. You will need soil or sand to bury burned cords (a big planter is ideal if you live in an apartment).

Have a sharp knife handy (one with a silver-colored handle is best) and scissors for symbolically cutting destructive links, plus strong sewing thread, string, curtain cords, or ribbons in different colors for knot-tying and binding malice.

Look in advance for places near where you will customarily cast spells to bury small items after a spell. Also, find a source of nearby running water to cast petals or seeds (if necessary, use a bucket or bowl of water and pour it into the ground) and where you can scatter seeds or petals into the air (even from an upstairs window). For fire, think barbecue coals, bonfires, or candles set in a large heatproof base so you can safely burn threads and scatter salt or herbs in the flame.

Pick up a current calendar listing dates with daily moon phases and the zodiac signs through which the moon passes each month, or access a good online site, for example, https://www.moongiant.com/fullmoons, which gives you the universal moon times so you can work out the moon phases in your own location, or http://starsignstyle.com/full-moon-calendar, which contains the zodiac signs of the different full moons.

The moon is a very powerful energy in all its phases, though different days of the week and times of the day are also important. But if a need is urgent, you can cast a spell at any time and then repeat it at the suggested time. Timings are ideal but not mandatory.