Protection Work in Folk Magic: Herbs, Spells, & Charms for Protecting Yourself & Others
by Keziah
Times are hard, and hard times, unfortunately, often come along with an increased need for protection. Due to this, I felt it was only right to start sharing the protection work series I've been planning to do for quite some time now. In this first piece, I share a collection (both curations and creations) of magical workings within the realm of folk magic that can offer protection. From herbs and tools to turn to, to spells and charms to work, there's plenty of protection help to be found here.
What is Folk Magic?
First and foremost, I'll answer this question so there's no confusion as to what sort of spells will be found in this piece. Folk magic is a term that has come into more common use (thanks to social media) in recent years, but that use isn't necessarily the most accurate explanation or representation as to what folk magic is.
While you'll see many claiming that folk magic is strictly Christian, that simply isn't the case. Folk magic is bigger than any one religion, and the term applies to a broad spectrum of belief sets. In its most barebones definition, folk magic is applied to the magical systems of a common people, a magical craft that exists outside of the realm of ceremonial magic. Some folk magic exists outside of initiatory and hierarchical systems, some within such systems. Some folk magic is Christian or Christianized, some is simply not. For instance, there are forms of Jewish folk magical practices and countless other non-Christian paths of folk magic.
Folk magic is not always called witchcraft, and its practitioners don't always label themselves as witches. Each folk path has its own terminologies, but some you may have heard will be charmers, cunning men and cunning women, rootworkers, granny witches, conjurers, and much, much more.
And now onto the magic!
Herbs, Ingredients, & Tools Commonly Used in Protection Work:
Agrimony: Agrimony is excellent for protection work of various kinds.
It can be used to both protect against harmful magic sent your way and to reverse spells, break hexes, and reflect the malicious work back to its sender.
Agrimony can also be used to protect one from evil spirits.
Angelica: Also known as wild celery, angelica has long been used across a variety of historical and traditional European medicinal and healing practices, as well as being associated with protection magic and warding.
Angelica root is known to be used in protective charms and works throughout Europe and in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the US.
It can be used in spells and charms to protect from malicious and malevolent magic used against you - curses, hexes, evil eye, etc.
Angelica was used to ward off plague and, thus, is associated with protection from illness and safeguarding one's health.
Angelica can be carried (dried or fresh) for protection against evil, be it evil spirits, energies, people, or some other entity or force.
Burning angelica incense can provide protection and defense to the space it's burned in.
Basil: Due to basil's association with love, it can be used in charms to protect romantic relationships from hardship and infidelity. Basil can also be included in works or carried as a charm to protect those in transitionary periods of life - i.e. coming of age, transitioning, grieving and mourning, engaged to be married, moving into a new phase in life, being initiated or converted into a faith or creed, etc.
Garlic: Garlic is used across many cultures and countries in health, protection, banishing, and empowering work.
Dried garlic bulbs and garlic cloves have long been used as amulets against evil entities and forces, negative energy, and malicious people.
Minced and crushed garlic and/or garlic cloves are often used to infuse working oils for protection purposes.
Garlic cloves are added to jar spells and various pouch and bag charms - i.e. hex bags, charm bags, hands, sachets, etc. - to bring protection. Minced and crushed garlic can also be used in jar spells.
Braids and strands of garlic can be hung from window frames, doorframes, porch beams and rails, etc. to protect the space from evil, ill health and disease, malicious work, and negative energy.
Planting garlic on one's property is believed to keep away disease and illness, bring prosperity, and protect the land and household.
Ginger: Ginger is often used in healing work and can be used to protect against illness.
Carrying a piece of ginger root or sleeping with one under your pillow is believed to protect one from taking ill. The same is said of taking ginger (either a ginger shot, ginger tea, or ginger pastes) daily, as ginger boosts the immune system.
Carrying ginger or wearing it as an amulet is also said to offer a general protection.
Graveyard dirt: A versatile tool of the trade, graveyard dirt is used across many folk and ritual practices for a wide array of purposes. An ally that can be used to both harm and to help, graveyard dirt can both be used in hexing, cursing, and other such work, while also being used for protection, warding, binding, and the like.
Hair of a black dog: Dog hairs can be used as amulets for luck and protection. The hair of a black dog is considered especially good for protective purposes.
Holy water: In Christian religious and folk magical practices, holy water is water (usually from a sacred source, such as a holy well, holy spring, etc.) that has been blessed and sanctified by clergy (most often a priest in the Catholic, Anglican, Episcopalian, Eastern Orthodox, Asian Orthodox, and Lutheran customs).
