eat your gods.
EAT YOUR GODS. TEAR INTO THEM DEVOUR THEM LET ECSTATIC TEARS RUN DOWN YOUR FACE AND MIX WITH THE JUICE OF THEM.
get drunk on godflesh, stumble with divinity, whoop and shriek as they hit your bloodstream, roll in the dirt, suck their remnants off your gritty fingers, float, tumble, howl, chase, ascend, obliviate, transcend, transform.
wake disoriented, sick and aching with the loss of them. wipe your face, coax out your tangles, inspect your skinned knees and palms. leave your shoes where you threw them as an offering.
cultivate the hunger that only theophagy can sate.
consume them and be changed.
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa’s Demon Seals, originally drafted in the early 16th century (modern English translation and interpretation by Lupus Nensén).
A Disclaimer: I am one person and my opinions (which I have in abundance) may not reflect the opinions of other witches, in general, or other people who call themselves hearth witches. In fact, they probably won’t, because I’m an asshole. I have a bizarre sense of humor that doesn’t convey well in text and I rant about shit I don’t like. A lot. If you don’t think you can handle that, maybe don’t read anything I write. Ever.
Protecting the Home, Protecting the Family
Let me preface this post by saying, I am exhausted, so probably nothing I write here is going to make sense to anyone but me. Also, that has just been my luck lately, but we’ll see how it goes anyway.
If you read my blog, you’ll know that I do a lot of stuff to protect my railroad cottage. Not just because I live here, but because I literally use my house as a symbol of my household and family. So, in a witchcraft sense, protecting my home is protecting my family. And, because that’s the witchcraft I write about most on my blog, that’s what I get a lot of questions about (spirit work aside, because that’s what I get the most questions about).
So, this post is going to be about various ways to protect your home and (hopefully) prevent nasties from creeping inside.
Rule Number One: Keep a Clean House
I know that sounds really boring. I know you’re like, “Emma, that is not witchcraft. Those are chores and I hate you. Did my mom put you up to this?” But, actually, there are two good reasons that’s Rule No. 1:
It’s not easy to cleanse a house that isn’t clean. Part of protecting your home is being prepared to go into battle for it. Now, witchcraft is known to make a house a little cluttered. If you’ve got ribbons falling out of your sewing box and stockpiles of tea on your counter. Don’t worry. You’re normal. But it’s possible for a house to be both cluttered and clean.
Cleaning a house regularly is a fantastic way to magically take ownership of the property—which I’ve discussed here.
Obviously, I’m not saying you’re house has to look like something from Good Housekeeping. My own cottage has four rooms and is home to more than four people. It’ll never be as neat as we want it to be. But’s it’s clean. And that’s what matters.
Rule Number Two: Good Fences Make Good Neighbors
I’m not talking about real fences—but those too. I’m talking more about magical boundaries. Like a witch fence. This can be set up in or outside of ritual, using a real fence, other objects, or using visualization.
So, let’s talk about putting up this fence, huh? The method I use is, of course, the “Gross Method”—and, by gross, I mean no one wants to do it or talk to me they’ve found out I’ve done it. It uses a pre-existing fence to create the boundary, which means that what you’re actually doing with this method is enchanting or reinforcing your standing fence. It’s supa supa easy. Like really, children could do if you let them. Only probably don’t let them because it’s probably a health hazard.
For this method, you will need 1) a fence, 2) something to mark your stake-points with, 3) some bodily fluids—i.e. menstrual blood, piss, spit, sexual fluids, etc., 4) your bad ol’ self
Step One: Walk around your property and decide where you want your stake-points to be. I refer to them as stake-points because what you’re actually doing is kind of like putting up a magical tent rather than a fence. These are the strength points of your enchanted fence. You’ll want at least one in every corner of the existing fence. Mark these places. You can do this by scratching or painting on the fence, tying something to the fence, or sticking something in the ground there. In my case, I used the support posts for my pre-existing fence as my stake points, so I didn’t have to mark them because I knew where they were.
Step Two: Collect fluids. (Unless you’re using spit, which you have.) You can water any of these fluids down if you need to—except probably spit.
Step Three: Using a paintbrush, herbs, your hands, a spray bottle, or whatever, apply the fluid to the INSIDE of your fence where your neighbors won’t be touching. As you do, visualize the stake-points linking together as they’re placed. I tend to visualize something like a barbed-wire fence going up between my stake-points, but white light works too if you’re into that. **If you’re going to forget, mark where you started.
