#shielding

[wolfhoundwitch]

Introduction to Shielding

If you haven’t already, check out my lessons on visualisation for the basic knowledge you’ll need to begin practicing shielding.

So what is shielding?

Shielding is a manipulation of energy, used to create a barrier between yourself and unwanted, usually negative or malicious energies. It’s a basic aspect of spellwork that everyone, beginner or experienced, should use to keep themselves safe.

What can I use shielding for?

Some beginner-level uses for shielding are drawing a circle, or casting a spell. A more experienced individual might use shielding in astral travel or spirit work, where there are a lot more malicious energies involved. Personally, I use shielding as often as possible, for instance when I do tarot readings, spells, spirit work, shadow work, and especially cursing. It gives that extra guarantee that you won't flood your personal space with unwanted energies.

Other uses include shielding against real-life dangers, to a certain degree. I often shield when I am walking through town at night for extra protection. But please remember to take other measures too! Call someone, pretend to be on the phone, plan your route, and even carry pepper spray if it's legal where you are.

An easy shielding method:

The easiest way to explain this is to think of your energy as a physical manifestation. Think how power attacks are shown in anime or cartoons - a streak of colour or light, or an element. Make it personable to you: fire signs (Leo/Aries/Sagittarius) might visualise fire, or a red energy or light etc.

Firstly, some people prefer to cleanse before shielding. I don't think its all that necessary but the choice is yours.

Begin by easing yourself into meditation. Get comfortable, and use whichever technique works for you. I have various methods for this in my visualisation lessons if you are struggling.

Attempt to visualise the energies surrounding you in your mind. It might be a swirling colour of light, almost like a cloud of dust. It could be flames, it could be water. Maybe try to see it held within your hand.

Now, attempt to shape this energy around your entire body. You might want to start with a bubble or a cube surrounding you. Feel this shape surrounding and protecting you. Visualise negative and unwanted energies being held back by it.

You can also layer shields, so if you are working with a particularly malicious energy you might want to have multiple shapes surrounding you, all within each other. You can also work with deities or spirits to ask them to shield you too.

Shielding Incantation

When I am shielding, I recite a spell as well as using visualisation techniques.

The shield of protection, I carry it strong, No ill wishes or trouble shall come along, You cannot harm me, or weaken my soul, My light is my weapon, and peace is my goal.

Try it out for yourself and let me know in the comments how it went! Thank you as always for reading. Please message for requests.

[bunny-claws]

energetic shields ✨️

[long post]

what's the purpose of a shield?

a shield typically acts as a barrier between you and the outside world - they can be stationary or mobile.

shields are commonly used as personal protective wards, but can be used for so much more - let's get into it.

what can shields be used for?

protection from energy, people, or situations

creating illusions or casting glamours

absorption, destruction, deflection, or transmutation of energy

some examples:

a shield to ward off negative or malicious energy

a shield to alter your appearance and other's perceptions of you

a shield to deflect negative energy and return to sender

a shield that absorbs negative energy and transmutes it into positive energy

a shield that absorbs energy and tethers it to you or an object

a shield that destroys the energy it absorbs from a target

a shield over a location or place you frequent - your vehicle, your home, your workplace, etc.

a shield over a particular object

a shield to make you "invisible" - known as "cloaking" in some circles

when would you use a shield for something other than warding?

just as a shield can be used to protect or deflect, it can also be used like a solar panel to absorb.

to passively sap energy from a target.

to create an illusion of yourself or an object in order to distract and deter unwanted attention or energy - the illusion you create is up to you but the versatility of such makes for a very useful glamour. in the baneful sense, illusions can be used to disorient others.

how do you craft a shield?

typically through visualization and energy manipulation, although you could incorporate physical objects to "tie down" the shield (tie down shields that cover spaces, like your house or your car).

the easiest way to visualize a shield is to think of a bubble or ring that surrounds you, emitting from your person somehow - the best thing about this barrier is that it can look and feel however you want.

layering shields on top of each other is totally a thing.

you can program and store a shield in an object for later use - like a necklace or a sigil on paper that's enchanted with X energy that projects a shield when activated. you could store a shield in a pickle jar if you wanted to. go wild.

you can craft temporary shields to be used during spellwork or rituals (like casting a circle).

how do you craft and charge a shield?

that depends on the energy you're employing to craft the shield - the technique of crafting a shield usually involves visualizing the creation of the shield and then forming and emitting energy from within yourself to charge it, but! it doesn't mean that said energy has to be your own.

for example:

moonlight? harness and charge shields with lunar energy that you previously channeled and stored. alternately, you could channel lunar energy and then remain tethered to keep the shield up and running.

crystals? use that crystal as a talisman to activate a shield in its image.

