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Episode 204: Home Protection Magic
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Welcome back, Witches! This week we’re diving into Home Protection Magic, where we explore ways to spiritually and energetically safeguard your space. From traditional practices and folk methods to modern interpretations, we’re talking about how different cultures and communities have approached protecting the home, setting boundaries, and creating a sense of safety and stability. So get in, Loser — because this week we’re learning how to weave protection into the heart of where we live.
If you really loved the show and want more Get in Loser content, check out our Patreon, Supercast, & Buy Me a Coffee links below. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @GetinWitches, on TikTok @weredoingwitchcraft, or email us at weredoingwitchcraft@gmail.com. You can support our show through our links below.
Patreon: patreon.com/GetinWitches
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Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/getinwitches
Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio- The Witch
Resources
- Nicole Lau (2025). Threshold Magic: Doors, Windows and Energetic Boundaries. Mysticryst.com. https://mysticryst.com/blogs/the-mystic-journal/threshold-magic-doors-windows-energetic-boundaries
- The Wild Way (n.d.). Rowan Cross. The Wild Way. https://www.the-wild-way.com/mabon-rowan-cross
- Barbara (2025). Understanding Witch Bottles: Their History and Purpose. Historic Side Notes. https://historicsidenotes.com/glossary/what-is-witch-bottles/
- Charles E.S. Fairey (2018). Protective Devices, Apotropaic Symbols and Witch Marks; on Historic Buildings with examples from Cheshire, Shropshire, and Staffordshire. The Mystic Masque. https://www.mysticmasque.com/history-mystery/protective-devices-apotropaic-symbols-and-witch-marks
- Divine Alchemist High Priestess (2025). Top 11 Herbs for Spiritual Cleansing and Aura Protection. Divine Alchemist High Priestess. https://www.divinealchemisthighpriestess.com/post/top-11-herbs-for-spiritual-cleansing-and-aura-protection
- Henderson, Raechel. Magical Home Protection. (2024) Idiorythmic. https://www.idiorhythmic.com/2024/07/17/magical-home-protection-lesson/
- Piastrelli, Becca. Infusing Folk Magic into Your Home. Home Protection Salt. https://beccapiastrelli.com/house-witchery/
- Bickerstaff, Lizzie. Shoes in Chimneys, Cats in Walls. (2025). Lurker. https://lizziebickerstaff.substack.com/p/shoes-in-chimneys-cats-in-walls
- Youtube:
- Haven for Witches- Home Protection Rituals: 10+1 Ways to Keep your Space Safe
- Bebeaswitchlife- How to Prepare Your HOme for the Darker Months Like a Witch
- Ella Harrison- Home Protection Using Witchcraft & Folk Magic
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction & Podcast Welcome
00:00:00
Speaker
Do you feel drawn to learn more about witchcraft and the occult but feel lost on where to start? Then welcome to Get In Loser Where You're Doing Witchcraft, a podcast all about what it means to be a witch and where to get started on your journey.
00:00:13
Speaker
Join us as we navigate through various witchy topics and share what we've learned about the craft. So get in witches as we take a deeper look at home protection magic.
00:00:38
Speaker
Oh my God. It has been a while. It's been while. It's been long since we recorded. It's been 84 years. 84 years. And I can smell the fresh paint. I don't know. I don't know.
Acknowledgments & Supporter Shout-outs
00:00:49
Speaker
feel it has been a while it's been a wise it's been so long since we recorded it's been eighty four years thanks like i always still smell the fresh past
00:01:05
Speaker
i don't know guys are welcome. This might be a shit show. This probably will be, but you know what? You're going to have fun and that's all that matters. Yeah. Facts. Yeah. Facts.
00:01:18
Speaker
Yeah. And first and foremost, before we even kick it off, we have some shout outs. Yeah. And also apologize if these are like super late in the paint.
00:01:29
Speaker
shout outs because this episode releases in June. However, we're recording this in April. So were current here in April. and yeah We were just a few weeks behind. yeah But June is a long ways off, but I'm so sorry. We just pre-recorded a lot. So you're welcome also for that too. yeah But as far as shout outs go, thank you so much, KBisco, for buying us a coffee. We love it.
00:01:58
Speaker
Thank you. We really appreciate it. And then also for Supercast, thank you so much, Shannon, Jude, and Tracy for subscribing to our podcast on Supercast. yeah And for Patreon, thank you so much to Liz, Kristen, Carrie. And I apologize if I'm pronouncing your name incorrectly, Yannika or Yannika. I'm very sorry. And if we pronounce it wrong, Or if I pronounce it wrong, please let me know how to properly pronounce your name. But we appreciate you guys so much because we couldn't do this without your support. So thank you so much.
