With everything going on in the world since February, my social media has been inundated with posts seeking protection:

• Protection from illness
• Protection against negativity
• Personal protection of self or family
• Protection for or to aid others

Personally, I have found myself looking at ways to do all of the above.  One instance with a stressed coworker affected me for days before I had enough.  It sent me running to my cabinet (affectionately called the Wiccubby) for herbs and tools.

Protection can come in many forms. You can wear or carry charms; place sachets around your home, office or car; or manifest a shield spirituality to deflect any negativity aimed your way. (Personally, I picture the Enterprise warding off enemy weapons-fire.) To create a handy list of protection herbs, I really recommend Scott Cunningham’s  Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. I constantly find myself referring to it, even after practicing almost 20 years.  For a quick reference, here are a few protection herbs, I always keep (and most can be found in your kitchen!)

Herbs: Rosemary, Basil, Bay Leaves, Angelica, Anise Seed, Lemongrass, Cinnamon, Clove, Cumin, Oregano, Mint, Lavender, Mugwort, Mandrake, Vervain, Blackberry

In addition, you can mix in the following to charms, sachets incense, and even your own protection oils:

Oils: Frankincense, Sage (both can also be found in herb form)

Woods: Oak, Cedar, Holly

Protection in any form requires a lot of focus and intention. The last thing you want to do is start a ritual for protection, and end up inviting more negativity into your life.  Usually, in my own ritual work, one of the things I always try to do is include herbs associated with any or all of the four elements. This way, I can call upon these energies as well as visualizing a protective shield around myself, my home or my loved ones.

Now onto the spellwork! Here is what you will need:

Your herbs

Bowl / Mortar and Pestle (something to mix the herbs in)

Intention! Intention! Intention!

Incense Burner (for afterward)

Protection Incense

For this recipe, I concentrated on two of the elements: Fire (South) and Water (West) as I wanted to add an extra layer of protection and hearth energy (fire) to a cleansing and calm energy (water). Add in equal parts:

Cinnamon and Clove (fire)

Anise Seed and Orange Peel (water)

*Note orange peel and cinnamon have a lot of uses, but they are great additives for adding an extra oomph to your herbal concoctions. 

Mix or crush your cinnamon, clove and anise together in a bowl. While doing so, envision a cleansing force sweeping through your home.  Add the dried orange peels (or orange essential oil), and imagine that sweeping force solidifying into a protective bubble.  With your athame, wand, or by holding the bowl in your hands, you will want to recite a mantra or ask for the gods assistance to add their energies to bless your incense.  As an example, I used the following during my ritual:

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the South, Lords of Fire

Bless these herbs of protection and the hearth to burn away the negativity so that only good may enter

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the West, Lords of Water

Bless these herbs to cleanse this space and assist those who enter to find peace and calm energy.

In the presence of the God and Goddess

To the good of all and to harm none

So mote it be.

You can continuing charging your herbs during the moon, in the light of a candle, or on your altar until they feel ready to burn them. But, keep that shield in place and remember that any time you interact with the herbs you will want to visualize your intent.

Blessed be readers!

I’d love to hear how this recipe worked for you. Leave me a shout out in the comments below!