Holy water can be used to protect against evil energies and forces via the anointing of one's body, items, or home.
Holy water has been included in many protection spells and works, and to wash and purify ritual tools, by those who practice forms of Christian witchcraft and Christian folk magic.
Iron (cast iron): Iron is believed to protect from evil of all ilk - spirits, demons, curses, evil eye, etc.
Iron nails can be hammered into doors, walls, floors to offer protection to a space. Iron nails are also worn and kept as amulets to ward off evil eye and protect one from being cursed or hexed.
Keeping a cast iron skillet hanging on the wall (and some beliefs say to keep a cast iron skillet under one's bed) is said to protect the home from evil.
Iron is also believed to keep away malicious spirits and various types of fae folk.
Rosemary: Rosemary used across many cultures and countries to sanctify and protect in so many different ways.
Rosemary is considered a powerful herb that provides protection against all forms of evil.
Rosemary incense can be burned to cleanse a space of negativity, impurity, and evil, so as to make that space sacred.
Dried rosemary can be hung up in the home to protect the space, or it can be added to spells and charms to defend against evil, illness, and negativity.
Rosemary charms can be carried or worn when working against or facing an enemy, as it's believed to protect the wearer and to strengthen their work and purpose.
Oils and waters infused with rosemary can be used to bless and purify sacred spaces and tools, and can be used as anointing oils and waters on those in need of protection, healing, strength, and purification.
Salt: Salt is often included in charms and spells as a tool for protection. It's both a purifier and a great defender and can be used to ward one's home and shield one from evil, negativity, curses, hexes, and the like.
Salt water can be sprinkled on thresholds and walkways to keep unwanted entities and energy from the space. It can also be used to cleanse sacred spaces in preparation for work.
Salt can be used in all kinds of sachets and charm bags for protection.
Salt sweeps are often used in the Southern US to cleanse, bless, and ward the home. Salt can also be added to washes for the same purpose.
For General Protection
Hagstone Charms:
Hagstones, also called adder stones, serpent's eggs, fairy stone, and witch stones, are stones which bear a naturally occurring hole, holes caused by erosion or some other natural event. Hagstones have been used as protective amulets for long while in traditional folk magic of Britain. Hagstones can be used to protect from a number of things - general protection overall, as well as protection from spirits of various ilk, protection from harm on the sea, protection of livestock and farmlands, protection from nightmares, and more.
What you'll need:
Hagstone (one or more)
Thread, cord, or twine.
What to do:
-Pass your thread, cord, or twine through the hole of the hagstone. You can knot the thread beforehand for added protection as a form of knot magic. Knots are believed to strengthen protective work, as they can confuse or distract spirits.
-You can add as many hagstones as you like. One is plenty, but I've seen charms with as many as nine stones.
-Keep your hagstone charm on your person for protection. I wear mine around my neck. It hangs from a nail in my doorframe when I'm not wearing it.
Protection from Evil Eye
the Iron Nail:
Iron nails are used for protection in an array of folk magical traditions, including (though not limited to) in Jewish folk magic, British folk magic, Appalachian and Southern folk magic in the United States, and within a number of European folk magic systems.
What you'll need:
An iron nail
(optional) A red or black thread, string, or ribbon
What to do:
-Keep an iron nail on your person to negate evil eye or malicious energies and intentions from others. The nail can be kept in a purse, wallet, pocket, car, or anywhere it can fit.
-The nail can be tied to the end of either a red or black thread, string, or ribbon for added strength. I keep mine on a cord of red twine. I keep it in my purse, but I can take it out and wear it around my neck or wrist if necessary.
Fox Tail Hairs:
Fox tails and fox tail hairs were employed in Jewish folk magic as an amulet of protection from the evil eye. Keeping a fox tail for this purpose wasn't uncommon in medieval times, but keeping a hair from a fox tail serves the same amuletic purpose.
Coral & Jet:
In many cultures, including in both my own ethnoreligious culture and my own regional culture, coral is believed to ward off and protect against evil eye. In some traditions it's specified that a hand with closed fist made from either coral or black jet can be worn or kept to protect one from any evil eye sent their way as well as any wishes of harm or suffering sent to them.
Antique hand-carved coral pendant or charm; photo courtesy of Invaluable Auction House.
In general, coral and jet beads or charms, either together or separately, can be worn to protect against the evil eye. You'll find such customs in Jewish folk magic, Southern folk magic in the United States, and throughout much of Central Europe's folk magical paths.