00:02:31
Speaker
We appreciate all of you. Yes. For our super cast and Patreon subscribers, we are thinking about changing some things up in the near future. So you know what? It's actually kind of exciting. Yeah. I'm very excited about this. So more to come on that. it probably, honestly, by the time this is released, it's probably already out. So yeah you're welcome. um But we're changing something. God, you guys talk about old shit all the time. All the time. Yeah.
00:03:00
Speaker
But some new shit's coming out. And so if you're listening to this in June and you're like, what new shit? Go on to our Supercast of Patreon and check it out. And that's the shit that you're already looking at because yeah it's already out apparently. Yeah. that Should be.
00:03:14
Speaker
Should be. No promises. ah We do our best, okay? Yes. Sometimes our best is shit, but that's our best. That's our best. It eventually gets there, okay? Yeah. Yeah. We get there in the end. we get You have ADHD Capricorn and an Aries on your hands. So we get to it eventually.
00:03:37
Speaker
It gets done on our terms. Yeah. So just anyway, enough about that. we're We're not talking about those things today. We're not.
00:03:48
Speaker
What are we talking about? We're talking about home protection magic. I almost said we're talking about altars. No. No. That is the next episode we're recording today.
00:03:59
Speaker
ah Next week or two weeks from now for you guys. Yeah. You guys are welcome for this. It's been too long for us.
00:04:11
Speaker
And we're probably going stumble all the way through this, but it's okay. Yeah. Because you're editing this one. Don't destroy it. Probably. Probably. I'm just joking. I'm I kid, I kid. Well, I guess let's just kick things off.
Understanding Home Protection Magic
00:04:26
Speaker
So when we talk about home protection and witchcraft, we're talking about one of the oldest forms of magic practiced across cultures. Before many magical systems were even written down, people created charms, symbols, and different rituals to protect their homes and families from harm, whether that harm was believed to be spiritual, physical, or even magical nature.
00:04:49
Speaker
and There's a lot of archaeological evidence showing how protective magic appeared in cultures all over the world, and we will get into that soon. But at its core, home protection and magical practice is about creating boundaries. Just like we lock our doors, install cameras, or arm our security systems when we leave our house for physical protection, Magical protection focuses on safeguarding the home energetically and spiritually. Our homes are our sacred spaces, and it's a place where we rest, we practice our craft, we build our lives, where we spend our time. So it only makes sense that we do whatever we can to protect our sacred spaces and the people who inhabit it.
00:05:28
Speaker
So in this episode, we're going to do just that, looking at the history of home protection and witchcraft, as well as folklore and practical methods you can start utilizing today. So moving into the historical and folk magic practices, apotropaic magic refers to practices, symbols, and objects used specifically to ward off harm, misfortune, or unwanted spiritual influences.
00:05:53
Speaker
The word itself comes from the Greek meaning to turn away. So rather than drawing something in, apotropaic magic focuses on deflection and protection.
00:06:05
Speaker
Historically, this type of magic was incredibly common in everyday life. People incorporated protective measures directly into their homes, clothing, and daily routines as a way to guard themselves, their families, and their property from both physical and spiritual threats.
00:06:20
Speaker
One of the most visible forms of home protection in historical folk magic involved carving protective symbols directly into the structure of a house. These markups were often placed on door frames, window frames, fireplaces, ceiling beams, and other key points within the home.
00:06:38
Speaker
The intention was to create a permanent layer of protection built right into the house itself. Because these carvings were placed at entry points or important structural features, they were believed to block or confuse harmful spirits and prevent them from entering the space. Many of these carved symbols are now referred to as witch marks, and they've been discovered in historical homes throughout England and across parts of Europe.
00:07:03
Speaker
These marks often include um geometric patterns, overlapping circles, daisy wheels, interlocking lines, and protective initials or symbols. Research believes that they were carved by the people living in the homes as a form of spiritual protection. They were commonly placed near fireplaces, windows, and doorways, or areas thought to be vulnerable points where the negative forces this could enter.
00:07:27
Speaker
Alongside carved symbols, many households practiced symbol everyday forms of protection that were passed down through folklore and tradition. These common folk practices didn't necessarily require formal ritual. Instead, they relied on common objects and small actions believed to carry protective qualities, and some examples of these would be like hanging a horseshoe above a door. Iron itself has long been considered protective in folklore and within many cultures, and the horseshoe symbolically captures luck and protection.
00:07:59
Speaker
Placing it above the doorway was believed to prevent harmful influences from crossing the threshold while also inviting good fortune into the home. Brooms have a long association with cleansing, both physically and spiritually, and placing a broom near the entrance of a home was believed to help sweep away unwanted energy before it entered the living space. In some traditions, a broom positioned by the door also served as a symbolic guardian of the threshold.
