For thousands of years, protection and shielding rituals have served an important function in magical belief systems worldwide. They have been used to ensure safety, prosperity, good health and positive outcomes since the since the dawn of history. These deeply human concerns remain with us today and impact the choices we make throughout our lives.

Today, as in ancient times, the goal of protection magic is to protect people and property from the harmful intentions of others. A protection ritual not only creates a barrier to the negative energy around you, it also enhances other protective measures you may take to ward off malicious spells, the evil eye, or destructive intentions. In almost any situation, protection magic adds an extra layer of security.  It is important to note, however, that protective magic can only do so much. You still need to be vigilant, particularly when it comes to your physical well-being and the safety of your valuables. Remember that protective magic tends to be most effective on the spiritual rather than the physical plane.

• Take a piece of thread or string long enough to comfortably wrap it around your waist. Next, add some eucalyptus and basil to a pot of simmering distilled water.  Place your string into the pot. Simmer for 3 minutes and let cool.  After it cools, take the string and let it air dry for the next three day. When its dry, you are going to make three knots in it.  As you tie each knot recite the Hail Mary. Tie this around your waist or you can simply triple wrap it around your ankle.

• Take an iron railroad spike and hang it on the inside of your door. Or, bury a railroad spike on the outside of each corner of your home.

• A traditional northern European amulet can be used to ward off evil. Find a stone with a natural hole in it. Historically this is referred to as hag stones. Wear this as around your neck or simply carry it on you. Carnelian stones or beads can also serve as protection and are particularly powerful when worn against the skin such as in jewelry.

• Salt can also be a wonderful to provide a protective shield around a specific place or person. In may experience any salts can be used although some people claim that black salt is the most powerful. There are a number of ways you can utilize salts. You can simply throw some on the entrance way to your front door or you can mix some with some hyssop and rue and place this in a black flannel pouch to carry on you. Make a protective bath by mixing ½ cup of kosher salt with 5 drops of rosemary essential oil and 5 drops of cedar essential oil. Frankincense and myrrh essential oils can also be added. For a more in-depth ritual, get some dead sea salt and create a circle of salt around you. Get 4 small candles and place them inside the circle. Make sure you place each candle in one of the four directions (NWSE). When ready, light the candle and recite Psalm 35 or you may simply recite a prayer of your own.

• For herbs that are readily available and usually carried in most kitchens, get some dried bay leaves and sage. Pulverize them into a powder. Lighting a charcoal disc, carefully burn this mixture in every corner of your home and along your front door. You may also fumigate yourself by drawing the smoke up your body and over your head. Sandalwood also works well for this.

* For candle divination we suggest the following ritual. Create your own protection conjure oil by mixing bay, sage, caraway and clove into a 1/2 and oz of olive oil. You may also want to consider adding black cohosh and burdock root. Or, you can simply try one of ours. We recommend our Fiery Wall of Protection Oil. 

For those of you who are fans of St. Michael, this ritual can definitely be used as a petition for his protection. Carve a white or blue jumbo pillar candle with your name and birth date. Then you get a red jumbo pillar candle and carve all the things you wish to protect yourself from. On top of this, carve the name of St. Michael. Above these two candles place an image of St. Michael. You are then going to anoint the blue candle with some Fiery Wall of Protection Oil. If you are seeking protection, keep the candle turned towards you and draw the oil up the candle towards the wick. If you are attempting to dispel adverse energies, anoint the candle with oil pushing down the candle. Do the same with the Red candle. Finally, take some salt and cast a circle around both candles. When ready, light the red candle first and then follow with the blue candle. Say a prayer or recite Psalm 23.

You may also use a dab of Fiery Wall of Protection Oil to wash down your doors or windows with it.  Pour a few drops of Fiery Wall into your bath water. You may even dab a drop or two onto any object or possession of special importance or value to you. Anoint a cotton ball with Fiery Wall of Protection Oil and carry it on you. Finally, anoint a garlic bulb with some Fiery Wall of Protection Oil and leave it by your front door or rest it in your fireplace.

Below are spells taken from a variety of resources, some new and some very old. Please note we may have slightly altered the original spells to make them more accessible and up to date. If you would like more information, we have included the sources below each spell.

Walk Backwards in bare feet out of your house for a total of nine steps. Make sure you do not look back. Then walk forward in the exact same tracks you made walking backwards. When you reach your front door, take sugar , alcohol, red pepper, saltpeter and Sulphur; and place them in your tracks right at the entrance of your doorway.

