While the Ground, Center, Shield Protection Spell is somewhat complex to explain, it is simple to execute. It consists of three parts: Grounding, Centering and Shielding. Each part can be practiced and performed separately, but, of course, they are most powerful when combined. Grounding connects your energy with the world around you so that you are more focused. It allows you to become a more effective channel for energy you raise during spells or rituals. Grounding will also help keep you from getting mentally scattered, flighty or uneasy. Grounding will also carry away excess energies after spells and rituals are over. Without this, excess energies can create issues for you, including hyperactivity and/or severe headaches. Centering balances your mind, body, and spirit or emotional state. Unlike Grounding, which prevents internal distractions, Centering prevents you from being distracted by outside forces. While Grounding and Shielding are both relatively simple acts of visualization, Centering requires a little more work and thought. Centering requires that you know who you are, devoid of outside influence. If you define yourself by your family, you job, your house, or your possessions, you cannot be fully centered. Make sure you take some time to meditate and consider who and what you are, what you believe, and what is truly important in your world. Do this at least once a week for the best results. Shielding creates an energy barrier which protects you from the negativity and unwanted energy of others. Your shields will keep others from being too readily able to "read" you. Additionally, they will prevent anyone from doing anything with your personal energy without your knowledge and permission. You will erect these shields with the power of your mind. *Grounding and Centering Exercise* Grounding and Centering will form a strong, solid, stable foundation, both for shielding yourself and for using magical energy. Properly Grounded, you will be better able to draw on both your own energy and energy from the world around you. This will enable you to manifest more effectively, no only during your Protection Spell, but in any other spell or ritual you perform. *Picture yourself standing or lying in a beautiful, green forest. Engage all of your senses: *See the tall pines and oaks around you *Smell the moss, soil and loam beneath you *Feel the dappled sunlight filtering down through the trees to touch your face with warmth *Breathe in the fresh air and feel the life all around you *Now imagine yourself becoming a part of the forest. Your feet, legs and arms begin to grow roots and seek the soil below. Feel your roots pushing through the leaves and moss on the surface, down into the dark, rich soil of Mother Earth. *Feel you roots getting bigger and stronger as they dig deeper to be nourished by the rich earth and draw strength from it. *Push you roots down as far as they can go *Grab onto rocks and boulders far beneath the surface Take a strong hold on the earth with your roots *Know that you are as solid as the rock, stable as the oaks and pines, yet as flexible as the willow that dances in the wind. *Feel the earth's energy coursing up through your roots into your legs, through your hips, abdomen and chest to your hands and head. The energy fills every crevice of your body. This energy has always been there; now you know how to find it easily. *You have found balance* *Draw energy from the earth to find new strength *Feel how well rooted and connected to the earth you have become. *You are balanced and strong. Nothing outside you can disturb these roots or your strength. *You are as steadfast as a mountain. *Take a moment and feel how strong you truly are. *When you are ready, open your eyes and return to the world around your physical body, knowing that you are now Grounded and Centered.* Remember: nothing and no one can change this but you.* You will probably lose this grounding fairly quickly the first few times. Keep trying, and you will soon be able to maintain your grounding for weeks at a time. As you become more adept at grounding, you will find you can leave off more of the imagery in emergency situations. I often use a "quick grounding", just visualizing the roots growing into the Earth. This will keep you steady until you can do the full meditation. *Shielding Protection Spell* Shielding is the actual "protection" part of the Ground, Center, Shield Protection Spell. Bear in mind that shielding without grounding will allow negative energy to "cling" to the shield. You have to ground the energy so that it cannot harm you. *Begin by Grounding and Centering as you did above. *Begin drawing energy into your body. Let it begin to build in your Chi, or abdominal area. This is where your energy and strength begin to build. *Form a ball of pure light, energy and strength at the core of your body. *Slowly let the ball expand, with your Chi at its center *As the ball expands, begin to see it as a bubble or hollow sphere with you on the inside *Let the energy from the earth flow through you and into the shield as it expands. *Let the sphere penetrate the ground beneath you, cover the air above and to all sides of you. You are protected in the center of this bubble. The bubble is incredibly strong. Your roots should either be growing through or from the shield. *The energy and strength you felt when you Grounded and Centered can now be used as an inexhaustible source of power for your shield. You can keep your shield up as long as you like without much effort. You are protected and safe. *If your shields grow from your shield, visualize the unwanted energies flowing around the shield and down through the roots into the Earth. *If your roots grow through the shield, you must allow the energies of your shield to constantly flow. Energies should flow around the shield and down the outside of the roots. *The roots should disperse the negative energy outward from the lower edges of the roots into the Earth *Positive energy should flow up from the earth into the tip of the root, away from where the negative energy is being dispersed *The positive energy will rise up into your body to replace the energies you are putting into your shield Make your shield personal. •Make the bubble any material or color you want. •Your shield can be as thick or thin as you desire. It can be solid like a wall, or it can constantly flow like water. •With practice, when you feel the need to raise your shields, you will be able to do so almost instantly. Your shield should seldom be static. A well balanced shield will be in constant motion, taking negativity to your roots and guiding it into the earth. •While shielding is a good measure to use whenever it feels you are likely to be in a threatening or negative situation, it is not always necessary or desirable to keep shielded at all times. In order to interact intimately with another, it is sometimes necessary to drop your shields in part (or completely). The important thing is to know that you can raise your shields in an instant if you feel the need. The power and control are yours.