00:08:24
Speaker
And as I just mentioned, iron has historically been viewed as a powerful protective material in many cultures. So people often placed iron objects such as nails, tools, or even horseshoes near doors, windows, and thresholds to repel harmful spirits, curses, or ill intentions. The threshold itself was seen as a liminal space, a boundary between the outside world and the safety of the home, making it an important place for protective measures.
00:08:53
Speaker
Another is salt, which has been used for purification and protection for centuries. So sprinkling salt near doorways, windows, or along thresholds was believed to create a barrier against negative influences. Because salt preserves and purifies, it became a natural choice for protective folk practices meant to keep harmful energies from entering the home.
00:09:15
Speaker
I've included a link in our show notes here as well to a recipe for magical protection salts by Becca. i don't know how to say it correctly. Hopefully it's close. Pia Strelli. It's a very versatile recipe that gives a handful of herbs that you can mix together based on what you're trying to invoke in your home protection. And the pictures that she has posted of it are like really, really pretty. So make sure that you go check it out.
00:09:42
Speaker
Archaeologists and historians have also discovered many examples of hidden protective charms within the structures of historic homes. These objects were often concealed inside walls, beneath floors, in chimneys, and near doorways, so items like concealed shoes, bottles filled with pens or nails, dried herbs, and other small charms that were placed there intentionally as protective magic. These hidden objects show how deeply ingrained home protection practices were in everyday life and how seriously people took the spiritual safety of their living spaces.
00:10:15
Speaker
So moving into some of the magical reasons behind protection, throughout basically every tradition, the home is seen as a spiritual threshold and a liminal threshold. So this is someplace that is between the outside world and your protective home or your inner sanctuary. And so because of that, it's believed to be vulnerable to intrusion from things like wandering spirits, draining energies, or residual energy that is left behind by previous occupants or even events that have happened in or near the home.
00:10:44
Speaker
And this matters because even if someone doesn't believe in literal spirits, this concept overlaps with energy hygiene. Our homes absorb stress from arguments, grief, illnesses, trauma, and the emotional residue of our guests. So over time, this can cause things to feel off. You may have feelings of unease or maybe experience issues sleeping or maybe even lack motivation or feel emotionally fatigued in your own home.
00:11:10
Speaker
And so when we think about magical protection of the home, we're talking about creating boundaries that reinforce your home as your claimed space and setting energetic rules that align with your energy.
00:11:20
Speaker
And something here, like an example of this is, for instance, a couple of weeks ago, we had Avery's birthday party. And when we had her birthday party afterwards, and I don't know if everybody experiences this, but this is something that I've noticed. When we have an event where we have a lot of people in our house afterwards, like not only do I feel like I need to deep clean the house and obviously mop the floors and things like that. But I just feel like I need to open up the windows and do a little energetic cleansing just to reset the space because it does get that stagnant, heavy feeling after you've had a bunch of people come into your home. I feel like too, sometimes it's like when you have a bunch of people, it's not even that stagnant. It's almost like buzzing. Like it's buzzing energy where you're like, get out.
00:12:03
Speaker
Yeah. It's time to go. And then you can't relax until your things are clean and you feel better in your home. I don't know. It's just- Yeah. it's a No, I feel that 100%. Yeah. And another reason behind magical protection is guarding against malicious magic. In many magical systems and beliefs, it is understood that any intention can be directed, whether consciously through things like spell work or unconsciously through strong emotions like jealousy or resentment. And it's important to note that in most beliefs, intentional harm being targeted at you is actually relatively rare compared to the fear around it. And so when we think about that in home protection, you can guard against malicious magic that still may be a
00:12:48
Speaker
like exist or the fear surrounding it. And it's practiced because it reinforces your own personal power and it prevents vulnerability during stressful times. And it creates safeguards just in case. Protection here can look like warding, reversal, or even return to cinder spells or shielding. Then lastly, we have protection from illin intent or the evil eye.
Exploring Protection Symbols & Practices
00:13:09
Speaker
And this type of protection is one of the oldest and most cross-cultural beliefs in magic. The Evil Eye isn't always about someone wishing harm on someone else. It most often comes from feelings of envy, admiration mixed with jealousy, and unspoken resentment.
00:13:24
Speaker
And in many cultures, it's believed that attention itself carries power, especially when emotionally charged. This magic is often unintentional, subtle, and socially embedded within your friends, family, and acquaintances.
00:13:36
Speaker
Traditional signs associated with ill intent or the evil eye look like things going wrong right after sharing good news, sudden illness, repeated minor misfortunes, a sense of being drained after certain interactions, all of these things.
