Centering, Grounding, And Shielding

Centering, Grounding, and Shielding

- From my Grimoire

A Preface

Something that I don’t think enough people cover when it comes to The Craft, is how to keep yourself protected when doing spells and rituals, or communicating with spirits. This is a very basic aspect of witchcraft, so I’d like to take a moment to go in depth on the topic to make sure that as many people as possible, can find something that will work for them! Of course though, there will be some methods that I either don’t have experience with or may have simply forgot to mention. Find what works best for you and your practice, and look at some other articles or books as well!

Centering

First off, what is centering? This is basically you preparing yourself and getting in the mindset of doing a spell/ritual. This is taking a moment to yourself to make sure you’re intentions are in the right place, and everything is set up and ready to go. Centering isn’t too difficult to do, so there’s honestly not too much to say on the topic.

Method I like to begin centering with meditation. Relax yourself and get into the “witch headspace”, if you will. Cleanse yourself, and maybe even take a shower or a bath. Next thing is to gather your thoughts, write some questions down on a piece of paper or on your computer and answer them. Things like “What is my motivation?” “What outcome do I want” “How do I want to do this?” If you really take a moment to understand what you’re doing and where your heart lies, your spell will be at it’s most effective.

Grounding

Grounding is an important thing to do after any spell you perform. While it doesn’t necessarily hurt to do before a spell, it can limit your meta-physical performance. Grounding is connecting you back to the earth and bringing you back to your physical body, getting your head out of the clouds if you will, and sometimes when performing a spell that’s where you want your head to be. If you’re working with any earth based magick though, this can greatly help, so just figure out what works best for the kind of spell you’re doing.

Methods

Roots - This is my covens favorite method to ground. This is basically where you have a meditative moment, plant your feet on the ground, and “sink your roots in”. First thing you wanna do is get in some kind of contact with the ground or floor, just anything that is a solid foundation. Plant your hands or feet flat and start by breathing deeply. You wanna really take in the energy from the earth, pay attention to all of your surroundings and take in the moment. Next close your eyes and start focusing your energy at your hands or feet. (You may feel your hands start to tingle or even go mildly numb) Lastly, release that energy and push it into the earth. Let it soak in deep, and if visualization helps, imagine your roots growing down.

Going outside is another very good method to reconnect with the Earth. If at all possible, I like to go outside barefoot and feel the grass on my feet. Really connect to the earth, take in your surroundings and walk around as much as you feel comfortable.

A Dump Stone - Just about any stone will work, but generally stone that come from bodies of water, have holes, or are green or black tend to work the best. Basically just hold the stone in your hand and let any and all negative energy flow out from you into the stone. Stones can handle quite a bit of negative energy so don’t be afraid to let it all come out. After you’re done though, you’re immediately going to want to cleanse your crystal with whichever method works best for you. I prefer to let mine sit in salt overnight, or until the feel done.

Drinking a cold glass of water, splashing cold water on your face, or even taking a really quick cold shower is also a really good way to ground yourself. It’s all about being present in your body, and nothing can bring you back into the now like some cold water can.

Shielding and Wards

Shielding yourself is important when it comes to any kind of magick, because there truly are negative entities and energies out there that like to take advantage of people. It’s a sad truth, but this is why we learn to protect ourselves spiritually. Putting up a shield or ward isn’t difficult, and sometimes you do it without even realizing!

Shielding Methods

Visualization - This is my favorite method to teach beginners because it doesn’t require any tools just you, and yourself. The begin, start by getting into a calm relaxed state, maybe even meditate before hand. Next, imagine a ring of light around yourself starting at your feet. This light can look like anything, be any color, and be any shape so the only limit is your imagination. Once you have the ring of light, imagine it slowly coming up around your body, let it fill your heart with warmth and let it remind you that you are safe spiritually and no negative entity can harm you. Once it has made a complete bubble around yourself, say some affirmations and remind yourself that you’re strong and can handle anything. The more you believe in yourself, then the stronger this shield will become.

Smoky Quartz or any other black stone, when kept on the person or placed at the feet can create a ward as well. For those less imaginative, this is a very good alternative because you have the crystal to support you as well.

Magick Circle - There are many ways to open a magick circle, but heres a really simple method. Hold one of your hands out, palm up and focus your energy in your hand. (You may get that warm, tingly, or numb feeling, if not though thats okay!) Really let it bubble up into your fingertips, and once there, point a finger out and draw a circle around yourself and say some simple affirmations of safety and peace. Just like the visualization method, this works best the more you have faith and believe in yourself.

