Warding, a PSA

lorelei-of-the-rhein:

Due to some problems we’ve come across with this shop, we are adding a new requirement that you must meet before adopting a companion:

Knowledge of warding and protection both physically and astrally

The knowledge of these two subjects are imperative to have in order to keep both you and your companion safe. Diving into spirit work head first without any protections set up is basically telling everything around you,”HEY! OVER HERE! FRESH MEAT!” This is how you attract malicious spirits. 

A malicious spirit can not only harm you, but potentially your companion as well. Just because your companion is a spirit, doesnt mean they are immune to other spirits. Inviting them over without any wards puts them at risk, which is unfair. It is like calling over a friend to your ‘house,’ but not having any walls set up to protect them from the elements. 

You must set up physical AND astral wards. 
“But J! I don’t know how to astral travel yet! I can’t set up astral wards if I can’t astr-”
Yes you can. There are plenty of ways to set up astral wards without astral traveling. Visualization is your friend. If you can think of it, you can use it. Go all out with your camouflage, anti teleportation, invisibility, etc when you’re setting up your wards. As long as you have a strong intent, the wards will be strong. Granted, some wards don’t prevent some spirits, so you will have to tweak them sometimes. 

Do not forget to maintain your wards !!!!! Check up on them weekly at least so they are at their strongest. Make them super mega thick with super mega layers. Make them rubbery so nothing can crack it. Do anything you want.

The way I set up astral wards without astral traveling is super simple.
Look at your physical room (or wherever you spend the most time/feel the most comfortable). Follow the lines of where each wall meets another and visualize white light trailing in the wake of your vision. Follow the lines of one wall first, and once you make a square with your white light (or whatever shape your wall is), visualize the square being colored or filled in with your wards of choice. Continue this procedure until all of the walls, floor, and ceiling is warded. Then, expand your wards out to the rest of your house to keep every room and everyone inside safe. Use your intent to make sure it is impenetrable. 

If this method doesn’t resonate with you, make up your own! There are no rules, really. Be creative. There are plenty of warding methods that you can find on tumblr as well. Try looking here if you want

Physical wards are another layer of protection to keep you safe. For physical wards, I use:
– witchy jars
– plants
– salt
– sage
– incense
– sigils
All of these are filled with my intent to keep me mega safe, because lord knows i don’t need any more trouble. 

“But J! I am a closeted witch! I can’t do any of those thi-”
Yes you can. There are hundreds of tips out there that are for discreet witches. Sigils are easy to hide. Use an oil diffuser with essential oils that correspond with protection. Light candles with corresponding intent. Plants are inconspicuous. So is salt. I carry a salt packet in my phone case. Hoard all of those salt packets from restaurants. No shame. 

You can do anything if it makes you feel safe. Does hopping around on one leg in circles make you feel lighter and the room clearer? Then do that. Does making snow angels in the carpet make your room feel safe? Then do that. There aren’t any rules. Do whatever if it makes you feel safe, no matter how silly it may seem. Does that necklace that you found at the playground when you were younger just seem to hum with protective energy? Bam, use that. 

As long as you have measures set up that are supposed to keep you and your companion safe, you should be okay at first. Of course, you will have to renew them and tweak them every once in a while to keep them in their best shape. My dedicated day to ward strengthening is every Sunday on cleansing day (which is also an important thing to have, but that post is for another time), but if need be, I fix them through the week as well. No protection is too much protection. 

Stay safe, my friends.

-J