AlabamaDeb
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Joined: 07 Oct 2005
Posts: 78
Location: Guntersville, Alabama |
| Warding and Banishing |
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Warding and Banishing
Warding and banishing are the terms given to doing magickal workings for protection. The ideas of Pagan protection can vary greatly from person to person and is often shaped by how an individual interprets the Wiccan Rede (if they incorporate that into their spiritual practice) and if the person feels they are actively under attack. The discussions on whether to just act defensively or to sometimes take aggressive steps can go on forever.
I personally differentiate warding as being magick done to try and offer protection for something that might happen, and banishment as magick done to deal with something that is already happening. You will find some people use one term, or the other, or both interchangeably. As with all magick, it's the intent that is important, more than which term you use.
Several years ago I had some friends who were helping a woman they knew move to a new home after she divorced an abusive husband. The woman asked if they would help her craft a house blessing, to help protect her and her young daughter from the former spouse, as he still lived nearby and the mother was worried the father would try to take the child, even though she had been awarded sole custody. One of my friends was telling me how she was very reluctant to put any sort of aggressive blessing or banishment on the house, so they crafted a blessing that asked that anyone who was against the beliefs of those who lived in the house (the ex was anti-Pagan) would naturally feel comfortable going elsewhere. This met with everyone's feelings around "an it harm none" and offered a peaceful option for asking contrary person's to leave.
Most often when we are confronted with a conflict, our first wish is that the other person would stop what they are doing, or change their behavior. However, we also have the opportunity in these situations to change our own attitudes and reactions.
The most common visualization done for protection is to visualize yourself surrounded by white light. This can be a bubble of light that gives you an area of protective space, or it can a more like a form-fitted suit of white light, that covers just yourself. If you want to use this method for protection, it's often good to practice the visualization so that you can call it up quickly, without a preceding ritual or meditation.
When performing a ritual, be sure to both ground and center yourself before doing any warding. This helps clear emotional reactions so that your intent is clear and focused. If you are working to protect a space, you might want to incorporate some suggestions from Creating and Clearing Sacred Space. I often write down my intention for warding before doing this type of work. This let's me craft a clear intention and be very sure of what outcome or change I am working towards.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art44953.asp
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As Time Passes, So Do Lives.....
Deborah |