00:13:51
Speaker
And protection from the evil eye often involves deflection and absorbing or neutralizing the harmful attention and maintaining energetic privacy. Not everyone needs to know your good news. So there's some things that you should just keep to yourself.
00:14:06
Speaker
And looking at the importance of thresholds, when we talk about protecting the home, we have to start with the thresholds because in many traditions, the threshold is considered the most vulnerable and powerful space in your home. A threshold consists of any space where one space meets another, where you cross from inside to outside, and can include things like doorways, windows, chimneys, and fireplaces, aka any space where something can enter and pass through. These spaces are known as liminal spaces, meaning they exist in the in-between. They're not fully one place or another, and in many cultures, these spaces are believed to be where energy shifts, boundaries are thin, and spiritual activity can be more likely to occur.
00:14:48
Speaker
Historically, these spaces are where people believe that anything unwanted, whether that be negative energy or ill intent, could most easily enter the home. This is why many cultures have placed a heavy emphasis on things like blessing entrances, boundaries, and protecting the exact points where a crossing happens. We even see this in folklore with the practice of carrying a bride over the threshold or placing protective symbols above the doors, like Tiffany mentioned earlier. Because these entry points are so important, protection magic is often concentrated right at the threshold and include things like hanging herbs like rosemary, garlic, or basil to purify energy, repel harmful forces and act as guardians, protective carvings or symbols like runes, sigils, or pentacles, religious symbols like crosses or mezuzahs, or protective sayings or motifs carved into doorframes. salt lines or washes at both the doors, under mats, and windowsills.
00:15:44
Speaker
And as Tiffany has already mentioned with salt, it is one of the most universal protective tools and magical practices. And that the intention in it and the intention and its use is to create a barrier that negative energy cannot cross easily. And then Charms above doors to include things like horseshoes for luck and protection, evil eye amulets for deflection, and bells, wreaths, or other protective talismans. These function as guardians of the entry point and can intercept or deflect harmful energy before it even enters the home.
00:16:17
Speaker
So now we're going to talk about some of the folkloric protection examples, and the first one is going to be hag stones. So hag stones are naturally occurring stones that have a hole worn through them by water and natural erosion. Because the hole forms without human intervention, these stones were often viewed as having special protective or magical properties.
00:16:38
Speaker
In many folk traditions, hagstones were kept as charms for protection, particularly against harmful spirits, curses, or ill intention. Their unusual natural formation made them stand out, and objects that appeared rare or naturally marked were often believed to carry protective power.
00:16:56
Speaker
Hackstones were commonly hung near entry points of the home where they could act as protective guardians against unwanted spiritual influences. Some people also hung them near beds or sleeping areas to guard against disturbances during the night. And because sleep was often considered a vulnerable time when spirits or supernatural forces could interact with the person, placing protective objects nearby was a common practice in many folk traditions.
00:17:24
Speaker
In folklore, hagstones were believed to serve multiple protective purposes. One common belief was that they could ward off harmful spirits or prevent them from entering the home. Another tradition held that looking through the hole the stone allowed the holder to see hidden spirits, fey, or magical illusions that would otherwise remain invisible.
00:17:44
Speaker
And because of this, hagstones were sometimes carried or kept close as a tool for protection, as well as spiritual awareness. I love hagstones. I do too. I love when I find one. It's like my favorite thing ever. The last one I found was in Okinawa and I was surrounded by a group of Marines and we were all at this like, it was like a summer bash thing for unit that I worked with. And I saw one on the ground and I picked up and i'm like, oh my God, it's a hackstone. And everyone just kind of looked at me like, the fuck is that? And what are you on? Yeah. So I had to explain it all. and Anyway, um they didn't understand or appreciate how cool it was. Rude people.
00:18:24
Speaker
So another example of folklore protection is Rowan crosses. And these are often seen in connection with Imbolc because Rowan is the Celtic tree of the month of February. The Rowan tree is seen as a tree with protective magic. And a Rowan cross is made with two twigs of Rowan trees.
00:18:44
Speaker
tied together with red string and many celtic people believe that any small part of the rowan tree carried with them would be a charm against evil and if you want a deeper dive on this we have covered rowan recently and so i am not doing that on this episode go back and find it um Next, we have witch bottles. Witch bottles are one of the best-known examples of protective folk magic associated with the home. These bottles were intentionally filled with various materials believed to capture, neutralize, or redirect harmful magic directed at the household.
00:19:16
Speaker
They served as a type of protective charm designed to defend the home and its inhabitants from curses, ill wishes, or spiritual attacks. A typical witch bottle was made using a glass or ceramic container filled with sharp objects like pens or nails, along with herbs, personal items, or other symbolic materials.