Step Four: When you’ve completed the fence and connected your last stake-point to your starting point, visualize the tent going up. In my visualization this is something like a deer-skin version of a Circus tent, but I am a legit freak of nature, so your probably wont be.
Now, you can be done here, or you can write something to say to tweak the spell to your style. If you have Property Spirits that you work with, you may also want to ask them to guard the fence at this point.
Rule Number Three: Gardening = Ammo
While we’re still outdoors, let’s talk about ‘defensive gardening’. One of my favorite things to do with my garden is to reinforce my boundaries by planting protective herbs. Not only does it add punch to your enchanted fence, but it provides ammunition should you need to banish something later.
This can be done directly in the ground, in hanging planters at/on your stake-points, in windowboxes, in planters by the door, etc.
Some good protective herbs to start are:
Aloe
Rosemary
Roses (thorny for offensive magic, rosehips for defensive magic)
Mint
Lavender
You may also want to include banishing plants
Garlic
Sage
Sweeatgrass
Thyme
As well as flowers, trees, and shrubs to the same effect (like holly, cedar, etc).
Rule Number Four: Wards/Wardings Aren’t As Hard As They Sound
Come with me to the porch and let’s talk about wards! *runs to the porch, points at wards* Wards are awesome! There are so many different kinds and they can range anywhere from decorative to practical to invisible!
When you’re warding your doorway, like a lot of witchcraft, intent is super important. Really, it doesn’t matter what kind of ward you use as long as you have the intent. And, with the bucket load of types of warding, you should be able to find one to fit your needs.
My favorite way to ward a door or window is with a decorative ward, which was something we did in my family for years and then I finally saw it outside of our house in an Ellen Dugan book (which I bought JUST for that reason). This one isn’t mine, but it’s a good example of one:
These hang above doors and windows to ward off evil, ill will, etc. and can be made out of dried flowers and herbs (like above), fabric (such as a warding banner), carved into the wood above a door, or any other way you prefer.
I usually go with the pictured method. Typically I
Start with a base. For year-round wards I like to use wheat and dried grass (which you can find at a craft store—but not Hobby Lobby, because they areevil).
I face half of my base one way and half the opposite way—so that the cut ends are together and you have the awesome wheat/grass/evergreen ends facing out. Over lap the two halves a few inches and tie them together. (I usually use twine for that, but you can use whatever you like.
Next, go you your second layer, which is the actual warding part. For this, my favorite things to use are lavender (which grows wild in the neighborhood I work in), and rosemary. But there are plenty of other possibilities, too—sunflowers, rose, baby’s breath, holly, pine, mint, etc. These can be tucked into the tie you’ve already made, glued on, or tied on separately.
To finish mine off, I usually add a bell, to symbolize a signal, which sort of makes the ward into an alarm. Sometimes, when trouble is around, I’ll hear a bell even though it’s not ringing. Sometimes it actually rings.
The ward can go above your door, window, fireplace, or anywhere else you feel you want to hang it.
Of course, there are a lot of other ways to ward your doors and windows.
With energy and visualization.
With water or oil (drawing protective symbols on them with the water/oil)
Warding Wreaths
Other hangings (like photographs of deities or saints, Brigid’s crosses, horseshoes, strings or bells)
Salt lines and brickdust (I tend to mix these together)
Hanging herbs by or above the door (I typically dry my herbs next to the door so I never have a shortage of door-based protection)
Whatever
The most important thing is that you make your intent clear. Whether you want to ward off evil spirits or unwelcome mortal visitors, make your intent clear. If you need to do this by putting your warding into a big ritual, do so. If you need to activate your wards out loud, go ahead.
Rule Number Five: Everything You Need to Strengthen Your Protection is On/In You
Spit
Urine
Menstrual Blood
Sexual Fluids
Sweat
and so on
These are all totally useful supplies for witchcraft in general and for protection in specific. A touch of one of these on a window, door, doorknob, etc is fantastic for strengthening a boundary and clearly marking your territory to anyone who might wander inside. Surface cleaning with remove germs, but not the intent or the warning.
Rule Number Six: Never Let an Outsider Make Your Forget Whose House This Is
The conviction of ownership is pretty important to home protection. Don’t let an intruder scare you into believing that they own your home. They don’t. It’s yours. The people inside it are yours.