* Source: Haskins, James. Voodoo & Hoodoo: Their Tradition and Craft as Revealed by Actual Practitioners. Original Publications, 2005.

On a small piece of leather carve the following words, “Abrasax Abraischo’ou”. Carry this on you. You may also write this on a piece of parchment paper and pin it to your front door.

* Source: Lecouteux, Claude. Dictionary of Ancient Magic Words and Spells: from Abraxas to Zoar. Inner Traditions, 2015.

To create a protective amulet against witchcraft targeting your health and well-being, take dried vervain and pulverize it into a powder. Stick this in a pouch and carry it on you.

For protections against bad luck and negative intentions get a piece of parchment paper and write the following:  “Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Trine, Saxtile, Dragon’s Head, Dragon’s Tale, I charge you all to guard this house from evil spirits whatever, and guard it from all disorders and thievery and give this family good health and wealth.” Pin or nail this above the inside of your front door.

* Source: Mercer, A.D. The Wicked Shall Decay, Charms, Spells & Witchcraft of Old Britain, Three Hand Press, 2018.

To restrain and protect oneself from another person’s anger get a small piece of linen and some myrrh essential oil. On the linen use the myrrh oil as an ink and write out this word, “KHNUM.” Take the piece of linen and hold it in your left hand. Recite the follow, “I am restraining the anger of all, especially of him NAME of PERSON, all is Khnum”

- Khnum was an early Egyptian creator God who was associated with abundance of the Nile.

* Source: Betz, Hans Dieter. The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation: Including the Demotic Spells. University of Chicago Press, 1996.

I have recently been perusing literature related to Abramelin the Mage. What's so fascinating about the history behind the 15^th century grimoire, is it's influence on both Neo-Paganism and Hoodoo. For those of you who have strong feelings about the discrepancy regarding the differences between the two, you can not escape the fact that ancient grimoires have influenced both modalities. For example, Macgregory Mathers did indeed translate the “Book of Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage .” Mathers was one of the original founders of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Now if you are a fan of the Tarot, you will certainly understand how widespread Mathers work has influenced occult practices. In fact, when exploring the first book of Abramelin the Sage (there are three) I was immediately struck by the journey of the Fool as he transcends into an enlightenment through his passage of the Major Arcana. For Tarot Enthusiasts, the Golden Dawn Tarot deck is a reflection of Mather's work. Mather's would later influence both Aleister Crawley and A.E. Waite.

There is no question the Talmud did indeed influence “The Book of Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Sage.” It truly does reference the need for “righteousness” which is unquestionably Hebrew. There are also references to the Kabala (please keep in mind I'm not a Kabala scholar). However, there certainly are other influences. The first I recognized was the magic of the Ancient Egyptians. Not surprisingly, Mathers does do an excellent job of referencing ancient influences. So he deserves quite a bit of credit. What is more interesting, is that the ingredients of the popular Conjure oil, “Abramelin Oil” tends to utilize Mather's recipe rather than the one used in the 15^th century manuscript. But this does vary from practioner to practioner. The recipe dictated from the original manuscript seems to be more of the likes of “Holy Oil”. In either case, the ingredients in both encompass ancient herbs that have been utilized for centuries. They both work.

The underlying concept of The Book of Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Sage” is that of developing a relationship with your Guardian Angel. If you are at all familiar with Santeria, then you may be aware of the process of bringing down your guardian angel. In Santeria your Guardian Angel is one of the Orishas. This is the Orisha that crowns a person's head. There is always an element of fate in this relationship. You can not choose your guardian angel as your guardian angel is there to help you in spiritual matters that you are destined to work through. I have had my own guardian angel brought down. It certainly was one I did not expect although it does make perfect sense! The concept of a Guardian Angel certainly has it roots in ancient history. The old testament for example references the significance of Angels. Early Christianity seems to have really developed the guardian angel concept believing that individuals can have specific angels that do indeed “guard” them.

With that being said, you can not deny the Christian influence on “The Book of Sacred Magic of Abramelin” There is a great deal of controversy over who the actual 15^th century author was. I don't really think it matters. In my opinion it is not solely based on Hebrew mysticism. Like I mentioned earlier I am not a Kabala scholar. All I can say is that from what I understand of Judiasm is that the primary relationship for man is that with God, “Hashem.”

