American Pagan Folk Protection
The Pennsylvania Deutsch Magickal Arts of Warding and Banishing
Pagan magick includes warding, protective magick against negativity and harm, and banishing, making the unwanted leave by the use of positive energy.
Warding: Protection Against Negativity and Harm
Protecting the health, safety and mental well being of one’s family and self, animals, the home, health and property is of major importance to people writes Silver RavenWolf in HexCraft,(Llewellyn Publications, 1995). Protection is a preventative measure. Positive energy is drawn upon to deflect negativity and harm and make one’s position in life stronger. It is not used to cause harm, negativity or interfere with another’s free will.
The first book written about Pennsylvania Deutsch PowWow or magick is John George Hohman’s PowWows or Long Lost Friend, (self published, 1820). Many later works, including HexCraft, reference this book.
Warding can be done in different ways. It can be done by charms called amulets or by only words. Some of the hex signs of the Pennsylvania Dutch are amulets in that they are protective.
In spellwork, one has to feel the need and accompanying emotion for what is desired, create the spell with or without a magickal object, then visualize it as a fait accompli. Words, spoken or thought, are used in creating the spell because they draw desired positive energy. Repeating them three times or multiples thereof increase their power. They may or may not rhyme and can vary, as long as they keep the same meaning.
In order to create an amulet, something as simple as a piece of paper and a writing instrument can be used. One of the most ancient incantations written on paper or another surface used as an amulet follows.
I
NIR
I
SANCTUS SPIRITUS
I
NIR
I
And this be guarded here in time
And there in eternity.
Sanctus Spiritus means sacred or holy spirit or ghost.
Banishing that is not Wanted Including Negativity in People
Banishing is a form of warding and, basically, is getting rid of anything from an animal that is destructive to one’s yard or house, such as squirrels, rats and roaches. Turning back negative energy falls into this category. It is analogous to telling a stranger you do not want in your yard to leave.
When a person sends negative energy, libels or slanders another, harasses or in any way makes the target feel uncomfortable, it is ethical and moral to return negativity to the sender. It is like turning down a second piece of dessert. This must be done without anger because anger will cause the turning back to have negativity and become a curse. Turning back negativity or evil also protects and releases the intended targets from potential harm. This is especially suited for difficult, negative people.
RavenWolf writes about different ways to do this. Two of the easiest are as follows and the words have been changed from hers.
Shine a copper, brass or silver pot, tray or other object and repeat the following incantation, either aloud or in the mind. Object of magick, gleam for me! Turn back the negative energy! Return it thrice times three. May the negativity not touch me. As I want, this shall be.
If one is face to face with the difficult person, the easy way to turn back energy is to imagine a brilliant shining blue pentacle on the person’s forehead. A pentacle is a pentagram or five pointed star, like children draw, within a circle. The accompanying words are to the effect that the person’s negativity is banished in the names of all of the Universe’s positive forces.
Read more about this in the following related topics:
PowWow: Pennsy Dutch Arcane Art