fire? draw the elemental symbol in red ink on your wrist and press to activate.

home protection? set a protective talisman in your living room and let it do its thing.

i will say, though - having a tether that's connected to an external energy for an extended period of time is probably gonna be pretty hard to maintain. the tether will eventually break once your personal battery becomes so overcharged that it just stops charging altogether. i do not recommend it.

but, there are so many possibilities.

materials and textures

let's say your shield is made of glass - what happens when you break glass? it shatters.

what if it's permeable in some way? this could allow your own energy to seep out while attracting all kinds of nonspecific, outside energies in the process.

maybe it's so solid that it blocks out everything, even the stuff you want to attract (imagine an invisibility shield that accidentally makes you unperceivable to everyone).

what you choose to craft your shield from is entirely preferential, but it should be a reflection of your intent while protecting you, regardless of what you're using the shield for. speaking of, consider what you'd like the inside to look or feel like. i personally like the interior of my shields to be soft and relaxing. but! if that's not right for you, then you can literally do whatever you want. the possibilities are endless.

some ideas for shields

rose branches with thorns intact - visible but heavily guarded

moss, leaves, other greenery - earthy energy; good for keeping yourself grounded

metal - impenetrable but opaque; good for invisibility glamours

fire - destructive; could impact you negatively if it backfires; may take a lot of maintenance to keep it lit

water - illusionary but permeable and could potentially allow energy to flow freely; not super great for keeping energy in or out of the shield

crystals or diamonds - refractive; alters appearance or personality

holography - refractive and reflective; to distort the way others perceive you or done so in a way that makes you invisible to others; return to sender

rocks - impenetrable but weathers over time

glass - sure but why would you want to? idk

wood - could act as the foundation for a shield or be used to make a shield in its entirety; could potentially be destroyed by fire, water, or air energies

mirrors facing outside - reflective; return to sender

mirrors facing inside - illusionary; distorting imagery to disorient a target

aura - use corresponding colors that align with your intent

fog or haze - illusionary

sunlight - illuminating but also destructive

moonlight - illuminating; good for transmuting energy from negative to positive

black hole - the shield acts as the event horizon of a black hole to absorb and destroy energy

starfield - illuminate and highlight personal traits you want others to notice

cyberspace - neon and glitches, galore; disorient and distract a target when they look your direction

photo filter - to alter your appearance

what could go wrong?

it breaks or malfunctions

it doesn't work at all

it works too well

it won't stay charged

it drains your own energy

if your shield breaks, you can either repair it (like, if it's a solid object) or remake it (mundanely breakable materials that can't easily be put back together). how will you know if your shield breaks? simply enough, when you notice that it has stopped working OR when it starts to backfire because of the damage. the backfire part is self explanatory, and as for the rest - you might just know that it's falling apart, but if you have trouble sensing energy, you could maybe perform divination to confirm your suspicions. another possibility is that the talisman you used to form and charge the shield ends up damaged in some way. you may also be extremely fatigued once all that energy you gathered disappears or starts working against you. that's not to say that a shield is always gonna burst into flames spontaneously and immediately - it may break down and lose its integrity over time, but that also means it'll slowly stop working. look at the bright side, at least that would give you some time to repair it if you wanted to.

taking down a shield

do the thing you did to craft the shield but do it backwards. no seriously. visualize the energy slowly dissipating and departing back to whence it came. if you used physical objects to secure the shield, remove and cleanse them. if you asked for help with this one, don't forget to give thanks for the assistance.

do you have to keep using the same shield?

short answer: no!

longer answer: let's say you craft a shield that you want to keep around indefinitely, but only use in certain situations. you could totally store that shield somewhere for safekeeping and bring it out when you need it, recharging it as you see fit.

on the other hand, you can take down and destroy a shield after you use it and then make a new one when you need to.

totally up to you. :)

final thoughts

working with shields can be exhausting, so pls make sure you're eating, staying hydrated, grounding, and getting enough sleep.

© 2025 bunny-claws

[majokkid]

Grounding versus Adjustment

Puella Magi Madoka Magia Side Story: Magia Record introduces the idea of Adjustment: a procedure performed by a Coordinator or Adjuster that can be done to ‘enhance’ a magical girl’s Soul Gem. This enhancement can come in the form of removing impurities or unlocking further magical potential. Adjustment is also necessary when a magical hero uses their Doppel to avoid succumbing to despair.

Adjustment, as it is portrayed in Puella Magi Madoka Magia Side Story: Magia Record, is not a replacement for professional and personal therapeutic practices or experienced Shadow Work. I would strongly advise any magical hero to have a strong foundation in grounding and shielding practices before engaging in any serious work. If you’d like, imagine that your therapist, social worker, or other professional therapeutic practitioner is your Coordinator—they are there to provide you as a magical hero an essential service.