Protection from Hexes, Spells, Curses, & Malicious or Malevolent Magical Work
Dime Steppin':
Where I'm from, wearing a silver dime in the heel of your shoe is believed to keep any spells put on you from reaching you.
Church Dirt:
It's believed in various Southern U.S. regions that keeping a bit of dirt taken from church grounds will protect you from any witchcraft sent your way. The dirt can be kept in a baggy, pouch, envelope, vial, or any small thing you can keep on your person or in your home.
Iron:
Again, iron comes to save the day! It's long been believed that iron protects from witches, demons, and other forms of evil, and that it repels or dispels evil spells, curses, and hexes sent the keeper's way. For this reason, a bit of iron can be kept on one's person, or forged iron jewelry can be worn. Iron charms, rings, and amulets can be worn to protect from all forms of nefarious magical workings.
Angelica Baths:
For those who feel they've had a curse or hex put on them, add angelica or angelica root oil to your bath. Doing so is said to remove any curse, hex, or harmful magic laid upon you.
Mirror Method:
This spell is perfect for when you have someone you suspect is trying to spell, curse, or otherwise harm you, even in it's just through malicious gossip. This spell aims to protect you by making sure their work doesn't reach you and instead bounces back on them.
What you'll need:
A photograph or drawing of the person(s) you wish to prevent from harming you or the written name of the person(s)
A compact mirror
Red string, thread, cord, or ribbon.
What to do:
-Tape, glue, or fix the picture(s) or name(s) inside your compact mirror, making sure the name(s) or picture(s) will face the mirror when the compact is closed.
-Bind and tie the compact mirror closed with the red string, thread, twine, or ribbon.
-Keep your mirror somewhere safe where it won't be broken or disturbed. The curses or malicious work of those contained within the compact mirror should always be reflected back to them instead of reaching you.
Protection from Violence, Assault, & Harassment:
Sator Squares:
Pennsylvania Dutch variation of a Sator Square found in 'Long Lost Friend' by German-American Pennsylvania Dutch healer and charm worker, John George Hohman; published in 1820.
The Sator Square / Rotas-Sator Square is a palindromic word square used as a magical charm or amulet. It's been around for quite some time (with the oldest known square possibly being from as early as AD 50) and has been found to have been used historically throughout Europe, Africa, Asia Minor, and the Americas. As to its origins and intended purpose, no one knows for sure, but the Sator Square has come to have a number of magical uses, including as a tool for curing ailments, aiding in childbirth, putting out fires, and, in fitting with the theme of this piece, in protection magic.
Medieval Sator Square etched into a wall; Oppède-le-Vieux, France.
There are many variations of Sator Squares / Rotas-Sator Squares, but the most common forms consist of five rows of five words, each with five letters, arranged in a 5x5 grid. The Rotas-Sator Square (in which rotas is the word listed first, pictured below on the left) was the more common in pre-medieval use, but the Sator Square (in which sator is listed first, pictured below on the right) became far more prevalently used than the Rotas-Sator variation at some point in medieval Europe.
Rotas-Sator Square (left) and Sator Square (right).
In Southern Appalachian and some Southeastern folk practices within the United States, one can use a Sator Square for protection from violence or assault against your person.
What to do:
-Write out a Sator Sqaure or Rotas-Sator Square and carry the charm with you. It can be kept in the pocket, especially a shirt pocket, in the shoe, or even be sewn into one's clothes.
It's also said to be used in/on charm bags for general protection from evil in Cornish folkloric based witchcraft.
Protection from Illness & Pain
Shielding from Illness:
There is an oral version of the abracadabra charm I use to safeguard one's health and keep from falling ill.
What to do:
-When you lay down to go to sleep at night, press your teeth together. Not enough to cause you pain or discomfort, just enough to keep your mouth fixed so that your jaw doesn't move.
-With your jaw fixed in such a way, recite this charm in a hushed tone of more breath than voice -
Abracadabra, Abracadabr, Abracadab, Abracada, Abaracad, Abraca, Abrac, Abra, Abr, Ab, A.
-This should be recited three times in the same manner in order to shield one from illness.
Banishing Illness & Pain:
I've used a few variations of this work for years to rid one of illness or pain. Here are two variations -
The "Hands On" Approach:
If you or someone you know is coming down with something, is ill, or has been suffering pains, either place the palm of your hand on the area of their body where the pain or illness is rooted to or hover the hands just over the body. Recite either aloud or in your mind these words either 3 or 9 times (I typically use 3, but I've used 9 in more serious situations) -
All the ails shall leave (me/you/him/her/them/the person's name), All that pains shall go away. Good health shall surround (me/you/him/her/them/the name), Good health shall come to stay.