The concept of working with Angels and Demons also relates to Obeah. Of course, this process is in many other grimoires including those in the 6^th & 7^th Books of Moses. Again I'm not a scholar and from what I understand, Obeah developed in the Caribbean during the slave migration. Sources report that Obeah developed out of the religion of the Igbo tribe but also has influences from other tribes particularly those from the Congo and Nigeria. When it comes to the modalities of folk magic, particularly those from the West Indies, Cuba And Haiti, it becomes very easy to see the influences of Christianity and the texts of notable European grimoires.

When it comes to conjure, you simply can't deny the impact and significance of historical grimoires. Now, whether you choose to study these is completely up to you. Fundamentally, if you really want to understand Conjure you should familiarize yourself with them. You can find all sorts of literature and websites that explore Hoodoo and Conjure most of them proclaim that conjure is something that is taught not learned. Keep in mind that the folk magic from this country is simply not that old even though it does have ancient influences. Quite frankly, all religions have ancient influences and even though Hoodoo is not a religion, it too has ancient influences. If you really want to learn more about conjure, I suggest beginning by researching a bit of history. For example, I was recently reading the “The Leyden Papyrus”, an ancient Egyptian manuscript. Talk about conjure! I have always wondered about the origins of dove's blood and within this manuscript I saw a spell that utilized it. Who knew it's use dated as far back as the Ancient Egyptians? Somehow I'm not surprised.

Sources:

http://www.hermetics.org/pdf/magick_revival.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Abramelin

http://www.catholicdoors.com/misc/apologetics/guardianangel.htm

http://www.golden-dawn.org/truth_mathers.html

Over time, I have had many questions regarding the use of icons, amulets, talismans, seals, dollies, and saints. After all, these symbols and representation still play a large role in contemporary magic, particularly in hoodoo, conjure, voodoo, and paganism. To truly understand the basic use of symbolic representations, it may be best to take a journey to the past to help you understand the fundamental theory of this type of ritual practice. For the new practitioner it is sometimes helpful to get a broader understanding of a certain function in magical observances. Working with metaphors and symbolism can prove to add a powerful component to any to of ritual, especially magic!

When it comes to prayer and ritual, it is not uncommon to work with icons, statues, seals, amulets,spirit boxes, or even labeled candles associated to a saints and deity. This remains the case in many types of divination and worship. This type of worship devotion has occurred throughout time and was employed by a vast array of cultures. For a deeper understanding of such practices, one may choose to go back in time, to the roots of all ancient magic.

The Sumerians, for example, carved the names on of the Gods on simple stones. In affect, these were the first early talismans. They also created clay figures, not unlike the early ushabtis of Ancient Egypt, that had magic infused into them through certain spells and rituals. Magical seals were also created by carving images of a particular deity with an inscription. In some cases it was merely a symbol.

Like the Sumerians, the Babylonians also held symbols and icons in high regard. Take for example, the universal image of the dove. Today, we associate it with peace, love and the Holy Spirit. But the symbol of the dove dates much further back then Christianity official Roman stamp of approval in 300 A.D. It is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament and the early cultures of Mesopotamia. In Babylonia, the image of the dove was linked to several deities and would eventually come to symbolize the mother goddess. During the reign of King Hammurabi, stone steals were made that illustrated specific curses on those who chose to rebel against his laws. Remember, eye for an eye? Necromancy was also a widely practiced as the Babylonians believed that the dead were far more available to the living than their deities. They too had magical talisman such as dead bird heads and stones. Stones could be used as talismans and figurines that were believed to hold magical power. Furthermore, the Babylonians created great temples, and in some cases entire cities would be deemed holy. The Babylonians were also the great “star gazers”. Stones could be associated with certain powers as the Babylonians believed that their powers came from the stars.

However if you truly wish to understand the use of symbolism and iconography, the Egyptians refined this practice. There is no question that their influence on the ancient Hebrews and African significantly contributed to their religious views and rituals. The Egyptians are really the great instructors on how to work with this type of ritual particularly when it comes to your own practice.

