Home Protection Ward

Warding magic is often neglected by modern witches, but it is a fundamental and fairly simple part of our craft. Warding magic is protection magic, usually aimed at safeguarding homes, buildings, stables, and the people and animals within them from unwanted spiritual disturbances, negative energy, or malicious magic sent against them. It is an ancient and persistent form of magic widespread throughout the ancient world and still found in country areas up until this day. Warding magic wasn't limited to witches and the cunning folk either, but was employed by ordinary people who used witch bottles, lucky horseshoes, iron nails, witch balls, acorns, glass wands, witch marks and hex marks, salt and specific herbs to protect their homes, and many of these are still found in country cottages.

Most home wards are a charms constructed from materials chosen for their inherent protective powers, and then magically empowered by the intent and will of the maker. It is then strategically placed at thresholds where the home might be vulnerable to spiritual intrusion, such as doors, windows, and hearths.

In this article, I will show you how to make a decorative home protection ward using herbs, gemstones, iron, and a mirror to hang above your front door.

We are going to dangle the various items from a branch of birch, hawthorn, oak, or willow wood, all of which have shielding qualities, so use whatever you have. It needs to be about nine inches long, and strong enough to hold the items you are going to suspend from it. You will also need:

• Narrow blue ribbon (blue is the color of protection)
• Narrow steel wire (for defense)
• 3 iron nails (binds harmful forces)
• 3 dried chiles (protects people and possessions)
• 3 cinnamon sticks (resonates with protective Sun energy)
• Clove of garlic (wards off negativity)
• Small mirror (reflects negativity back where it came from)
• Small silver-colored pentagram (protection)
• Small amethyst gemstone (blocks negative energies)
• Small clear quartz crystal (deflects negativity)
• Small tiger's eye gemstones (wards off malicious intentions)

The ward should be assembled on a Sunday, the day of the Sun, the energy of which is strong, dynamic, and protective. Collect all your ingredients together. If you can, cleanse each one in frankincense or sage incense smoke.

You will empower the ward as you make it. First, visualize as clearly as you can what you want the ward to do: protect you and deflect negativity. It is important not to complicate your intent but rather to keep it very simple. Keep this goal focused in your mind throughout the process, and don't allow your thoughts to wander.

Decide how you are going to arrange your objects along the branch. It is pleasing if you vary the lengths of the ribbon each time, so that some are suspended lower than others.

First wrap the gemstones in the wire, making a small loop at the top of each wire. Thread some blue ribbon through the loop, and tie each gemstone onto the branch, stating your intent each time:
I add this amethyst to block negative energies.
I add this clear quartz crystal to deflect negativity.
I add this tiger's eye to ward off malicious intentions.

Next, wrap the mirror in wire, and suspend it from the branch, making sure it faces outwards, away from your home, saying:
I add this mirror to reflect negativity back to its source.

Then you can begin to tie the other objects to the branch, using the ribbon, balancing the weight and appearance of the branch, saying:
I add these iron nails to bind harmful forces.
I add these chiles to protect the people and possessions within the home.
I add these cinnamon sticks, which resonate with the protective energy of the Sun.
I add this clove of garlic to ward off negativity.
I add this pentagram to bring me under the protection of the Gods.

Finally, find the point of balance, and use some wire to fashion a loop so that it can be hung from a nail or hook over the front door.

One last time, gather your objective strongly in your mind, and say "With this ward, I protect and guard my home from harm." Project this intent into the ward and finish with, "So mote it be."