Guide to Shielding – Part 2

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Welcome back to the wonderful world of shielding! In the second half of this series on shielding, we’ll be discussing four more types of shields and some other cool topics like stationary wards and what might happen if you shield too much.

If you missed Part 1, there’s still time! Pop on over and read it.

Alright, let’s review.

Quick Review

As we discussed in the previous lesson, shielding is a pretty big term, but in metaphysics we’re specifically talking about an act of using energy to protect something.

We shield for a variety of reasons, but usually we’re looking to avoid picking up unwanted energy — unseen forces that can manifest both physically and emotionally. As always, I am not a doctor. No statements made here are meant to be a replacement for medical advice.

The steps to shielding are pretty simple. It’s just ground, center, shield!

Still with me? Great! Let’s jump into a few more types of shields!

How do we shield?

Hopefully you’ve practiced the four shields we discussed in part one. As a reminder, it’s important to at least have one method you’re good at and then a second backup method. The effectiveness of certain techniques might vary depending on circumstances. Experimentation is key to success! I would strongly suggest you try each method at least once.

Tokens, Amulets, Talismans, and Charms

I personally wear things every single day for protection. In fact, I’ve been doing this for so many years that I feel rather naked without them. Before I talk about that, we’re going to get into the realm of ambiguity and minute distinctions, so hold on tight!

Is a protective amulet the same thing as a shield? The answer is maybe. To me, shielding implies protection, but protection does not always imply shielding. But lucky for you, most of the time you can choose your own functionality for items, all depending on your intentions!

During cold and flu season, you could make an herbal sachet or medicine bag for health. You might also think of this as shielding you from sickness. This begs the question: Why is a sachet different from a bundle of herbs, especially if it accomplishes the same goal? I kind of hinted at this in Part 1, but I feel like a bundle of herbs (which falls under the “herbal shield” category) undergoes a process of transformation when making a sachet; moreover, the sachet fits better into the category of “talisman.” But don’t worry, there are plenty of things that are less ambiguous and unmistakably talismanic.

I wear two of the Pentacles of Solomon on most days. These are by nature defined as being talismans (this distinction perhaps could make a whole separate article). Their uses are many, but one of them is [in my interpretation] to shield against disease. Talismans, amulets, charms, or other personal tokens can perform many different functions, but I would say shielding is definitely a pretty common goal.

Shifting topics a little bit, you may have heard me mention before that Selene and I have a prison ministry. We volunteer some weekends to bring Wiccan services into a local correctional institution There are obviously security checkpoints, metal detectors, pat downs, and a very strict list of what can and cannot be brought into the facility. We usually empty our pockets and take off almost all jewelry in the car. Despite my attempts at auric shielding, I found myself feeling particularly drained each time. Remember how certain shields will work better than others in different situations? Our Padrino suggested that I wear my elekes during our visits with the inmates.

I’m always hesitant to write about this particular aspect of my spirituality (my reasons are many), but here we go. Let’s talk about some ATR stuff. First, let’s define some terms. In the Lucumí tradition, a Padrino or Madrina (literally, “godfather” or “godmother”) is the person who guides you and brings you into the religion. You can think of them almost like the High Priest or High Priestess of a coven. Elekes (also called Collares) are beaded necklaces that are strung in particular colors and patterns. Receiving and wearing them signifies, essentially, that you are under the protection of the Orisha. You can buy elekes at any local botanica, but unless they are fed, prepared, and given to you by a godfather or godmother, they’re just useless strings of beads.

Long story short? My elekes don’t set off metal detectors. Since I usually keep them under my clothing, they don’t turn any eyes during pat downs either. Wearing elekes has proven to work as an effective shield against unwanted energy in an environment where negativity abounds.

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Items of Faith

You could say that elekes are a Lucumí item of faith. Many religions and traditions have particular items or symbols that are significant to the practitioner. The Christian, for example, might wear a cross to protect and shield against evil. Some faiths might even require the use of head coverings or veils during certain ceremonies — this is sometimes done as an act of respect, but at other times could be seen to function as a shield. I’d like to think ceremonial robes could provide the same protection, visualizing them much as you would a suit of armor.

Are these items always practical for all situations outside of religious ceremonies? Of course not. After all, we usually practice skyclad. But again, certain shields will work better than others depending on the circumstances.

Casting Circle

What about an entire ritual that acts as a shield? Casting circle can certainly meet this need.

Aside from creating sacred space, magick circles have two primary purposes. The first is to contain the energy you’re raising. The second is to shield against unwanted outside influences.

You can cast circle anywhere and at any time. Don’t have tools? No worries. You can do a toolless circle. What if you’re in a public place? Again, no worries. You can cast circle on the astral. That might sound like an advanced discussion, but again, it’s why we stress that meditation is the backbone of magickal practice.

Really, any way you choose to create sacred space is going to be a great option for shielding if the need should arise.

Sound and Music

I am personally of the opinion that divine names, words of power, and barbarous words have a high probability of instantaneously causing a shielding effect when intoned.

The resonance of repeated prayers or chants can create shielded sacred space when spoken.

I’ve also recently discovered the magnificently magickal powers of noise cancelling headphones. There are some retail stores near us that have an energy I don’t particularly enjoy, but headphones and the right music choice don’t just drown out noise, they can cancel out unwanted energy. Have you ever gone grocery shopping while listening to Yo Yo Ma playing Bach’s cello suites? Try it out sometime.