00:19:36
Speaker
The sharp objects were believed to trap or snag harmful magic, while the other ingredients might strengthen the protective intention. In some traditions, the bottles also contained personal elements connected to the household, which symbolically tied the protection directly to the people living there.
00:19:53
Speaker
Witch bottles were usually hidden within the structure of the home or buried nearby. Common locations included beneath the thresholds of the doorway, near the hearth, inside the walls, or just outside the home. These locations were chosen intentionally because they were considered important, energetic, or symbolic points of entry. So placing the bottle there created a hidden layer of protection meant to intercept negative forces before they could reach the household.
00:20:21
Speaker
The overall purpose of a witch bottle was defensive. Rather than simply blocking harmful magic, it was often believed that the bottle could trap it or redirect it away from the home.
00:20:33
Speaker
In some traditions, the bottle symbolically captured the harmful energy and prevented it from affecting the people inside the house, and this made witch bottles a long-lasting form of protection, quietly working in the background once they were placed and sealed. So lastly, we have iron protection.
00:20:50
Speaker
Iron has been used in rituals for at least 6,000 years, and the earliest extraction of iron came from meteorites, and ancient Egyptians even referred to meteoric iron as the metal of heaven. And I did not know that whenever I was researching this, and I thought, wow, that is really fucking cool.
00:21:07
Speaker
I remember you sent me a message and you were like, did you know this? I was I did not. Did not know that. So I love that. Iron was considered rare and a precious metal used for ritual and ceremonies. In protection workings, iron was seen as a tool for grounding, strength, and acting as a barrier against malevolent spirits, curses, and negative energy.
00:21:29
Speaker
So now we're going to go into the strange historical home protections. And this was my favorite part. So the first one is concealed shoes, which I briefly mentioned at the beginning of the episode. Concealed shoes were often discovered in chimneys, walls, roofs, and under floors, though they were largely ignored by archaeologists until the 20th century. And now there's a like a catalog in the concealed shoes index. What? Yeah. So before they were like, it's just shoes. It's probably just people's shoes that lived in this house. And then they were like, actually, this is really weird. They're like in walls and shit. Like, why are they putting their shoes in the wall? So then they had to go back and create this catalog to be like,
00:22:13
Speaker
Now there's all these shoes that were used yeah for protection. That's really cool. Yeah. The practice was especially popular in the 18th and 19th centuries with hundreds of examples recorded and new finds still appearing regularly as older buildings are repaired or demolished.
00:22:29
Speaker
Shoes were typically placed at entry points like chimneys, doors, and windows, just like everything else, which were believed to be vulnerable openings where harmful spirits could enter, making the shoes a form of protection or deterrence. Many concealed shoes are heavily worn, suggesting that they carried the identity or the essence of their owner, possibly marking the home as claimed or protected, and even forming accumulations of objects over time, described as spiritual middens.
00:22:57
Speaker
And folklore connects this practice to the Saint John Shorn, who was said to trap the devil in a boot, reinforcing the idea that shoes could act as spirit traps placed at key points of the home. The next one is the weirdest one. but there is a historical thing where there are dried cats, like mummified cats, essentially, in walls of houses.
00:23:26
Speaker
So dried or mummified cats are apparently one of the most frequent discovered in apotropaic archaeology. And they're often hidden in the walls, in roofs, or floors across England, Wales, and in parts of lowland Scotland. But many have been discarded due to being like, it's unsettling, and they're like, this is weird, and then they don't do anything about it. And they just like toss it in the trash, essentially.
00:23:50
Speaker
which is really sad. Yeah. Some cats likely died naturally in secluded spaces, but others, especially those that were sealed in walls or positioned like deliberately, suggested that they were a deliberate placement. Cats were thought to sense the supernatural and their preserved bodies were used as protective charms, acting as eternal hunters, guarding the home from evil spirits, vermin, or even witchcraft after death. These finds may represent foundation sacrifices, protective white familiars, which were used to protect against witches, which is weird, but okay, or offerings meant to imbue the building itself with protective power and stability. Many of these cats that have been found give a strong indication that they were placed where they are found intentionally, and some historians believed these cats were once cherished pets, honored in death as guardians of the household. Oh, that makes a little bit better. i just hope that they weren't like killed on purpose. and Right. Yeah. and Because I would have a problem with that.
00:24:57
Speaker
Literally. So Tiffany has already mentioned a bit about apotropaic burn marks, but I'm going to talk about them again.
Historical Protection Methods
00:25:06
Speaker
so just listen. Deal with it.