Grounding, on the other hand, is something any magical hero can do and is a foundational technique for any practicing magician. To put it simply, grounding is a way of eliminating excess energy and tempering high emotions that you may have stored up during a ritual or a working. If you have practiced centering as an energy technique, the fundamentals of grounding are simple: remember how you learned to manipulate energy when you learned to center? That's what you'll do to ground, only instead of drawing that energy inside you, you'll push it out—whether that is into the void, into an object, or to be carried off by the elements. Strong visualizations certainly help with grounding but also try something physical or tangible to strengthen its effects; try using your hands or your feet to push out that extra energy and feel it drain into the earth. You can also engage other senses in your grounding like by using cleansing herbs as an incense or spray, or by eating a comforting and antioxidant rich food like dark chocolate.

I often shield as well as part of my grounding practice. This helps protect my magical and physical body that may have become raw from high energy and emotions. Shielding is a way of protecting yourself from psychic, mental, or magical attack by creating an energy barrier around yourself that others cannot penetrate. When shielding, I do not completely close myself out from the world and others around me—I’m simply fortifying my defenses while I am recuperating.

This is my first post in a series of Magi Praxis writings I have planned. If you have any suggestions for future topics, please send me a message! I am always happy to go back and provide further explanation as well. ☆

[grimoirey]

Shielding

Psychic Shielding Visualisations

Here’s a list of psychic shielding visualizations to help protect your energy and create a strong boundary against unwanted influences. These visualizations are useful for creating energetic shields that block out negativity, drain, or harmful influences.

These visualizations offer a variety of methods to create psychic shields that block out negative or harmful influences. You can use whichever one resonates with you or mix and match them depending on your needs!

Golden Bubble Shield

Visualize a large, glowing golden bubble surrounding your entire body. This bubble repels negative energy and only allows positive, loving energy to pass through, keeping you protected and safe within.

Mirror Shield

Picture a reflective shield or sphere around you, like a mirror. Any negative energy that approaches you is reflected back to its source, while positive energy is absorbed and welcomed within the shield.

White Light Shield

Imagine a brilliant white light radiating from your heart or crown, expanding out to form a protective shield around you. This pure, divine light blocks all harmful energies while keeping you connected to higher, positive vibrations.

Elemental Shield

Choose an element (fire, water, air, or earth) and visualize it forming a protective barrier around you. A wall of flames, a flowing water vortex, a gust of wind, or a strong stone wall will create an elemental shield that protects you from harm.

Rainbow Shield

Picture a multicolored rainbow bubble surrounding you. Each color represents different layers of protection—red for grounding, orange for emotional balance, yellow for personal power, green for healing, blue for communication, indigo for intuition, and violet for spiritual protection.

Iron Fortress

Visualize an impenetrable fortress made of iron or stone surrounding you. This fortress is strong and unbreakable, keeping you safe from any external energies, attacks, or unwanted influences.

Glass Dome

Imagine yourself standing inside a clear glass dome. The dome allows you to see and interact with the outside world but protects you from any negative energies or psychic intrusions that may try to enter your space.

Shield of Feathers

Picture a soft, gentle shield made of feathers surrounding your body. The feathers absorb any negativity or harmful energy that comes your way, diffusing it before it reaches you and keeping your energy light and protected.

Spider Web Shield

Visualize a shimmering spider web around you, made of strong, fine threads. Any negativity or harmful energy that touches the web gets caught and dissolved, leaving you unharmed.

Crystal Shield

Picture a protective shield made of your favorite crystal (like amethyst, quartz, or obsidian) forming around you. The crystal's energy amplifies your protection, keeping you shielded from harmful or draining energies.

Fire Ring

Visualize a circle of protective flames surrounding you. The fire burns away any negative energy that tries to come near, purifying and protecting your energy from psychic attack or emotional drain.

Silver Armor

Imagine yourself wearing a suit of silver armor, protecting your entire body. This armor deflects any negative energy or harmful intentions directed your way, keeping you safe from psychic harm.

Moonlight Shield

Picture soft, silvery moonlight forming a shield around your body. The gentle but powerful energy of the moon creates a protective barrier, soothing and guarding you from unwanted energy or influences.

Waterfall Shield

Envision a flowing waterfall surrounding your body, acting as a shield. The water continuously washes away any negative energy or psychic attacks, leaving your energy field clear and protected.

Diamond Shield

Visualize a brilliant diamond-like structure around you. Its multifaceted surface reflects and disperses any harmful energy that approaches, while its strength and clarity provide powerful protection.

Lotus Flower Shield

Imagine a lotus flower blooming around you, its petals forming a protective shield. The flower symbolizes purity and peace, guarding you from any negativity while allowing you to remain calm and centered.