The Egyptians would take their rituals very seriously. Their deities were depicted by stone, wood or clay statues, sometimes large, sometimes, small. Every day they would wash and oil them. They would then offer them food and drink, wine being the most common. It was believed that this provided the gods nourishment. Prayers and incantations would be made. They Ancient Egyptians had a strong belief in the afterlife. They worshiped their ancestors. Like the Gods, spirits of the dead could do good or cause harm. They believed their ancestors  could continue to have influence in their lives. As a consequence, burial rites held great importance. Much care was taken in the burial of their loved ones as they believed it ensured their ancestors a safe journey into the afterlife. Mummification was reserved to only those who could afford it. The commoner was buried in the ground with his most important personal items.

When embarking on a ritual that involves the use of a symbolic object, I suggest learning from the Ancient Egyptians. Offerings should be made. The item should be cleansed at least once a week. If your item is a bowl or box that holds a spirit, make sure you feed it some whiskey or blow a little cigar smoke into it once a week. Anoint you object with holy oils. Talk to it. Pray for it's help. The more you do this, the more life and power will bloom from it. This may seem somewhat of a pagan experience to you. If your are Christian of Jewish like myself, try working with a saint or archangel. The Old Testament is a sacred object in its own right as are the psalms. It's a wonderful way to make an invocation and proves to be quite effective.

Iron. Nearly every ancient culture venerates it and lets face it, they named an entire age after it. The Iron Age, a category of our historical history known to have entered the picture post 1300 B.C. (although in some cultures it was utilized far earlier). It's magic was in it's strength both for weapons and in agriculture.  And iron was considered magical! Many cultures believed it had the ability to ward off evil. After all, It protected warriors and their families and helped crops flourish. For example, If an invasion occurred and you happened to have a solid iron weapon, you would be in much better shape than if you had a bronze or stone one.

Enter the horseshoe. The magical talisman most likely entered the picture much earlier. Try Ancient Greece, 4th century BC. As for the horseshoe, well it gave the equine added protection and strength in flight. Even today, it is considered one of the greatest symbols of luck and protection, particularly when hung above one's door with with the points facing up (although some cultures prefer to hanging the points down). An upright horseshoe may may remind you of the crescent moon, another ancient symbol. And it's very ancient. The Babylonians associated it to their God Sin, the god of the moon who was most often depicted with the bull. Yes, the horns of a bull clearly have a similar resemblance to a crescent moon. Many draw the connection of the crescent moon to fertility due to it's association with cattle, the lunar cycles and of course, menstrual cycles. When one relates this to the much more contemporary ritual acts of Hoodoo, it may draw a connection to the power of using one's own menstrual blood in love spells. Just a thought.....

Back to the horseshoe. Enter the Romans who took the horseshoe one step further. They refined it's use on their fellow equestrians but preserved it's use as a magical talisman. Of course, iron horseshoes are forged with fire. And those who have done some research on magical elements may know that Fire is considered to be protective. Furthermore, the Romans venerated metalwork and even had their own God associated to it, aka Vulcan who forged with “fire”. The Romans then in carried it into Christianity and Europe for that matter. In European folklore the horseshoe was believed to ward of “faeries” and supernatural beings due to the fact that spirits simply do not like cold Iron. When the Middle Ages rolled in, superstitions were at an all time high, particularly when it came to witches! A horseshoe on the door was believed to protect a home from witches who flew on brooms. Why? Well apparently witches didn't like horses too much. Why the door? That may be apparent but in the middle ages witches could also enter through chimneys and windows particularly in the form of a black cat or other animals. If you get a chance, read the story of St. Dunstan and the devil. It's a classic example of how Christianity borrowed an ancient symbol and made it their own.

The symbol of the horseshoe nailed onto the door may have it's root's from the ancient Hebrews. Passover to be exact; and this goes all the way back to when Ancient Egyptians had enslaved the Jews. The myth, at least according to Exodus, goes something like this: The Jews had migrated to Egypt. The Pharaoh, being acutely aware of the growing Jewish population decides to enslave the Jews. An order is called by the Pharaoh that all first born sons of Jews be killed. Enter a first born male, the son of a Jewish woman. As a means to avoid execution, she places her child in a basket and floats him down the Nile river. He is found by a the Pharaoh's daughter, who names him Moses. Moses sees the suffering of the Hebrew people. Moses goes to God and God tells him to have every Israelite  kill a lamb and put it's blood on their front doors so God may' pass over" their homes when he comes down to take every first born child. This myth has made an impact, particularly for the Christians of the middle ages believed that protection on the front door served as protection against a great evil. Even today, some cultures will still place blood on their doors, however it's usually the blood from a chicken.