To put it simply, a Mudra is a hand gesture that guides the energy flow to specific areas of the brain. There are many types of Mudras designed to bring different benefits, depending on what we specifically need. They are done in conjunction with breathing to increase the flow of Prana in the body. By practicing it, a connection is developed with the patterns in the brain that influences the unconscious reflexes in the different areas. The internal energy is, in turn, balanced and redirected, creating an impact on the sensory organs, tendons and glands veins.
The Ancient Solfeggio Frequencies and their Effect on Water Crystals.
These original Sound Frequencies were apparently used in Ancient Gregorian Chants, such as the great hymn to St. John the Baptist, along with others that church authorities say were lost centuries ago. The Chants and their special tones were believed to impart tremendous Spiritual Blessings when sung in Harmony during Religious Masses. These powerful Frequencies were rediscovered by Dr. Joseph Puleo as described in the book “Healing Codes for the Biological Apocalypse” by Dr. Leonard Horowitz.
The Six Solfeggio Frequencies include: UT (396 Hz) - Liberating Guilt and Fear RE (417 Hz) - Undoing Situations and Facilitating Change MI (528 Hz) - Transformation and Miracles (DNA Repair) FA (639 Hz) - Connecting/Relationships SOL (741 Hz) - Awakening Intuition LA (852 Hz) - Returning to Spiritual Order
For example, the third note, frequency 528, relates to the note MI on the scale and derives from the phrase “MI-ra gestorum” in Latin meaning “miracle.” Stunningly, this is the exact frequency used by genetic biochemists to repair broken DNA, the genetic blueprint upon which life is based.
Goetic Sigils.
To all those who need recovery after a psychic/karmic attack, feel as though you are powerless and you need that little extra magical push, or merely for those who have had a not-so-good day,
this is for you.
Take back what belongs to you, little witch.
Your voice can mend.
“Calling upon the powers from
North, South, East, and West,
The four corners of the Earth, I take my power back.
Forsake all who threaten to do harm upon me,
I signal the universe to protect me,
and sever me from their toxicity.
Grant me the power to rise above where they had thought I had been sent to fall.
I thank the powers of North, South, East, and West,
The gifts of the Earth and the stars above;
powers of earth, water, fire, and air
with good to all,
reverse harm that has been done,
by the grace of my own magic,
this spell is done.”
*The following is optional as I am aware that not all witches have access to certain materials. However, making use of the following can accelerate and/or strengthen the intended outcome if you do possess them. You can always replace or add materials as you please; make my spell your spell.
Accessories:
-Sage/Perovskia/Palo Santo
-Hawthorn
-Onyx, amethyst, smoky quartz (regular quartz may suffice as well)
Candle Color(s):
-Black; for banishing and breaking curses
-White; purification from negative energies
Tarot Cards:
-Nine of Wands
-Chariot
-The Moon
Now I know you are asking yourself. ” Christian Witch…Why would I need black salt when Supernatural shows us that plain salt is just fine?”
Well, Let me Explain.
Black Salt is normally used to banish or drive away negative things. It can be used to protect your home and garden area by sprinkling it around the property line. To protect from things general getting in your house you can put Black Salt in the corners of the room or across the door step. It is also used to remove negative spells that have been cast on a person. In general, Salt itself is a great purifying agent. Black Salt is more about protection and the banishment of all things negative.
Now that we know what is does, Let me show you how to make it.
You can use anything dry that has a black tone. Charcoal, Ashes, Scrapings from your cauldron/cast iron bowl or skillet, even Pepper is often used.
I used the charcoal i salvaged from the Litha Bonfire for an extra dose of light in the darkness.
I also used my small little cast iron cauldron as my mortar for the mixing.
The Salt I used was just plain table salt, but if you want to you can get all fancy with the sea salt and what not.
Once you have gathered you ingredients, it is time to grind the ingredient you chose to turn your salt black.
Now this can take a while and you need to make sure to watch out for the dust that comes up from these…It can choke you pretty bad. The Charcoal gave a LOVELY crunching sound and really took the edge off of my frustration with certain people. Then i kept repeating “grind their bones to make my bread”. I had a weird moment.
Once ground to the way you like it you add about double the amount in salt.
Now for the fun part. While thinking about all the ways you need to be protected, mix the ingredients until there is no white left.
TADA! You have made your very own Black Salt. Now…Lets bottle this protective amazingness! Again. At this point the dust that comes off will choke you so fast its not even funny.
Also I need to warn that when putting in places be ready to get your hands dirty.
Once it is bottled and ready you can use it for just about anything you need done in the protective world.
Create and Enjoy!