Starry Night Shield

Picture a vast starry night sky surrounding you. Each star represents a point of protection, creating an infinite shield of cosmic energy that deflects negativity and keeps you safe within your own energetic space.

Shield of Sunlight

Visualize rays of sunlight forming a protective barrier around you. The warmth and light of the sun dissolve any dark or harmful energy before it can reach you, leaving you enveloped in warmth and safety.

Electric Shield

Imagine an electric field of energy buzzing around your body. Any negative energy that comes close is zapped and neutralized by the electric charge, protecting your personal space from intrusions.

Cocoon of Silk

Visualize a cocoon made of silk threads wrapping around you. The threads are delicate yet strong, forming a protective barrier that shields you from any harmful influences while keeping your energy secure.

Violet Flame Shield

Picture a violet flame surrounding your body, burning brightly and protecting you from any negative energy or psychic attack. The violet flame transmutes negative energy into positive energy, keeping you safe and empowered.

Phoenix Wings

Envision the wings of a phoenix wrapping around you, their fiery energy shielding you from harm. The phoenix’s regenerative power protects you and helps you rise above any negative or harmful influences.

Aura Shield

Visualize your aura expanding outward, growing bright and strong. As your aura expands, it forms a protective barrier that deflects negativity, preventing any harmful energy from entering your personal space.

Holographic Shield

Picture a holographic shield that adapts to any threat, changing color and texture as needed to block negative energies. The shield responds automatically to any psychic attacks or unwanted energy, keeping you protected at all times.

Rooted Forest Shield

Envision yourself standing in the center of an ancient forest. The trees around you create a natural shield, their roots and branches intertwined to protect you from external energies, grounding you and providing powerful energetic protection.

[magickkate]

Hey there, fellow witches-in-training! Ready to learn how to fortify your energetic boundaries and protect yourself from unwanted vibes? Let's dive into the magical world of warding and shielding—essential skills for any budding practitioner. Here's the lowdown:

🌿 What is Warding?

Warding is like setting up a magical barrier around yourself or your space to keep out negative energy, entities, or influences. It's your personal energetic security system, designed to maintain harmony and protect against psychic intruders.

🔮 How to Ward:

Clear Your Space: Before warding, it's essential to cleanse your space of any lingering negativity. You can do this through smoke cleansing with herbs, sprinkling salt, or using sound vibrations with bells or singing bowls.

Set Your Intention: Decide what you want your wards to accomplish. Are you focusing on protection, privacy, or something else? Be clear and specific about your intentions.

Create Your Warding Tools: This can include crystals, charms, sigils, or even visualization techniques. Choose whatever resonates with you and feels most empowering.

Activate Your Wards: Place your chosen tools around your space or carry them with you as needed. Visualize a protective barrier forming around you, reinforcing your intention with each breath.

Reinforce Regularly: Warding isn't a one-and-done deal—it requires regular maintenance and reinforcement. Check in with your wards periodically and adjust them as needed.

🛡️ What is Shielding?

Shielding is like putting on a magical suit of armor to deflect negative energy and psychic attacks. It's all about strengthening your energetic boundaries and maintaining your inner peace amidst external chaos.

🌟 How to Shield:

Ground Yourself: Connect with the earth's energy by visualizing roots growing from your feet into the ground below. This helps you stay rooted and centered in your power.

Visualize Your Shield: Imagine a bubble or aura of protective light surrounding you, extending several feet in all directions. Envision it as impenetrable and invincible, repelling negativity like water off a duck's back.

Set Your Boundaries: Intend for your shield to only allow in positive energy while blocking out anything harmful or intrusive.

Maintain Awareness: Stay mindful of your shield throughout the day, especially in situations where you feel vulnerable or overwhelmed. Adjust its strength and size as needed to suit your surroundings.

Keep in mind, both warding and shielding are highly personal practices, so feel free to experiment and find what works best for you. Trust your intuition, stay grounded, and know that you have the power to create and maintain your own sacred space. Stay magical, my friends! 🌌✨

Sources: Sebastiani A. By Rust of Nail & Prick of Thorn. Independently Published; 2020. Wigington P. How to Magically Ground, Center, and Shield. Learn Religions. Published June 25, 2019. https://www.learnreligions.com/grounding-centering-and-shielding-4122187

[theweightofdivinity]

The blur is not distortion. It’s protection.

You’ll never fully see me unless I want you to.

[lokavisi]

This week is time to ground our shields. Bring them down to earth. Ground yourself within them. Whether it's a physical or mundane sort of shield (like security cameras, self-defense practices, or *setting boundaries*) or something more mystical (crystal grids, wards, enchanted jewelry, etc.). Make sure you practice grounding while your shields are up and that you know how to put shields up when you're knocked back on the ground by something or someone. It's important to protect your peace this week.

