When you’re inviting strange spirits to come for a visit, some would say you need to protect yourself. I guess that’s reasonable.

For an easy way to do this, Google “protection spell” -WOW -game and use the first thing that looks good to you. There are so many protection methods out there that I can’t improve your magical practice just by adding one more to the clutter.

So here’s a different option.

What about becoming so confident, comfortable, and knowledgeable about spirits that they never bother you?

Spirits are the nuclear weapons of magical practice. Anything you can do with spells, 10,000 year old ethereal beings can do better. This makes them invaluable to a proper magician, and it can also make them frightening. I want to help you look them in the eye.

Nine tenths of working with spirits – or anything magical – is attitude. The way you approach the spirits is the main determinant in what response you receive. This does not have to mean prostrating before them in worship. It means inviting the kind of spirit you want to deal with and then treating them accordingly. If you’re bent on manifesting a deity before you, then worship will be a key part of your practice (though this would not make a likely familiar). If you want devilish beings, then heavy controls will be your standard.

One of the best ways to understand the way attitude attracts spirits is just to learn about the trappings of different traditions. Vodou views its lwa as distant ancestors, and the altar is set up with all the food, booze, sweets and nicotine that you would expect at a big family party. There’s a strong connection between the kind of spirit you want to invite in and the way you should prepare to receive them. Which means—

There’s a strong connection between the way you prepare to receive a spirit, and the kind of spirit you end up getting.

You can capitalize on this principle:

+  If you’re scared of spirits, don’t even start working with them.

+  Create ritual conditions where you can speak from a position of strength. This can include the location as well as the trappings.

+  Have a clear purpose before you begin.

+  If you’re religious, invite and make offerings to your god. Gods trump spirits.

+  If you aren’t religious, know exactly one banishing method that you have total faith in.

+  Have at least a small, nice offering for the spirit(s) who respond to your call.

+  Eschew arrogance.

The first of these is the most important. If you’re scared of what a spirit can do to you then the protection charm hasn’t been invented that will stop you from having problem spirits. In that case take the time to learn about specific spirits you want to work with first.

Follow these steps and you’ll never need to layer yourself in protective spells to talk to spirits, any more than you carry a gun to talk to your neighbors. The spirits who show up will generally be friendly or indifferent in attitude, respectful by behavior and easy to deal with. If anything feels amiss turn to your god or your banishing and never look back.

This is the keystone of all magical practice. When you pick up the practice of magic you declare that you are in control. The magician doesn’t pray, hope, fear, wish. The magician reshapes the cosmos. Conduct all of your workings from this mindset and the most ancient of spirits will treat you with dignity.

/protection

Several times I mentioned spirits “answering your call.” How exactly does that work? That will be the topic for the next section. (You can find it here.) If you haven’t seen the previous section, it’s here.

Ready to add magic to your life? Grab a magic spell card while they last.