Simply stating that you are, or feel safe is another way to shield yourself spiritually. You remember how when you were little and alone in your room at night and you thought you heard something scary? You covered your head up with a blanket right? Do you remember how safe you felt after doing that, like how nothing could get you? That was quite literally you putting up a shield. Remember your intentions and feelings are the most important thing in magick, always keep that in mind!

Warding Methods Wards are another variation of shields, but these are things you put on the physical plane rather than a spiritual one.

Runes/Sigils - A really good way to set up a ward is to carve or draw some runes either into the side of a doorframe, a candle, or even on a piece of paper to burn later! If you’re going to carve them into wood or draw them, charge the tool you’re going to be doing it with. If your going to use a candle, burn the candle whenever you feel like you need it most! And as for burning paper, keep the ashed around and maybe even sprinkle them into every corner of the room.

Salt - Put lines of salt on the top of your door and window frames, and sprinkle some in every corner of the room.

Stones - Certain stones are said to be warning stones and will break if danger is near by. Malachite is one of these stones, and is fairly easy to get your hands on. Place this stone above door and window frames as well.

Holy/Blessed Water - A drop placed in every corner of the room creates a barrier around the room.

Brooms/Staffs - Place in the corners of rooms, and said to fall over if danger is near by.

Black Candles - Burning a black candle is said to bring protection and keep a room hidden from spirits.

More Posts from Greenswitchery and Others

greenswitchery

5 years ago

Spirits & Working with them

We are souls temporarily in bodies on earth. Our natural home is in the spirit world, often known as the “Other side”. Whether you realize it or not, We are constantly surrounded by spirits. They may be in human bodies (like ourselves) or “in spirit” form. Just like we have family and friends in this life, We have had other lives with relationships we have deeply cherished and nurtured. Certainly, there are other spirits we have known and loved in other lives that are “in spirit” here on earth. A spirit is nothing more or less than another person, They just don’t have a body. They really aren’t as mysterious or strange as they’re made out to be, I feel like spirits are really misunderstood.

PROTECTION Ok guys, when i say they’re misunderstood i don’t mean every spirit out there is fluffy and sweet. Protection is absolutely the MOST IMPORTANT PART of working with spirits. Like i said, they’re nothing more or less than another person. They are beings, they have their own personalities. Just like with people, Don’t give out your information or be too trusting. Spirits can lie, Spirits can have malicious motives, Spirits can be tricksters and just yank your chain (ever gotten on a Ouija and seen ZOZO or MAMA or freaked bc it was doing something you thought was demonic or enabling the spirit to escape the board? Yeah, you were part of a big joke buddy. Spirits cannot escape the board, they aren’t in the board in the first place.).

Ways to protect yourself:

-Wards, Physically or in the Astral Plane, where spirits typically reside or come from. Astral Projection is not something for beginners to attempt, You really need to know how to deal with and protect yourself from the beings in that plane.

-Protection spells, amulets or talismans

-Sigils

-I have a special tea i brew for myself before spirit workings that is my blend of herbs to protect me and get me in the mindset for spirit work. I also suggest cleansing your energy, Maybe a cleansing bath and a smudge session and some meditation, Clean your energy so no spirits leech off of your negative energy or sense any mental weakness to attack.

-If you are scared, don’t do it. Spirits can smell it from 30 miles away, and will use it against you. Be mentally prepared, protect yourself. (I want to add i have never had any run ins with malicious spirits, But they DO EXIST. Most spirits are kind in my experience.)

COMMUNICATION

You are probably not gonna just be able to sit down and speak to spirits. (They can hear you, But thats listening and not communication.) I suggest picking up a form of divination, like pendulum, dice, or a ouija board to start. Do not Ouija alone if it is your first time and you are unexperienced. You will receive fragmented bits of conversation likely, and this is normal. Start out with simple yes and no questions, and eventually you will work your way up to normal conversation with spirits. It takes time to grow these skills. When i first started i was pulling out my Ouija nonstop!!! Spirits mostly communicate in tattered words, pictures and emotions. Its good to practice energy work, Sensing the kind of energy spirits are bringing in. This way you’ll eventually be able to tell the difference between a malicious spirit and a kind spirit just by the energy its giving off. PRACTICE, Keep growing your skills.

INTERACTING WITH SPIRITS

Communicating and meeting with local spirits is the easiest way to start off.