Not to hawk someone else's product, but if you need some ideas and have access to a copy, I highly recommend reading Blackthorn's Protection Magic. Amy covers both mundane and magical means of self-defense, so it's a wonderfully helpful guide. (I am very aware that putting this here sounds Capitalist™️ as all hell, but it is a genuinely helpful book that feels appropriate to mention here.)

[witchcraftwithwater]

Did a ton of bubble shields last night. There’s something awesome about traveling at the speed of light thousands of miles away to go and shield people. It’s a wonderful feeling hovering in the sky with only a few lights on in the city, looking for the houses you need to go to. And when you find them, burst through the walls and up the stairs to go to the correct rooms.

It’s empowering putting those shields on people and buildings, then making sure the shield is strong and doesn’t wobble or pop.

I was able to visit my sister in the hospital too. When I went through the front doors, I saw two nurses at a receptionist desk. I had no idea where to go and where the room was, but I heard a nurse say my sister’s full name. I ran into the side hallway, jumped through a few floors until I knew I was on the right floor. I looked around at the doors, the hallway empty, no nurses close by. I turned around and my sister’s room was there.

Inside she was sleeping on her bed and her husband was snoring on the couch, sitting up. I walked over and saw that her leg and foot were indeed in a giant bandage and it was bigger since she had surgery.

I had fun.

[noctivagawitch]

𝔢𝔫𝔢𝔯𝔤𝔢𝔱𝔦𝔠 𝔰𝔥𝔦𝔢𝔩𝔡𝔰 ⋆₊˚ᗢ₊˚♱

a must master skill in witchcraft

summary: intro -> types + scnearios -> how to cast -> disclaimers + final thoughts

(se você fala portugues BR, sinta-se livre para enviar DM ou pedir tradução de um post. boa parte vai estar em inglês, para facilitar minha vida e atingir mais pessoas.)

-`🕯 INTRO 🕯´--------

Energetic shields are just as the name says; they are meant to protect someone or something, but from an energetic/spiritual point of view. In order to cast them, third-party help, such as herbs, talismans, charms, deities, and other spirits, is optional, yet very handy.

-`🕯 TYPES + SCENARIOS 🕯´--------

1 Non-filtered shield: is the type of shield that allows no good or bad can to come in. However, if you are not careful with your intentions, it might result in not letting energy and spiritual beings out either. This one is best to do if you truly wish to be unbothered or even trap something within a residence, or you even (sus), for example. So, whether you are doing it solo or in teamwork (herbs, crystals, rocks, or spirits), you need to clarify your intention much better when it comes to the shield letting things out but not in, or if it won't allow either in or out. 2 Filtered shield: this one basically, as the name says, filters what types of energy or spiritual beings you want around the shielded target. You can make this very specific or broader; it's really up to you to decide what you want in and what you want out. P.S.: You can layer shields, just don't do it too much.

-`🕯 HOW TO CAST 🕯´--------

(read the whole thing before you do it)

Before you cast, it's best not to be overly tired, to cleanse the materials if any are used, energize the materials and yourself, cleanse yourself energetically and physically, meditate a bit before doing it, and to cleanse the space if you are shielding a space. Of course, this is all ideal, and you don't need to check off everything all the time, but make sure to at least do the cleansing and even banishing if necessary.

For this tutorial, I'll be teaching you how to cast a shield using your energy, mainly and the help of your guides, and using a talisman/charm when self-shielding.

Now, with your eyes closed or open, you can start to visualize the shield forming as you make your intentions clear. If you are using a charm/talisman, visualize the shield coming from the talisman and shielding you (make sure to have energized the talisman, charm or crystal or honestly whatever the fuck item you chose to use). As you do this, as I've said, you need to gather up all the energy you can so your intention is clear. So, invoke feelings of protection and speak in your head or out loud about what you want to keep in and what you want to keep out, since words have power. Also, I personally recommend reaching out to your guides. You can call upon them like this: " Those who watch over me, those who look after me I call upon you May you strengthen the shield I place around <my house, me, said person> May you help this shield keep away <whatever it is you want to keep away> May you help this shield let in <whatever it is you want to let in> Thank you " You don't need to full-on say this, but it is better, it's more "ideal". Of course, in some immediate situations, you can also quickly gather emotions and energy, visualize the shield being cast, and strengthen them as time ticks, and just call for help intended for your guides. Here are some images to help you when visualizing the shield:

I personally am not a big fan of speaking, either in my head or out loud, whenever I'm performing. I'm often more inclined to just transmit my energy in a more abstract sense and just "view" what I want. On the other hand, think of words mostly as seals, as in, you're using them to seal off the intention. However, this doesn't work much if you are pairing up with another conscious being, such as a spirit or a deity; thus, make sure to speak in your mind to them what you want.

