lloer-gwrach

Originally known as Apotropaic magic (meaning 'to ward off' in Ancient Greek), protection magic is an ancient practice in many traditions meant to shield one from evil influences. Rituals may include objects, symbols, or even gestures- many of which are the same across cultures. Common tools in protection magic are salt, red thread, iron, certain protective herbs (bay leaves, basil), and certain protective crystals/stones.

There are many different types of negative energies you can protect yourself from, and many types of protective practices, such as creating spell jars, energetic shields, wards, charms, and thresholds. While there are many other ways to perform protection rituals, those are the most common.

Spanning throughout time, humans have always used protective rituals. People of all religions and cultures have their own ways of implementing protection into their day-to-day routines.

When doing a protection spell/ritual, I would recommend looking to your ancestors, and what they may have done for protection, as I said, all cultures have practiced some form of protection spiritually.

Ancient Greece

In ancient Greece, various terms were used for protective magic, including apotropaia, periammata, phylaktiria, probaskania, profylaktika, periapta, alexipharmaca, alexima pharmaca, and alexicaca.

The ancient Greeks would make offerings to gods who would, in return, protect them from evil forces. Often, they would place talismans in their houses- the talismans were things like masks and special herbs. They would wear all kinds of amulets to protect themselves from evil eye in their daily life, and they would even put charms on animals. Certain gods would get specific offerings; for example, offerings to the god Hekate, the guardian of the oikos (home), would include saffron, garlic, rosemary, and dry laurel leaves. Myrtle, roses, laurel, and lavender were common offerings, and burning incense on altars was common as well.

For More: Protective Magic in Ancient Greece

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptians would call on deities to ward off evil spirits and would perform these rituals in their homes using objects, most commonly found was the ivory apotropaic wand (birth tusk), which was used to protect mothers and children. Protective amulets were also worn, water was frequently used during rituals, spoken chants were used to defeat evil forces, and writing curses and drawing enemies on clay pots, then burying them, were all common practices.

The most common protective entities called upon during ancient Egyptian protection rituals include: Bes, Taweret, Bastet, Horus, Isis, Sekhmet, and Anubis.

For More: Spiritual Execration Rituals in Ancient Egypt

Welsh Practices

Perhaps the most interesting to me personally, Welsh folk magic traditions rely on the natural landscape of Wales.

Common protection rituals would include leaving plant offerings, burning protective herbs, and having protective charms to ward off misfortune. A charm was a written, spoken, or sung spell that would protect people from evil energies. Some usual plants used for protection in Welsh tradition are mugwort, Meipen Fair (White Bryony), and the Rowan tree. It is said that planting a Rowan tree near your house/front door would keep any spirits or people who are malevolent or have bad intentions away from your home. Snake skin is also common for protecting homes. Grinding the snake skin into a powder and leaving it near entrances would seal the home.

For more: Welsh Protection Magic

Irish and Scottish Practices

Irish and Scottish folk magic traditions both rely on spoken charms, animism, and sacred plants.

Animism is the belief that spirits inhabit the lands, water, and objects. Natural features such as ancient trees, fairy mounds (the sidhe), and holy wells were seen as gateways to the otherworld. Practitioners would give thanks to avoid offending the spirits of the land. Practitioners would also sing or chant over natural remedies, believe that they could project their souls into animal forms, and ask spirits for healing and divination. Sacred plants often used include rowan twigs, juniper, mugwort, and hawthorn. Iron and salt were placed near thresholds to repel negative energy. Both Irish and Scottish cultures practiced protection rituals during moments where the veil between the worlds was believed to be thin; for example, specific protective prayers were recited at twilight.

For more: Folk Magic in Scotland, Folk Magic in Ireland