Spirit Work Foundations - Warding Basics
Warding is one of the most important skills that one can learn when starting spirit work, if not the most important. There are spirits all around us, no matter where we are, and not all of them have our best intentions at heart. Most will leave humans alone who aren't aware of them, but when the door cracks open, it becomes a possibility for them to see you as a target.
It can seem difficult at first, but there are many different and easy ways to build wards that will last a long time. Once you get into a good rhythm, it's easy to make it part of your regular routine. They can be as simple as asking a deity you worship to help protect you, or as complicated as an involved crystal grid for which the research and building of can take months.
One of the most important things to remember is that you should never settle for just one ward. There are many different kinds of energy, and many different forms of attack. Having only one layer of protections leaves you vulnerable. There is almost always going to be someone stronger than you, more powerful, more involved. If they can pop your single protection, or find a loophole in it, you're completely exposed.
The hardest part of setting wards is writing out your intentions, and anchoring them in an external energy source. Some of your wards can build on your own energy, but you don't want all, or even most, of your protections to rely solely on you. If your energy drops for any reason, your wards will be compromised, and if they're wiped out at once, it will leave you exhausted and completely unable to defend yourself. However, having them rooted in your own energy can also protect them from being manipulated if the outside energy is affected. Having the wards that rely solely on your energy closest to your skin and personal body can be a great way to balance the pros and cons of this.
There are a lot of things to consider when setting wards:
How does it work? How does it protect you?
Is it purely defensive or offensive?
If it attacks back when threatened, what mechanism does it attack by?
Are there energetic constructs attached to it
How is it cleansed or charged?
What does it protect you from? How do you define "harm?" Is a malicious blessing the same thing as a curse?
What energetic (or physical) layers is it active on?
How is it shaped? Does it surround you in a sphere, or just on the ground layer?
What do you allow inside your wards?
Where are the loopholes in your wording so far, and how do you close them?
It might sound overwhelming, but keep in mind that not every ward you place needs to do everything.
Specific intentions are stronger than general ones, and can keep you from being locked out of forming friendly connections.
Ward setting can be a lot like the story of Goldilocks. Too strong, and nothing can come in or out and you can't sense anything outside of the wards. Too weak, and you're vulnerable. Figuring out this balance can take trial and error.
There are many ways you can set wards:
Ask a deity, spiritual companion, or spiritual guide to add some wards. You can ask them to add as many as you'd like, provided you trust them enough. Don't rely solely on them, but they can be an important layer
Create energetic constructs as guards, or ask your deities or companions to give you guards that walk around your territory
Connect them to sigils and hide the sigils all over your house or wear them on your person
Charge jewelry or witch bags with your intentions. There is an instruction for an easy DIY warded bracelet at the end of this post, and Death Witch Envy has a wonderful blog post on this topic here.
Charge gemstones and/or statues and place these at regular points around your home or person in a crystal grid
Weave protections using bones, herbs, what have you into a macramé tapestry
Anchor protections into plants you've placed on your property
Create energetic bubbles around yourself
Do monthly spell rituals to refresh, at times during specific phases of the moon/astrological times, and so on. You can include candles, oils, sigils, etc. Having a specific way to carve and dress your candles with oil for these rituals can help amplify your intention
Use cultural symbols from your path to call protections upon yourself
These are just some suggestions, but really the sky is the limit.
Using sigils in gifs or images, or even charging a VPN is a way you can use wards to protect your technology as well!
If you're new to warding, I encourage you to try at little bit of everything, and see what works best.
While you're getting set up, learning, and experimenting with wards, there's no shame in relying heavily on your deities and companions to help you with your basic protections. While I don't recommend this as a long term strategy, we all have to start somewhere, and it can help your peace of mind to know that someone has your back as you build on your own abilities.
Start small, and build from there. If you don't get it right the first time, keep trying!
If you're overwhelmed and don't even know how to start, I've included instructions for a basic warded bracelet below. The gemstones listed are not an exhaustive list, but rather stones that are both associated in some way with different kinds of protection, and also easy to get. Feel free to use whatever other materials you're called to.
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Instructions on a DIY warded bracelet:
Get some elastic. Elastic will break eventually but until then it's strong and easy to get. Clear elastic will work fine, but there's also the colored sort that is made of many different strands. That kind will fray before it snaps, so you'll have a warning. Either will work, as it's not the elastic itself that's important.
Make sure you make it a few inches longer than it takes for you to tie it around your wrist before you trim it. Make sure you have glue.
Get some beads of the following sorts (I recommend 4mm so you can string more on):
- Tigers eye (tiger iron also works)
- And another stone you feel called to that will represent you. Can be anything.
This is not a definitive list. If you want to make it most of one but not another, or want to add more kinds of gemstones, then do so. Whatever you feel called to.
String them on the elastic until its a comfortable length. Tie it off and glue the knot before trimming the ends.
Cleanse by lighting a candle and trailing the bracelet above it enough that the fire doesn't touch it.
Pull the bracelet close to you, holding in both hands. Concentrate on the fire of the candle, and keep your intention for the bracelet (in this case, protecting you physically and mentally from spiritual entities and magic) at the forefront of your mind. Feel the energy of the candle, and envision it surrounding the bracelet and charging it with your intentions. Keep in mind that specific intentions are more likely to be stronger.
If this is all too complicated to keep in your mind at one time, you can write down a list of what you want the bracelet to do, and how. You can include the names of deities or companions you want to help strengthen it. When it's written down, put it under the candle before you burn it. You can also use flash or wish paper, which is made to be burned, and then waft the bracelet through the smoke.
(Note: paper is usually full of chemicals, and so is ink. Be mindful of what materials you use when you intend to burn a piece of spellwork. Make sure that you are in a well ventilated area, and do not set off any fire alarms, or choke on the smoke. Do not leave an open flame unattended. Have a glass or bucket of water nearby in case things get out of control).
When you feel you are done, blow out the candle. Put the bracelet on. Leave it on as much as possible, unless cleansing or recharging it.
Withering Woods is an 18+ Spirit Conjuring, Divination, and Devotional Jewelry shop. We focus on connection and the many ways that manifests in our lives.
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