Either way, for better understanding: 1. Intent is your goal 2. Visualization is a visual version of your goal for a better understanding of what that goal is 3. Energization is gathering energy and sending it on its way to make your intent be achieved (it's the gas to make the car move, basically, and that's the magic).

This can, of course, be broken down many times; it really is up to what you prefer and feels more comfortable.

-`🕯 DISCLAIMERS + FINAL THOUGHTS 🕯´--------

When casting anything, well, when doing anything, you must know that you are limited. So, in the case of casting shields, their effectiveness is highly linked to how powerful you are. Still, yes, I do believe that if you receive help from your spiritual team and use third-party help in general, the shields will be stronger. Yet, at the end of the day, they are linked to your power. You are the source of your magic, so you must not get lazy and half ass things (at least not all the time lol).

And when I mention effectiveness, I'm referring to: - how fast can you cast them - how durable they are - how competent they are

With that in mind, I also want to add that if you are a beginner, you're kinda going on this blindly. So, don't shy away from asking your guides for help and re-doing the shield either weekly (minimum) or every two weeks. I also don't recommend beginners reaching for spirits they do not know. "Oh, but Viki, I don't know my spiritual team!" Well, you might not, but they are sure as hell ain't gonna harm you. Thus, they are the first go-to group you should be reaching out to whenever you need assistance. Because that's their job, helping you.

Also, how often you need to rebuild these shields it's very up to how much of a target of negative stuff you are as well. If you are someone who's practicing like everyday always up to some witchy shit, yeah, you're gonna be a target more often than not, even if it's just from neutral beings. And remember, these shields are not only for you. I have my beloved ones living with me, so I'm very careful with what I choose to do in the house since they can be hurt too by negative beings or energy.

Anyway, that's pretty much the basics of shielding plus some insights! Other witches have their own variations, but the essence remains. This post is very much based on my experience, tutorials I have read/watched in books, articles, and videos from other witches. Feel free to leave any questions or suggestions below, or even share your experiences. Just be respectful.

[wolfhoundwitch]

A Guide to Graveyard Work

One of the earliest introductions I had to spirit work as a baby witch was graveyard work. In short, this practice involves building relationships with the deceased spirits of a graveyard, by communicating, leaving offerings and being mindful of their space. It is part of a wider practice known as death work, but this focuses specifically on how to enter and respect what is essentially the 'home' of the spirits you are working with. You can further build on your practice from this.

This is a handy guide to the different aspects of the practice, looking into the appropriate offerings and etiquette, written with a lot of love.

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

Graveyard Etiquette

There are rules you must follow in graveyards, whether for your personal safety, out of politeness, or following the law of your country. Sometimes these overlap. But sometimes, the rules you hear might be no more than baseless superstition, which there is a lot of concerning graveyards. There are way too many superstitions to list, however -

Some good rules to follow are:

Don't begin this work with the intention of taking from the graveyard or using the spirits in your practice. In the same way you wouldn't take from a stranger, it's important to build a relationship before you ask for things.

Try not to stand on graves where possible, out of respect for the dead but also those mourning them. Sometimes, graveyards are set up so that it is impossible to go anywhere without stepping on something, which is okay so long as you're not intending disrespect. However, do be wary that headstones can fall and the ground can shift.

Some people believe you shouldn't take any photos of the graves. I personally think that if the grave is old enough, it doesn't matter too much. If the grave is modern, it might be inappropriate for those in mourning to see you taking photos.

You can clean up trash, but be mindful of what might be considered trash. Obvious thrown-away food and drink packaging might be appropriate to clean up, but what if someone left a deceased one's favourite food at their grave? Or what if you decide to get rid of a toy or letter left there? Try to avoid cleaning up around the actual graves and focus on cleaning near the gates or in empty areas.

Don't trespass! If the cemetery has set entry times, enter and leave only within those times. Don't jump the fence, and don't enter any areas that are clearly gated or off-limits.

Leave an offering when asking to take something from the cemetery grounds. I don't feel it necessary to leave an offering each time you enter, especially if you plan on visiting often. But, if you want to take something like graveyard dirt or plants growing there, leave an offering for sure. And make sure to ASK. If you feel wrong, it's a no.

If you EVER find anything askew in a graveyard, such as vandalism, theft, or even dug up bones (it happens, I've found them before) PLEASE report it straight to the groundskeeper, associated church, or relevant authorities. It is not your responsibility to attempt to fix these things, or take things for yourself.

Offerings

You can leave offerings at the gate, or on specific graves if you want to work directly with that spirit. You don't always need to leave an offering, but it is a good thing to do when building a relationship and especially when asking to take from the site.