The Long Distance Approach:
What you'll need:
A candle (preferably white or any other color associated with healing)
Powdered or ground ginger
Salt
What to do:
-When one is unable to be touched due to distance from the worker, severity of illness or pain, desire to not be touched, or any other reason, take a candle (preferably white or any other color you associated with healing) and hold it whilst you think of them and their ailments and how you wish for them to get better.
-Select where you're going to burn your candle and, before lighting the candle, make a circle of powdered ginger and salt around the candleholder.
-Light the candle and look into the flame, keeping your intention of healing and helping close to your heart and mind.
-As you look into the flame, recite these words either 3 or 9 times -
All the ails shall leave (me/you/him/her/them/the person's name), All that pains shall go away. Good health shall surround (me/you/him/her/them/the name), Good health shall come to stay.
Alternatively, a variation of this spell calls for the recitation of these words -
Sickness burns, good health returns.
Protection from Enemies
Binding A Dangerous Enemy:
To bind someone dangerous who could do you harm.
With Sympathetic Magic
Sympathetic magic is one of the most common means of working against someone else where I'm from. It entails using an image, belonging, likeness, or symbol of who you're working against. In this case, we'll be using one of those things above to try to bind that someone from working against you or from bringing trouble, maliciousness, or suffering your way.
What you'll need:
A photo or drawing of the person; or a doll of the person (which can be made of clay, cloth, wood, grass, corn husk, etc.); and/or a scrap of clothing, hair, or item belonging to that person
Red thread, string, or ribbon
A candle (preferably black or red)
What to do:
-Light the candle, which can be carved with the target's name if you'd like.
-If you have an item or scrap of clothing or hair belonging to this person, press it against the likeness when you pick it up. If you don't have any such item, skip that step. Item or no, hold the likeness in your hands, focusing on the object and your intent. Once you're fully focused, recite these words -
I name thee (name of the target of this work). Thou art (she/he/they/name) in the flesh. I name thee (name of the target of this work). Thou art (she/he/they/name) in the flesh. I name thee (name of the target of this work). Thou art (she/he/they/name) in the flesh.
-Take the likeness (and if you have an item, scrap of clothing, or hair belonging to them, make sure you keep it against the likeness or symbol while you work, so that it's trapped beneath the bindings as well) and begin wrapping it up, tying it tight with your ribbon, thread, or string. If you're using a drawing or photograph of the person, you can roll or fold the image first before tying it up. While you wrap and tie up your symbol, recite these words -
Your hands are bound, your hands are tied. They cannot be raised against me. Your feet are bound, your feet are tied. They cannot move against me. Your lips are bound, your tongue is tied. They cannot speak against me. You're bound, you're tied, you're bound, you're tied. You cannot work against me.
-Recite this as many times as you need while finishing the tying work, or you can tie them up as much as you need whilst reciting these words 9 times. It's up to you. -Let the wrapped and tied symbol sit in the light of the candle as it burns down. -Do with the likeness, doll, or symbol what you will. Some bury it (far from your home, preferably under the light of a waning moon so as to diminish the power of that person to move or work against you), some (especially if it's a clay or paper doll) burn the likeness, and some keep the item in their home and occasionally recite the binding words and add to the wrapping and tying when they feel they need to again.
SOURCES & FURTHER READING:
Most of the spells listed above are variations found within the realms of folk magic which I've learned through my family, ancestors, and from simply being born and raised where I am. Spells similar to these can be found in the reading list below, as can any spells included that were not from my own family or regional homebrew of craft.
'Conjure/Doctors: An Exploration of a Black Discourse in America, Antebellum to 1940' by Brown, David H.
'Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs' -Cunningham, Scott
'Doctoring the Devil: Notebooks of an Appalachian Conjure Man' - Richards, Jake
'Jewish Magic and Superstition: A Study in Folk Religion' - Trachtenberg, Joshua
'the Master Book of Herbalism'- Beyerl, Paul
'On the Origin of the Rotas Sator Square' - Fishwick, Duncan
'Silent as the Trees: Devonshire Witchcraft, Folklore, & Magic' - Gary, Gemma
'Traditional Witchcraft: A Cornish Book of Ways' - Gary, Gemma
'the Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook' -Alvarado, Denise
