Protective and cleansing magick is probably the first type of magick that should be learned. It helps cleanse an area to prepare for a serious ritual, it helps offer protection while getting ready to divine or cast a spell and it helps prepare a new living space.

When you gain enough experience, you can even perform cleansings and protection on friends and family members.

Here are a few basics that I personally have used and what I have used them for.

Materials

The materials you choose to use can vary widely. You may not even have any special on you, but there are things you can use around your home.

Salt- I personally use sea salt, but if you have table salt, that can work fine as well.

Black salt- same as regular salt, both work. Black salt helps keep away unwanted energies

Sage- smudge sticks and incense or candles can all be used to purify and cleanse.You set the sage stick (smudge stick) on fire, then let the fire put itself out, while it’s smoking you walk around the area you’re wanting to cleanse.

Moving in to a New House

When I move into a new house or apartment, I always make sure to lay salt out around the door and along all window frames. I personally use sea salt, but even table salt can work. Lay out black salt at the front and back doors, windows and front gate to keep negative energies and intentions out.

Before moving stuff in, take a smudge stick light one side, let it burn out until it’s smoking then walk around the inside and outside of the house slowly while letting the smoke move around the areas you’re walking.

One tip I got from a Feng Shui book is to go into any hardly used corners (or any corners where the energies feel stagnant) and clap. The clapping helps move energy and take it from stale to active.

Personal Protections

If you’re getting ready to practice a spell, perform a ritual, communicate with the other side or any other form of the craft, take some salt (sea or black works well) and lay it out in a counterclockwise area. Place candles around the circle and light them counterclockwise to banish any negative energies or forces trying to get in your way)
If you want to banish negativity, go counter and if you’re trying to bring on positive energies, go clockwise.

Take a smudge stick/candle (sage is the most well known and most used), start walking clockwise to banish then turn and walk clockwise to bring on protective energies. Do your spell/ritual or divination within the circle.

Protective Rituals for Others

Create the circle with the person you’re protecting sitting in the center. Walk around the person counterclockwise to ward off negative then clockwise with a white candle to bring on the protective energies.

End the ritual when it feels right.

Always remember, when you’re putting out candles, make sure you snuff the candle and don’t blow.

I’ll be doing more later about protective magick. What do you do or use for protection when you’re casting a spell?