A lot of people start off with nature spirits, they are much more patient than other beings. I suggest sitting in a forest or by a creek and seeing who wants to talk, but sitting on your back porch with your plants can be equally as successful. I didn’t start with nature spirits specifically, but they likely were the ones who came thru. Very patient and kind, even noting that my dog (who was wanting to come outside with me, but my patios very small and she’s very big) was being loud.

I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO TALK ABOUT!!

Don’t worry, Here are all the ideas. Its nice to let the spirit share experiences with you, Keep in mind spirits have been around for a very long time, some since the beginning of time, and have experienced many things. I’ve heard some very cool stories.

Let me hear a love story

Show me a song from your people

Tell me something you’ve done that you are proud of

Tell me a little about your culture

Tell me your story

Do you have any jokes you can share with me?

What is your advice for me?

Who is the your peoples leader?(this can help you distinguish a timeline on when they were alive/where as well)

Is there anything about Human Culture you have questions about?

Do you speak more than one language?

SPIRIT WORK TIPS

Don’t give out the name that is the most important to you.

The ‘color’ of an energy doesn’t mean it will align with your own color meanings.

Don’t share how you’re protecting yourself, It is not wise and can help malicious spirits find points of weakness.

Don’t expect to hear voices or see spirits clear as day. The stories told on tumblr may be embellished to add understanding, or might receive messages in a less clear way than presented

If you ever feel threatened by a spirits energy or sense a negative spirit, Tell it to leave loudly and clearly. Do not show fear, Do not back down. Repeat and increase your intensity if it doesn’t stop.

This post is all based on my opinion of spirit work, and is not fact. I love spirits and spirit work so much, and i hope you do as well. Enjoy the spirits, Make some new friends! Love & Light, @lapiscat

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greenswitchery

1 year ago

my tarot deck: stop repressing your emotions

me, pulling another card: hmmm i think i need a clarifier idk what this means……

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greenswitchery

5 years ago

The Ascendant is important!

Here’s why:

The Ascendant does not just show “how people see you.”

The Ascendant signifies how you’ve entered into the world. It represents your birth, your first breath, and your first, strongest view of the world.

The 1st House rules over the head. The Ascendant can not only have a say on your facial appearance, but the overall vibe of your appearance as a whole.

The Ascendant serves as a spreadsheet for the placement of your planets. Without the Ascendant, you will not know which Houses your planets are in.

The Ascendant also sets the order of the signs ruling the Houses. The signs are in order on your natal chart, and the fact that the order can’t be changed shows that the Ascendant has a strong effect on the rest of your Houses. This implies that the rest of the Houses are connected in some way to the Ascendant.

The Ascendant is often accepted in many aspect patterns due to its important and visible effects.

The Ascendant is often used as a defense mechanism against the world as a way to keep oneself safe by covering the sign ruled by the 12th House. The defensiveness/covering of the Ascendant goes with the archetypal notion that Aries, the sign naturally ruling the 1st House is always defensive and on-guard from outside forces.

The Ascendant is often used to find one’s karmic lessons and directions in addition to the North and South Node.

The Ascendant is the start of the natal chart and is arguably one of the most important angles in the natal chart.

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greenswitchery

3 years ago

To Banish and Bind - Curse Jar for Abusers

✨DISCLAIMER - cursing and dark magic is always a controversial topic. If you do not like to practise or read about such things then feel free to ignore this post altogether HOWEVER - I ask that whatever your personal opinion on the matter, you respect the right of each individual to ply their craft according to their OWN morals and not yours ✨

✨This Spell Jar has a threefold purpose - to Bind, to Banish and, if triggered, to Curse✨The spell is designed to lay a powerful compulsion on the target, making them wary and fearful of approaching you✨If they attempt to do so regardless, the Curse will activate and rebound their ill intentions back onto them, sowing bitterness and misfortune through their life✨

THIS IS NOT A HEX, IT IS A CURSE - such spells are designed to be permenant and difficult to break - think very carefully about laying curses on others and decide if the wrongs they have done you truly warrant such a response from you

Although this is a curse, it is generally intended to give those who have been abused and feel afraid or vulnerable an means of defending themselves and exacting a level of justice against their abusers

Ingredients & Tools

A small glass jar with a cork

A taglock (hair, blood, name on paper, object belonging to the target etc)

Rock salt

Chilli

Lemon juice

Onion

Garlic

Black ink

Pen

A red candle

Black cord/yarn

Any crystals or equipment you require to ward and protect yourself (VERY important)

Preparation

✨Cleanse my work area and create a circular shield to protect yourself and your home whilst you work (you may choose to ward yourself)