Stationary wards

We’ve spent a significant amount of time discussing ways to shield ourselves, but what about shielding other things? What if I need to protect my home, my property, or something else? This is limited only by one’s imagination.

When I was an outer court student, I was riding in a car with my High Priestess. She said to me something like “I’m not feeling very good about driving today, would you please cast circle around the car?” Back then, creating sacred space around a vehicle seemed like a rather strange thing to do.

I can already hear you saying “but Aerik, cars aren’t stationary, they’re mobile. Also, you probably should have talked about this back in the whole section on casting circle as a shield.” Yes, I know that, but it helps illustrate the point that most of the techniques for personal shielding can be expanded and used on objects or entire areas. You can even leave them behind to do their work.

Don’t believe me? The next time you leave your house, turn around, face the front door, and say “this home is protected until I return.” Boom. You just created a time-limited, stationary ward using words of affirmation.

I realize the term “ward” is a bit archaic. Just so we’re on the same page, it means “guard, protect.” I use it synonymously with the term “shield.”

When I leave for a trip, the first thing I do is lock the deadbolt. After removing the key, I put my hand back toward the door and draw Algiz in the air, whispering its name aloud three times. I visualize it grabbing the deadbolt, taking root in the ground, extending its arms outward like branches, and then radiating a shield around our entire house. I know and accept that this is an impenetrable barrier, so I always take it down as soon I return. To disengage this particular ward, I do a small hand gesture and and say the name backwards. It’s not really important how you do it, so much as it is that you do it regularly, comfortably, and confidently.

What if we want to shield something bigger? That’s definitely possible. I’ve engaged in group ritual work to protect cities and towns from hurricanes, a common hazard here in Florida. The bigger the goal, the higher the required visualization skills. I’ve also heard of people placing statues at the four quarters of a large piece of land and tasking them with constantly maintaining their end of a shield or barrier.

But don’t forget the small things. Even jars of herbs or magickal concoctions can be shielded. When I make planetary incense, for example, I ward it with the planet’s astrological symbol. When in doubt, a simple pentagram can be as effective as anything else.

The One Way Mirror

You could might sometimes think of your shield as a one-way mirror, which allows light to pass through on one side, but reflects on the other. Your shields can act like this, too… allowing energy or reflecting it in either direction.

Why would you want to reflect your own energy back at yourself? Well, try to think of this more like containment. Just like a magick circle contains the energy raised in in a ritual, you might want a bubble of containment while raising energy within yourself. On the flip side, maybe you’re in a terrible mood and you want to protect a sensitive person from your negativity, so you temporarily shield yourself to keep it reeled in.

I know this is a lot to think about, and perhaps it may look like too much time is being spent on “such a simple topic.” But I assure you, the more thought you put into the design of your own personal shields, the stronger and more reliable they will be. Ask yourself questions: What type of things does your shield block? Can energy flow in both directions? What does your shield look like? What does it sound like? Heck, stick out your astral tongue and taste your shield! Alright, maybe we’ve gone too far.

Can we shield too much?

While we’re on the topic of going too far, it’s important to note that it is possible to shield too much.

Metaphysical shields aren’t necessarily something you want to have running 24/7. When you’re at home or when you’re alone in a safe place, give the shields and yourself a break.

It’s not a good idea to constantly block out everything and everyone. If you’re shielding around a person, you’re also subconsciously telling yourself that you need to be protected from them — that can inhibit the growth of personal relationships.

If you shield yourself from an energetically-sensitive person, they’ll probably notice and wonder why, but they might not say anything about it. That includes things like getting psychic or tarot readings. I mean, what’s the point in paying for a professional reading if you’re going to close yourself off? That’s like hiring a photographer to take headshots and hiding in a closet when they show up. Sometimes I default to “shield on” mode, so when I consult any sort of professional reader, I always make a conscious effort to turn off whatever shields I might have put up.

Knowing

Remember how a few sections ago, I said “I know and accept that this is an impenetrable barrier?” Well, that’s half the battle. Just like many other forms of magick, being confident in your abilities adds to the effectiveness. When you doubt yourself, you hinder the flow of energy.

That’s why regular practice is so important. It builds confidence.

Before you go outside into the cold, you’d put on a jacket right? This is routine and basic. You know the jacket is warm and that it fits you because you’ve worn it a hundred times. It’s the same concept for our spiritual shields.

If you’re new to shielding, I would suggest including it into your daily routine. Try each of the eight methods described in part 1 and part 2 for one week — this is a two month commitment that will benefit you for the rest of your life. Before you leave in the morning, turn on a shield. When you come home, turn it off. This should give you a good amount of data for what works or doesn’t work for you. Once you find your preferred techniques, keep working at them!

Use your shields over and over until you’re fully confident that they work. Your goal should be to able to effortlessly turn them on and off at a moments notice, knowing and accepting that they are protecting you.

Conclusions

Shields can protect people, places, and things. The ways to accomplish this are really limited only by your imagination.

Spend some time designing your personal shields. Just like any other magickal tool, you’ll get out of it what you put in. This is one of those areas where you can really get creative, so try to have some fun with it.

Are there any other shield types I haven’t mentioned? If so, please tell me about it in the comments. Oh, and would someone else please tell me… what does your shield sound like?