݁ ˖Ი𐑼⋆ 𝖜𝖗𝖊𝖓𝖈𝖍 .ᐟ

Even though I already mentioned this, I think it bears repeating: you won’t be able to help others if you’re not looking out for yourself! First responders like firefighters and emergency medical personnel are also taught this before working in the field to help reduce tunnel vision in stressful situations. While I am completely understanding of the magical heroes that feel the need to be self-sacrificing (because I was that magician when I started my magical journey and still struggle with that urge well into adulthood), no amount of wearing yourself down will help better your work or others in the long run. Only by maintaining your physical, emotional, and spiritual safety can you be sure you’ll be able to act when the time calls for it.

The Basics of Spiritual Safety

I know I say this in almost all of my Magi Praxis entries but it is so important that you become comfortable with grounding and banishing before engaging with any serious magical work. You should have techniques that you can utilize in any situation, almost without thinking.

Grounding is a means to maintain a healthy energetic boundary. As a practice, it comes down to connecting with the energy around you as well as understanding and accepting your place in the world. You can ground at any time during your magical work in order to ‘root’ yourself to reality but grounding after a ritual or working is incredibly important in order to release any residual energy that is no longer needed, thereby restoring your connection with the physical world and promoting a general sense of stability.

Banishing, on the other hand, is like an energetic board wipe. It is a practice magicians use to expel all energies that are not welcome. I always recommend banishing before and after a working: your first banishing ritual serves as a stage setting action while your final banishing strikes down your magical stage and leaves the space clean for other uses.

Outside of magical work, grounding and banishing are helpful tools to have even when navigating the mundane world. How many times have you been in a situation where you felt so anxious or overwhelmed that you could hardly move or breathe? By using grounding techniques, you can take steps to make peace with the situation, even if it’s just temporary or until you can get yourself to a better place.

You may have noticed that I have not highlighted the use of wards or energetic barriers here. While they are great techniques to practice, particularly when engaging in magical combat, I don’t generally recommend this kind of work to newer/younger practitioners because it can end up exasperating a problem. Many times, more inexperienced magicians will create wards to create a safe space only to inadvertently make things more scary or dangerous outside its borders. By regularly grounding and banishing, however, you can avoid this issue regardless of your location.

Considering Mental Health

Regardless of what your magical work looks like, your mental health plays an important role in how you approach and carry out your duties. Your mental landscape can drastically affect how operate: if you are calm and focused you can think clearly and critically; but if you are agitated or down you may be more inclined to act carelessly or even dangerously. Left unchecked, illnesses like depression and anxiety can present itself with very physical and sometimes debilitating symptoms.

If you are struggling, there is absolutely no shame in seeking help. Consider reaching out to a professional whether through a hotline or on a more regular basis.

Physical Safety Tips

If a significant aspect of your work relies on going outside or interacting with people in your community, maintaining physical safety and accountability is crucial.