00:25:09
Speaker
So within. This was a form of home protection that included leaving protective charms to keep danger, bad luck, and unwanted spirits from crossing a threshold. And they were used in medieval and early modern Europe, especially seen in timber-framed houses, which And these were small scorch marks, also called taper marks, that were left by pressing a lit candle or taper to wood beams, door frames, hearths, or chimneys, all spaces that were seen as spiritually vulnerable injury points like I mentioned earlier. People believed that these marks could quote, fight fire with fire, so to speak, using the sacred power of the flame to ward off evil spirits, witchcraft, lightning, and even house fires. And many were carefully made into teardrop or clustered patterns, suggesting that they were part of a deliberate ritual rather than any sort of accidental damage. And some historians even believe that they may have been created during spiritually significant times, like during Christmas, Yule, slash Candlemas, or All Hallows' Eve. We don't, however, know this for certain, but there's a lot of evidence that suggests that this could be the case. And I thought it was pretty cool. Yeah. Yeah.
00:26:17
Speaker
Now we're going to talk about herbal protections very briefly because we talk about all of these herbs kind of regularly throughout multiple episodes on the podcast. So yeah, traditional protective herbs include rosemary, which has long been associated with purification and protection and folk magic. It's often used to cleanse spaces and guard against negative influences. Yeah. Bay leaves, which traditionally have been used for protection, strength, and warding, and they were also often kept in homes to guard against misfortune or unwanted energy.
00:26:48
Speaker
Juniper, which has a strong historical connection to spiritual cleansing and protection, with its smoke commonly used to purify spaces and drive away harmful influences.
00:26:59
Speaker
Sage, which we I feel like all of us know has widely been used in many traditions for its cleansing properties, and it's believed to help clear stagnant or negative energy from a space.
00:27:10
Speaker
Mugwort is often associated with spiritual protection and awareness. Historically, it was used to guard against harmful spirits and enhance psychic sensitivity. And basil, which has been linked to protection and blessings in household folklore.
00:27:24
Speaker
And often it's believed to promote harmony and safeguard the home. And some ways that herbs have been used for protection are that herb bundles were often hung above doorways as a simple form of household protection, creating a symbolic barrier meant to keep harmful influences from entering the home. Protective herbs were sometimes added to water and then used for cleaning things like the floor, allowing the act of physically cleaning the home to also serve as a form of energetic or spiritual cleaning.
00:27:53
Speaker
Burning dried herbs as incense has long been used as a way to purify spaces, with the rising smoke symbolically carrying away unwanted energy and reinforcing protection within the home.
00:28:05
Speaker
Small sachets filled with protective herbs were often placed near doorways, windows, or thresholds to quietly maintain the protective presence in areas where outside influences might enter. And in many traditions, protection was incorporated into everyday life through cooking. So with protective herbs intentionally being added to meals to bless the household and promote well-being for those who shared the food.
00:28:30
Speaker
Looking at protective objects and charms, when we look at the historical tools that were used, things that we've already covered, so like witch bottles, hidden charms within walls or in the hearth, iron nails or spikes, protective stones, like specifically obsidian and black tourmaline, there are modern variations to this. So you can practice this without going too far down the rabbit hole, especially with witch bottles, because I'm going to tell you right now, I'm not pissing in a jar. No. For protection. No, sorry. But if that's what you do, that's fine. I'm not judging you, I'm just saying I'm going to do it. I just don't want to. A modern variation of this could be like a protection jar. So filling up a jar with those protective herbs and maybe even making like what, like a tincture or something with it, creating some sort of thing like that instead of Putting iron, I mean, you still could do iron or hidden charms, but you could also do sigils placed on your windows or doors and even draw them on there with like things like chalk or with the water that you use to wash your doors and windows. Using some of that water to even draw your own sigils, that could be something as well. Putting charm bags near your entrances and then even using decor that doubles as magical protection. So whether that be iron or whether that be like specifically dried herbs or...
00:29:46
Speaker
flowers that are associated with protection in vases around your home. I've also used crystals as decor in my home that also double as magical protection. like It just depends on how you want to do it, but it can be done. As far as drawing too, you can use a selenite wand. Selenite is so soft. So if you use a wand, like a raw wand, it'll almost act as chalk essentially. Yes. Yeah. You can do it like under your doormat, at your threshold, those kinds of things. Yeah.
00:30:16
Speaker
yeah And even like we've talked about this previously on another episode, but even painting your doors a specific color as a way to double as home protection, but also decor in a way as well. So just it could be as creative as as you want with this. Yeah. Yeah.
00:30:34
Speaker
It can be as simple as you want to. It doesn't have to be like some crazy elaborate thing. That is true. So in magical practice, wards are protective measures created to guard a space from unwanted energy or influences. Unlike physical protections like locks or barriers, wards function on an energetic or spiritual level, forming an intentional layer of protection around a home, room, or specific area.