Today, the horseshoe remains an important symbol of protection and luck. It is even commonly worn as a talisman on the neck and wrist. I have a iron railroad spike behind my door, and quite frankly I'm not opposed to putting a horseshoe up there as well. Horseshoe aren't just for the door  either. They can also be hung over fireplaces (which no doubt stems from from the fear of witches from the middle ages). For the Hoodoo fan, get some Moses or Holy Oil and anoint that horseshoe. Place it above your door with three iron nails or if you happen to have a horseshoe with seven holes, even better! Put seven nails in there. Hang one in your bedroom to prevent nightmares or to protect you from the wandering bad spirit. FYI, if you have the opportunity to find an old horseshoe, it's believed to be much more powerful than a new one. So hit those flea markets and antique stores! Iron horseshoes, by the way, are also a traditional wedding gift given to new brides and grooms for good luck in their marriage. So if your stumped on what to get your friend for their wedding, try a good old fashioned iron horseshoe. Chances are it may do much better good than your typical coffee maker.

Little is known of the true figure who represented St. Expedite. However, he continues to draw a strong following, particularly in the Latin culture and within certain areas of Europe. He is also deeply associated to the folklore of the Creoles of Louisiana and of the Haitians.

Most likely, a martyr did exist. However, his name was not St. Expedite. He certainly has had a following since the middle ages. One theory suggest that he was a Roman soldier who was deeply devoted to Christianity. The term, “expeditus” translates to “soldier” in Latin which is why St. Expedite is often associated as a soldier saint. The myth is that there was once a Roman soldier who was in the process of converting to Christianity. One the day he was to convert, the devil appeared to him as a crow and tried to get him to halt his conversion. Instead, St. Expedite crushed the bird and with his foot and held out a cross that stated “today.”  The oldest representations of him depict a young Roman soldier. Under one foot he is crushing a black crow. The crow has a banner flowing out if its mouth the reads “tomorrow” in Latin. With an outstretched arm, St. Expedite holds out a cross the with a written inscription that states, “today.”

The strongest origin evidence points to Turin during the middle ages which is not surprisingly located in Northern Italy. Turin was clearly under Roman rule and was certainly part of the Roman Empire for centuries. It’s important to note that during Emperor Constantine’s rule, Christianity became the formal religion of the Roman Empire during the 4th century. Prior to that, Christianity was something of an underground religion, one that had a secret society that often met within the confines of the Roman catacombs. During this period, Christians were persecuted. It undoubtedly took great courage to convert to such a hidden and dangerous religion of that particular time period. Do not be mistaken, although Constantine did legitimize Christianity, there continued to be substantial religious controversy in Rome well into the 5^th century as an onslaught of invaders came in to claim Rome as their own including the Visogoths, Vandals and Alans. One can imagine that converting to Christianity even up to the 5th century had its dangers.

Another theory suggests that a relic containing the bones of a saint arrived at a particular at a French monastery during the 1700’s. Those who received the box saw the words “expedite” written along the box. They simply assumed this was the name of the person to which the bones were attached. I tend to doubt this theory as there are clear descriptions of St. Expedite from the middle ages.

In Voodoo, particularly in Haiti, the representation of St. Expedite is often associated to “Baron La Croix” or commonly known as “Baron Lakwa”. Baron Lakwa is the Lao spirit of death and sexuality. He serves an important function as he reminds his followers that life is meant to be enjoyed. Similar to Eshu, he represents the doorway between the material world and the land of the dead and he is known for his sense of humor. In New Orleans Voodoo, St. Expedite is associated to Baron Samedi also associated to death and is considered to be the eldest of all the Lao. He too stands at the crossroads and is often portrayed as a tall man who is exceptionally handsome with a skull like face.

When it comes to Hoodoo, Saint Expedite is frequently petitioned as he is known for bringing luck quickly. He is also known to aid in gambling and his image can often be seen on particular gaming amulets. The customary offering is to leave him a fresh glass of water (Florida water works great too), traditional pound cake and fresh flowers. The 4/6 domino can also be revered and placed on his altar and then carried within one’s pocket for good luck.

St Expedite is known to aid those who are being persecuted. He is a fantastic Saint to work with when one finds themselves in a crunch, has an onslaught of legal problems or simply needs fast cash. I consider him the emergency Saint as he is known to help when crisis hits hard and one needs a interceding right away.