✨To bolster an energetic shield, mark out a physical circle using yarn (black for protection and banishment) and seal it with a crystal if you have one (you may also choose to use protective sigils for an additional boost)

✨Light the red candle and wrote the name of the abuser on a small slip of paper, wrapping it around a small object of theirs to create your taglock (ignore this if you are using a different kind of taglock - just the name on the paper will work if you have none of their possessions)

✨Fill the jar in this order, focusing on your intention

Rock salt - for protection

Garlic - for banishment

Chilli - for banishment and suffering

Onion - for banishment and sorrow

✨Coat the taglock in wax from the red candle and add it to the jar - mix it all by shaking the jar

✨ Add the lemon juice (for bitterness and suffering) and a drop of the black ink (to bring darkness to their life) and mix again

✨Cork the jar and seal it with the red wax, then bind it with the black cord and seal with more wax

✨It is up to you what you now do with the jar -hide it, bury it or throw it away - but it is advisable to make sure it won’t be found or broken as this could have unexpected and likely unpleasant results✨

Important!

✨Once you have completed your jar it is ESSENTIAL that you cleanse both yourself and your space to remove the residue left by powerful dark magic✨ Use sage, remove or sigils and cleanse your energy, but it is advisable to perform a more thorough and powerful cleansing than you might for a gentler and more positive spell✨

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greenswitchery

1 year ago

Mabon Pomegranate Wisdom Spell

To advance spiritual development and gain wisdom. This spell calls upon Inanna/ Persephone

Items needed:

Charcoal disc

Fireproof dish

Purple candle

Matches

Two tablespoons of dried dittany of crete (etsy, amazon, while foods)

1 pomegranate

Sharp knife

Instructions:

Light the charcoal dish, let burn down so it does not smoke to much. When it's ready light the candle then say "I call upon (diety of choice) queen of the land of the dead, wise beyond reckoning, to bless my spirit quest and guide my footsteps through the darkness"

Add the dittany to the disc

Slice open pomegranate, take out six seeds and eat them

Close your eyes, imagine yourself sinking into the darkness, going deeper where there is nothing but silence. Stay there in the silence for as long as needed, when ready, blow out the candle, then burn it for a hour at sunset till it's gone.

Bury the pomegranate in your yard/garden. Keep a dream diary throught the winter season

Change it up, make it your own if desired

Sourced: little book of spells

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greenswitchery

1 year ago

Part of getting older is realizing how absolutely insane it is that basically every form of media is constantly trying to convince us that the most interesting moments of the lived human experience are happening in HIGH SCHOOL…… girl who gives a flying fuck what 16 year olds are doing.

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greenswitchery

1 year ago

My favorite simple wards to guard the home

Hanging rosemary above the doorstep, and/or above doors of the house for protection.

Sprinkling a line of dried red pepper on a windowsill, to counter a curse.

Placing a mix of dried & ground eggshells and black pepper in every corner of a room to keep out unwanted spirits.

Placing a decoration representing a witch in the kitchen, to keep away illness and to favor health.

Crafting an effigie (no matter how crude!) and make it into the guardian of your home by charging it with your intent of protection by placing it near the front door.

Crafting small witch ladders to hang around the house.

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greenswitchery

5 years ago

💎Some Crystals and their meaning in Witchcraft💎

Recently I am a huge - like really huge - fan of crystals. That’s why I thought that I will try to write a detailed list about crystals and what they are good for. I hope this little list may be useful for others too.

Anxiety: amazonite, amber, agate, emerald, herkimer quartz, jasper, lepidolite, lodestone, obsidian, quartz, rose quartz, sodalite, turquoise

Balancing/Stability: amethyst, desert rose, jasper, pearl, quartz, red jasper, sodalite, turquoise

Banish fear: banded agate, bloodstone, sodalite

Banish negative energy: amethyst, black onyx, black tourmaline, danburite, lepidolite, malachite, onyx, quartz, smokey quartz, tourmaline

Calming: amatonite, herkimer quartz, howlite

Clarity: azurite, citrine, fluorite, hematite, magnetite, obsidian, pietersite, quartz sapphire, smoky quartz

Cleansing: amber, obsidian

Courage: carnelian, hermatite, turquoise

Creativity: amazonite, ametrine, apatite, aventurine, carnelian, celestite, chalcedony, citrine, flourite (blue), lolite, jasper, kunzite, opal, sunstone, tiger’s eye, lapiz lazuli