00:30:59
Speaker
ah A ward can be thought of as an energetic boundary that helps regulate what's allowed into a space and what is kept out. So rather than simply blocking everything, wards are often created with the intention of allowing supportive, positive energy in while preventing harmful or disruptive influences from crossing that boundary.
00:31:18
Speaker
So some methods for creating wards... Visualization is a common way to establish wards by intentionally imagining a protective barrier around a space. This might involve picturing light, a shield, a wall, or another protective form surrounding the home or the room. Sigils can be created as symbolic representations of protection and placed physically around the home or visualized as part of the warding process. They act as a focused symbol of intention that reinforces the protective boundary.
00:31:49
Speaker
Some traditions use spoken words such as blessings, charms, or simple protective phrases to establish words. The act of speaking the intention aloud helps anchor the protective energy within the space.
00:32:03
Speaker
Words can also be established through clear intention by consciously defining the energetic boundaries of the space And what is or is not welcome within it. So this approach focuses on reinforcing the idea that the practitioner has the authority over their own space.
00:32:20
Speaker
And just as a note here, cleansing and protection are related but serve different purposes and magical practices. So cleansing removes unwanted or stagnant energy from the space while protection involves establishing boundaries or wards afterward to help prevent the energy from returning. So many practitioners view cleansing as the first step followed by protection to maintain the balance and the safety of the space. Yes. And I think that's a very important note because a lot of people get those confused yeah and then they wonder why what they're doing isn't really working. And it's like, yeah because you're assuming, yeah you're you're missing a huge step. So as far as simple home protection practices for our listeners...
Practical Protection Rituals & Techniques
00:33:02
Speaker
Something that you could do is a beginner doorway protection ritual. And this would include just physically cleaning your threshold or entry, like actually getting out there with a bucket, some soap. You can even use like a lavender scented soap if you want to, or something that's infused with any sort of essential oil that's not going to damage your door or whatever. Physically clean that threshold.
00:33:25
Speaker
And then when you're done physically cleaning it, sprinkle a small pinch of salt across the threshold or wipe the doorway with salt water. as a way to infuse your space with protection and then place a protective herb such as rosemary, bay, or basil near the entrance or above the door. And you can create your own intention or you can speak a simple intention of only peace and good intentions may enter my home or my home is protected from unwanted negative energy. Whatever that intention is, you can create it yourself and I would
00:33:59
Speaker
stress that you should create it yourself and not just use the examples that I just gave, but do that as a way to cleanse and protect your home. And you could do it your front door and your back door.
00:34:11
Speaker
Home protection should be approached not as a one-time act, but as an ongoing practice. So just as a home requires regular physical upkeep, many traditions view spiritual or energetic protection as something that benefits from occasional attention and maintenance.
00:34:27
Speaker
So regular cleansing helps remove stagnant or unwanted energy that may naturally build up over time throughout daily life, stress, or outside influences. And this can be done through physical cleaning, smoke cleansing, herbal washes, or other methods that refresh the atmosphere of the space.
00:34:44
Speaker
Wards are often revisited and refreshed to keep the protective intention strong and active. This might involve repeating the original warding process, reinforcing sigils or charms, or simply renewing the intention behind the protection. Some practitioners align protective practices with seasonal changes or important points of the year. So performing protective rituals at these times can serve as a way to reset the energy of the home and intentionally renew the protective boundaries surrounding it. Yeah, and as far as some simple everyday practices that you can include, one of the easiest things is to add herbs to your cleansing water. So this can include things like any of the herbs that Tiffany mentioned. So sage to purify, rosemary to cleanse energy, basil to protect your prosperity or repel negative energy while attracting abundance, rue to protect against the evil eye and break hexes, mugwort for protection, cleansing, and psychic awareness, and Hyssop for purification and removing negative thoughts. Bay leaf for cleansing and psychic protection. Lavender to protect your peace and calm your energy. Cedar for grounding protection to drive away unwanted spirits.
00:35:56
Speaker
Lemongrass to cleanse negativity, and it's known as the cleanser of cross connections and to cut cords of negativity as well. So FYI, if you need to do a cord cutting spell, I would recommend incorporating lemongrass and frankincense to raise your vibration and repel fear-based energy while working to connect with you or your higher self. All of those herbs can be added to your cleansing water. And in in some cases, like if you are wanting to, like say you don't have enough time to infuse any of that stuff into your cleansing water, they sell like a sprays depending on like what you want. You can buy sprays, like at least for lavender specifically,
00:36:35
Speaker
and for lemongrass and for frankincense in different brands. So the ZUM brand sells a frankincense all-purpose cleanser that I use and it smells amazing. They also like Method has a lavender all-purpose cleanser that I buy on the regular basis. Like So it really just depends on how you want to infuse those. Or if you just want to go to fucking target and buy something that already has it in there. I'm not saying you have to do that. and i'm not saying that one thing is better than the other, but like sometimes I don't have the time. And if I'm able to buy a frankincense cleanser at a store, I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it.