Some good offerings are:

Coins, especially two coins. There is a belief that the two coins are placed on the eyes of the deceased to pay the ferryman taking them over the river Styx. This has been maintained as a tradition.

Flowers. Even better if you look into Victorian flower symbolism for older grave sites and base your offering on this.

Origami. I would often fold multiple tiny cranes and leave them as offerings on individual graves. The best part is they are biodegradable.

I would be wary of leaving any kind of food or drink, as you might attract animals or even cause harm to the ecosystems living there. The same goes for anything made of plastic or that could hurt an animal.

Natural items such as seashells, feathers or stones are great, safe options for offerings.

You could also burn a candle or incense, but remember to stay with them while they burn and make sure they are extinguished when you leave.

Offerings don't have to be physical - you could say a few kind words, sing to them, or even just dedicating time to sit with the dead or talk with them can be an offering in itself.

Protection

I personally don't go into my practice thinking I could get possessed or followed by a demon at any given moment. However, I do think it's important to remember that graveyards can be full of a lot of upset, angry, and occasionally malevolent energies. Even if you don't intend to, these energies can attach to you or be taken home by you and can make you feel off.

Here are some ways you can protect yourself:

Cleanse yourself before and after entering a cemetery, even just by meditating and visualising or by using incense.

Check out my post on shielding techniques, and try to familiarise yourself with the visualisation techniques until you feel comfortable doing them.

Charm an item of clothing, such as a piece of jewellery, as an amulet to ward against negative energies that you can wear.

Find or create a protective sigil or rune that you can draw on something or on yourself.

You can pray to any deities you work with to ask for protection, especially if these deities are associated with death or spirits.

Communication

People who practice death work might communicate with the dead in different ways. They might be clairvoyant, use divination, feel energies or sometimes even just know what the spirits are saying. In any sense, spirit communication is a skill that is very much required in this practice. @koscheys-skull said it best here. You need good communication skills, in the sense that you are still talking to PEOPLE. And you need to go in with good intentions. If you are going in purely with the intention of using the dead for your own benefit, you won't get very far. If you can't talk to and actively listen with some semblance of empathy, you won't get very far. Death work is not an aesthetic, it is not for you to take your emo photos and be disrespectful. it is a serious, difficult and tolling practice that takes a lot of time and refining.

If you have gotten this far, I wish you all the best. It is a difficult but ultimately fulfilling part of spirit work, and if you are ready to dedicate the time and effort to it, you will get a lot out of it.

Thanks for reading! Please visit my tags for more guides, and feel free to reach out with requests for more information. Lots of love.

[starwitch777]

Shifting Energy by Visualizing

Visualize a big glowing ball of light around yourself and the environment you’re in. What color is it? What does it look like? Is it thick or thin? Blue? Pointy? Imagine that by envisioning it, it becomes reality. Think of the qualities you would like the space to have. Would you like everyone in it to be comfortable? Maybe you want a space that feels energetically safe, like a big comfy bed in wintertime. What other energetic qualities and vibes are important to you?

In this visualization, you can also prepare for any potential unwanted negative energies which may try to shatter the environment you’re visualizing. One way to engage with this is to visualize dark tendrils of energy drifting towards your sphere; visualize them bouncing off and transforming from grey into white energy. You can use any color that has positive associations for you.

Shielding Energy (energetic protection and boundary work)

There are many different ways to shield. A good way to begin is by visualizing a sphere around yourself. This can be a glowing light and may be any color depending on what associations you have with different colors and what you’re trying to achieve with your shield. You can do something general for protection, or something that keeps you safe and also heals you, or you can shield yourself from specific people or entities—or all of the above at once. Focus your intuition on what your goal is—shields are entirely programmable and have a lot to do with your specific needs.

Example: a simple shield against harmful vibes, which also rids you of any energetic nasties latched onto you. Visualize yourself enveloped in a thick glowing egg of white light. Then envision any harmful energy you’re holding onto in grey and visualize it dissipating as your shield becomes stronger. Something else you could do is picture grey nasty vibes coming at you and bouncing off the shield, transforming from grey into white energy. If you are going to visualize nasty energy moving away from you, be sure to visualize it changing into positive energy that is healing, nourishing, and stabilizing.

You can layer your shield too if you like – make a layer that looks like leaves or a giant bubble, or something constantly moving like flames. Or perhaps there’s a gemstone you deeply identify with and see as a protective ally. Imagine one layer of your shield taking on that shape and color. The exact specifics of what it is matter less than what you think that thing means to you. Try out different types of shields, and take note of what works best for you, and what’s more and less effective. When you’re learning and trying this stuff out, you may want to sit in a quiet room with a candle and some incense so you can really focus on what you’re doing and notice the new sensations in your body and mind that go along with this energetic practice.

