BY SOPHIE MOSS

Editor's Note: A version of this article appeared on our old site.

So lately I’ve been on the defensive. There have been various forces at work--energies, fates, and basic human errors--that have made this New Year particularly testing. I have a theory that if January were a person, she would be Sylvia Plath.

Ritual and spell casting can be a useful tool when dealing with difficult situations that put you on the defensive. Consider it an injection of Occult ammo when you find yourself at a loss with how to cope with threatening behaviour--a magickal push in the right direction when the guard goes up and the shutters come down. Defensive rituals can be super beneficial when an event, person or situation presents itself as in some way threatening to your energy. Humans are territorial and defensive by nature. Protection is instinct and we want to come out fighting. We are emotionally wild and we do not take shit lying down.

You may have found yourself with a difficult a boss who you feel is trying to force you out. There could be an outside force trying to threaten the strength of a relationship. You may be on the receiving end of some pretty dumb high school hearsay. Verbal attacks. Physical attacks. Character attacks. Creative attacks. Relationship attacks. Whatever your predicament may be, I have configured a list of defensive and protective magic that you can perform at will to aid mental healing.

Cleanse your house, room or office with any of the four elements. This should generally be the space where you spend most of your time, the space in which you feel threatened or the area that the threat is coming from. This will help dispel negative energies that may be culminating. To do this you can use any of the following: water, salt, incense, candles, bells and sage.
Tap into the healing properties of herbs. Nature is our greatest weapon and our most loyal friend. Alder, anemone, aloe, basil, cactus and black pepper all have protective properties. Cook with black pepper, or place black peppercorns in sachets and hang them around on door or cupboard handles. Cactus’ are renowned for their protective properties and will banish negativity. Plant them in the garden. Place one in your windowsill. Let the cactus do its prickly protective thing. When you’re out in the garden (if you’re lucky enough to have one!), plant Chrysanthemum’s for protection. Purify your home or space with eucalyptus. Take a lavender bath. Bake lavender cookies. Use the herbs to create incense.
Mix the protective herb of your choice with salt (corresponding with the Earth element) and place in sachets. Hang them around your home to protect yourself and your family from the threat or negativity you’re feeling. You’re getting bad vibes for a reason. Similarly, scatter the mixture around your home whilst keeping your mind firmly focused on the desire and the will to protect. Scatter it underneath your doormat or place a sachet above the doorway so that all who pass through leave their negative energies at the door.
Burn a black candle to burn away negative energies that have been directed at you. Black candles correspond with our will, resilience and power, and will work to banish any threat or hex back to where it came from.
Wear a necklace around your neck or in your pocket carrying a particular protective crystal or stone. Pearl, amber, golden topaz, gold, ruby and jade all carry protective properties. Alternatively, place the crystals in the four corners of the home to create a protective barrier.
Drink coffee. I know. Seriously. Coffee neutralises any harmful magic or energy that has been sent your way.
Cook with cayenne.

NB: It’s important to stress that these steps are not to be used as a substitute for other measures that must be taken in certain circumstances. Defensive and protective magic should be used alongside other steps, from talking things out with the perpetrator to calling the police.

Sophie E. Moss is a dark witch & literary maven. She writes essays for LunaLuna and poetry for all the people she used to be. @Sophiedelays