00:37:13
Speaker
Additionally, smoke cleansing, which is one of the oldest and most effective ways to clear negative energy and protect your home. And you can do this with sage, incense, or even dried bundles of herbs like rosemary, cedar, and lavender. Smoke cleansing is a great way to remove stagnant energy and to refresh the space that you live in. And I would recommend, so I will cleanse my home with incense every week, at least once a week, if not daily. It just depends on what we have going on. But cleansing with ah dried bundles of herbs like cedar, I would probably do that maybe once a month, maybe every couple of months, whenever you feel like you need to do that. But it should be part of your ongoing energy protection in your home.
00:37:54
Speaker
And then blessing your home while you cleanse it. Home blessing needs to begin with being mindful and present. So before you add any herbs, candles, or charms, it needs to come with an act of care. Cleaning in many magical traditions is the first layer of protection like Tiffany mentioned because it clears away the heaviness, the stress, and the stagnation of of what no longer belongs to you. protect Practically, this can look as simple as sweeping or mopping with intention, imagining you're clearing out stress and stagnant energy, opening windows to let in fresh air, lighting a candle while setting a simple home blessing for peace and security, speaking gratitude aloud for the shelter your home provides. All of these things can be incorporated into your daily life. And I would say incorporating this stuff allows you to be more mindful and present. it allows you to take a step back and actually
00:38:42
Speaker
be present and active within your home and not just be head up in the clouds while you're doing some of these things. Anyway, if you're already cleaning your home, why not bless your home while you're doing it? And then lastly, recharging your protective items or charms. And this is going to look different depending on the protective items you use. So make sure you do your own research here because if you use certain crystals above your entrance, for example, understand that certain crystals can't be cleansed or charged in water or in the sun or in the ground. It's gonna differ based on what crystal you're using. Some may need just a smoke cleanse and recharging from your own energy and some smoke cleanse wouldn't be what you would recommend.
00:39:20
Speaker
So definitely do your own research there. And if you're using protective bowls, I would recommend changing those ingredients out and redoing the protection spell at least every month and maybe even sooner depending on what ingredients are in the bowl.
00:39:33
Speaker
So just do your own research is my final thought there. But these are like very simple things you can do. And if you're already cleaning your home anyway, why not already just go ahead and clean out your protection bowl or recharge your crystals? Like simple.
Home Protection: A Modern Perspective
00:39:48
Speaker
Historically protected. The protection magic was seen as a practical magic that was practiced regularly. It was a common and practical part of everyday life in many cultures. Rather than being seen as something unusual or extreme, it was simply one of the ways that people cared for their homes, their families, and their communities alongside things like locking the doors, or tending the hearth, or maintaining the household. Most historical protective practices weren't rooted in fear or constant worry about attack or harm, but instead they reflected a mindset of simple precaution and care, similar to how people take ordinary steps today to keep their home and loved ones safe.
00:40:28
Speaker
Protective magic functioned as a quiet layer of support and reassurance within daily life rather than something meant to create anxiety or suspicion.
00:40:38
Speaker
Exactly. And home protection practices, like, so I hope that this episode really lets you guys change that mindset when it comes to home protection, because it doesn't have to come from that belief that something bad is waiting just outside your door to trick you or to drive their way inside your home. Instead, it's about tending to your space the same way you would tend to a garden, clearing out what feels stagnant and overgrown and inviting what helps you thrive by creating an environment that feels safe and peaceful. Protection doesn't have to come from a place of fear and it can and should come from a place of love. A protected home is built with intention and it's a place for you to experience peace, love, healing, joy, whatever you want it to be for the people who belong there. And it's a space to enforce whatever doesn't belong, doesn't get to stay.
00:41:26
Speaker
So just have have that reframing when it comes to home protection. It's not about being constantly like worried that somebody is going to energetically come into your home or attack you psychically. It's not about that. It's just about setting those boundaries.
Conclusion & Next Episode Teaser
00:41:54
Speaker
That's a wrap on this episode of Get In Loser, We're Doing Witchcraft. We hope you had as much fun as we did. If you loved this episode, we'd be eternally grateful if you left us a five-star review wherever you listen to your podcasts. It helps more witches, seekers, and magical misfits find our show.
00:42:11
Speaker
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00:42:31
Speaker
You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at GetInWitches or email us at We'reDoingWitchcraft at gmail.com. Join us next week as we sit down with author and practitioner Chris Allen to discuss his newest book, The Black Book of Jonathan Notbristle.
00:42:46
Speaker
Until then, stay magical, stay curious, and as always, blessed be witches.