It's important to remember you won’t always have access to a silent room with dim lights and an aromatherapy candle to calm your nerves. You may be in a situation where people surround you, or where everything is a bit chaotic, like a bus or walking through crowded street when you need to practice shielding energy. You may want to spend a minute in a bathroom where you know you will have complete privacy to focus on the energetic work uninterrupted.

Once you get used to it, you’ll be able to effectively shield in any situation with ease.

Another form of shielding is the “don’t fuck with me” aura. This works by shifting what your energetic field is doing. It can—if you want it to—function as an invisibility cloak of sorts, too. It all depends on how you want to program it, and what kind of energy you are putting out. You can rouse up emotions or intentions in yourself, mind, body, and energy field to express a specific type of vibe to yield certain results.

– Curse and Cure, Sabrina Scott

[aerikarkadian]

Guide to Shielding - Part 1

Crowded rooms and close encounters are all situations where we might need to put some extra thought into our energetic shields. Start blocking out unwanted energy with this quick guide to shielding!

Have you ever felt super low on energy without any seemingly logical cause? Maybe you need to tune your shields! No, I’m not talking about something out of Star Trek. I’m talking about some basic energy work that you should put into practice on a daily basis. Giant disclaimer… Wait, wait, wait. You know what? I feel like I have to write an entire disclaimer paragraph before we really get…

[whatevergreen]

The Polk County Sheriff's Office deliberately misled people into believing that Briana Boston had been released without charges. They shouldn't be allowed to get away with it.

[magickkate]

Today, let's delve into the essential practice of shielding—a powerful technique in witchcraft for protecting your energy, maintaining spiritual boundaries, and warding off negative influences. Whether you're new to witchcraft or seeking to deepen your energetic practices, mastering the art of shielding can enhance your magical journey. Join me as we explore the significance, methods, and practical applications of shielding in your spiritual practice.

Understanding Shielding in Witchcraft

Shielding is a technique used to create and maintain a protective barrier around oneself or a specific space. This energetic barrier acts as a shield against unwanted energies, psychic intrusions, and external influences that may drain or harm your energy field. Shielding not only safeguards your personal energy but also fosters a sense of security, clarity, and empowerment in your magical work.

Significance of Shielding

Energy Protection: Shielding creates a barrier that filters and repels negative or intrusive energies, allowing you to maintain a balanced and harmonious energy field.

Spiritual Boundaries: Establishing shields helps define and maintain boundaries between your energy and external influences, promoting a sense of autonomy and spiritual sovereignty.

Empowerment: Shielding enhances your ability to navigate energetic environments, interact with others, and engage in magical practices with confidence and clarity.

Methods of Shielding

Visualization Techniques:

Bubble of Light: Visualize surrounding yourself with a bubble or sphere of protective light. Imagine this light as a barrier that filters out negativity while allowing positive energies to flow freely.

Aura Strengthening:

Aura Awareness: Focus on strengthening your aura—the energy field surrounding your body—by visualizing it expanding and becoming more vibrant and resilient.

Elemental Shields:

Elemental Associations: Invoke elemental energies (earth, air, fire, water, and spirit) to create shields tailored to specific needs. For example, earth shields for grounding and stability, fire shields for courage and protection, and water shields for emotional cleansing and flow.

Crystal Shields:

Crystal Allies: Use crystals such as black tourmaline, amethyst, or obsidian to reinforce your shields. Carry or wear crystals or create grids around your space to amplify protective energies.

Sigils and Symbols:

Energetic Seals: Create sigils or symbols that represent protection and empowerment. Charge these symbols with your intention and visualize them as shields that surround and safeguard you.

Mental Focus:

Mindfulness: Maintain mindfulness and focus on your intention to shield yourself. Cultivate awareness of your energy field and any shifts or intrusions.

Practical Applications of Shielding

Daily Protection: Shield yourself at the beginning of each day to maintain energetic balance and resilience.

Social Interactions: Use shielding techniques before entering crowded or energetically charged environments to shield against absorbing others' energies.

Magical Rituals: Shield during rituals to maintain focus, protect sacred space, and enhance the potency of your magical work.

Emotional Resilience: Shield during times of emotional vulnerability or stress to prevent energy drain and maintain emotional equilibrium.

Spiritual Exploration: Shield when exploring unfamiliar spiritual realms or engaging in astral travel to safeguard your energy and ensure a safe return.

Shielding is a vital skill in witchcraft, offering protection, empowerment, and clarity in your spiritual journey. By mastering shielding techniques and incorporating them into your daily practice, you can navigate the energetic landscapes of life with confidence and resilience.

[laejoh]