Divination: bloodstone, obsidian, turquoise

Empathy: aquamarine, blue aventurine, chrome diopside, rose quartz, malachite

Faith: emerald, imperial golden topaz, labradorite, onyx, sodalite, variscite

Friendship: ruby fuchsite, rhodonite, turquoise

Forgivness: rhodonite, rose quartz

Happiness: amazonite, amber, citrine, red goldstone

Harmony: moonstone, rose quartz, sodalite

Healing: amber, angelite, jasper, kyanite, malachite, quartz, rose quartz, turquoise

Help in focuse: banded agate, citrine, lodestone

Hope: blue aventurine

Indivituality: malachite

Inspiration: amazonite,amethyst, ametrine, blue chalgebony, blue goldstone, carnelian, citrine, garnet, orange calcite, quartz

Joy: amazonite, citrine, labradorite

Love: angelite, citrine, desert rose, dragon blood jasper, garnet, jade, opal, quartz, rose quartz, ruby, turquoise

Loyalty: dalmatian stone, turquoise

Luck: amazonite, amber, apache tears, aventurine, sapphire, turquoise

Meditation: emerald, herkimer quartz, quartz, sodalite, turquoise

Mind: pyrite, sodalite

Passion: carnelian, garnet, ruby

Peace: amazonite, amethyst, emerald, larimar, lepidolite, rose quartz, selenite, sodalite

Positive energy: amber, apache tears, calicite, citrine

Protection: amethyst, black tourmaline, hag stone, kunzite, obsidian, smoky quartz, tiger’s eye, tourmaline, turquoise

Prosperity: amazonite, aventurine, citrine, jade, moss gate, pyrite, ruby , tiger’s eye

Psyche: black tourmaline, calcite, emerald, labradorite, tuquoise

Psychic: chalcedony, unakite

Relieve stress: blue calcite, herkimer quartz, lepidolite, quartz, sodalite

Self-confidence/Self-esteem: amazonite, amber, ametrine, black tourmaline, chrysocolla, garnet, larimar, pearl, prehnite, rhodonie, rose quartz

Serenity: emerald, lepidolite

Sleep: amethyst, emerald, howlite, ledestone, sodalite

Strenght: amber, hermatite, red jasper

Success: amazonite, pyrite

Tranquility: emerald, lepidolite

Trust: onyx, ruby fuchsite, sodalite, turquoise, variscite

Vitality: carnelian, garnet, orange calcite, red agate, ruby, ruby zoisite, sunstone,

Wisdom: tiger’s eye, sodalite

Wealth: aventurine, citrine, green calcite, jade,malachite, pyrite, tiger’s eye, tree agate

In the future I’ll expand the list when I find enough new and useful information. I hope this little post will help someone. 😊

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greenswitchery

5 years ago

Who else loves terrariums?🌿

@terraliving - they are not a sponsor we're just a huge fan!

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greenswitchery

3 years ago

Protection Stone

What You Need:

black candle

a smooth stone, from a source of fresh water preferred

3 blackberries/5 elderberries/2 mulberries

½ teaspoon of olive oil

pepper

a pinch of sage

a few bay leaves

three petals plucked from a geranium

mortar and pestle (or something else to grind your herbs)

a glass jar with a lid

paintbrush (using your finger can also work!)

Method:

▽ Grind up your herbs and petals with your mortar and pestle, and once thoroughly blended, scrape them into your jar.

▽ Next, grab your berries and either use your mortar and pestle to grind them up, or use your hands to turn them to mush before throwing them into your jar.

▽ Carefully measure the olive oil with a ½ teaspoon and pour it into your jar, and throw in the amount of (ground) pepper you see fit. Remember that pepper is a powerful substance used in protection spells.

▽ Once all your components are in your jar, blend them all together using a fork, making sure to mix it up until it resembles a paste. If it still looks chunky, try adding a little bit more olive oil.

▽ Lighting your black candle, say an incantation or pray to your deity as you dip your paintbrush (or finger) into your protection paste, and paint a protection sigil/marking onto your stone. Some sigils I recommend can be found here, here, here, and here. An example incantation could go like this:

Blessed Divines, so loving and kind, Watch over me, and all that is mine; Please erase my fears, I will cry no tears; Let no such harm or hurt come to me, This here is my will, so Mote It Be. ▽ When you finish painting your new protection stone, blow out the black candle and seal your glass jar with the lid. Whenever you feel the need to take extra precautions, just repaint your stone to give it a stronger intent! And there you have it! If you make your intention a lot more specific, (eg: I will feel safe when walking home, or I will be safe from nightmares), keep it in your pocket, or have it under your pillow.

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